Bleacher ReportUnearthing Every NFL Team's Early Hidden Gem in 2022
Atlanta Falcons: LB Mykal Walker
The Atlanta Falcons have plenty of question marks dotting their rebuilding roster, but they may have found a linebacker worth building around in Mykal Walker.
After seeing action sparingly during his first two years in the league, the Fresno State product stepped into a full-time starting role this season.
He’s making the most of his expanded workload—Walker has played all 194 of Atlanta’s defensive snaps after logging just 193 in 17 games last year—by notching 22 tackles, two pass defenses, an interception and a sack.
Walker is also capitalizing on the opportunity he’s received to be a leader in this defense. Head coach Arthur Smith spoke about why he decided to make the 25-year-old his on-field defensive play-caller (via Scott Bair of AtlantaFalcons.com):
"We had a lot of faith in him, the way he developed last year and the games that he had to play in there, especially stack linebacker behind the ball. Now, he has the green dot, he's continued to develop. I like his football IQ and he's making plays; he made a hell of a play [against the Rams] on the interception".
Walker should only improve with more experience. If the plays he’s made through the first three games of the season are any indication of the direction his career is going, the Falcons found a gem with their fourth-round pick in 2020.
Atlanta Falcons 2022 Season Game Thread
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Re: Atlanta Falcons 2022 Season Game Thread
Passing Game has hit some speed bumps?
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I'm not for the Falcons winning this season, but they should give Mariota more designed QB runs to help him loosen up more.
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Sadly, we should be 3-1.
Injuries or not, I hope we surprise Tampa Bay. Go Falcons
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Poor Matt Ryan. He ended up on a team with an even worse O-Line than those past Falcons teams...
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Mariota having another underwhelming performance...
Might be worth giving Ridder an opportunity.
Might be worth giving Ridder an opportunity.
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Good lose. Falcons can't afford any more wins. Atlanta is going to feel alot better when Carter, Anderson, or Ringo suit up in black and red in 2023.
With that said, its obvious now that Mariota is not an NFL caliber QB, he is more of a 3rd stringer at this point.
With that said, its obvious now that Mariota is not an NFL caliber QB, he is more of a 3rd stringer at this point.
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Luck and Rivers experienced the same. Matt Ryan is doomedJamaaliver wrote:Poor Matt Ryan. He ended up on a team with an even worse O-Line than those past Falcons teams...
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I don't believe it had anything to do with Tua. The league has been changing rules for Tom Brady, and it's all about him, not Too.Jamaaliver wrote:
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