The eve of NFL training camps is a time for sunny optimism. Every team is undefeated, all of the questions could still have answers and there is no harsh reality of losing games to undermine The Plan.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn literally had his plan in his hands Tuesday. He looked at a slip of paper as he ticked off the points of emphasis for his second training camp in Flowery Branch. They were appropriately hopeful and delivered with Quinn’s typical enthusiasm.
But none of it will mean much without results, which for the Falcons means a return to the postseason after a three-year hiatus. They made incremental improvement in Quinn’s first season, from 6-10 to 8-8, but the lasting impression is the fade from 5-0 to no playoff berth.
Asked if his team has a playoff-caliber roster, Quinn demurred and said the Falcons want to be a contender every year.
“It’s a really strong group,” Quinn said. “These guys really want to battle together. We don’t want to put so much out there, so far ahead of the player, when right here, right now, that’s really what we can control. That’s the message that we send right now.
“Stick to the process. How good can you get right now? We’ve got a long time to play before we get into that (playoffs) discussion. But we are ready to battle, I can tell you that.”
The full Falcons squad is set to report Wednesday and begin practice Thursday. The Falcons still have All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones. They’ll line up with three Pro Bowl players: running back Devonta Freeman, fullback Patrick DiMarco and cornerback Desmond Trufant.
Beyond those marquee players, the Falcons face a lot of questions.
Can quarterback Matt Ryan recover from what probably was his worst season since establishing himself as a pro? Can offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan help him? How will the Falcons pressure the quarterback? Will new center Alex Mack build cohesion on the offensive line?
But those concerns will remain in the background until the Falcons play games and provide some answers. With training camp set to open, Quinn identified areas of the team that he and general manager Thomas Dimitroff already see as strengths: running backs, tight ends and offensive line.
Quinn’s specialty is defense, and he said the unit should be noticeably faster this season.
“I can’t wait for that part of our game to come to life,” he said. “It’s going to make a difference in the way that we rush (the quarterback), the style that we play. We are probably going to play some more man-to-man (coverage) knowing that we have some ability to do that.”
Quinn’s bullet points of training-camp goals included the broad outlines of how he wants his team to play.
Quinn talked about the “style and attitude” he wants for his Falcons. He said he wants them to be “the best attacking team” in football. Also on his wish list: Improve the turnover ratio, be stronger at the end of games, emphasize speed on special teams and establish strong communication.
Quinn said he expects all that to be better now that most players on the roster have a full year in his system.
“We worked extremely hard to do that and guys put out that effort to prove themselves,” Quinn said. “That’s why we are so fired up to get camp started.”
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