Falcons anxious to improve defense

Indianapolis — Falcons head coach Mike Smith admits his defense has holes to fill. There could be more in a week.

Five defensive starters from last season — Grady Jackson, Keith Brooking, Michael Boley, Domonique Foxworth and Lawyer Milloy — will be become free agents on Feb. 27.

“We definitely have some holes to fill on our football team,” Smith said Thursday from the NFL scouting combine. “We are going to take a good strong look on the defensive side of the football. But we’re not going to say that we are going strictly defense [in free agency and the draft].”

The Falcons have prioritized their free agents and are working to sign some of them. It’s unlikely that they will be able to get all of the deals done before Feb. 27. Brooking appears to be a top priority.

“I know that [GM] Thomas [Dimitroff] and Keith’s representatives are talking,” Smith said. “This week is a big, big week in terms of trying to get things done.”

Smith’s master plan to improve the defense starts with the defensive line.

“That’s an area that we would like to address,” Smith said.

The two solid starters on the line are defensive end John Abraham and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who signed a five-year extension in November. Reserve end Chauncey Davis, an upcoming free agent, wants to be a starter.

The Falcons may have to replace Jackson’s girth next to Babineaux.

“Jonathan plays bigger than he measures,” Smith said. “He really does. He’s a disruptive guy. You either want to be able to disrupt the line of scrimmage or gobble up two blockers.”

If Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler, and Boley sign elsewhere the team’s linebacking corps would be gutted. Reserve linebacker Tony Gilbert is also a potential free agent.

The Falcons are ready for middle linebacker Curtis Lofton to anchor the unit.

“I thought he played, very well as a rookie,” Smith said. “He was the signal caller, setting up our defense.”

Stephen Nicholas, who the Falcons used as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end in some passing situations, will get a chance to compete for a starting spot. He was drafted as a weakside linebacker, but lined up on the strongside last season.

“Stephen will be a guy that will be competing for a starting position this year,” Smith said. “This will be his third year and second year in our system.”

Foxworth was the team’s top cornerback after being acquired from Denver and Milloy has spent the last three seasons with the Falcons. His leadership helped the young unit last season.

The secondary has to cut down on giving up plays over 20 yards and improve on creating turnovers.

“They did a nice job with the PBUs (pass breakups),” Smith said. “We would like to see the interceptions and the turnovers increase.”

Smith would like the option of playing more man-to-man coverage. The Falcons predominantly played zone last season.

“It just a matter of what you are trying to defend,” Smith said. “The man or zone question is not necessarily about your defenders, but how you have to stop your opponent.”