'It's Powerful': Inside How Falcons Player-Led Leadership Transforms Culture
Since arriving in Jan. 2021, Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot have stressed culture in the team building process.
Whether it be narrow wins in the regular season or holding players to a certain standard during training camp, culture and building an identity have been at the forefront of what Smith and Fontenot have tried to accomplish in their three off-season's together.
So, this spring, when the duo had a wealth of cap space to spend for the first time during their tenure, it's no surprise that passing the off-field aspect was a requisite for each of Atlanta's free agent additions.
But still, acquiring legitimate difference makers was, naturally, crucial - specifically to a pass rush that has just 39 sacks across the past two seasons, which ranks last in the league by 23 sacks ... to second-to-last alone.
And so, Smith and Fontenot looked, talked and recruited - and walked away with a strong defensive line class that features Calais Campbell, Bud Dupree and David Onyemata.
The first note about this trio is the pedigree with which they'll carry to Atlanta - Campbell is a six-time Pro Bowler; Dupree was on pace for back-to-back double-digit sack seasons before a torn ACL cut his year short and he just now feels that he's back to full health; Onyemata generated pressure on 10 percent of his pass rush attempts last year, which doubled the rate of Atlanta's entire defensive tackles group.
But more importantly, the 36-year-old Campbell and 30-year-olds Dupree and Onyemata bring tremendous locker room value - and Smith feels their leadership has already been on display in the short time they've been in Flowery Branch.
"Sometimes you bring in the wrong guy - you may have a perception out there that he's this great leader and the guy, his habits aren't very good or he's not really authentic," Smith said. "You better bring the right veterans in here, and Calais certainly fits that mold. It's real. We're glad he's here. Same thing about Bud Dupree - very happy with Bud.
"David Onyemata, another guy that's a veteran, brings a presence into that room. That's what I'm excited about."
Smith added that he feels these characteristics are "unique," which certainly only adds to his excitement when considering that Atlanta landed three players on the defensive front alone who embody those traits.
Better yet, they're not alone - toss in All-Pro defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who Smith said has "great leadership habits," and the Falcons have a bevy of players considered to be outstanding leaders up front.
The trend continues across the board.
Falcons second-year linebacker Troy Andersen praised his new counterpart, Kaden Elliss, for being a stellar human being and an even better resource for learning the playbook. On the backend, corner A.J. Terrell has taken on a leadership role as a fourth-year player and safety Jessie Bates has been a fixture in Atlanta's buildings.
Offensively, the Falcons love what left tackle Jake Matthews and right guard Chris Lindstrom bring to the table, be it the standard they've set with their conditioning or their ability to lead both vocally and by example.
Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder is only 23, but seemingly all of his teammates, past and present, have lauded his leadership. The same is true for running back Cordarrelle Patterson and extends to the special teams unit with kicker Younghoe Koo and punter Bradley Pinion.
As such, it's easy to see why Smith feels his team has a "good mix" of leaders, be it offensive or defensive, veterans or players still on their rookie contract.
Establishing a team that has strong leadership from the players has long been a focal point for Smith; the Falcons have had variations of it in years past, but this season, many of Atlanta's best - and highest-paid - players are those sharing their lessons.
Of course, the Falcons' coaching staff is filled with leaders and teachers. Specifically on the defensive front, there's line coach Lanier Goethie and analyst Dave Huxtable to go along with Smith and defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who coached the New Orleans Saints' defensive line for the past six seasons.
But still, things are simply different when they come from the mouths of the players rather than the coaches.
"It's powerful when those guys - they've done it, they can pass that down and their knowledge and their habits," Smith said, "and so we're excited."
Smith, now 40 years old, played collegiately at North Carolina and battled injuries throughout his career - he knows about the aches and pains that come with playing football, but also the ideas that can occupy the minds of young players.
"When you're 21, you probably think you only need a couple of hours of sleep and do whatever you want," Smith said. "As you get older, certainly you feel it at every different benchmark."
Last year, the Falcons had the second-youngest Week 1 roster in the NFL. By season's end, they had more players 26 years old or younger than anybody else. They were a young team who had several leaders and a tight-knit locker room, but there were numerous growing pains, as one would expect.
Take, for instance, Atlanta's week of preparation leading into Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Fresh off an impressive 28-14 victory over the undermanned but well-accomplished San Francisco 49ers, the Falcons were riding high.
The response? What proved to be a season-worst 18-point loss in which the defense allowed Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to throw for 481 yards, 345 of which came in the first half. It was the only game that Atlanta lost by more than two possessions all season.
During his press conference the day after, Smith said he was "annoyed" as he didn't feel the Falcons' focus was great early in the week coming off the win over San Francisco.
These types of things can happen during the grind of an 18-game season with an extremely young roster, but that's not the type of identity - or culture - that Smith wants to have. It's partially why he wasn't satisfied with what had been built and was so eager to keep adding this spring.
This is precisely where all of the newly added veterans like Campbell, Dupree and Onyemata enter the mix. Not only will this trio - in addition to the others - have a significant on-field impact, but they're unafraid to call out lapses in effort or performance as they see fit, which helps keep a consistent level of preparation that at times evaded the Falcons last season.
But this year could be different - as could those thereafter, thanks to the impressions that can be and already have been made by the veterans on the aforementioned young roster.
