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FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons linebacker Justin Durant, who was signed to a three-year $10.8 million contract on March 10, has been lining up at weakside linebacker with the first-team defense during OTAs.
Durant has started 80 of 95 games over eight seasons since the Jaguars selected him in the second round of the 2007 draft out of Hampton. He’s also played for the Lions and the Cowboys.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Here are a few quick questions with him after last Tuesday’s OTA session:
Q: How’s the offseason competition going?
A: Being here and not having any favorites, having a bunch young guys who are eager to get out there and play, having some old vets that still want to show that we still have it, it's definitely been good. We are all working together to try to make this better for the team at the end of the day.
Q: Coach (Rod) Marinelli was able to use you guys in a lot of ways last year in Dallas and had a lot of success. Does that translates over here to what you’re being asked to do in this defense?
A: We run a lot of similar things. They have different names, but we definitely run some of the same plays and I was able to make some plays in (the scheme). It's definitely going to be good for me. When I was trying to make my decision, we use to watch Seattle and Dallas all of the time. That was one of the teams that we learned from.
Q: Where are they moving you around to?
A: I'm playing Will (weakside) right now.
Q: How has that been going for you?
A: It's going alright. I think that I'm playing more outside than I normally played. Once I get a little more accustomed to it then I'll be alright.
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