If the Falcons are going to remain at the elite level in the NFL, the offense must continue to play spectacularly while the defense must make major strides.
The Falcons are counting on the “Beasley-Jarrett Factor” to help improve the defense at key positions.
The hope is that three rookie starters — strong safety Keanu Neal, middle linebacker Deion Jones and strongside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell — can make big leaps in their second season, as Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett did last season.
Thus, the “Beasley-Jarrett Factor.”
Beasley went from four sacks as a rookie to leading the league with 15.5 sacks last season. Jarrett went from reserve to playing the most snaps (630) along the defensive line.
“Those guys made the jump from the beginning of the season to the middle of the season to the end of the season,” defensive passing-game coordinator Jerome Henderson said. “They played a lot of football, more than most rookies. They were playing the whole way and then going into the playoffs and playing those games against really good competition. You hope that they make another jump this year.”
Here’s a look at the Falcons’ 90-man roster (including the international tight end Alex Gray, who is exempted from the 90) as they are set to report for camp Wednesday:
Quarterbacks. Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Matt Simms and Alek Torgersen.
Ryan was flawless in 2016 and guided the franchise to its second Super Bowl appearance since starting play in 1966. Ryan was spectacular as he tossed touchdown passes to 13 different receivers. With some pinpoint accuracy, Ryan led the league’s top-scoring offense, setting franchise records in passing yards (4,944) and touchdowns (38). He started all 16 regular-season games and completed 373 of 534 passes (69.9 completion percentage; third in the NFL), with only seven interceptions and a 117.1 passer rating. New quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan plans to aid Ryan on the finer points of his game, including the bootlegs and rollouts that are required in the offensive scheme. “When you look at the offense as a whole, one of the strengths of it is that everything looks the same,” Hamdan said. “A lot of the (play) action passes, a lot of the keepers occur from the simple standpoint is that it looks like a run and all of sudden one guy is switching his route and Matt is getting outside and using that. It’s intricate. It’s extremely important in the run game as well. Again, we have the ability to keep them honest. To keep on extra guy out of run defense is critical. It’s a staple of this offense and we just have to continue to grow with it.” Schaub returns to serve as his backup.
Running backs. Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Terron Ward, Brian Hill and B.J. Daniels. (Fullbacks Derrick Coleman and Tyler Renew.)
Rookie Hill is the wild card and perhaps insurance if Freeman’s negotiations go off the rails. If Hill turns out to be the player that the Falcons scouted in college, he’ll be quite the change-of-pace and perhaps a solution for the team’s short-yardage woes. Freeman is set to make $1.838 million in 2017, but would like a contract extension. The team is not expecting any issues despite rumblings from Freeman’s representation that surfaced at the Super Bowl and during free agency. While the Falcons hope to continue the blend of Freeman and Coleman, they drafted Hill in the fifth round. He’ll have to beat out Ward while they attempt to replace fullback Patrick DiMarco. Freeman and Coleman combined for 1,599 rushing yards, and 85 receptions, 883 receiving yards and 24 combined touchdowns.
Tight ends. Austin Hooper, Levine Toilolo, Joshua Perkins, D.J. Tialavea, Eric Saubert and Darion Griswold.
The Falcons are passing the baton from Jacob Tamme to Hooper, a second-year player. The Falcons elected not to re-sign Tamme, in part because of Hooper’s promise. Toilolo will remain vital to the run game with his power blocking. The tight ends caught 10 touchdowns passes last season: Tamme (three), Hooper (three), Toilolo (two), Perkins (one) and Tialavea (one). In the playoffs, Hooper caught six passes for 65 yards and one touchdown. Toilolo caught three passes for 31 passes. Saubert is an interesting developmental prospect, who caught a lot of passes at Drake.
Wide receivers. Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Taylor Gabriel, Justin Hardy, Andre Roberts, Reggie Davis, Marvin Hall, Devin Fuller, Nick Williams, Anthony Dable, Deante Burton and Josh Magee.
Jones, who was held out of offseason workouts after toe surgery, but is expected to be ready for the start of camp. He turned in another spectacular season in 2016, with 83 catches for 1,409 yards and six touchdown catches. In the playoffs, Jones caught 19 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Sanu had a career-high 59 catches for 653 yards and four touchdowns last season. Gabriel, who was claimed off waivers from Cleveland before the season started, was a solid pickup. He finished with 35 catches for 579 yards and six touchdowns, playing as the No. 3 receiver behind Jones and Sanu. Hardy and Roberts provide quality depth. Burton had a strong offseason.
Offensive linemen. Tackles: Jake Matthews, Ryan Schraeder, Kevin Graf, Wil Freeman, Daniel Brunskill and Andreas Knappe. Guards: Andy Levitre, Wes Schweitzer, Ben Garland, Marquis Lucas, Sean Harlow and Cornelius Edison. Centers: Alex Mack, Travis Averill and Cam Keizur.
