Having a quality defense on paper to start the season is one thing. Persevering the marathon of an NFL season and continuing to play sound defense despite injuries and offensive letdowns is another.
The Atlanta Falcons defense ranks 10th in expected points added per play and fourth in success rate. It buoyed an offense dealing with questionable play calling and quarterback play and is ultimately the reason a pipe-dream playoff run is even possible. In large part, that’s a testament to Atlanta’s part-time players and a next-man-up mentality.
Few on this Atlanta defense embody that more than safety DeMarcco Hellams.
A seventh-round rookie, Hellams has largely been a depth piece for Atlanta, playing about a dozen snaps per game during the first half of the season. Since Week 12, though, he’s started two of the Falcons’ four games and been one of the better performers on a unit averaging 15.25 points allowed since the bye week.
Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen isn’t surprised by the rookie’s growth.
“He’s got a great football mind,” Nielsen said. “He’s very aware on the football field. Can anticipate things … He learned the defense and then just stayed patient but pushed himself to learn everything even though he’s a good mental-rep guy. He’s watching, he’s learning, and then all of a sudden – very similar – he got his opportunity and went out and made a play.”
Hellams is yet to force a turnover, but he’s been all over the field, stacking 27 tackles and a quarterback hit in his limited action. It’s safe to say fans can expect to see more of him, especially with incumbent safety Richie Grant logging just seven snaps in Week 15’s loss to the Carolina Panthers.
His story isn’t too dissimilar to linebacker Nate Landman, who has broken out in his second season after signing as an undrafted free agent.
“I think where he got drafted and his story and how he’s come to where he is right now, it's very similar to Nate in that he just kept working and learning the defense,” Nielsen said. “It is a very similar path that he’s taken in terms of when we started.”
Hellams’ play in limited doses was encouraging enough for Nielsen to entrust him with additional playing time. He hasn’t missed a tackle since Week 7 and seems to get better week-over-week. Amongst the frustration of this season, finding additional building blocks for whatever is in store for next year remains some semblance of solace.
“You felt good about the depth before the season started,” Nielsen concluded. “Things have happened, and they’ve both gotten their opportunity and made the most of them.”
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