FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff have taken a very precise and deliberate approach to reshaping the team's roster.
They’ve blocked out the noise from the team’s deep Twitter GM posse. Most have not been impressed with the team’s solid football moves.
“I’m not concerned about winning free agency,” Quinn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz on Friday. “What’s best for our team is having the right group of guys and how they can best connect and how hard they play for each other. Specifically, what can we have a guy do on our team? All these guys we’re adding, that’s just it. We’re not asking them to do something different. So, I’m not too concerned about the outside.”
The signing of speedy linebacker Justin Durant was lauded by Peter King in MMQB.SI.Com
1. I think the most underrated signing Tuesday was Atlanta's deal with linebacker Justin Durant, a rangy, attacking, highly instinctive sideline-to-sideline player … when healthy. In October last year, I remember Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli singing Durant's praises; he said he thought that if Durant continued on the path he was headed he'd be a defensive player of the year candidate. But Durant missed the final 10 games last year with a torn right biceps, after missing six with Dallas in 2013 because of a nagging hamstring, and so his market value, at 29, was tarnished. It's a big "if" whether he stays healthy, of course, but if so, new coach Dan Quinn's got himself a terrific defensive leader and player.
Free agent signee Mike Person is projected to take over at left guard for Justin Blalock.
Former Seattle defensive end O'Brien Schofield is being listed as an outside linebacker by the team.
Dezmen Southward is set to get his shot at free safety, which Charles Godfrey as a veteran backup.
Levine Toilolo is at tight end backed up my Mickey Shuler and Kyle Miller for now. The Falcons were not able to sign Niles Paul or Lance Kendricks in free agency. Rob Housler, a pass-catching tight end, visited on Friday.
Here’s what the projected depth chart looks like after the first week of free agency:
DEPTH CHART
DEFENSE
DE - Adrian Clayborn, Malliciah Goodman, Cliff Matthews
DT -- Paul Soliai, Ricky Havili-Heimuli
DT –- Jonathan Babineaux, Tyson Jackson
DE -- Ra'Shede Hagemen, Stansly Maponga
SLB -- Brooks Reed, Prince Shembo, Jacques Smith
MLB -- Paul Worrilow, Nate Stupar
WLB -- Justin Durant, O'Brien Schofield, Marquis Spruill/Joplo Bartu, Allen Bradford, Tyler Starr
LCB -- Desmond Trufant, Jordan Mabin, Brandan Bishop
SS -- William Moore, Kemal Ishmael, Sean Baker
FS – Dezmen Southward, Charles Godfrey, Zeke Motta
RCB -- Robert Alford, Ricardo Allen
NCB -- Phillip Adams, Ricardo Allen, Dezmen Southward
OFFENSE
WR -- Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson, Freddie Martino, Nick Williams
TE -- Levine Toilolo, Mickey Shuler, Kyle Miller
RT – Jake Matthews, Ryan Schraeder, Reid Fragel
RG -- Jon Asamoah, Peter Konz
C -- Joe Hawley, James Stone, Peter Konz
LG -- Mike Person, Harland Gunn, Adam Replogle
LT -- Sam Baker, Lamar Holmes
WR -- Julio Jones, Devin Hester, Eric Weems, Bernard Reedy
FB -- Patrick DiMarco
RB- -- Devonta Freeman, Antone Smith, Jerome Smith, Ronnie Wingo
QB -- Matt Ryan, T.J. Yates, Sean Renfree
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK -- Matt Bryant
P -- Matt Bosher
KR -- Devin Hester, Eric Weems
PR -- Devin Hester, Eric Weems
LS -- Josh Harris
Falcons to focus on adding another cornerstone
Quinn-Dimitroff partnership off to a strong start
Q&A with Falcons head coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Falcons coach Dan Quinn fired up to watch pass-rushers
Q&A with Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff on moving forward
Falcons to keep character filter on draft picks
Falcons close to re-signing kicker Matt Bryant
Falcons LT Jake Matthews recovering from offseason surgery
Falcons plan to extend WR Julio Jones contract
Falcons could target Denver TE Julius Thomas in free agency
Falcons' roster gutting could have big names (i.e. Steven Jackson)
Cutting the Falcons roster -- Should they stay or should they go?
COMBINE STORIES
Todd Gurley speaks about autograph-signing caper
Bucs appear set to cast future with Jameis Winston
Todd Gurley intriguing prospect to NFL teams
Chris Conley puts on a dazzling show at the combine
Waller, Smelter out to prove NFL standing at the combine
VIDEO DEPARTMENT
Watch: D. Led -- Falcons news at the combine
Watch: NFL Network's Mike Mayock at the combine
Watch: Todd Gurley has interviews set up with 24 NFL teams
Watch: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff at the combine
Watch: Falcons coach Dan Quinn at the combine
Watch: Rams GM Les Snead on the pass-rush talent at the combine
FALCONS COMBINE MEETINGS
Oregon DE Arik Armstead talked scheme with the Falcons
Falcons met with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
Falcons to meet with Florida DE Dante Fowler Jr.
Falcons met with Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson
Falcons met with Alabama safety Landon Collins
PHOTO GALLERIES
Photographs from the 2015 NFL scouting combine
