FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When Jeff Ulbrich took over as the Falcons next defensive coordinator back in January, the first thing he did was evaluate the players on the roster he knew he'd have at the ready come the 2025 season. As he went through the tape, he saw a theme. There were a lot of players who were these versatile pieces. Jack of all trades, if you will.
In Ulbrich's mind, though, he weighed the consequences of those players who specialized in so much. If they could do a little bit of everything, were they masters of nothing? Right then and there — very early on his evaluations — Ulbrich vowed that while he would lean on their versatile skillsets from time to time, he would expect them to master someone, one thing.
When you think of players on the Falcons 53-man roster who fall into this category you may think Kaden Elliss. A versatile inside linebacker who has made a name for himself rushing the passed from the first and second levels of the defense. Most recently, you may think of Jalon Walker, the Georgia product who did a little bit of everything in Kirby's Smart defense in 2024. Someone you may not think about is DeAngelo Malone.
Malone was the Falcons' third round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft; the pick that the Falcons acquired in the trade of Matt Ryan to Indianapolis. No pressure, huh?
Hailing from Western Kentucky, Malone was a relatively unknown commodity to the masses. Yes, he was the the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, but in a 2022 draft that featured one of the deepest defensive classes of recent memory, the outside linebacker from Western Kentucky's name didn't draw much attention. That's OK. He was never one for wanting that.
Still, Malone did what he could for the Falcons since joining the fold in 2022. He made a way for himself on special teams. That was where Malone thrived, because with new defensive coordinators and systems churning through Atlanta throughout the last few years, it's been difficult for someone like Malone to find any footing defensively. The plan for him was always a bit vague. That is, until Ulbrich became the defensive coordinator this winter hell bent on finding versatile players a specific role to master.
While reviewing his tape, Ulbrich saw Malone do a little bit of everything over the years. He was working off the edge, blitzing and then, only in recent tape, working off the ball. It was the latter that caught Ulbrich's attention. And thus, an idea was born.
"I made a concerted effort this offseason to say you're going to become a stack linebacker first," Ulbrich said about his vision for Malone, "and then we will start to toy around with some other stuff."
This plan showed up in obvious fashion in last Friday's preseason game against the Detroit Lions in which Malone took all of his first-half snaps from the inside linebacker position before moving to the edge in the second half for a more traditional pass rush look. Though Malone had been working both throughout training camp practices the last few weeks — and even if he did so sparingly at the tail end of the 2024 season, too — it was still notable to see him working at both positions in a real-time, game situation.
"DeLo was awesome in the game," Raheem Morris said. "We played him at inside linebacker in the first half of the game and then the second half of the game we pulled some of those guys — whether it be Jalon (Walker) or James (Pearce Jr.) — and we were able to put DeLo out there at the outside backer position and so some of the rushing things from the outside edge and he was absolutely phenomenal."
Over the years, it has been safe to assume that Malone's value on special teams is what's kept him from churning off of the 53-man roster. Something the Falcons are doing right now is adding value to Malone's status on this team by making him a viable piece of depth in a couple avenues that he wasn't before.
Morris said the coaches always consider Malone to be "a starter" on special teams. That's his bread and butter.
"He is our barnyard bully when it comes to special teams," Morris said.
But when a 53-man roster is as contentious as this one? The value can't just be special teams focused. It has to be team-wide, which is why Ulbrich saw fit to cross train Malone. And again, it isn't unlike what he is asking of others.
"Kaden Elliss had the same ask," Ulbrich explained. "His super power has been his versatility, but its really cool to see him emerging as a legitimate stack linebacker in this league — an upper echelon one. Now, you add that to all of the other stuff he can do as far as blitzing internally, taking on big backs, coming off the edge, all the stuff that he does, it's really cool. It's the same thing we have with Jalon Walker — a guy who throughout his career at Georgia did a lot of different things but we are really trying to develop him as an edge rusher. Now, saying that, we're still going to take advantage of his versatility and we are going to have packages that will feature some of the special stuff that he does."
For Malone, he jokes its a lot easier going forward than it is backward (alluding to rushing the passer as opposed to potentially dropping into coverage as an inside linebacker). But at the end of the day, he says, it's all the same concept: Disrupt. And in that he feels he can thrive.
"Don't overthink it," he said. "Just shoot the gap."
Take a look at the best photos from our second joint practice facing the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Leonard Floyd #56 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Ford Jr. #28 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back DeMarcco Hellams #23 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. #16 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Ronnie Harrison #36 and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Josh Woods #42 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge #4 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 and Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo #6 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V #87 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jesse Matthews #86 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III #34 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Jashaun Corbin #30 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Dylan Drummond #81 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jesse Matthews #86 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver David Sills V #87 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Ronnie Harrison #38 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair #19 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Casey Washington #82 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Jashaun Corbin #30 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss #55 during practice at AT&T Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #20 during joint practice with the Tennessee Titans during the 2025 AT&T Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
