After a uneven first year under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, the Falcons are prepared to retool the attack and are elated that All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones will be available for offseason work.
“I didn’t sit in on all of the meetings over at Georgia Tech,” Quinn quipped at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday. “I’m not going to the triple-option or anything with Matt Ryan, but there will definitely be some new parts to this offense this year.”
The major part will center on re-featuring the running backs and finding a fullback, mostly like through the draft.
“The style will be similar, but there will definitely be some new wrinkles,” Quinn said. “The style, meaning the way that we want to run the ball. The way that we want to come off the ball. At the end of it, can we execute better?
“We are going to work like crazy to have that kind of accountability, player to player.”
Last season, Jones was coming off foot surgery and did not participate in offseason work and practiced on a limited basis much of the season. Quinn admitted that the timing was off in the passing game as Jones had just three touchdown catches, only two from Ryan as the offense struggled in the red zone.
“The chemistry that takes place between receivers, running backs, coaches, everybody, it’s important,” Quinn said. “When you miss those steps, although for instance, Julio and Matt have lots of hours logged together through the years, but nothing takes the place of on the field practice.
“So, we are excited for guys like Julio who’ll be able to work this spring and get that timing with him and Matt just right.”
Jones had a 59.5 percent catch ratio (148 targets, 88 catches), which was his second-lowest since his rookie season when he had a 56.8 percent catch ratio.
Jones caught only 6 of 22 passes (27 percent) thrown to him inside the 20-yard line for one touchdown. By comparison, Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown caught 13 of 23 (56.5 percent) of his passes in the red zone for six touchdowns.
Jones, who also had seven drops, finished with 1,444 yards receiving.
“So, for (Jones) to have the ability to run and catch and do all of the stuff that we want to do, that’s a big thing,” Quinn said. “So, last year, with Sark, we had to tell him Julio is pretty good ... but (he) didn’t get a chance to (practice).”
Quinn said Jones’ lack of touchdowns was a part of the offense’s bigger problem of struggling inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. The Falcons scored touchdowns on 49.18 percent of their trips inside the red zone, which ranked 23rd of 32 in the league.
“The red zone scoring in general will be something that we’ll be attacking this offseason,” Quinn said. “The way that we frame it is: what do we need to stop doing? What we need to start doing? What do we need to do differently? Something is going to fall under those three guidelines.”
Of course, getting Jones the ball will be a big part of the red-zone revitalization project.
“It is always a good decision to get him the ball,” Quinn said.
But when teams take Jones away, he needs other players get open. He mentioned wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and Devonta Freeman by name.
“That’s a big topic for us and one that we are spending a lot of time on this offseason,” Quinn said. “We are going to devote the practice time to that as well. We are not only glad that we’re devoting the practice time, but guys like Julio are able to do the practice. That’s a big thing.”
The Falcons have added right guard Brandon Fusco and tight end Logan Paulsen in free agency. Fusco will compete with Wes Schweitzer for the starting right guard position. Paulsen will replace Levine Toilolo as the blocking tight end.
The Falcons will look to Marvin Hall and Reggie Davis to replace slot wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, who signed with Chicago in free agency.
“Both of them would have to add value on (special) teams,” Quinn said. “So, the guy who can be our third receiver, I bet plays close to 40 percent of the snaps. They’ll have a significant role offensively.”
Justin Hardy is a contender, too.
“We’ll definitely add guys to the mix at that spot as well, but those two guys specifically have the speed to add to our team,” Quinn said. “We’ve spent a lot of time with their development and we’ll continue to do that. That will be where we’ll look first.”
New quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, a former offensive coordinator, will have a role in sprucing up the offense.
“At the core, Knapp is a fundamentalist,” Quinn said. “So, that’s really part of his role making sure that every single thing we’re in is working. It’s the footwork, it’s the accuracy on the throw. The game-planning.”
The Falcons believe Knapp can help with their red zone woes.
“His ability over the last five or six years, he’s been a part of some really good red zone offenses with (Gary) Kubiak and Peyton (Manning) in Denver,” Quinn said. “That part is good. I would say, with the wrinkles, he’ll have a factor in that for sure.”
About the Author
