When Falcons coach Dan Quinn continues to build his team for his second season there are two areas he plans to emphasize.
“Offensive and defensive line is going to be in the front of our thinking at all times,” Quinn said during his season-ending news conference on Monday. “When we have our big guys rolling, that’s when we are at our best.”
The Falcons’ pass rush was the worst in the league in 2014 and didn’t t make much improvement in 2015. The Falcons ranked tied for 30th in the league in sacks per opponent pass attempt.
The Falcons allowed a sack on 5.15 percent of their passes, which was ninth-best in the league. They allowed 89 quarterback hits, which tied for 17th most.
The Falcons tried to improve their pass rush in the draft by adding Vic Beasley with the No. 8 overall pick and selecting tackle Grady Jarrett in the fifth round. They also added free agents Adrian Clayborn and O’Brien Schofield.
After injuries and ineffectiveness led to the release of some regulars, the Falcons put together a patchwork offensive line for the zone-blocking scheme favored by offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. Their moves included a September trade for left guard Andy Levitre, who was one of three new starters on the line to begin the season.
Quinn said he would look to improve the lines through the draft and free agency as well as developing players already on the roster.
“I want to make sure the line of scrimmage is something that’s always in the front of my mind,” he said.
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