Manuel: NFC South offenses improved

FLOWERYBRANCH— New Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel has taken notice of other teams across the NFC South stockpiling offensive weapons during the offseason.

“When you look at it, the division has gotten better,” said Manuel. “It’s going to take one week at a time and playing to our standard. The way the NFL is set up, we don’t play (much of the division schedule) until late, which is cool. But at that same time, we have to understand their ability and that now, we’re in a battle.

“You’re not just going to walk in and show up. They are going to be prepared.”

Tampa Bay added wide receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency and selected Alabama tight end O.J. Howard in the first round of the NFL draft as targets for quarterback Jameis Winston.

New Orleans signed seven-time Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, drafted running back Alvin Kamara and signed wide receiver Ted Ginn, a deep threat, for coach Sean Payton’s offense.

Carolina added running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Curtis Samuel in the draft.

“Getting DeSean in Tampa is the first thing that you’ve got to think about,” Manuel said. “Adrian Peterson? How does he fit in the offense and go along with the weapons that they picked up in the draft? How does that change their offense? What is Sean going to change here and there to now make that offense run? How is Jameis going into his third year?”

Howard could be a major factor for the Buccaneers and coach Dirk Koetter, who had Tony Gonzalez as a tight end in 2012-13 when he was Falcons offensive coordinator.

“I think what Dirk will try to do (is) what he did when he was here with Gonzalez,” Manuel said. “You understand that he’s getting the piece of the puz- zle that makes him a great offensive coach.”

The Falcons are counting on the continued development from their second- and third-year players while waiting for first-round pick Takkarist McKinley, a defensive end, to recover from shoulder surgery.

“We got better, too,” Manuel said. “We got (McKinley) and now we have our firstand second-year guys coming back. Now, they have experience for the first time.”

Roster moves: The Falcons made a minor roster move by signing linebacker Jack Lynn and releasing fullback Soma Vainuku on Monday.

Vainuku was one of two fullbacks they signed in March to fill the void at the position left by Patrick DiMarco, who signed with Buffalo in free agency.

Vainuku originally signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He played collegiately at Southern California.

The Falcons drafted former Wyoming running back Brian Hill in the fifth round this spring and plan to look at him at fullback along with ex-Seahawk Derrick Coleman.

Also, the Falcons added wide receiver Marvin Hall and released offensive lineman Robert Leff last Friday.

Hall played for new Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian in the 2012 and 2013 seasons at the University of Washington. He has spent time on Arizona’s practice squad.