Raiders vs. Falcons, Week 6: Jonathan Babineaux showing signs of improvement

Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux has shown steady improvement in recent weeks – at least, according to the folks at Pro Football Focus.

Ben Stockwell observed that Babineaux's run defense in particular has improved in recent weeks:

[Babineaux] has particularly struggled in run defense, and was sporting a minus-4.7 overall grade entering Week 4. This week however, we saw the more impactful Babineaux that we are used to seeing. His run defense was more solid for the second week in a row – including a holding penalty against Trent Williams – but it was in the passing game where he was most active as Babineaux doubled his season sack count. He beat Kory Lichtensteiger to the inside for his first, and also collected a hurry in pursuit and another hit off of Lichtensteiger on a play where he smartly used John Abraham as a pick to get free to the outside.

Babineaux is in his eighth year with the Falcons. Through just five games in 2012, Babineaux has recorded 2.5 sacks, just 3.5 shy of his career high of six, set in 2009.

Atlanta will hope Babineaux continues to improve this week, as the Falcons get ready to take on Darren McFadden and the Oakland Raiders.