Falcon Report

NFL Tackling Data Shows How Far Atlanta Falcons Falcons Fell Under Jimmy Lake

Soon to be free agent safety Justin Simmons suffered one of his worst years playing for Jimmy Lake and the Atlanta Falcons.

Keith Cummings

Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons was a victim of Jimmy Lake's passive scheme and suffered on of his worst years as a pro.
Atlanta Falcons safety Justin Simmons was a victim of Jimmy Lake's passive scheme and suffered on of his worst years as a pro. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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Often when you dig a little deeper into the data available, the key decisions to cut ties with established veteran players becomes much more clear.

For example, Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot is universally expected to let veteran former Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons leave as a free agent after only one season playing in the NFC.

The 31-year old’s performances were decidedly middling to average when lining up in a Falcons uniform.

NFL.com provides detailed numbers which break down tacking data, and it all points fairly conclusively toward Simmons’s recurring struggles.

The Falcons were 24th in the NFL in tackling percentage after ranking 11th in 2023. Jimmy Lake’s passive scheme put players in acres of space and gave ball carriers and receivers more area work. No one suffered more in Lake’s defense than four-time All-Pro Simmons who was routinely 15 to 20 yards off the line of scrimmage at the snap.

"Newly acquired safety Justin Simmons missed 21.5% of his tackle attempts after logging an elite rate below 10% in his previous six straight seasons in Denver,” wrote the Next Gen Stats Analytics Team. “With Simmons set to hit free agency, the Falcons may choose to move on from the veteran.

Fontenot's $7.5 million one year gamble on Simmons clearly flamed out. Simmons missing on 21.5% of his tackle attempts was never going to cut the mustard for head coach Raheem Morris. With few ties in Atlanta, Simmons will likely end up being a victim of Lake’s ineffectiveness as the NFL level and be allowed to walk in free agency.

The correlation is clear, because the entire unit slumped from being the 11th most efficient tackling unit last year to being the sixth least effective in 2024. That wasn’t all on Simmons. 

While most folks have fixated upon the critical deficiencies when it came to rushing the passer, which did much to unravel the Falcons playoff chances last season, nothing the defense really did gave off the vibe that they were a tough tackling football team.

Consequently, retooling on the defensive side will be the primary objective of Fontenot and Morris when free agency starts next month and the draft rolls around in April.

The Falcons need an injection of toughness this offseason. They’re hoping new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is up to the task. 

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Keith Cummings
KEITH CUMMINGS