FALCONS UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
DB Javier Arenas
LB Kroy Biermann
K Matt Bryant
G-T Gabe Carimi
S Charles Godfrey
G Mike Johnson
S Dwight Lowery
DE Cliff Matthews
CB Robert McClain
TE Bear Pascoe
DT Corey Peters
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
OT Jonathan Scott
RB Antone Smith
DE Osi Umenyiora
LB Sean Weatherspoon
WR Eric Weems
CB Josh Wilson
QB T.J. Yates
Now that the Falcons’ coaching search is over, the restructured front office must spring into action to turn around the franchise’s fortunes.
“I understand that we have a lot of work to do,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said.
After he was hired Monday, coach Dan Quinn had to immediately swing into evaluating the roster Tuesday night. He must quickly decide which players to keep, which to release and the team’s key areas of needs heading into free agency (signing begins March 10) and the draft (April 30-May 2).
The evaluation of the roster will be intensive and wide-ranging. Dimitroff and Quinn will then lead the Falcons’ contingent to the scouting combine, which is set for Feb. 17-23 in Indianapolis.
Clubs can start contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents March 7. A contract cannot be entered into until 4 p.m. March 10, when the new league year begins.
The Falcons can begin their offseason workouts April 6 because they hired a new coach. Teams that did not hire a new coach this offseason must wait until April 20.
The Falcons hold the eighth pick in the draft, which will be held in Chicago this year.
Because Quinn, formerly Seattle’s defensive coordinator, was involved in the playoffs he did not have time to evaluate the Falcons’ roster during the coaching search. He’s playing catch-up in that regard.
In the name of competition, Dimitroff and assistant general manager Scott Pioli will be extremely busy. Quinn is coming from Seattle, where coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider made 284 roster moves over the first year of their administration.
There are only a few untouchables on the roster, and one is wide receiver Julio Jones. Also, Dimitroff said the team wants linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, who’s recovering from Achilles surgery, to lead the defensive revival.
“I can’t wait (to meet him),” Quinn said of Jones. “Just a chance to go through the process with him. … We love great players. We’re trying to celebrate all the good guys. We’re trying to collect more great players, not the other way around.”
Because the Falcons must retool the defensive line, linebackers and offensive line, a similar roster churn is likely.
“We are 100 percent focused on what we feel is going to be the best situation moving forward,” Dimitroff said. “The nuances and specifics of certain football players and how we are going to utilize their talents to the best of their ability. That’s very important.”
Once Quinn has a firm grasp of the roster, he’ll communicate with Dimitroff and Pioli what type of players he wants for his schemes. The offensive line must be remade into a zone-blocking unit to fit new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s attack.
“When you’re putting together a football team, it’s so important to communicate,” Dimitroff said. “General manager, head coach and player personnel can all come together and talk about the specifics. Dan is going to be a great addition to this organization, and he’s able to do that. … This is about having a team, group approach to this.”
While Quinn was given the final say over the roster, it will be Pioli picking the groceries. Pioli now reports to Dimitroff.
“This is never ever about a general manager, a personnel manager or a head coach slamming their fist on the table trying to come away with the guy they think is the guy,” Dimitroff said. “This is about a collaborative (operation), and I can’t stress that enough.”
Quinn and the front office know that they must upgrade the edge-rushing department. They can look to free agency and the draft. They could also move linebacker Prince Shembo back outside. They’ll have to figure out want to do with the collection of smallish defensive ends, who don’t appear to fit Quinn’s 4-3 scheme.
“Really speed and length,” Quinn said when asked what he’s looking for in pass-rushers. “Ultimately, as a pass-rusher, it’s his ability to finish. Very rarely as a pass rush do you just beat a guy clean.”
Quinn looks at the speed and the takeoff from scrimmage when evaluating pass-rushers.
“We don’t necessarily just talk about rushers just as (defensive) ends, it’s tackles, too,” Quinn said. “It’s all four of those guys working in concert together.”
Quinn was Florida’s defensive coordinator for the 2011 and 2012 seasons before returning to Seattle. He’s familiar with a lot of the top talent coming out of the SEC.
“I have an appreciation for how young the guys are coming into the league, knowing that they need help,” Quinn said. “They need guidance. I have a better appreciation of what the guys are going through with the college experience to their rookie years than maybe I had the 10 previous years.”
Quinn has dealt with youth and social-media issues. He’s also dealt with some unrealistic expectations about their maturity and embraces celebrating the uniqueness of a player.
“We just can’t expect to say ‘you have to be a professional’ now,” Quinn said. “They don’t even know what that means.”
Alabama coach Nick Saban is a major Quinn supporter. Quinn worked on Saban’s staff when he was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06.
“Dan Quinn is an outstanding coach,” Saban said. “Very bright guy. High energy. Good teacher. Really well-liked by the players.”
In 2005, Quinn helped the Dolphins rank first in the AFC and second in the NFL in sacks, with 49. Miami also finished third in the AFC in yards per play (4.7) and fourth in yards per carry (3.7).
The 2006 Dolphins totaled 47 sacks, third in the NFL. Under Quinn’s guidance that season, Jason Taylor finished fourth in the NFL in sacks, with 13.5.
The Falcons finished tied for 30th with only 22 sacks last season. Quinn talked about affecting the quarterback, as did former coach Mike Smith, but Quinn’s players in Miami and Seattle have come up with sacks, too.
“Players really respond to him, and it’s because he’s a good teacher, and he affects their ability to be successful,” Saban said. “That’s what any player wants, especially professional players.”
While Dimitroff has lost some power in the restructured front office, with Quinn reporting directly to owner Arthur Blank, he said he looks forward to working with Quinn.
“I loved the fact that he knew generally speaking what we have and where we are going to continue to grow,” Dimitroff said. “He has some understanding of the areas where we may need to continue to build.”
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