Falcons LB Troy Andersen's Impact Goes Beyond Box Scores

Troy Andersen is a second-round pick this season out of Montana State. But the Atlanta Falcons linebacker isn't playing like a rookie.

Jeremy Brener | Nov 24, 2022

Atlanta Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen is in the middle of the pack on defense when it comes to tackles, but that doesn't prove how valuable he is to the team.

As a rookie second-round pick, it can be challenging to make your presence known, but Andersen has worked out exactly how the Falcons thought he would halfway through his first NFL season.

While he may not have the biggest stats, Andersen is altering the game and helping his team with his football IQ and versatility.

"Pretty good, pretty good," head coach Arthur Smith said when describing Andersen's instincts. "You can see that, obviously he made some big time plays for us on Sunday. Not just on defense, but in the return game - had a big block on CP's record run. Obviously had the punt block in LA, gotten close a couple other times. He's had an impact in a lot of spots for us."

Andersen's role is expected to grow over time. At just 22, he's impressed the coaching staff with his abilities and have made the front office look really smart by taking him in the second round.

Andersen and the Falcons face the Washington Commanders Sunday at FedEx Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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Published Nov 24, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.