FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons coach Dan Quinn promised that there would a lot of experimentation this offseason after evaluating the talent on the roster.
In some salary cap and scheme-fit moves, the Falcons parted ways with some of the key veterans from the 2012 NFC championship game team in left guard Justin Blalock, left tackle Sam Baker and wide receiver Harry Douglas.
He also moved on from running back Steven Jackson, linebacker Prince Shembo, defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi and safety Zeke Motta for various other reasons -- Old (Jackson), alleged dog killer (Shembo) and injury (Motta). Not sure why they got rid of Massaquoi, who flashed some pass-rush ability and was quickly snapped up by Tennessee.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Richard Smith played a dazzling array of combinations along the defensive front this offseason, but this nickel package that lined on June 16 stood out.
LDT – Jonathan Babineaux
RDT – Adrian Clayborn
RDE – Kroy Biermann (Malliciah Goodman was out with an injury, but has a shot to earn this spot.)
LB – O’Brien Schofield and Allen Bradford.
NB – Phillips Adams
CBs – Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford
FS – Ricardo Allen
SS – Kemal Ishmael (in William Moore’s spot).
The Falcons will play a lot of Cover-3 (sending four, dropping seven, which ends up being a 4 going, 4 across and 3 deep) and the above unit has a lot of speed to close quickly into the gaps of the zone. Click here for the basics on Cover-3.
Not sure if Quinn will be able to play as much man-to-man defense as he did in Seattle and may have to send five more often to generate a pass rush and create more one-on-one matchups.
"We play man-to-man or Cover-3, not much more than that. It's not a secret." - (Seattle Safety) Kam Chancellor, January 2013
Quinn’s biggest switch ended up being cornerback Ricardo Allen moving to free safety. He ended the offseason working with the first-team defense.
http://bcove.me/uacfq9x9
Free safety Dezmen Southward’s move to cornerback didn’t work out as well after he suffered a knee injury and had surgery.
(Here's a youtube video of Allen's ball-hawking style of play while at Purdue.)
Heading into the training camp, the offensive line is the major concern. The Falcons have remained quiet, but it makes absolutely too much sense to sign two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis.
At least a half-dozen teams are interested in Mathis, but super-agent Drew Rosenhaus wouldn't name the teams during a recent radio appearance.
"Clearly Evan is one of, if not the top overall free agent right now that would be available in the NFL."
If the Falcons don’t sign Mathis, either Chris Chester or Mike Person will end up as the starting left guard. Person, who’s has zero NFL starts, worked with the first-team the entire offseason.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
“Mike has done a good job,” offensive line coach Chris Morgan said. “Tough, smart and can play multiple positions. He comes out here and goes to work every day. Glad that he was here to compete.”
While we're waiting for Quinn to release his first depth chart, here's the projected depth chart heading into training camp, which starts on July 31 :
DEFENSE 4-3 UNDER
DE: Adrian Clayborn, Vic Beasley, Malliciah Goodman, Cliff Matthews, Tyler Starr
DT: Paul Soliai, Adrian Clayborn, Joey Mbu, Ricky Havili-Heimuli
DT: Ra’Shede Hageman, Jonathan Babineaux, Grady Jarrett, Warren Herring
DE: Kroy Biermann, Tyson Jackson, O’Brien Schofield , Cliff Matthews, Sam Meredith
OLB: Brooks Reed, Joplo Bartu, Boris Anyama
LB: Paul Worrilow, Nate Stupar, Derek Akunne, Allen Bradford
OLB: Justin Durant (vs. run)/Vic Beasley (vs. pass), O’Brien Schofield, Kroy Biermann, Stansly Maponga, Marquis Spruill
LCB: Desmond Trufant, Akeem King, Kevin White, Michael Lee
SS: William Moore, Kemal Ishmael, Sean Baker, Damian Parms, Robenson Therezie
FS: Ricardo Allen, Charles Godfrey, Terrell Floyd
RCB: Robert Alford, Jalen Collins, Phillip Adams, Dezmen Southward, Jonathon Mincy
OFFENSE
WR: Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson, Freddie Martino, Nick Williams, Marquez Clark
TE: Jacob Tamme, Tony Moeaki, Levine Toilolo, Mickey Shuler, Beau Gardner
RT: Ryan Schraeder, Tyler Polumbus, Jake Rodgers
RG: Jon Asamoah, Peter Konz, Eric Lefeld, Jared Smith
C: James Stone, Joe Hawley, Peter Konz, Valerian Ume-Ezeoke
LG: Chris Chester, Mike Person, Harland Gunn, Adam Replogle
LT: Jake Matthews, Tyler Polumbus, Matt Huffer, Lamar Holmes
WR: Julio Jones, Devin Hester, Justin Hardy, Eric Weems, Bernard Reedy, Carlton Mitchell
FB: Patrick DiMarco, Collin Mooney
RB: Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Antone Smith, Jerome Smith, Terron Ward
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
ROOKIE MINICAMP VIDEOS
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 2nd round pick CB Jalen Collins
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 3rd round pick RB Tevin Coleman
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick CB Akeem King
AJC's 2015 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
Falcons pick Vic Beasley, pass on Todd Gurley
Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
About the Author
