When the Falcons added Dontari Poe to their defensive tackle rotation, it seemed to shore up a position that had been a relative weakness in 2017. With a grouping of Grady Jarrett, Poe, Ra’Shede Hageman, and Courtney Upshaw, plus more guys who could play inside, the Falcons figured to have a much deeper, more talented rotation than in the last couple of years.
Unfortunately, that dream ended quickly. Upshaw has been out for weeks with an injury, Hageman was cut just before the NFL formally suspended him, and the team has struggled mightily to stop the run.