Falcons Watch: 10 Days — Haason Reddick Vs. Elijah Wilkinson
August 28th, 2025
Haason Reddick
After Joe listened to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris’ news conference today, it seems obvious that his choice at starting right tackle on opening day against the Bucs will be veteran Elijah Wilkinson, a guy who had 1 snap of offense last year.
The Falcons’ starting right tackle is hurt and won’t play. Their backup tackle is out, too.
Raheem, the former Bucs head coach (2009-2011), said he wants a right tackle against the Bucs “who knows what he’s doing” and knows the offense. Considering one of his choices is an unheralded rookie and the other was on Seattle’s roster last weekend, Joe thinks Wilkinson is a safe bet to start. Raheem mentioned him as in the mix and a guy he likes.
Undrafted in 2017 out of the University of Massachusetts, Wilkinson has plenty of experience at right tackle. He started there for Denver in 2019 and 2020. The Broncos had a sad offense both seasons but ran the ball pretty well in 2020.
Bottom line, free agent Bucs edge rush savior Haason Reddick is projected to be lining up across from Wilkinson and needs to eat this guy for lunch.
Yeah, the Falcons will send help Wilkinson’s way, and defense is a team game, but Joe wants to see Reddick show up.
He’s got no more Jets excuse. He’s healthy. He got plenty of rest away from One Buc Palace in the spring.
Reddick should be drooling to show the NFL and his teammates he’s still an elite player.
Go do it.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
5 sack game incoming
August 28th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
We’ll need Reddick and the 10 other defenders to show up too. Everybody has to perform well to win this game. With Wirfs, Godwin, JMac and probably Otten out we’re not going to outscore ATL in a shootout. The onus is on the defense this time. No excuses Todd.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:08 pm
Hard for him to sack the QB when he’s dropping into coverage…
Until Todd puts the players in the position to win they won’t win
August 28th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
This is a message for Bowles. Let Diaby and Reddick rush the passer.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:27 pm
Hassan Reddick is just another Question Mark,
He might play like he did last season, he might not
I’m not a Bucs hater, I’m just being realistic
This team has too many injuries and question marks
August 28th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
If Hassan is allowed to rush the passer he will blow up that blindside! Hoping he is not dropping in coverage.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
I think the Falcons biggest off-season move, a move that no one talks about, was the firing of Jimmy Lake as DC. And the hiring of Jeff Ulrich as the new DC. Jimmy Lake was a good secondary coach with the Bucs. But he was a porr DC, Jeff Ulrich is a upgrade.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:50 pm
Reddicks’ role is more than just coming off the edge and getting to the QB. I know to some of you sacks = success, and that’s all there is to it but there’s more at play then Reddick just racking up individual numbers.
Reddicks presence diversifies our coverage capabilities.
Reddicks presence should take that extra man out of the box that we needed last year to help generate/simulate pressure packages.
Reddick will drop into coverage as football remains football no matter how frequent onlookers complain.
Reddick has a good shot at reviving his career here, along with being on a winning time as opposed to being in football purgatory for a year last season.
August 28th, 2025 at 1:54 pm
I think Warren Brooks Lynch has the right thought about this. People will treat Reddick as if he is still 2023 Reddick. Thus they will spend a lot of time trying to double up on him. Penix didn’t face a single unit with such a tough DL as us last year. Think about how it’ll affect his processing when he sees Reddick, Diaby, Kancey, and Vea running at him… only for him to forget that LVD is blitzing off the edge and strips the ball which Reddick recovers for a touchdown LOL
August 28th, 2025 at 1:55 pm
Chuckles said trade for Parsons her isn’t sold
August 28th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
Defensive Turnovers early and often. Break the Falcons will early. I want this unit to go Scorched earth this year!
August 28th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
Kancy and Vea are healthy as well, and a motivated Yaya, lots for Falcons offensive line to contend with. Our secondary needs to play tight so Penix cannot get ball out quick, surely Bowles knows this, he has to evolve from steady blitzing. We stand a chance.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
Since the Falcons ride or die with Bijan Robinson I’d much rather sell out to stop the run then unleash the rushers
August 28th, 2025 at 2:16 pm
C’mon we all know he’ll be dropped into empty deep zones half the time to surprise the Falcons. Can’t be called a genius if you don’t do weird stuff. Todd will hardly ever play man defense because then it’s about the players, not who the masturmind is.
Go watch all 16 losses over the last two seasons and then hit the bourbon.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:22 pm
“Think about how it’ll affect his processing when he sees Reddick, Diaby, Kancey, and Vea running at him…”
I think this is best case scenario, but it’ll take some time for the cohesion to come together to offer this up right out of the gate. The sweet spot is going to being able to line up with our base formation which looks like a 5-man front, but being able to consistently stop the run/pass while upping the 1 on 1 opportunites for everybody on the OL.
Reddick can potential tip the scales in our favor in that regard, because now we goto a 4 man front against a base-5 OL or with TE/RB help, QBs are going to choose. Do I send the help to Reddicks’ size, while Vita is still going to occupy 2 and gives Kancey OR Yaya more one on ones.
People rag on Bowles all the time, I feel like part of that in real-time is because it’s hard to analyze a defense if you don’t know how it’s being implemented or why it may/may not work.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
People rag on Bowles for the pathetic performance of his pass defense and the inability to close out games. The results earn him the ragtime.
August 28th, 2025 at 2:48 pm
As one poster mentioned – ENOUGH with dropping back DLs into coverage. Make them play fast and do what they are designed to do….RUSH THE DAMN PASSER!
