Atlanta Falcons Announce Their All-Decade Defense, Special Teams
The Atlanta Falcons are releasing their "All-Decade" team throughout July. Today, they released the defense as well as the special teams unit via their website. Three current players were selected to the group; Grady Jarrett, Deion Jones and Ricardo Allen.
Here's how the group was selected:
The team – selected by members of the national and local media, Falcons alumni and staff – is comprised of 12 offensive and defensive players, 11 starters and a flex position awarded to the highest-vote getter that is not part of the starting 11.
Take a look at the defense:
Defensive end: John Abraham
Defensive end: Vic Beasley
Defensive tackle: Grady Jarrett
Defensive tackle: Jonathan Babineaux
Linebacker: Deion Jones
Linebacker: Curtis Lofton
Linebacker: Sean Weatherspoon
Cornerback: Desmond Trufant
Cornerback: Robert Alford
Safety: William Moore
Safety: Ricardo Allen
Flex: Brent Grimes
Most of these selections are difficult to argue, as all of these guys were standout defenders for the Falcons at one point. This group features a handful of Pro Bowlers, as well as a mix of really solid quality starters to fill in the gaps. While the Falcons didn't always have the best defense during the decade, they have definitely had their fair share of talent over those years.
The special teams list also featured no surprises.
Kicker: Matt Bryant
Punter: Matt Bosher
Returner: Devin Hester
Long snapper: Josh Harris
Special teams player: Eric Weems
Hester, Bryant and Bosher were all elite special teams players for multiple seasons with Atlanta. Weems was also one of the more effective special teams players in the NFL and did it for eight seasons across two separate stints with the franchise.
The Falcons announced at the end of the post that the offensive team will be announced on July 20.
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