Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a first-time head coach, reflected on how tough it is around the NFL to get his biggest players in the best possible condition when talking about his defensive tackle group.
“It’s a fun group, and I can’t wait to see them attack,” Quinn said. “The conditioning for the big guys is always, how good can we get it? How fast can these guys go? How hard can they play? That’s the biggest challenge not just on this team, but for every team.”
Quinn, a defensive line coach by trade, has a plan for second-year tackle Ra’Shede Hageman.
“We’re going to feature (Hageman) as an inside three-technique (the person who played some of that position in Seattle was Tony McDaniel),” Quinn said. “Then we are going to have Tyson (Jackson) at our five-technique. He’ll play there a lot. Cliff Matthews is another one that has jumped out to me.”
Quinn will use the rest of the offseason to see what his players can accomplish on the field.
“We are finding out about the players,” Quinn said. “That’s our whole job. Find out what unique stuff (they) have and draw it out of them,” Quinn said. “I just can’t put them in and say ‘this is all you can do?’ We want to find out everything that they can do.”
DEFENSE
DE: Adrian Clayborn, Malliciah Goodman, Cliff Matthews, Tyler Starr
DT: Paul Soliai, Adrian Clayborn, Ricky Havili-Heimuli, Joey Mbu
DT: Ra’Shede Hageman, Jonathan Babineaux, Tyson Jackson, Grady Jarrett, Warren Herring
DE: Tyson Jackson, Cliff Matthews, Sam Meredith
OLB: Brooks Reed, Prince Shembo
LB: Paul Worrilow, Nate Stupar, Derek Akunne, Derrick Malone, Joplo Bartu, 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, Sean Baker, Damian Parms, Robenson Therezie
FS: Charles Godfrey, Kemal Ishmael, Ricardo Allen, Terrell Floyd
RCB: Jalen Collins, Robert Alford, Dezmen Southward, Phillip Adams, Jonathon Mincy
OFFENSE
WR: Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson, Freddie Martino, Nick Williams, Marquez Clark
TE: Levine Toilolo, Jacob Tamme, Tony Moeaki, Mickey Shuler, Beau Gardner
RT: Ryan Schraeder, Tyler Polumbus, Jake Rodgers
RG: Jon Asamoah, Peter Konz, Eric Lefeld, Jared Smith
C: Joe Hawley, James Stone, Peter Konz, Valerian Ume-Ezeoke
LG: Sam Baker, Mike Person, Harland Gunn, Adam Replogle
LT: Jake Matthews, Lamar Holmes, Matt Huffer
WR: Julio Jones, Devin Hester, Justin Hardy, Eric Weems, Bernard Reedy, Shane Wynn
FB: Patrick DiMarco, Collin Mooney
RB: Tevin Coleman, Devonta Freeman, 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
Note: Some players are listed at more than one position.
