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How Brandon Dorlus fits in with the Atlanta Falcons

Theo

Fort Lauderdale’s Brandon Dorlus was arguably the most famous pick in Atlanta’s 2024 draft class. Fans and analysts applauded the front office for getting what many thought was a bargain at pick 109 — and I’m inclined to agree.

While many fans wanted to hear a passer come off the board early, Atlanta may have still gotten one of the most talented in the draft.

Versatility was the theme of the Falcons’ 2024 Day 2 and 3 Draft, and no player exemplifies that more than the 6’3″, 283 lb. DT.

Where will he play

From 2021 to 2023, PFF mapped the roster for all 1,903 Dorlus snaps, and what stands out is the near-perfect split between the 3-5 tech lineups. Dorlus played 36% of those snaps in the B space as a 3-tech, 26% of his snaps at the tackle as a 4i, and 35% came out of the tackle primarily as a 5-tech.

This distribution supports my view that Dorlus is a versatile player but not a true interior defensive lineman. This is not a knock on the player; just 2% of his snaps took place in the A-gap, and Atlanta also invested in other resources like fellow rookies Ruke Orhorhoro and Zion Logue and free agent signing LaCale London to handle those duties.

What is it good for

At Oregon, Dorlus was a true versatile player who didn’t have many weaknesses, but he really shined in the pass rush.

Gaining on the outside shoulder of the offensive lineman is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about Dorlus’ play. The 4i places Dorlus on the inside shoulder of the tackle. After watching the film, Dorlus does most of his damage by attacking the OG’s outside shoulder from this alignment.

Dorlus showed this same ability from the 5-tech alignment, attacking the outside shoulder of the OT. In 2023, Dorlus finished the season with a 10.5% win rate, placing him in the top quartile among all defensive linemen to take more than 300 snaps per PFF.

Where does he need to improve

Where Dorlus has the most room to grow is the running game. He starts with a good foundation but needs to further solidify his game if he wants to succeed in the rotation consistently.

Although Dorlus displays natural balance and a sense of space, he can sometimes become a little overconfident in his abilities and abandon his technique and responsibilities.

Dorlus has a tendency to get too high when he starts going over blocks and will sometimes be out of position. However, having a natural feel to the game is a good thing, so you want to avoid overcorrecting and removing one more attribute. The task of the defensive staff will be to help Dorlus better use his natural gifts while reigning in his bad habits.

Why it is suitable

It should be obvious at this point, but Dorlus fills a legitimate need in this defense. He can play the 3-5 tech alignments, has the skills to play multiple fronts, such as the highly anticipated Mint and Tite fronts, and has a proven track record of producing pass rushing.

Dorlus has the relative athleticism that Terry Fontenot looked for in the past. There is even a coaching connection. During the Morris Interim-HC year, Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi was Atlanta’s defensive line coach and running game coordinator.

As reported by Daniel Flick, Morris reached out and liked what Lupoi had to say, boosting the new staff’s confidence in the player.

Dorlus even led all PAC-12 DLs with 9 passes defended, which was also 7th best among all defenses in the conference, so he might even be suitable for the defensive back position.

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