Falcons Coach Raheem Morris Reveals Areas of Need

Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris eyes a few different needs for the team going into the NFL Draft.

Feb 27, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris during the NFL Scouting Combine. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

ORLANDO -- Raheem Morris knows viewers want to see yards. He, however, wants to stop them - and is placing a priority on doing precisely that for the remainder of the offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons' head coach, speaking Tuesday at league owners meetings in Orlando, has been a part of an offense-heavy free agency cycle but acknowledged there are needs defensively.

For Morris, the pursuit for pass rush help never ends - but with it comes defensive prosperity.

"The way you stop those guys is up front," Morris said. "If we continue to add those guys to the framework, I think that will always help us."

NFL Combine / Stacy Revere/GettyImages

Morris cited Atlanta's long-running tradition of pass rush struggles, which includes dismal 2021 and 2022 seasons in which the Falcons recorded 39 combined sacks, last in the league by over 20 takedowns.

Asked if Atlanta needs a veteran pass rusher, Morris noted it's hard for him to say yes considering his 2023 season as the Los Angeles Rams' defensive coordinator, during which rookie third-round picks Kobie Turner (nine) and Byron Young (eight) led the team in sacks.

Despite not committing to a more experienced option, Morris stressed Atlanta, which ranked tied for 21st league-wide with 42 sacks, needs help up front.

"I think you need to add a pass rusher," Morris said. "That's a definite priority for us, just based on our history. I think you want to go out and add pass rushers almost every single year. I don't know as long as I'm the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons if I'll ever sit here and say I don't want to add one of those guys.

"I think you got to continuously add those guys every single year when you come up talking about pass rusher and how you affect the quarterback - it's just become what our game has become at this point."

Morris seemingly staked his claim in the pass rush vs. secondary debate, a rather surprising twist considering his defensive back experience as both a player and coach.

Still, Morris isn't ignoring Atlanta's secondary. He likes some of the pieces in place, starting with former All-Pro cornerback A.J. Terrell, who was drafted by the Falcons in 2020 when Morris was the defensive coordinator and, later, interim head coach.

Terrell's progression has impressed Morris, who's similarly fond of the talent and versatility presented by cornerbacks Clark Phillips III, Dee Alford and Mike Hughes. Each steadily progressed under Falcons assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray, who was retained by the new staff.

Morris gave Gray credit for the various techniques and alignments each of the corners provide - and ultimately, Atlanta's new head coach believes he has a strong nucleus in the secondary.

"Clark, how he played on the outside last year, also having the ability to play inside. Him and Alford both; Alford brings some safety value, also some nickel value. You see those guys being flexible," Morris said. "Michael Hughes getting here and really being pleasantly surprised watching him play.

"How hard they played and how well they tackled - some of the things they did in the secondary really fired me up."

But there's still help on the way for the Falcons, who don't have a clear No. 2 starter on the perimeter.

Phillips started the final five games of his rookie season and handled the workload well, though his 5-10, 183-pound frame comes with questions as to whether he can hold up outside. It's a similar situation for the 5-11, 180-pound Alford, who was replaced by Hughes at nickel for the final four games.

Morris is confident with how the cupboard's been stacked but remains steadfast on adding more - likely through the draft.

"We'll add some more people to that room, some more young pieces, but what I've seen on tape, I've been excited," Morris said. "I know it's an area of need for us, so to speak. But those guys played pretty well last year when you go back and look at the tape and how they played out there."

Atlanta's two leading sack artists last season - Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, who totaled 6.5 apiece - are both free agents. Morris said he's talked to Campbell but declined to expand on whether a 17th professional season awaits the former Walter Payton Man of the Year.

In the secondary, the Falcons lost cornerback Jeff Okudah to the Houston Texans in free agency, but everybody else is back.

For different reasons, Morris feels more is needed - but this feeling carries over to Atlanta's offense and the quarterback position.

The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract when free agency opened March 13, cementing their starting role. They followed by trading Desmond Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals, thus leaving Taylor Heinicke as Cousins' backup.

But Morris said the Falcons will be adding a third quarterback and mentioned the draft as a viable possibility.

"You figure out what you can do in this draft or moving forward any further and see what you can do to add to that room and make it highly competitive," Morris said. "We have to go back and re-evaluate those guys for the draft again, because our situation has changed."

Morris believes the rookie class class is deep - and with Atlanta's pockets empty, the Falcons appear poised to address many of their remaining holes in April's draft.