How so? As much off the field as on it, as Smith singled out professionalism, their approach to the job, training methods and how they can show young players what's truly important for having successful career.
"Those things pass down," Smith said. "It's important to get to sleep, it's important to create great habits now - recovery, nutrition. They're living proof of it. They can tell stories of great players who couldn't sustain it - maybe they didn't have the right habits. But that wisdom can be passed down if you have the right guys, and we feel that we do."
During exit interviews at the conclusion of this past season, several players lauded the locker room that Smith and Fontenot have established in Atlanta. There was always plenty of buy-in, but characters truly started to emerge, and life-long friendships grew.
Consider cornerback Isaiah Oliver; almost immediately after news broke of his signing with the 49ers, Oliver texted Falcons corner Dee Alford, passing the torch and telling him it was his turn to shine in the nickel.
Another such instance comes with defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham, who had dinner and spent considerable time with Smith, Fontenot and others during their private pre-draft workout with running back Bijan Robinson, a college teammate of Graham who ultimately became the Falcons' first-round pick.
Oliver didn't have to send the text or have Alford on his mind. Graham didn't have to go out of his way to spend time with the Falcons' staff. But both players did - which perhaps speaks louder than words ever could.
And Campbell, a 15-year veteran now with his fourth organization, has noticed, even though there's been just a few days of OTA sessions.
"It's a great environment," Campbell said. "I think there's a lot of guys that are hungry. I think that's the biggest thing - you see a lot of potential, but it really comes down to 'are guys willing to put the work in to be the best they can be?' And all of us as a whole, can we put the work in to really improve?
"But you just see the drive, the work ethic, and that's the fun part."
Campbell may be the best example of the depths of Atlanta's culture. When he was released by the Baltimore Ravens this spring, the Falcons weren't on his radar ... but he listened to Smith and Fontenot, he met with Nielsen, he saw film on Ridder and soaked in that "great environment" - and was persuaded.
The 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year, Campbell plans on being a difference maker in the community while chasing after his first Super Bowl ring, the last thing missing on a resume as large as his 6-8, 282-pound frame.
When asked about Campbell, Andersen touched on his ability as a football player ... but first and foremost touched on him being a "great human being."
This is the culture Smith and Fontenot envision - signing a player with an All-Pro background who had five and a half sacks and 14 quarterback hits, both of which would've ranked second on the Falcons last year, and yet, the focus is on the caliber of person they are.
Campbell has already set high expectations; he believes if Ridder takes the step he anticipates, the Falcons can make a deep postseason run - perhaps all the way to the Super Bowl. Individually, Campbell said he feels he can still be dominant at defensive end.
But another key focus? Leaving the Falcons better off than where they are now, starting with the time he'll spend this summer alongside Atlanta's young pass rushers, including Graham, defensive end Zach Harrison and outside linebackers Arnold Ebiketie and DeAngelo Malone.
"Sharing knowledge - 15 years is a long time, and I've accumulated a lot of knowledge during that, in all facets," Campbell said. "On the field, off the field. Pretty much every position I can give some kind of advice, but d-line especially, some of the young guys, you see a lot of potential in them and it's like I can't help myself, I've got to give my two cents.
"I let the coaches coach of course, but I wouldn't be myself if I didn't speak up and help guys where I could."
And really, this is what Smith has sought - real, authentic veteran leaders who don't have to force teaching ... and it just so happens that Campbell is one of several who fit the same mold.
It's long been said that leadership starts at the top, putting plenty of pressure on Smith's shoulders to set the right example ... and while he's certainly just fine doing that, having the right players in place to do the same makes his job that much easier.
The Falcons are still in the early stages of summer workouts and there remains plenty to figure out, but leadership and having the "right people" isn't one of them - Smith is very confident in the group he and Fontenot have assembled.
Perhaps more importantly, it's not some one-off instance; rather, this is an indication of the strength of Atlanta's player-finding process, starting with Smith and Fontenot and working throughout the personnel departments.
Just ask second-year receiver Drake London about it. Fresh off breaking the Falcons' rookie record with 72 receptions, London arrived at OTAs with several new faces in the receivers room; only KhaDarel Hodge, Frank Darby and Josh Ali from last year's group.
But London's found it easy to form relationships, flashing a bright smile when discussing free agent signings Scotty Miller and Mack Hollins while dishing praise towards Smith for his role in the additions both inside and out of the wideouts.
"It's just the men that Arthur Smith brings in here," London said. "We all have the same mindset and mentality and I think it just meshes really well."
London added that having the veteran presences helps "tremendously" as he continues to grow, noting that he can pick the brain of every player in the locker room and learn something valuable.
And if he wants to go to a coach, he can - the door is always open, the phone is always on. But there's also a wealth of experience across the roster for him to tap into.
Better yet, the same is true for every player, every position group; there's a consummate identity inside the walls of Flowery Branch that features talented players but perhaps even better individuals.
This is the team Smith and Fontenot wanted to build some 28 months ago, and it appears to have come to fruition. The next step is turning that vision into wins, with the Falcons seeking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season.
And if the ingredients to do so requires leadership, culture and position-by-position talent as they have since the initiation of the NFL, the Falcons appear well-equipped to bring that drought to a close.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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