Questions the Falcons face at start of training camp

Some of the key players who helped propel the Falcons from doormats to Super Bowl contenders are no longer with the team.

The team’s top rusher over the past five seasons, Michael Turner, was released. The cerebral leader of the offensive line for more than a decade, center Todd McClure, retired. The resident sackmaster of the defense since 2006, John Abraham, was released and was in Arizona on Wednesday looking to latch on with the Cardinals.

“In terms of roster spots and in terms of playing time, it’s going to be as or more competitive than my first training camp (in 2008),” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We have some slots that we think there are going to be multiple players competing. That’s a good thing. It brings out the best in everybody.”

With the team set to hold its first practice of training camp Thursday, here’s a look at the five biggest questions facing the team:

1. How long will it take to indoctrinate running back Steven Jackson and defensive end Osi Umenyiora into the Falcons’ lifestyle?

Jackson will be counted on to replace Turner, who rushed for 6,081 yards and 81 touchdowns in five seasons with the Falcons.

Jackson, who signed as a free agent, was one of the more productive running backs in the NFL during his nine seasons with the St. Louis Rams.

Jackson has rushed for 10,135 yards and posted eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He also is a pass-catching threat out of the backfield and has 407 career catches.

Turner caught only 59 passes for 457 yards with the Falcons.

Umenyiora, 31, is expected to replace Abraham, who turned 35 in May. Abraham accounted for 34.4 percent of the Falcons’ sacks last season and was a mainstay on the defense after he was acquired in a 2005 trade with the New York Jets.

Umenyiora’s 75 sacks ranks ninth among active players. He was a major cog along the defensive line that helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl titles.

2. Who’s going to replace center McClure?

Peter Konz and Joe Hawley are the primary candidates to replace McClure, who first cracked the starting lineup during the 2000 season.

Konz started 10 games last season at right guard and allowed 25 pressures on his 406 pass-block attempts and had a pass-block efficiency rating (sacks, hits and hurries) of 95.1, which ranked 65th among guards in the league, according to profootballfocus.com.

With McClure out because of injury, Hawley opened the 2011 season as the starter at center. He also started at right guard and finished with 12 starts. Last season, Hawley played in six games as a reserve and was suspended for four games for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.

“We have some big shoes to fill,” Hawley said. “He had been the starting center for the past decade and a half. I’ve learned a lot from him, and I think that’s going to help me in the competition.”

3. Can secondary coach Tim Lewis get rookie cornerback Desmond Trufant ready to start?

Trufant signed Wednesday and reported to camp. The Falcons traded up to select him with the 22nd pick in the draft. At the University of Washington, he showed the ability to play man-to-man and in zone coverages.

He’s a savvy player, who appears to be more mature than most rookies. He clearly has been heavily mentored by his brothers Marcus Trufant, an 11-year NFL veteran, and Isaiah, a three-year veteran.

4. Can the Falcons find a starting left defensive end from the pack of Kroy Biermann, Cliff Matthews, Jonathan Massaquoi, Malliciah Goodman or Stansly Maponga?

Biermann took over the position after Ray Edwards was released last season. He’s a valuable and versatile performer, but has struggled against the run.

In addition to signing Umenyiora in free agency, the Falcons drafted two defensive ends in Goodman and Maponga. They also drafted Cliff Matthews in 2011 and Jonathan Massaquoi in 2012.