Five key points from Jeff Ulbrich’s press conference for Falcons supporters

Five key points from Jeff Ulbrich’s press conference for Falcons supporters

MOBILE, Ala. – Nine days after being named the defensive coordinator of the Falcons, Jeff Ulbrich spoke to the Atlanta media for nearly 20 minutes Monday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Michael Cunningham was in attendance in Flowery Branch, while beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter listened on the team’s YouTube channel while on the way to the Senior Bowl in Mobile. Here are five quick takeaways for fans of the Falcons: 1. Multiplicity: The Falcons ran a 3-4 alignment last season under former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake. The New York Jets, where Ulbrich coached for the past four seasons, ran a 4-3 base defense. “Defensive football has changed in so many ways,” Ulbrich said. “If we look back 15, 20 years ago. There were 3-4 teams and there were 4-3 teams. You were one or the other. It’s not that way anymore.” Defenses have to catch up to the evolution of offensive play in the NFL, including more mobile quarterbacks. “Offenses have jumped off the playbook,” Ulbrich said. “It has really forced us from a defensive standpoint to get more multiplicity in all that we do. Front-wise. Coverage-wise. All of that. We’re going to be multiple. We’re going to do some unique things that are going to be 3-4ish and 4-3ish at times. I think the multiplicity is necessary now days.” 2. Pass-rush plan: Ulbrich used “get the quarterback of the spot” and “affect the quarterback” card when discussing the pass-rush. He threw in getting sacks with that. The Falcons were 31st in sacks last season