O’Brien Schofield and Kroy Biermann will be charged with helping the revamped Falcons’ defense, which finished last in the league last season, slow down the Eagles’ vaunted high-flying attack.
They’re the players who must embody the fast and physical style the Falcons want to play under first-year head coach Dan Quinn.
“In this game, there will be a mix between our base and nickel packages,” Quinn said. “We are playing a team that features more three wide receiver threats than others.”
The defense has four new starters in defensive end Vic Beasley, defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, linebacker Justin Durant and free safety Ricardo Allen. If Schofield starts, that will make it five.
Schofield signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with the Falcons after spending two seasons with Quinn in Seattle.
He was a highly touted prospect until he suffered a torn ACL on the first day of Senior Bowl practice in 2010. He believes that a subsequent surgery removed too much meniscus cartilage.
Schofield signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants, but his knee didn’t pass the physical. He returned to Seattle and was part of the rotation that helped power the team to two Super Bowl runs.
He was originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round (130th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft.
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