Jalon Walker Bringing Lessons from Georgia Bulldogs to Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons love what they see in Jalon Walker and the lessons he learned under Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Atlanta Falcons first-round pick Jalon Walker played an unselfish brand of football for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker won 39 games in college, helping the University of Georgia win a national title in 2022. Now, his NFL team depends on him to invigorate a lethargic pass rush that couldn't tackle a quarterback in a phone booth. The expectations for Walker remain high due to his abundant talent and draft status as the No. 15 overall pick.  

After years of forgetting that UGA exists right up the road, the Falcons, with Walker's selection, finally started paying attention to the elite football team that resides in the same state. With that, Walker brings a different vibe to the team.  

“I learned from an old guy named Coach (Kirby) Smart that a connected front is the best front,” Walker said this week at Falcons mini-camp. “And the way we attack the ball together is what we do well.”

First, the fact that Walker refers to his coach's age (49) as old elicits humor. Now, to the crux of the matter, you rarely see a rookie attempting to foster cohesion, which is quite the departure. At Georgia, the defense moved in one direction: together. Every player knew that he would receive an NFL shot, but the matter at hand, winning national championships, was the mandate. 

Plus, Walker's comments about front connectivity make sense. Every player at or near the line of scrimmage must fully understand what their teammates are doing and know their own roles on every single snap. Freelancing, or selfish heroball, will absolutely destroy a defense from the inside out. Instead, knowing your job and executing it across the board makes everyone better.

Last year, the Falcons' front cohesion centered around Grady Jarrett. Without him, a terrible front would've performed far worse. Jarrett's presence, play, and earned respect tried his best to keep the group together.

It goes back to former coordinator Jimmy Lake's scheme, which, respectfully, did the defense absolutely no favor. For proof, roll back the film and see the body language. No one likes to lose, but watching the frustration build hurt the team.

 Head coach Raheem Morris left minicamp impressed with Walker and has consistently called him “captain” material since the draft.

“He’s been in here showing us exactly what he’s shown us in his college tape,” Morris said. “The human, the character, the person, the player, the all-in mentality. He has those captain-like traits, and when you first meet him, you get that feeling; you get that vibe from him. You don’t want to put too much on a player, particularly a young player, but he’ll be one of those guys that you can tell is going to lead us in the future.”

Walker went through the UGA system, one that prides itself on excellence, and everyone, regardless of role, buys in. Granted, measurables matter, as does talent, but playing together can actually overcome any perceived talent deficiencies.

When talent meets teamwork, you have the makings of a great player and a great defense. That’s what the Falcons are banking on getting from Jalon Walker. 

feed