The veteran is an important factor for an Atlanta defense searching for stability on the edge.

Will McFadden

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Leonard Floyd's statement was weeks in the making and happened in a blink.

It occurred on the very first play of the first-team defense's series during the Atlanta's Falcons team scrimmage on Wednesday. A quick pass from Kirk Cousins to the right flat turned into a Pick-6 for Atlanta's defense. It's a unit designed to attack, and Floyd wasted no time in showing what that mindset means.

"We will dictate how this game goes, and to do that, there has to be, in my opinion, a little bit less of a read element, more of an attack mentality," Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said. "So, that's what we're ingraining in these guys. The beauty of it is we have guys that are built for this life, guys that are aggressive and tough."

Throughout training camp Floyd has been running with the starting defense. He's been a constant for an Atlanta defense searching for stability on the edge.

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There are many reasons Floyd is with the Falcons. Not only was he significant in the Los Angeles Rams' run to the Super Bowl in 2021 but he's an exemplary role model for Atlanta's top draft picks.

"Great guy," Falcons defensive end Jalon Walker said. "The way he's taken me and James under his wing and been that veteran for us and the way he mentors and helps us and gives two cents and things like that in certain scenarios always helps out."

Floyd is the latest veteran to join Atlanta's defensive front. The organization has recently employed the likes of Dante Fowler, Calais Campbell and Lorenzo Carter, but Floyd is here for reasons that involve both production and preparation.

Whether it's taking time between reps to demonstrate proper technique to Pearce or impart the finer points of the mental game, Floyd's leadership is going to be important for a young group that needs to make plays sooner rather than later.

"It's definitely something you always want to see with your teammates, and your guys and the people, especially within your room, and you're that veteran leadership type of guy," Morris said.

The Falcons are trying to incorporatean edgier mindsetfor their defense. That involves all levels of the unit, but it starts up front. If the Falcons are going to accomplish their mission ofgenerating more turnovers, something that has a proven impact on winning football games, an ornery pass rush will help.

In training camp, the defensive line's demeanor has already left an impression. Multiple skirmishes have broken out in practice, and Pearce has been involved more than once.

"I just like playing my role, and I know, coming off the edge, it's a physical game," Pearce said. "Up front in the trenches it's a little bit more physical than the back end, so you've got to play with some type of edge and some type of passion."

The first person to come to Pearce's defense in such moments has been Floyd.

"I learned that from Aaron Donald when I was in L.A," Floyd said. "You've got a ride for your guys on defense, even if he in the wrong, you've still gotta ride for him. And I seen a whole lot of white jerseys and his one little black jersey, so I ran over there to defend him pretty much."

To use as much of their precious time on the field productively, the Falcons' coaching staff doesn't want to see that passion spill over into extra-curricular activity. However, the moments help Atlanta's defensive coaches define exactly how they want their players to harness that emotion.

"The intensity all day long, awesome. That's exactly what we need," Ulbrich said. "Great defense does not exist without it. It's controlled anger, it's controlled chaos, it's controlled aggression, all those things, and that takes discipline, and it takes work. And I'm glad we're getting to that place of where it's right there, 'I want to throw a punch,' and I don't."

When asked if there's a player who best embodies that approach of controlled aggression, Ulbrich didn't hesitate to spotlight the veteran who is here to set an example.

"I saw 'Flo', Leonard Floyd today, which made my heart so happy, because Flo is very I haven't been around him a whole lot, other than observing him from afar on other teams, and in the spring he's very calm, he's very cool," Ulbrich said. "And I'm seeing this other side of him now. This intensity, this edge, this fierce loyalty to his teammates, especially defensively. and it's really cool to see and to see him not only stand up for his guys today, but at the same time, not take it too far, not throw the punch. I thought it was a really cool demonstration of what it's supposed to look like."

Although Morris would prefer those demonstrations not take place, they are important coachable moments. Learning how to manage one's emotions in the midst of a game is crucial to team success in a sport where a single outburst or late hit can cost the whole group.

It also provides information about how a player best receives coaching. The daily nature of training camp allows players and coaches to constantly adapt to lessons learned from the previous day. In a sport with limited time to prepare, every bit of instruction matters, and coaches need to know which players can shake their own impulses for the good of the team. Floyd provides a real-time example for rookies like Walker and Pearce to follow.

Yes, his production on the field is going to be important a pick-6 in the team scrimmage was a great start but Floyd's ability to bring out the best in those around him is arguably more-so. Teams often call players like that a "multiplier," because of the ripple effect they have.

And if the veteran pass rusher's presencereverberates across Atlantas front, opponents will feel that controlled aggression Ulbrich desires.

"I never expected myself to be in this role, but I'm embracing it and I'm loving it so far," Floyd said. "I love my young guys, and we're gonna go out and get all the quarterbacks."

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