Last season was tough on Falcons safety William Moore.
He was in and out of the lineup with a shoulder injury while the Falcons’ defense descended to the bottom of the league.
He is expecting to be cleared for action when the Falcons report for training camp on Thursday. The first practice is set for Friday.
“We can go from the bottom of the league to hopefully top 10,” Moore said. “I hope.”
Moore, who went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after the 2012 season, was an attentive observer for most of the offseason as he recovered from shoulder surgery. But he knows that he’ll get a chance to play closer to the line of scrimmage in the new 4-3 defensive scheme.
“I love being in the box,” Moore said. “We are trying to get our run percentage better. I feel like I can play better in the box. We have to get some guys getting off the ball to open things up. That’s No. 1.”
The Falcons ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed (398.3 per game) and in passing yards allowed (279.9). The run defense, which gave up 118.4 yards per game (21st), also needs to be spruced up.
The pass rush was nonexistent, mustering only 22 sacks, which tied for 31st in the league.
Moore only played seven games last season. He was placed on short-term injured reserve after suffering the injury against the Vikings on Sept. 28. He returned to play against the Cardinals on Nov. 30 after missing seven games but then re-injured the shoulder against New Orleans on Dec. 21.
“Coming from the sidelines and getting over an injury, I have had to watch from the sidelines,” Moore said. “But that put a bigger thing on me as far as learning the playbook from the sidelines.”
Moore’s ready for a fresh start under the new regime.
“It’s a whole new playbook,” Moore said. “I think that is what makes it great, how well do you adapt.”
Moore poured himself into film study of Seattle’s defense, paying close attention to strong safety Kam Chancellor.
“I feel like I kept myself up to speed,” Moore said. “I’m not getting behind. I just want to hit the ground running when we get to training camp.”
He was impressed with how the Seahawks defense worked in unison.
“The film doesn’t lie,” Moore said. “I watched Earl (Thomas) and Kam, two of the best safeties in the NFL. But most of that comes from a lot of good coaching, too.”
Moore believes that first-year coach Dan Quinn, who oversaw that Seattle defense, has a great defensive mind.
“He puts a lot of emphasis on tackling,” Moore said. “That’s been one of our biggest things here the past few years. We’ve worked on that. Getting the ball. the takeaways, they are going to come with pressure up front. But tackling is No. 1.”
The Falcons added linebackers Brooks Reed, Justin Durant, O’Brien Schofield and Vic Beasley, who was drafted eighth overall. They also signed end Adrian Clayborn to help improve the defensive front.
“We haven’t had the pads on yet, so it’s hard to make assumptions. But from what I see on the field and from watching film, those guys are firing off the ball,” Moore said. “Not to say we weren’t firing off the ball the last few years, but we got smaller and faster guys. When you talk about Clayborn, Schofield, those guys are that whole new breed. That’s going to be huge for the back end.”
Cornerback Desmond Trufant is perhaps the only entrenched starter. Robert Alford, rookie Jalen Collins, veteran Phillips Adams and Dez Southward, a converted safety, will compete for time in the base and the five-defensive back packages.
Ricardo Allen, a converted cornerback, finished the offseason working at free safety with the first-team defense.
“It’s not just Ricardo, the entire group looked good,” Moore said.
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