The Atlanta Falcons have made the decision to part ways with defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake following a challenging first season. The announcement came on Saturday, marking the end of Lake's brief tenure with the team. He joined the Falcons from the Los Angeles Rams, alongside first-year head coach Raheem Morris, but struggled to turn around a defense that faced significant challenges throughout the season.
Lake's previous experience includes serving as the assistant head coach for the Rams in 2023 and holding the head coach position at the University of Washington. Despite these credentials, the Falcons' defense under his leadership had a disappointing performance, culminating in a crushing Week 18 overtime defeat against the Carolina Panthers. In that game, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young delivered a standout performance with five total touchdowns, contributing to the Falcons allowing 44 points.
Statistically, the Falcons' defense found itself near the bottom of the league in several key areas. The team ranked second to last in both sacks and quarterback pressure percentage, achieving just 28.1% in the latter category. Furthermore, they allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete passes at a league-high rate of 69.9%. The defense also conceded the second-most touchdown passes over the course of the season and posted the 10th-worst rush Expected Points Added (EPA) in the NFL, with a figure of -9.9.
Head Coach Raheem Morris expressed his surprise and disappointment regarding the defensive unit's struggles. Despite his efforts to adopt a more hands-on approach to improve the team's pass rush following the Week 12 bye, these changes only yielded limited improvements. The decision to relieve Lake of his duties underscores the team's commitment to addressing these defensive shortcomings as they look toward future seasons.
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