Over most of the offseason, a lot of attention has been paid to the front seven positions in the Falcons’ defense.
With the team set to close rookie minicamp Sunday and move on to OTAs, coach Dan Quinn assured that the back end of the defense will get some much deserved attention in the coming weeks.
Quinn, who was Seattle’s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons, had the luxury of fielding the Seahawks’ secondary, which safety Kam Chancellor nicknamed the “Legion of Boom” a few years back.
The Falcons finished last in the NFL in defense, and the secondary can also be upgraded.
The Falcons drafted two cornerbacks in Jalen Collins (second round) and Akeem King (seventh). They didn’t add any secondary help in veteran free agency, but signed undrafted free agent Kevin White, who played at TCU.
Cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford and safeties William Moore and Dwight Lowery were the preferred starters last season. With Moore in and out of the lineup, Kemal Ishmael saw extended action.
Trufant appears entrenched. However, Moore is recovering from shoulder surgery. Lowery was not re-signed, and Alford, who’s slated to get a look at nickel back, is coming back from wrist surgery.
Quinn, who’ll have to face New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Carolina’s Cam Newton and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston twice this season, knows that he needs a much-improved secondary.
“There are a number of guys that we are throwing in the mix there at corner,” Quinn said. “We want to see who can play outside and inside. That’s really one of the challenges. Can Rob also go inside? Can Jalen also go inside? Then we are also trying Dez Southward out at corner, too.”
Last season, Southward was drafted to eventually take over at free safety, but Quinn likes his size (6-2, 210) as a big corner such as Seattle’s Richard Sherman (6-3, 195).
Quinn said the staff is trying to find out who can play corner, safety and nickel back.
“That’s really what this time of year is going to be about, trying to find out more information,” Quinn said.
With Southward going to corner and Lowery not re-signed, the spot at free safety is open.
Charles Godfrey, Ishmael and Ricardo Allen will contend to start there. Finding a marauding free safety is key to Quinn’s defense. In Seattle, he had three-time All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas.
“At the free safety (position) you have to have the range to play in the middle of the field and to be a really good tackler,” Quinn said. “There are some of the things you look for as a free safety. If the ball breaks out, you better make sure this guy is one of your better tacklers so that you can keep down the explosive plays. If it happens for 10 yards, that’s where (the play) ends.”
Falcons sign rookies: The Falcons are moving fast to sign their draft picks. The team has signed five of the seven-member draft class.
“For us, we are really encouraged by the opportunity to jump in full force and get as many guys done as we can,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said.
In addition to fifth-round pick Grady Jarrett, the team signed second-round pick Jalen Collins, fourth-round pick Justin Hardy and seventh-round picks Jake Rodgers and Akeem King
“That’s one of the things that’s change around the league,” Dimitroff said. “It used to be delayed a lot more as it pertains to the (collective bargaining agreement). It is something that something that is precipitated by the new CBA and it gives teams the opportunity to really ink the big deals.”
Wynn gets tryout: Local product Tim Wynn, who played at Georgia State and Mays High, was at practice with the Falcons after landing a rookie tryout.
Wynn made 33 starts for the Panthers, 17 at left guard and 16 at center. He was the last remaining team member who played in games during the Panthers’ inaugural season in 2010.
Collins close: Second-round pick Jalen Collins, who had foot surgery in March, was held out of minicamp practice for precautionary medical reasons.
“We just want for him to get his foot totally healthy,” Quinn said. “I think that’s the best for us moving forward. We have a lot of opportunities to work with him and we didn’t want to rush it.”
Collins is close to returning and could take part in some of the OTA sessions later this month or in June.
“It’s almost day-by-day,” Quinn said. “It’s getting that close. We anticipate him being available at least for a good part of the offseason.”
Medical officials discovered an incomplete Jones fracture in Collins’ right foot at the NFL combine in February, and he had it surgically repaired after running the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds at the combine.
Etc.: Safety Terrell Floyd, an undrafted rookie from Louisville who became dehydrated and fainted at the rookie minicamp Friday, rejoined the team near the end of Saturday's pratice. He will be held out of Sunday's final practice. …First-round pick Vic Beasley had a simple explanation for why he picked jersey number 44. "I was the eighth pick," Beasley said. "Four plus four equals eight."
