Falcons’ veteran players, who powered through their first morning practice under new head coach Dan Quinn, are determined to help the team rebound in 2015.
After posting consecutive losing seasons which led to the dismissal of Mike Smith, elder statesmen Roddy White and Jonathan Babineaux, don’t see any reason why the Falcons can’t return to their winning ways under Quinn.
“We want to move forward,” said White, who’s set to enter his 11th season and holds most of the team’s receiving marks. “We don’t want to take any steps backward.”
White was selected in the first round of the 2005 draft. After slow start to his career, White turned into a Pro Bowl receiver. While he has passed the torch to Julio Jones as the team’s top receiver, he remains a potent weapon and team leader.
“We want to be the best team in the league this year,” White said. “That’s our goal.”
Don’t mention the word “rebuilding” to White.
“We don’t want to say we are rebuilding or we are restarting, this team has been a good team,” White said. “With the core players that have been around here for four or five years now. Our core players are intact. We don’t need much to get over the hump.”
The Falcons, who didn’t make any big splash signings in free agency, spread their money around to 16 different free agents off other teams to help re-tool the roster.
Quinn concurs with White about the team rebounding in 2015.
“This is not a rebuild in any way,” Quinn said. “Everything we are doing is about right now.”
Quinn tried to set the tone at the team’s first meeting on Thursday. He stressed the importance of competition.
“It’s about us having the best camp that we can have,” Quinn said. “We are leaving all other expectations outside. Our whole messaging is what are we competing. The answer is to see how good we can get.”
White believes that with the new additions and the holdovers, the Falcons, who posted five straight winning seasons from 2008 to 2012, can forge a turnaround.
“We have all of the people that we need to be a better football team,” White said. “We just have to go out there and execute. Just go out there and find a way to win ball games.”
White had his knee drained in minicamp back in June. He had decided against surgery two seasons ago to shave off some cartilage inside his knee. He doesn’t think the lingering knee problem will slow him down.
“It’s not a concern,” White said. “It’s never been a concern of mine’s. (The media) tends to take things and run with it. But it’s not that serious. I’ve been doing whatever I need to do out here on the field and it’s not something that is going to slow me down whatsoever.”
Babineaux was drafted in the second-round back in 2005. He’s moving back inside to defensive tackle – the three-technique – after playing defensive end the last two season in the 3-4.
The defensive line added veterans Tyson Jackson and Paul Soliai last season. The team drafted defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hagemen in the second round in 2014 and defensive end/linebacker Vic Beasley with the eighth overall pick in 2015
“Hopefully, I can lead the younger guys,” Babineaux said.
He knows the Falcons’ defense, which ranked 32th (last) in the league last season, must improve drastically. Getting a better pass-rush has been stressed by Quinn, who is a defensive line coach by trade.
“It’s all about get-off, knowing your keys, reading them and understanding them,” Babineaux said.
Quinn actually works with the defensive ends and linebackers during their rushing drills.
“With Dan working with us daily, having two coaches on the defensive line, is going to help,” Babineaux said. “He’s going to make sure that we are right.”
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