Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 22, 2015 21:02:22 GMT
Falcons assistant Jeff Ulbrich helping prep for ex-teammate Delanie Walker
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Regardless of whether it's Marcus Mariota or Zach Mettenberger at quarterback for the Titans on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons know they have to slow down speedy tight end Delanie Walker.
If anyone wants a little insight about how to defend Walker, all they have to do is turn to Jeff Ulbrich. The 38-year-old Falcons linebackers coach spent four seasons with Walker in San Francisco from 2006-2009. Ulbrich, an inside linebacker who recorded 487 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 10 NFL seasons, often covered the now 31-year-old Walker in practice.
"I couldn't believe it was his 10th year already," Ulbrich said, of Walker. "But he's a great athlete. You play on Sundays so you can play against guys like that. He's a stud."
Walker leads the Titans with 22 receptions this season. He has 244 receiving yards and one touchdown. Last week, Walker caught eight passes for 97 yards in a 38-10 loss to the Dolphins.
"I've covered him hundreds of times, if not more," Ulbrich said. "He's competitive. He's athletic. When I was with him, he was more of the pure athlete. And now, it looks like he's really gained a stronger understanding of the game. His game has definitely evolved. He finds the soft spots in zones and he knows how to work away from man (to man). And he understands leverage. It will be fun to play against him."
The Falcons should know not to underestimate a veteran tight end after 34-year-old Benjamin Watson caught 10 passes for a career-high 127 yards and a touchdown in last week's 31-21 loss to the Saints. Falcons safety William Moore got victimized at least once while covering Watson and vowed to play better.
Ulbrich's linebackers might draw some responsibilities against Walker in zone coverage. The Titans will throw the ball out of a zone-read look, particularly if Mariota is well enough to play coming off a sprained left MCL. They'll run some play-action and try to find Walker in the middle of the field, based on last week's film against Miami.
"We put such an emphasis on stopping the run and we have a stacked box the vast majority of the time," Ulbrich explained. "To me, once we've earned the right to play the pass and rush the passer by stopping the run, we have to become so much more aware of the keepers and the bootlegs and play-action. We didn't do a good enough job this past game, and that starts with me as a coach. I've got to drill it better, emphasize it better.
"In the zone stuff, (Walker) will definitely be a part of our responsibility. He comes into our hooks and our landmark areas all the time. To me, where we were hurt the most from the linebacker standpoint was really the play-action game, the boot game and the keeper game. We've got to become better from that standpoint.
"We haven't had a ton of opportunities covering tight ends in the man-to-man situation. We don't play a whole lot of man to begin with. But when we have, we've mainly been on running backs. But I know every guy in our room, we're excited about the opportunity to cover guys like (Walker). He's a great athlete and great challenge for our guys."
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn expressed his thoughts on Walker, too.
“We have terrific respect for Delanie Walker," Quinn said. "Number one, it’s the speed that he has. He’s a real factor."
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Regardless of whether it's Marcus Mariota or Zach Mettenberger at quarterback for the Titans on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons know they have to slow down speedy tight end Delanie Walker.
If anyone wants a little insight about how to defend Walker, all they have to do is turn to Jeff Ulbrich. The 38-year-old Falcons linebackers coach spent four seasons with Walker in San Francisco from 2006-2009. Ulbrich, an inside linebacker who recorded 487 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 10 NFL seasons, often covered the now 31-year-old Walker in practice.
"I couldn't believe it was his 10th year already," Ulbrich said, of Walker. "But he's a great athlete. You play on Sundays so you can play against guys like that. He's a stud."
Walker leads the Titans with 22 receptions this season. He has 244 receiving yards and one touchdown. Last week, Walker caught eight passes for 97 yards in a 38-10 loss to the Dolphins.
"I've covered him hundreds of times, if not more," Ulbrich said. "He's competitive. He's athletic. When I was with him, he was more of the pure athlete. And now, it looks like he's really gained a stronger understanding of the game. His game has definitely evolved. He finds the soft spots in zones and he knows how to work away from man (to man). And he understands leverage. It will be fun to play against him."
The Falcons should know not to underestimate a veteran tight end after 34-year-old Benjamin Watson caught 10 passes for a career-high 127 yards and a touchdown in last week's 31-21 loss to the Saints. Falcons safety William Moore got victimized at least once while covering Watson and vowed to play better.
Ulbrich's linebackers might draw some responsibilities against Walker in zone coverage. The Titans will throw the ball out of a zone-read look, particularly if Mariota is well enough to play coming off a sprained left MCL. They'll run some play-action and try to find Walker in the middle of the field, based on last week's film against Miami.
"We put such an emphasis on stopping the run and we have a stacked box the vast majority of the time," Ulbrich explained. "To me, once we've earned the right to play the pass and rush the passer by stopping the run, we have to become so much more aware of the keepers and the bootlegs and play-action. We didn't do a good enough job this past game, and that starts with me as a coach. I've got to drill it better, emphasize it better.
"In the zone stuff, (Walker) will definitely be a part of our responsibility. He comes into our hooks and our landmark areas all the time. To me, where we were hurt the most from the linebacker standpoint was really the play-action game, the boot game and the keeper game. We've got to become better from that standpoint.
"We haven't had a ton of opportunities covering tight ends in the man-to-man situation. We don't play a whole lot of man to begin with. But when we have, we've mainly been on running backs. But I know every guy in our room, we're excited about the opportunity to cover guys like (Walker). He's a great athlete and great challenge for our guys."
Falcons head coach Dan Quinn expressed his thoughts on Walker, too.
“We have terrific respect for Delanie Walker," Quinn said. "Number one, it’s the speed that he has. He’s a real factor."