The Falcons started the same offensive line in all 19 games during their run to the Super Bowl. With the retirement of right guard Chris Chester, there will be a new starter in 2017. Schweitzer and Garland were named as the top contenders by Quinn for the vacant spot. Harlow, a tackle in college, is being converted to guard. Mack, who was named second-team All-Pro, helped the Falcons become Pro Football Focus’s sixth-ranked overall offensive line in the NFL last season, grading out as the team’s best run blocker and overall offensive lineman. Schraeder was rewarded with a five-year, $32 million contract extension last season. Matthews, who was selected sixth overall in 2014, needs to step up to the Pro Bowl level. Several candidates are vying for the backup swing tackle to replace veteran Tom Compton, who signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency.
Defensive linemen. Ends: Vic Beasley, Adrian Clayborn, Takkarist McKinley, Martin Ifedi, Jack Crawford, Derrick Shelby and Chris Odom. Tackles: Grady Jarrett, Dontari Poe, Courtney Upshaw, Taniela Tupou, Ra'Shede Hageman and Joe Vellano.
With a stouter interior of Poe and Jarrett, the Falcons hope that Beasley can build on his breakthrough season. He went from four sacks to 15.5 last season. He led the league and was named an All-Pro. Clayborn, who is coming off of biceps surgery, can also be a factor in the pass rush. Improving the defensive line was a priority. The Falcons spent $28.5 million into the project as they signed Poe (one-year, $8 million) and Crawford (three years, $10.3 million) in free agency and drafted McKinley (four years, $10.2 million). The team elected not to re-sign 12-year veteran Jonathan Babineaux and released veteran Tyson Jackson. Former NFL great Bryant Young was hired to replace Bryan Cox as line coach.
Linebackers: Kemal Ishmael (also a backup safety), Deion Jones, DeVondre Campbell, Brooks Reed, Jack Lynn, LaRoy Reynolds, Josh Keyes, Duke Riley, Jermaine Grace and J'Terius Jones.
Deion Jones is set to enter his second season in the league. He had a dynamic rookie season and is trying to get more vocal as the team’s signal caller. He also wants to add some weight and play at between 230 and 235 pounds. Jones led the rookie class with 108 tackles and three interceptions last season. He also had 14 passes defended, which was third-most among rookies. Campbell played 11 games, starting 10. He made 48 tackles, had seven pass breakups and a pick, but was working at strongside in the offseason. Ishamel is making the move from safety and must hold off a challenge from Riley for the weakside spot. Reynolds is a quality backup. Grace is another speedy linebacker with a chance to make the team.
Defensive backs. Cornerbacks: Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, C.J. Goodwin, Akeem King, Jarnor Jones, Taylor Reynolds, Brian Poole, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Damontae Kazee, Jalen Collins, Deji Olatoye, Quincy Mauger. Safeties: Ricardo Allen, Keanu Neal, Sharrod Neasman, Marcelis Branch, Kemal Ishmael (also a linebacker), Jordan Moore, Deron Washington, Kemal Ishmael (also a linebacker).
Collins started down the stretch for Trufant lastseason. With the return of Trufant from pectoral surgery the Falcons have some quality depth. Collins started the final six games of the regular season and three playoff games. He played 428 defensive snaps (38.3 percent) and compiled 48 tackles, including 10 in the Super Bowl, 12 pass breakups and two interceptions. With Trufant, Alford, Poole and Collins all seasoned now, the Falcons have options to mix-and-match coverages.
Neal played roughly 83 percent of the team’s snaps, third-most on the defense. He played his highest snap percentage (40) while down low at linebacker level, according to Pro Football Focus. After he was selected in the first round of the 2016 draft with the 17th pick, Neal led the team with five forced fumbles, made 105 tackles and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s all-rookie first-team.
“In our system, particularly on the back end, whether if it’s a linebacker or safety, they have to be able to play man coverage,” defensive back coach Doug Mallory said. “Again, when we built the team and as you drafted for it or picked up guys in free agency, that’s one of factors and skill sets that you’re looking for, guys that do have the ability to play man coverage. When you look at a guy like Keanu and the position that he plays, which is probably one of the more difficult positions to play in our system, because he’s a hybrid between a free safety and a linebacker. There are times when he’s down in the box like a linebacker would, but he’s got to be athletic enough to match up and cover a tight end.”
Mallory said there will be times when Neal has to be able to matchup on wide receivers and times when he’s back playing in the middle of the field. “It is a unique position,” Mallory said.
Allen has successfully made the transition from cornerback to free safety. He played 1,101 defensive snaps (99.1 percent), most on the team last season, in just his second year at free safety. Drafted as a cornerback in the fifth-round of the 2014 draft out of Purdue, Allen was cut and then made his way back up to roster through the practice squad.
Special teams. Kickers: Matt Bryant, Mike Meyer. Punter: Matt Bosher. Long snapper: Josh Harris. Holder: Bosher. Kickoff returner: Andre Roberts. Punt returner: Roberts.
Roberts was signed in free agency and will get the first shot at kickoff and punt returner jobs as the Falcons moved on from Eric Weems. Roberts averaged 22.2 yards on kickoff returns and 11.7 on punt returns with two touchdowns last season for Detroit. Meyer is a player to watch just because Bryant turned 42. Bosher is back as a weapon on kickoffs and with his dazzling directional punting skills.
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