Falcons rookie linebacker Duke Riley will start at weakside linebacker in the team’s base defense in the season opener against the Chicago Bears at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Riley doesn't plan to be nervous, either.
"Butterflies are like a common effect, but that means you’re ready, Riley said. "I’m not nervous about playing football. I’ve been playing every day of my life. I’m pretty sure there will be butterflies before every game. If there’s not, something’s wrong."
The Falcons have made a concerted effort to better cover running backs and tight ends in the pass defense. The speedy Riley is taking over for De'Vondre Campbell, who started at weakside linebacker last season.
Campbell was moved to strongside linebacker and also will play in the nickel in a rotation with Deion Jones and Riley.
"I’m just going to take it like I take every day," Riley said. "Focus on controlling what I can control, and then just move forward."
Veteran LaRoy Reynolds started the first two exhibition games at weakside linebacker. After he suffered a torn pectoral muscle and was placed on injured reserve, Riley's path to the starting lineup was clear.
“Duke is somebody who has impressed us right from the beginning,” Quinn said. "He’s going to play a lot. He’s going to start at (weakside) linebacker in the base package. He’s going to be active in the nickel package as well.”
The Falcon started three rookies on defense last season in Jones, Campbell and strong safety Keanu Neal.
In addition to Riley, first-round pick Takkarist McKinley also will play right defensive end some in the team's nickel defense.
Quinn credited his staff with getting the young players ready to play.
“One, you have to have belief in them,"Quinn said. "It was going to be earned, not given. So the reps had to be earned and they have to go through the trial of OTAs, then the next test at training camp and then the preseason games. It had to be earned.”
Riley had some help getting ready from Jones, his old LSU teammate.
"Just take it one day at a time," Jones said of his advice for Riley. "Don’t rush and capitalize on everything you can. For instance, recovery, study, take your time and enjoy the season because it’s going to be a long one."
The Falcons’ linebackers will have a tough assignment against the Bears' run-oriented attack that features running back Jordan Howard. He runs behind the interior line of guards Kyle Long (three Pro Bowls) and Josh Sitton (three Pro Bowls) and center Cody Whitehair (NFL All-Rookie team last year).
"They’re a really good run team, a real aggressive team, and you just have to lock into our game plan and stay with our fits and play fast and physical," Jones said. "They do a real good job up front of creating creases for the running back, and he hits it hard. He’s a big, physical guy and we’ve just got to get him on the ground."
Riley believes he's ready for his first NFL start.
"The practice style here, it’s a faster practice and pace," Riley said. "There’s so much in tendencies and learning their positions and the plays that can be run out of positions, stuff that I didn’t learn in college and high school."
In addition to Jones, Campbell and free safety Ricardo Allen have been helping Riley.
"That’s one of the main things we do around here,"Riley said.
In addition to Riley, the defense will receive a boost from the return of cornerback Desmond Trufant, who missed the final 10 games, including the Super Bowl, with a torn pectoral muscle.
He’s set to return to his left cornerback spot.
"It’s definitely exciting just to get back out there, get back to doing what I love,” Trufant said. “Can’t wait, and it will be a big week for us.”
Trufant tried to help out where he could after the injury. He turned into an extra secondary coach for Robert Alford and the rest of the cornerbacks.
"Obviously, you want to be out there,” Trufant said. “That’s what you work for, what you put the work in for every day, to go out there and play, but it wasn’t my time at that time. So, I moved past it, and I’m looking forward to this year."
With the additions of Riley, McKinley, free-agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe and the return of Trufant, Allen believes the defense will be much-improved.
“I’m not giving any predictions that we will make it back to the Super Bowl this year," Allen said. "I’m just saying that the way that this team has developed, the way that it has pushed itself, we are a better team than we were last year. If we made to the Super Bowl last year, I think we have a pretty good chance of making it pretty far this year.
"I’m not saying that we might make it to the Super Bowl. I’ve got to clear that up."
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