Some excerpts from Falcons coach Dan Quinn’s news conference before Wednesday’s practice:
On evaluating Dontari Poe as a good fit for his defense
"We were really looking for another inside guy and somebody who could penetrate. The way to evaluate him was really going to be on the nickel defense that he played in Kansas City. He's played and has stamina to play. He's played a lot of 3-4 in which you're really square as an inside guy. I knew from watching the third-down rushes and stuff that he had the quickness to go. We made a tape to put some of that stuff together with what we did. When he came here on his visit, we said this is the style and attitude that we play with and this is how we would feature you in the system. To his credit, he worked hard to say, 'Okay, that's a style I really want to play. I think I can be productive and disruptive in that system.' During the spring, it was more learning how does that go and what does that look like. I felt like maybe seven to 10 days ago it really came full circle for him. ... He did a good job of getting lighter to make sure he could play even faster. He's always had great stamina to play. It wasn't like he was a 350-pound man who doesn't have the stamina to play. He's actually played really high percentages (of snaps) for a defensive lineman. I don't think he'll play as high of a percentage possibly that he's played in the past, but we anticipate that disruption being a real factor."
On when the team will check out Mercedes-Benz Stadium
"We'll do that next week. That will be something where we'll definitely get a day in before and maybe even one (more) in between then and Jacksonville. I know a number of you were there over the last couple days so we'll get our chance to go down early next week. We'll take our time and go through it all before our game against Arizona (on Aug. 26). I've been once this summer right before training camp began. Just wanted to see it all and it's exciting. I haven't been since the field has been in. I've just seen the pictures. We're pretty pumped to go represent, and I am hopeful the intensity of the crowd is feeling that way right from the beginning."
On running back Brian Hill’s performance during training camp versus the first exhibition game
"For us, when we play running back here we have a real style of how we do it. We call it 'on our tracks.' We are one cut and vertical. When we stutter on those or don't aggressively hit it . . . that's a real emphasis for Brian this week to make sure our tracks are correct. In training camp, the improvement I saw for him was with ball security. I saw him better as a pass catcher and in blitz protection he has been on point. That part was the improvement I like to see. He's excited to get out here for the next opportunity."
On whether he has decided about playing time for rookie Takk McKinley and other injured players
"Not yet. We are going to go through a couple of days to see where the guys are. Takk is close to full participation for us so we'll see how the week goes. We hope to get a few guys back for the game. We had about eight or nine out last game, and I'm hopeful that the number is cut in half heading into this week."
On the roster cut deadlines being later in camp this year and how that affects the evaluation process
"It's an excellent evaluation for us. There could have been a player that maybe got banged up in the first game. He didn't get enough so now we're getting extra evaluations on players all across the league. I couldn't be more thrilled with this small addition from the management council, the league, and the owners to make this decision whether the guy is here on our roster, practice squad, or another team's roster or practice squad. Those are the opportunities where we're going to play the guys. I think it's one I hoped would happen and I'm glad it has."
On the influence Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has had on his career
He really has. Our story goes back to his senior year playing in college was my first year coaching. He was a senior at William & Mary and it was my first year coaching there. We hit it off right away. The next year we coached together at Virginia Military Institute in his first year coaching and my second. Ever since then, all the way back from 1994, you know when somebody has it. I knew then when he was a captain of the team that he had it. We coached together and through the years just kept up from his time in Tampa to Minnesota to Pittsburgh and my various stops along the way. He's always somebody that I've looked up to and always handled things in a way that I really admired. That's the same thing on his coaching side."
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