The Falcons are counting on Osi Umenyiora to produce this year.
But he’s also trying to teach a young group as fast as he can, too.
The veteran free agent addition told the team’s official website he sees potential in a group which includes four rookies.
“It’s my job to help them,” Umenyiora said. “I don’t have too much longer. It’s unlikely I’ll play another 10 years. All I can do is give them all the knowledge that I have now and try to make them better. They’re my younger brothers.”
His younger, less accomplished brothers.
Other than Umenyiora, the only other end on the Falcons roster with an NFL sack is Kroy Biermann (16.5 in five seasons). But between Jonathan Massaquoi and draft picks Malliciah Goodman and Stansly Maponga, they hope there is enough potential to groom some help.
“They’re maturing,” Umenyiora said. “They’re maturing very, very fast. Malliciah (Goodman) is a good player. (Jonathan) Massaquoi is very good also. These are going to be tremendous football players in this league.”
They better hurry, or there might be more of a burden on Umenyiora than he’s had to handle in recent years, when he played with other good rushers in New York.