How J.D. Bertrand fits with the Atlanta Falcons
How J.D. Bertrand fits with the Atlanta Falcons
“Get your little Captain America ass up here and let’s get to work.”
An always exuberant Raheem Morris said to Notre Dame’s J.D. Bertrand after the Atlanta Falcons selected him with the 143rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Bertrand is an Alpharetta, Georgia native, so you know Falcons GM Terry Fontenot had a peach next to J.D.’s name on their draft board. The Notre Dame product had an extremely productive college career, playing in 50 games and totaling an impressive 266 tackles during his time in South Bend.
Bertrand’s productivity led to an invite down to Mobile, Alabama to compete in Senior Bowl practices. There, he caught the eyes of scouts and was named the top linebacker on the American team, an award voted on by offensive linemen and running backs who competed in practices with Bertrand. Despite strong numbers, and being named a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, Bertrand’s a player not many are overly familiar with, so I decided to dig deeper and find out how he fits with the Falcons.
Where Will He Play?
J.D. Bertrand projects as an inside linebacker for Jimmy Lake’s base defense. He’s shown enough versatility to fill in at the Mike or Will linebacker position in Lake’s odd front and played both spots with the Fighting Irish. He’ll likely be preferred as the Mike, where he settled in at as a senior, and played his best football. There, he can diagnose plays and shoot downhill to make stops. There’s also green dot potential with Bertrand. He’s experienced and smart enough to call plays on the field for the defense.
When describing J.D. Bertrand, Terry Fontenot used the term “four-down player”. That’s where J.D. Bertrand will make his mark early. He has an intense enough makeup to excel in that area. Whether it’s as a gunner on kickoff or punt coverage, a rusher on field goal units, or a blocker in the return game, there’s no doubt Bertrand will earn his keep in that third of the game.
Where Is He Good At?
Bertrand’s instincts instantly stand out when grinding through his tape. It’s obvious he spends plenty of time in the film room, as he tends to see plays before they develop, and is usually in the right spot at the right time. He has a natural nose for the football leading Notre Dame in tackles for three consecutive seasons. His football intelligence stands out, as he was tasked with making sure his teammates were lined up in the right spots and knew their assignments. With 61 career pressures (per PFF) to his name, Bertrand showed he can be an effective blitzer when called upon. He’s not going to beat any tackles around the edge, but times the snap well enough to shoot through gaps and move quarterbacks off their spot. “Well-rounded” is a fair term to describe J.D.’s game. There aren’t any glaring weaknesses.
What Does He Need To Improve?
Most of Bertrand’s shortcomings are due to his lack of athleticism and length, which unfortunately isn’t something that can be fixed. At 24 years old, he’s more likely than not capped out in that area. Most noticeably, his lack of speed stands out and puts a cap on the range he can cover. There are, however areas Bertrand can still improve in to reach his ceiling as a football player.
Missed tackles were an issue for J.D. during his college career. Improving his angles could help offset this negative, and help put him in a more favorable position where he won’t find himself lunging at opposing ball carriers. In coverage, Bertrand simply doesn’t have the speed or length to man up against backs and tight ends. He’s simply not that type of linebacker. Still, he’s a smart enough ball player where improving the depth in his drops can keep the action in front of him. He’s at his worst when chasing and trying to make up lost ground.
Why He Fits
By now we should all be familiar with the term “ethos”, as Terry Fontenot has used it repeatedly when describing the makeup he looks for in his players. J.D. was a two-time team captain at Notre Dame, a Georgia native, and the type of guy every coach wants in his locker room. The kid eats, sleeps, and breathes football. As for the kind of man he is? High character. Bertrand penned a personal letter to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, thanking him for the opportunity. “While unexpected and certainly unnecessary, it was a nice gesture by a mature young man who I’m confident will outperform wherever he gets drafted.” Nagy tweeted afterward.
I believe Bertrand’s early career path could look similar to his new teammate Nate Landman. A backup linebacker who when called upon can enter the lineup and fill in admirably while racking up tackles. Bertrand may not offer Pro Bowl upside as a prospect, but his off-field intangibles and four-down ability could aid him in carving out a long NFL career. Expect him to begin his Falcon’s tenure as a core special teamer.