August 28th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Won’t be long now! LFG!!
August 28th, 2025 at 2:56 pm
i think kancey should play more on the edge…he’s better on the edge imo
GO BUCS!!!!
August 28th, 2025 at 2:57 pm
I’m cautiously optimistic about the pass rush. The Reddick upgrade from JTS should on paper at least create more opportunities. Sure wish we had Walker available. I see nothing from Braswell that gets me excited.
August 28th, 2025 at 3:08 pm
Can’t see either team running away with this game; it’ll be real close I’m convinced & the outcome determined by which team makes the most big plays. Still, I’ll take the Bucs 27-24.
Convinced that we’ll see a better pass defense this season, but primarily because we’ll be doing less blitzing & more 4-man rushes (yes 1 OLB will still be used in coverage a bunch, meaning that for all practical purposes we’ll be showing a 3-4 but running a 4-3 much of the time). Secondary will play a lot tighter than they did last season, unless they start getting burned by big plays.
August 28th, 2025 at 3:30 pm
Let him eat. Wilkerson for Sunday brunch. Let’s go Hassan.
August 28th, 2025 at 3:39 pm
they will double reddick on passing downs leaving some of the others with a better shot at getting to penix. on running plays reddick should play back off the line to avoid his block and be free to pursue the ball carrier
August 28th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Zone (various types) is the predominant coverage scheme in the NFL. For a reason. People constantly calling for “man” coverage just don’t know what they are talking about. Not a Todd thing. Google it for gawds sake.
Also, in 3-4 defenses OLBs are required to cover. Not a Todd thing.
It’s going to take us a few games to see what the starters playing as a unit will bring to the table. We’ve yet to see more than a small peek from the starting offense or defense this year.
August 28th, 2025 at 4:04 pm
A quick search returns the following:
NFL coaches avoid pure man-to-man coverage in large part because the modern game, with its emphasis on complex passing schemes and motion, creates vulnerabilities to rub routes, mismatches, and mobile quarterbacks. Additionally, league rules heavily favor offense, making it harder for man-to-man to be consistently effective without significant talent advantages. Instead, coaches use mixed schemes that incorporate zone, which provides safety nets against deep plays and run support, to compensate for man coverage’s weaknesses and adapt to offensive tendencies.
Why Man-to-Man is Risky
Modern NFL Offenses:
Today’s offenses use motion, stack formations, and rub routes to create traffic for defenders and gain a free release for receivers, making it difficult to stick to man coverage.
Mobile Quarterbacks:
Quarterbacks can scramble or take off on designed runs, which is a huge threat to man coverage where defenders are often focused on their assigned receiver and their backs are to the quarterback.
Mismatch Problems:
Man-to-man coverage can lead to one-on-one matchups where an elite receiver can physically and mentally dominate a less talented defensive back.
League Evolution:
NFL rules and play design have evolved to strongly favor offense, especially passing, making it harder to rely solely on tight man coverage to stop them.
August 28th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
funny people dont talk about bakers blindside not being protected by wirfs and a new coordinator
August 28th, 2025 at 5:12 pm
“Instead, coaches use mixed schemes that incorporate zone, which provides safety nets against deep plays and run support, to compensate for man coverage’s weaknesses and adapt to offensive tendencies.“
In our case last year it was quarters. We ran a lot of quarters and Bowles had every blitz you can think of intergrated that. What I dislike most, was our tendency to show quarters, but post snap the down safety would just bolt to the box and it’d leave the seam wide open. Always figured the idea was to get home before the QB saw where the opening was, because zone blitz, but it was what made the middle of our defense so porous at times. If Reddick can be what he was in ‘22/‘23, we’ll see less of that and more aggressive zone looks.
We start dabbling in man if Tykee can stay healthy and when we get Morrison gets back because that’s his specialty is man coverage.
August 28th, 2025 at 5:25 pm
Gone Gator posts an informative article as to the troubles man-to-man coverage has. Fine but, when it is third and five and the coverage is 10 yards away it does not take a genius to see the problem of zone. We saw this over and over again last year. When it is short yardage you have to have a modification of the defense as to when it is 1st and 10.
My gripe is we seldom saw that modification. I cannot recall last year when the DB was on the line. I’m sure it happened but it was a rarity if it did.
August 28th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
I’m getting really fed with the tech gremlin BS on this site. FIX it Joe!
August 28th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I’m of the belief that safety play (or the lack thereof) was a bigger problem than our CB play was last year also.
I think we’ll see less cushions and more man (when it’s smart) from our corners when we have confidence in our safety play. And our pass rush.
Tykee replaces Whitehead
SVD over K. J. Britt
Reddick over Shaq
Couple of new talented CBs
We’ll see an improved defense this year no doubt!
But there will be passes completed and there will be times we’ll see 10 yard cushions…. Which if you watch ANY TEAM play is what you’ll see.
August 28th, 2025 at 7:02 pm
BucfaninOregon makes a great point about Bowles’ soft zone packages on third down. On a 3rd and mid range, say 7 yards, he has his guys line up 10 yards off the ball. Result, first down for the opposition with quick slants. I think Bowles is afraid of being torched for the big play and overcompensates. That has been a big problem. I hope he solved it but this may be one reason why the Bucs’ o/u for wins is only 9.5. Bowles mismanaged his D last year and they could not get off of the field.
August 28th, 2025 at 10:37 pm
Here’s hoping Hassan and SVD have blowout starts at Atlanta.
August 29th, 2025 at 3:34 am
Giving Reddick the benefit of the doubt even after a very average camp.
Still in show me mode here.
Go Bucs!