The biggest difference between the Falcons’ defense in 2014 and the Falcons’ defense today might be, without hyperbole, the Deion Jones versus Paul Worrilow difference.
Things were very different in Mike Smith’s last year in Atlanta, when the team had big beefy run stoppers more or less across the defensive line and very little pass rush, plus a very different safety situation. But because of the situation up front, the Falcons desperately needed a hyper-athletic linebacker or two who could handle coverage duties, and they did not have that.
Worrilow was a tackling machine who was always around the football, and we’ve probably been too hard on his production over the years, as he was capable enough against the run and a useful blitzer at times.