In a bid to address their sluggish starts, the Atlanta Falcons defense is drawing motivation from an unlikely source – the fast and furious world of combat sports. This week, defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake treated his players to a highlight reel of rapid-fire UFC knockouts and vintage Mike Tyson fisticuffs, hoping to inspire a similar sense of urgency on the gridiron.
The Falcons have been a tale of two halves this season, consistently delivering clutch second-half performances en route to a 6-4 record and first place in the NFC South. However, their early-game woes have become an increasingly glaring issue, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Knockout Reel Sparks Conversation
Lake’s unorthodox film session featured clips of Conor McGregor’s 13-second starching of Jose Aldo and Jorge Masvidal’s record-setting five-second flying knee KO of Ben Askren. The montage aimed to hammer home the importance of starting fast and bringing the fight to the opponent from the opening bell.
“I think there’s a lot of correlation between [football and] combat sports and other sports,” Lake explained. “And what I’m showing is the starting fast and bringing the aggression, but there’s also the resiliency factor.”
The video clearly struck a chord with players, sparking spirited discussions in the locker room. All-Pro edge rusher Matthew Judon noted that while he’s not a huge fight fan, Lake’s presentation effectively conveyed the coordinator’s expectations and mindset.
Adjusting to Opponents’ Opening Gambits
Both Judon and standout safety Justin Simmons acknowledged that opposing offenses have been throwing new wrinkles at the Falcons early in games, forcing the defense to adjust on the fly. While the unit has consistently found its footing after halftime, a quicker start could pay major dividends.
“Sometimes, we’re seeing things that are a little bit unique [early in games] that we maybe haven’t necessarily prepped for,” Simmons admitted. “But that also comes down to just communication. When we run what we run, we run it at a high level.”
Translating Inspiration to the Field
Head coach Raheem Morris welcomed the injection of energy from Lake’s presentation, but also cautioned against an all-or-nothing mentality. In Morris’ view, the goal is to combine faster starts with the resilience the Falcons have shown in mounting second-half comebacks.
“You don’t like to necessarily go out there and say ‘start fast,’ because then what if you don’t and it’s like, ‘Oh let’s go in the tank — we didn’t start fast,'” Morris explained. “That’s not how it goes. You got to go out there and still finish the game, but you like to start fast, you like to finish faster.”
This Sunday, the Falcons will have a prime opportunity to showcase their newfound early-game intensity as they hit the road to face the Denver Broncos. With a bye week looming, a complete 60-minute effort could position Atlanta for a serious second-half surge. If Lake’s combat sports-infused message hits home, don’t be surprised to see the Falcons defense come out swinging from the opening whistle.
