Falcons Joey Mbu Making The Most Of His Chances

ATLANTA, Ga.—The Falcons will play their first preseason game of 2015, when they host the Tennessee Titans tonight inside the Georgia Dome. The fans will no doubt be looking at the defensive line for increased production this season.

One name that you may not know is rookie undrafted free agent Joey Mbu out of the University of Houston. The defensive tackle has made the most of his opportunities so far in Flowery Branch. In fact on the first released depth chart of 2015, he is listed as a second team defensive tackle.

Not many undrafted free agents get their chance to show what they can do with the second team and Mbu has earned it according to his position coach Bryan Cox.

“We got Joey Mbu, a rookie free agent nose tackle guy that has stepped up,” Cox said. “(He’s) looking the part. It will be interesting to see once we get into playing some of these games and get further into training camp. Will they tail off or will they ascend?”

The former Houston Cougar ended his career as an American Athletic Conference First Team selection in 2014. During his with the Cougars Mbu racked up 92 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, eight passes defensed, four sacks, and two interceptions while playing the majority of his career for defensive coordinator David Gibbs.

The last name mentioned should sound familiar; because he is a former Houston Texans defensive backs coach and the son of former Falcons offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. His father is a huge proponent of the offensive blocking scheme the Falcons are using now, with the ‘zone-blocking’ scheme.

Mbu has taken what he was able to do at Houston and brought it to Falcons training camp. He tips his cap to the man who paid him the compliment here in Atlanta.

“I’m just coming in and learning what he’s trying to teach me,” Mbu said. “No matter if it’s different from what I learned in college for four years or its new, I’m just trying to go by his technique. Plus, each night I’ve learned and watched film with the older guys to see what I’ve done wrong.”

As mentioned Mbu was not drafted this past spring, despite the fact he took part in both the East/West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. There is motivation for him, but it doesn’t come in the form of a “chip on his shoulder.”

“It hurt,” Mbu said. “But at the same time, Coach Cox talked to me about that. It doesn’t matter when you get the call or doesn’t matter if you get it. When you get it, when you come to camp you’ve have to prove anything like anybody else. I’ve got to understand in the back of my head that I don’t have as much leeway as the other guys, but if I make an impact that’s all that really matters.”

As mentioned earlier, Mbu played for a former NFL assistant coach while in college. He says that practices at Houston were harder than the games and that prepared him to play for the Falcons. New head coach Dan Quinn has made it well-known that he wanted to make practice as close to a game as possible. That said, he believes this has helped Mbu adjust to his style.

“He knows how to practice, Quinn said. “I’m sure for him having that background, of somebody that’s had that experience of ‘hey, here’s some things you might expect.’ I would think it would help.”

When you head to the game or watch it on TV tonight, look for number 74 a little later into the game. You might just get to see what has impressed both Bryan Cox and Dan Quinn so far.

ATLANTA, Ga.—The Falcons will play their first preseason game of 2015, when they host the Tennessee Titans tonight inside the Georgia Dome. The fans will no doubt be looking at the defensive line for increased production this season.

One name that you may not know is rookie undrafted free agent Joey Mbu out of the University of Houston. The defensive tackle has made the most of his opportunities so far in Flowery Branch. In fact on the first released depth chart of 2015, he is listed as a second team defensive tackle.

Not many undrafted free agents get their chance to show what they can do with the second team and Mbu has earned it according to his position coach Bryan Cox.

“We got Joey Mbu, a rookie free agent nose tackle guy that has stepped up,” Cox said. “(He’s) looking the part. It will be interesting to see once we get into playing some of these games and get further into training camp. Will they tail off or will they ascend?”

The former Houston Cougar ended his career as an American Athletic Conference First Team selection in 2014. During his with the Cougars Mbu racked up 92 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, eight passes defensed, four sacks, and two interceptions while playing the majority of his career for defensive coordinator David Gibbs.

The last name mentioned should sound familiar; because he is a former Houston Texans defensive backs coach and the son of former Falcons offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. His father is a huge proponent of the offensive blocking scheme the Falcons are using now, with the ‘zone-blocking’ scheme.

Mbu has taken what he was able to do at Houston and brought it to Falcons training camp. He tips his cap to the man who paid him the compliment here in Atlanta.

“I’m just coming in and learning what he’s trying to teach me,” Mbu said. “No matter if it’s different from what I learned in college for four years or its new, I’m just trying to go by his technique. Plus, each night I’ve learned and watched film with the older guys to see what I’ve done wrong.”

As mentioned Mbu was not drafted this past spring, despite the fact he took part in both the East/West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl. There is motivation for him, but it doesn’t come in the form of a “chip on his shoulder.”

“It hurt,” Mbu said. “But at the same time, Coach Cox talked to me about that. It doesn’t matter when you get the call or doesn’t matter if you get it. When you get it, when you come to camp you’ve have to prove anything like anybody else. I’ve got to understand in the back of my head that I don’t have as much leeway as the other guys, but if I make an impact that’s all that really matters.”

As mentioned earlier, Mbu played for a former NFL assistant coach while in college. He says that practices at Houston were harder than the games and that prepared him to play for the Falcons. New head coach Dan Quinn has made it well-known that he wanted to make practice as close to a game as possible. That said, he believes this has helped Mbu adjust to his style.

“He knows how to practice, Quinn said. “I’m sure for him having that background, of somebody that’s had that experience of ‘hey, here’s some things you might expect.’ I would think it would help.”

When you head to the game or watch it on TV tonight, look for number 74 a little later into the game. You might just get to see what has impressed both Bryan Cox and Dan Quinn so far.