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Atlanta Falcons Star Jessie Bates Eyes Top 5 Defense

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Atlanta Falcons Star Jessie Bates Eyes Top 5 Defense


FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ defense is surrounded by as many questions as new faces in high places entering this fall.

Atlanta is coming off a substantially improved defensive effort in 2023 during which it finished No. 8 league-wide in passing yards allowed, No. 11 in total yards, No. 18 in scoring and No. 20 in run defense.

But the architecture of that unit – defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen – is gone, accepting the same role with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, Atlanta’s top two sack collectors from last season, signed elsewhere in free agency. Each position group has a new coach.

With change comes uncertainty – but Falcons safety Jessie Bates III, the unit’s lone Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection last year, isn’t letting the standard slip. Instead, Bates has set the bar even higher.

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“Our goal for 2024 as a defense is to be top five in every single category,” Bates said during OTAs. “That’s the goal.”

That mission works hand in hand with another: Winning games. Bates said he felt like last season, the Falcons put together good games but let up at the end.

From Weeks 9-15, the Falcons suffered defeats to the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers. Each of the losses occurred after Atlanta’s defense allowed scores inside the final minute.

The Falcons ultimately finished the season 7-10, two games behind the NFC South-winning Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bates recognizes this, and he feels a sense of urgency to turn the tide in 2024.

“We let offenses score in critical situations, and I think that’s where we have to get better as a defense – being able to close out games,” Bates said.

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Atlanta’s defense, led by new coordinator Jimmy Lake, returns several key players from last season, starting in the secondary with Bates and cornerback A.J. Terrell. At linebacker, Kaden Elliss, Nate Landman and Troy Andersen form a trio that first-year head coach Raheem Morris creates an “awesome problem” to figure out who gets snaps.

On the defensive front, the Falcons have a stout interior line, headlined by Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata. During the four-loss stretch of last-minute heartbreaking, Jarrett watched from his couch, unavailable to play due to a season-ending ACL tear suffered in Week 8.

The Falcons are once again facing pass rush questions but are optimistic that outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie, who had six sacks as a second-year pro in 2023, can take a step forward. The same applies for rising second-year defensive end Zach Harrison, who had three sacks and four tackles for loss in his final-three appearances as a rookie.

But while there’s uncertainty rushing the passer and at starting spots next to both Bates and Terrell, there’s little doubt in this: Atlanta expects to be playing from the lead often in 2024.

With an offense spearheaded by new quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Falcons are heavy favorites to win the NFC South. To deliver on the hype, their defense needs to do what it didn’t last season: Finish.

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“Having an elite quarterback like Kirk, we’re going to put some points on the board,” Bates said. “So, being able to defend the lead and take over a game as a defense is something we’ll continue to harp on and get better at.”



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Atlanta, GA

Good Day Atlanta viewer information: July 4, 2024

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Good Day Atlanta viewer information: July 4, 2024


Featured guests and segments on Good Day Atlanta:

Emma Roberts stars in “Space Cadet”: In the grand tradition of fish-out-of-water comedies like “Private Benjamin” and “Legally Blonde” comes the new Prime Video release “Space Cadet,” starring Emma Roberts as a young woman reaching for the stars … literally.

Written and directed by Liz W. Garcia, “Space Cadet” stars Roberts as wannabe astronaut Tiffany “Rex” Simpson, whose plans for space travel were grounded when she was forced to skip out on a full-ride scholarship to Georgia Tech. Years later, aided by her a-little-too-supportive best friend Nadine (played by the hilarious Poppy Liu), Rex ends up at NASA’s astronaut training program — where she’s not about to let a little thing like fake credentials stop her from blasting off into space!

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Fourth of July fireworks safety: Whether you plan on setting off your own fireworks or are attending someone else’s celebration, safety should be your top priority. Before you light up the sky, Jeff Brandenburg has some advice for you.

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Chef Jernard Wells cooks up some Fourth of July nachos: Chef Jernard Wells knows how to put the “soul” in soul food, and he’s celebrating the Fourth of July with some amazing red, white, and blue nachos.

