Arnold Ebiketie landing with Atlanta Falcons is a quality fit

After years of trying to find a consistent pass rush, the Atlanta Falcons finally have their guy in former Penn State defensive end, Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons have taken multiple swings at defensive end over the years, between Takkarist McKinely and Vic Beasley in the first round. Ebiketie should end that need and pair well with All-Pro defensive tackle Grady Jarret on the interior. 

Here is what I wrote about Ebiketie’s ideal fit at the next level earlier this week. 

“More importantly, Ebiketie isn’t a bad run defender. From a production standpoint, the former Penn State Nittany Lion is top-25 among daft eligible edge defenders in 2021. He uses his hands and quickness to slip blocks and create issues in the backfield for runners. Does he occasionally lose to a bigger, strong lineman? Yes, but no player is perfect. 

That’s why the wide nine defense is an excellent fit for Ebiketie. He can use angles and speed to slip blocks from a wide (outside the tight end) alignment, and it’s a perfect defense for speed rushers to terrorize offensive tackles.”

Ebiketie’s fit in Atlanta

Here’s the secret: almost every pass rusher goes after the quarterback from the “wide nine” position in the NFL. So when it’s crunch time, Ebiketie will be lined up outside of the tackle, attacking the quarterback. It doesn’t matter if his hand is in the dirt or a two-point stance; the former Penn State pass rusher will do the same thing he did at Penn State.

What he did at Penn State was nothing short of record-setting. Ebiketie carried the Penn State pass rush on his back last season with 52 pressures. That number is almost more than the next four players on the defensive roster (55 total pressures). 

Not only that, but he got it done when it counted. PFF analyst Autin Gayle illustrated just how good Ebikeite was for Penn State on third down. 

Career pass-rush win rates on 3rd-and-4-plus, per @PFF:

Arnold Ebiketie (31%)

Kingsley Enagbare (27%)
Boye Mafe (26%)
Kayvon Thibodeaux (25%)
Aidan Hutchinson (24%)
George Karlaftis (21%)
Drake Jackson (20%)

Josh Paschal (18%)
Jermaine Johnson (17%)

Travon Walker (11%)

— Austin Gayle (@PFF_AustinGayle) April 16, 2022

Quick overview of Falcon’s defense

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees is well known for exotic blitz packages that free up unblocked rushers at the quarterback. That sort of zone blitzing necessitates some players to be scheme-flexible athletes who can rush the passer and drop into coverage. While Ebiketie dropped 24 times at Penn State and allowed two receptions for 18 yards, I don’t think that will be a large part of his profile at the next level. Although, he was announced as a linebacker by the woman who made the selection, which concerns me. Playing in space is not playing to his strengths. 

Despite that concern, Pees doesn’t use old-school drop linebackers. Instead, he deploys more pseudo-zones, trying to bait the quarterback into throwing to his hot route and into the waiting arms of a dropping lineman. This role is similar to what the Ebiketie did at Penn State.

Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie selected 38th overall in NFL Draft

He will most likely be used as a stunting lineman when not rushing off the edge. Stunting is when defensive linemen cross rushing lanes, confusing the offensive line into blocking the wrong defender. Ebiketie’s bend, quickness, and burst make him a star pass rusher in any situation but incredibly effective in these situations. 

The Falcon’s rebuilding efforts took a significant step forward by drafting Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie. He’s a great fit for the Falcons because his skills fit every NFL defense. He’s one of the best pure pass rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft and one of the best to come out of Penn State under head coach James Franklin.