Falcons defense ready to make a statement
However, if the Falcons have any hope of making the playoffs for first time in eight years, they will need better production from their defense.
Specifically, the defensive line. Last year, Atlanta produced 31 sacks, which was second fewest in the league. Only New England's 28 ranked worse.
The front office did make some moves after the year. They released defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, which was surprising since he won the Walter Payton Man of the Year for the Falcons.
Atlanta put a heavy emphasis on the defensive side of the ball during the draft.
Four of their five draft picks were defensive players, which includes their two first round picks linebacker Jalon Walker from Georgia and defensive end James Pearce from Tennessee.
Atlanta also needs to improve its defensive third-down conversation rate. They gave up over 45% last year, which was second worst in the league.
The Falcons continue the final day of mandatory minicamp tomorrow, but the final practice is not open to the media.
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'Coming off a good road trip, I feel like we're gaining a little momentum here. And it's games like that, you gotta stick in and keep grinding till the end. Couldn't get it done last night, but a big win tonight.' Tuesday's seventh-inning rally was halted when Vidal Bruján was picked off first base for the third out when the Braves had two runners on and Profar batting. But they weren't done, and Baldwin's eighth-inning hit lifted them to their ninth win in 11 games. 'I feel good with him up in any kind of run-producing situation,' Snitker said of Baldwin, 'because it's a good at-bat. It's a calm at-bat and confident at-bat. So I felt good with him right there.' Earlier Tuesday, the Braves found out Austin Riley won't be back as soon as they'd hoped from his second injured list stint for a strained abdominal muscle. The third baseman had soreness when he tested it during an afternoon session of running and other drills. Riley will be reexamined Wednesday. Riley's multiple injuries during the last two seasons, as well as those that sidelined so many other Braves during back-to-back disappointing seasons, have only underscored the durability of their first baseman. Rose, who debuted with the Cincinnati Reds in 1963, had the longest streak of his career, 745 games, between September 1978 and August 1983. 'Yeah, it's pretty cool,' Olson said of passing Rose. 'Honestly, until we got to New York (last week), I didn't really know where (he was in the games-played streaks). You've heard me talk about it. Anything can happen any given day, so I want to be available and play. Something will happen at some point where I can't go, but I show up ready to play every day.' Advertisement The only longer streaks than Olson's that began in 1969 or later: Miguel Tejada (1,152 games), Steve Garvey (1,207) and the staggering 2,632 games by Cal Ripken Jr., who didn't miss a game between May 30, 1982, and Sept. 20, 1998. Even if Olson doesn't move any higher on that list, what he's already accomplished is appreciated by teammates and the man who pencils his name in the lineup. 'Man, it's amazing what he's done,' Snitker said. 'I was with (Dale Murphy) years ago, and he would play every day. Just how steady (Olson) is, and consistent — he just shows up to play every day. He comes in, he's the same person every day. The work ethic, the consistency of what he does is amazing.' Olson was traded to the Braves on March 14, 2022, at the beginning of the lockout-delayed spring training. The man he replaced, 2020 NL MVP Freddie Freeman, was like Olson in that Freeman expected to be in the lineup every day, and Freeman let the rest of the infielders know they best have a good reason if they were not in the lineup. Durability and stellar defense are traits shared by Freeman and Olson, as is their penchant for doubles, despite Olson being one of the team's slower runners. Freeman is the better all-around hitter and Olson has more power — he led the majors with franchise records of 54 homers and 139 RBIs in 2023 — but both are doubles-hitting machines. Olson leads the NL with 34 doubles, including a majors-leading 28 since May 16, and his 142 doubles in four seasons with the Braves rank fourth in the majors. Defensively, Olson makes scoops of one-hop throws and difficult over-the-shoulder catches in foul territory look routine. He entered Tuesday with 15 defensive runs saved according to Fangraphs, a total that was tied for eighth among all MLB defenders regardless of position. Next among first basemen was Carlos Santana's nine for Cleveland. Advertisement When the Braves played Olson's former Athletics team in July at Sacramento, a reporter there asked Snitker about the impact that Olson has had on his hometown team. 'Man, I'm telling you, I could get talking on him and we could be here for a while,' Snitker said. 'I mean, just the pro that he is, how he shows up to play every day, the consistency in his game, the person, how he handles this whole thing. He's something the guys can look at as, that's how you do it. That's how you do it and how you're successful at it.' (Photo of Matt Olson: Brett Davis / Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