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Alfonso Ribeiro hosts ‘A Capitol Fourth’: The Capitol Building will be lit up in red, white, and blue fireworks for the annual “A Capitol Fourth” celebration. TV legend Alfonso Ribeiro is hosting this year, and he chatted with Eric Perry about the music, spectacle, and special focus of today’s broadcast.

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Discovery Channel Shark Week 2024: Discovery Channel is bringing some of the most intense and incredible underwater encounters you’ll ever see on this year’s Shark Week. Natalie McCann got a chance to hear how shark experts Dr. Austin Gallagher and Liv Dixon are going on these dangerous deep-sea expeditions.

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Atlanta police investigating triple shooting that killed 2 young teens, $50K reward available

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Atlanta police investigating triple shooting that killed 2 young teens, $50K reward available


Atlanta authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in connection with a triple shooting on Tuesday that left two 13-year-old boys dead and an 11-year-old wounded.

Lamon Freeman, who was supposed to turn 14 years old on Tuesday, and Ja’Kody Davis, 13, were both killed after being struck by bullets in the Oakland City neighborhood, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

The 11-year-old boy who was shot is Ja’Kody’s younger brother, Dontavious Davis, and is in the hospital in “stable condition,” per Atlanta police.

ATLANTA BUS HIJACKING SUSPECT HAD 19 PRIOR ARRESTS, MENTAL ILLNESSES, FAMILY SAYS

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Lamon Freeman (left), 13, and Ja’Kody Davis (right), 13, were shot and killed at an apartment complex in Atlanta’s Oakland City neighborhood after midnight on Tuesday, according to Atlanta police. (Contributed by family via FOX 5 ATL)

Atlanta police said officers responded to an apartment complex located at 1043 Sparks Street SW at around 12:36 a.m. on Tuesday following reports of juveniles shot. When officers arrived at the location, three young boys were found with gunshot wounds.

Grady EMS pronounced one of the 13-year-old boys dead at the scene while the other 13-year-old died later at the hospital.

ATLANTA POLICE RELEASE BODYCAM VIDEO OF JUDGE’S ARREST AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY PUSHED OFFICER

Homicide Unit Commander Lt. Andrew Smith told reporters at the scene Tuesday morning that the shooting did not take place inside an apartment, but in a stairwell outside individual residences.

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Davis brothers

Ja’Kody Davis (right) was killed in the shooting while his 11-year-old brother, Dontavious (left), was wounded. (Contributed by family via FOX 5 ATL)

Police have not released a motive for the shooting, if any, or any further details surrounding what led up to it.

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No suspects are in custody in connection with the triple shooting, but a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest is being offered by Crime Stoppers of Greater Atlanta and Atlanta police’s Homicide Unit.

Tips can be sent to Atlanta detectives at 404-546-4235 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.



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Atlanta Braves Shut Out as MLB Reveals All-Star Game Starters

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Atlanta Braves Shut Out as MLB Reveals All-Star Game Starters


While the Atlanta Braves took the field at Truist Park for Wednesday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, Major League Baseball was busy with its own work: Releasing the list of starters for the 2024 All-Star Game.

And when the list became finalized, the Braves were officially left without a starting position player for the first time since 2017.

Here’s a look at the National League starters …

C: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers

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1B: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies

3B: Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

OF: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers; Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

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DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Last year the Braves set a franchise record with eight-total selections. They had three All-Star starters in catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., while five others – first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies, third baseman Austin Riley and pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder – were selected as reserves.

Atlanta has several candidates to make the game this year, headlined by designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, starters Reynaldo Lopez, Chris Sale and Max Fried and reliever Jesse Chavez.

Of note, one NL starter – Contreras – has Braves ties, as the now-Milwaukee standout played in 153 games from 2020-22 for Atlanta, earning an All-Star nod in his final year. He was traded to the Brewers in Dec. 2022 as a part of a three-team trade that brought Murphy to Atlanta.

MLB All-Star reserves and pitchers will be announced at 5:30 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN. The 2024 MLB All-Star game is scheduled for July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

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