The Falcons weren’t good at a lot of things in 2018, but they identified their run defense as a major liability for a reason. They only held opposing offenses under 100 yards five times, allowed two 200 yard rushing games, and were embarrassed frequently. They wound up 25th in rushing yards allowed and 21st in touchdowns, as well as 28th in yards per attempt.
Stopping the run isn’t—and shouldn’t be—the priority it once was, but it’s a key part of a balanced defense, and having capable run defenders who can also rush the passer in a pinch is a nice thing.