The Falcons’ revamped defense is expected to get tested by second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in the season opener at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Just so anxious to see where we are and what we have,” Falcons defensive coordinator Dean Pees said Thursday. “(Exhibition) season has been pretty vanilla and just getting, really doing a lot of stuff to evaluate guys. I’m just anxious to see where we are and how we play.”
The Falcons have switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 and have been practicing multiple variations of several other schemes.
The unit will feature six new opening-game starters in defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard, strong safety Duron Harmon, free safety Erik Harris, linebacker Foye Oluokun, outside linebacker Steven Means or Jacob Tuioti-Mariner and cornerback Fabian Moreau.
“We came in with no entitlement, so everyone had to work for what they wanted,” said linebacker Deion Jones, who was elected one of the team’s five captains.
Jones is ready to get started, too.
“Definitely being vocal,” Jones said. “Bringing the tempo and make sure that guys are lined up. Flying around and playing ball.”
Jones was selected by the former regime in the second round of the 2016 draft and started in Super Bowl LI as a rookie. He went on to make the Pro Bowl in 2017.
This will be his first time in a 3-4 defense in the NFL.
“I like the way that everything is meshing, we are working pretty hard out here,” Jones said. “Everybody is owning their role and flying around. The coaches are making sure that we are on-task, detailed and making sure that we are prepared.”
Jones is fine with his new assignment next to Oluokun at the inside linebacker spot.
“It’s not that bad,” Jones said. “I’m still stacked back. A lot of the same movements. A lot of the same vision that I used to have just from another spot.”
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