The Falcons returned to practice Thursday for Monday night’s matchup at Seattle, where the Seahawks also share playoff aspirations, and head coach Dan Quinn met the media beforehand.
This will be the third time the Falcons (5-4) and Seahawks (6-3) have met in just over a year, with Seattle winning 26-24 on Oct. 16 last year in CenturyLink Field and Atlanta winning 36-20 in an NFC divisional playoff game on Jan. 14 in the Georgia Dome.
Here is some of what Quinn had to say about meeting his former team again:
Q. With Seattle left cornerback and perennial Pro Bowler Richard Sherman out with for the season with an Achilles tendon injury to you expect Jeremy Lane to replace him?
A. Not knowing how they are health wise, I would expect Jeremy certainly to get some action outside. He has the ability to play nickel, and play outside so that kind of versatility is good. Very good competitor, very good speed, good ball skills and he's a good tackler.
Q. Is it more difficult preparing to face their defense given the unknown status injured safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas?
A. As you go through the preparation, the scheme doesn't change. ... We'll plan on those players playing, and ... we'll know more going through the week.
Q. How is linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (who was in for four defensive snaps and seven special teams plays in last Sunday's game against Dallas) doing in his return to the team?
A. Right now, I would say his biggest presence is felt on some of the things that don't show up on the stat sheet. It's in practice, the message being behind the scenes, doing the things you'd ask him to do as a veteran player. He does a lot of those things, and he also had a role on special teams.
He was on punt return, and played on kick return as well, so we’re pumped to have him back. His size, his physicality ... that’s different than [most of] the other linebackers. ... Spoon’s significantly bigger inside than some of the other backs with the exception of De’Vondre.
Q. What make Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson so difficult to defend?
A. The hardest part to prepare for is some of the unknowns. With some players, you might say when a quarterback is scrambling to the right he may run it and when he's running to the left he may remain a passer. With him, kind of anything goes in terms of where he may end up.
Some people scramble to run ... some remain a passer as long as they can. He’s got a little bit of both. He’ll remain a passer when the opportunity is there for him to take a deep shot down the field. ...
Strong arm, excellent competitor, at his best when he’s on the move. He’s an excellent two-minute player. He’s got real command of what they do, how they do it and good chemistry with the receivers. It’ll be a full challenge for us.
Q. What makes Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin a big-play threat?
A. I would say the thing that you don't see on the stat sheet is that he's a relentless competitor. The same player that you see on the field is the same player that you see on the practice field. [He] really just doesn't back off the challenge, and going for it.
His change of direction is one of the physical gifts that he has that makes him difficult to tackle in space, where he can really put his foot in the ground much like Devonta [Freeman] and accelerate and get up to speed really fast.
Q. Playing Seattle for the third time in a year, do you have enough familiarity with the Seahawks that this feels something like a division game?
A. I don't know about a division game, but I just have the sense that these are two tough, competitive teams that I have sense will battle for a long time. The nature of the players, the way they want to fight and battle and compete ... that's why it will be a hell of a matchup."
Q. What is the status of rookie linebacker Duke Riley, who had knee surgery?
A. He's practicing today, so we'll take it through the week and see what he looks like. We're really excited to have him back at practice and doing his thing. He's worked hard on the rehab portion to get ready. It went well.
Q. Is the effect of the crowd noise at CenturyLink Field significant?
A. Yes. Mostly, just [for the visiting] offensive side. They're a crowd that can really get it tuned up in terms of when they make it especially loud for an opposing offense. We're fortunate in that we've got a number of players that have been in that venue and others a number of times.
We’ll try to simulate some of that at practice where you have some [plays] where you use silent [count]. You’re not ever going to make it as loud as it will be in the stadium. The biggest thing is having people who have gone through crowd noise. It just gets amplified louder.
Q. With so many superstar NFL players out with season-ending injuries, what are your thoughts about Sherman not being able to play?
A. Well, No. 1 for him I'm bummed because as a competitor he's really played his entire career. I'm not sure he's even missed a game, and that's hard to do at any position in the NFL. His comment back was, 'Hey, I'll miss competing again JJ [Julio Jones]. That speaks of the competitor that he is.
You’re always disappointed when a player is out, and especially when he’s out for the entire time. For us, last year that was like losing a guy like [Desmond] Trufant down the stretch. How do you manage that? It’s the other guys on the team. The style, the scheme stays the same. They’ve got a deep roster, and they’ll have guys in his spot. It won’t be played at the same level, but it will be played well.
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