The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Manuel: Defense will be ‘relentless’
Falcons FLOWERY BRANCH — defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel had a strong first season. The unit showed improvement. However, when the team reports for training camp July 26, Manuel plans to keep pushing with the hopes of elevating his unit to elite status in the NFL. “We are going to be relentless,” Manuel said. “We are going to be tough. We are going to be smart. When we say being intelligent, that’s doing my job 1,000 percent of the time . ... What are we going to do to help win a championship?” The Falcons finished in the top 10 in several key categories last season. The Falcons defensive improved from 27th to eighth in scoring, 25th to ninth in total yards, 17th to ninth in rushing yards. Here’s a position-by-position look at the defense and some of the key issues it will face at the start of training camp:
Defensive line
Ends — Takk McKinley, Brooks Reed, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, Mackendy Cheridor, Vic Beasley, Derrick Shelby, J’Terius Jones. Tackles — Terrell McClain, Deadrin Senat, Garrison Smith, Grady Jarrett, Jack Crawford, Justin Zimmer and Jon Cunningham While Beasley is slated to return to defensive end full time, the Falcons must replace last season’s leading sacker in Adrian Clayborn (9.5 sacks) and defensive tackle Dontari Poe. Also, reserve tackles Courtney Upshaw and Ahtyba Rubin were not re-signed. The Falcons are counting on McKinley to step into Clayborn’s spot at right defensive end. Poe, who signed with Carolina in free agency, will be replaced by rookie Senat and veteran McClain. Jarrett returns to man the other defensive tackle spot. The key will be how fast the Falcons can get Senat ready to play in the NFL after a solid career at South Florida. Senat is 6 feet and 314 pounds. He lifted 225 pounds 35 times at the scouting combine. “There are guys that are strong in the weight room that don’t apply it on the field and vice versa, but he’s a guy that when you watch the film he has good power,” defensive line coach Bryant Young said. “Now, it’s just a matter of getting him to understand how to use that power on the next level.”
Linebackers
De’Vondre Campbell, Deion Jones, Duke Riley, Foyesade Oluokun, Emmanuel Ellerbe, Emmanuel Smith, Kemal Ishmael, Anthony Winbush and Richard Jarvis The Falcons are counting on Riley to step up at the weakside linebacker position. Jones, coming of his first of what should be many trips to the Pro Bowl, returns at middle linebacker and the hard-changing Campbell is set at strongside linebacker. The Falcons elected not to re-sign Sean Weatherspoon and LaRoy Reynolds. Ishmael is the only other experienced linebacker on the roster. Riley, who was taken in the third round of the 2017 draft, opened the season as the starting weakside linebacker. He missed too many tackles and ended the season as a reserve and special teams player. “He’s a guy that, the honest truth, he knows this and I know this, everyone in his circle knows this, he didn’t fulfill his expectations as far as his play was concerned,” linebacker coach Jeff Ulbrich said.
Cornerbacks
Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford, Brian Poole, Isaiah Oliver, Justin Bethel, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Deante Burton, Leon McFadden, Chris Lammons, Tyson Graham, and Joseph Putu Falcons coach Dan Quinn believes starting cornerbacks Trufant and Alford have something to prove in 2018. Both have been starting cornerbacks since being drafted in 2013 but only have one Pro Bowl season between them. Trufant was selected after the 2015 season. The Falcons want them to make more plays on the ball. Alford led the team with 20 pass breakups, but had just one interception. Trufant had 12 pass breakups and just two interceptions. The Falcons were down from 22 takeaways in 2016 to 16 last season. Overall, the turnover margin was minus-2, which ranked 19th in the league after being plus-11 and ranking fourth in 2016. Poole will face challengers at nickel back, including promising young safety Damontae Kazee. Oliver will be expected to contribute on special teams.
Safeties
Keanu Neal, Ricardo Allen, Ron Parker, Kazee, Marcelis Branch, Jason Hall and Secdrick Cooper With strong safety Neal and free safety Allen, the back end of the defense is strong. In a late offseason move, the Falcons added Parker, a versatile veteran. Quinn likes Neal’s ability to force fumbles and the physical prowess he provides the defense. However, he’d like to see Neal make better decisions on when to lower the boom on players and when to slow because he just needs a good quality tackle. Neal believes he’s ready for the new helmet-to-helmet contact rule and how it will be interpreted. “We talk about Falcon-rolling, tackling behind the ball carrier, putting our head behind them instead of in front of him,” Neal said. “There are things that we are working out that are really going to counter-act that rule.” Allen, who was hoping for a long-term deal, signed his restricted free-agent tender of $2.9 million.
Special teams
Kickers — Matt Bryant and David Marvin. Punter/holder — Matt Bosher. Returners — Justin Hardy, Marvin Hall, Ito Smith, Reggie Davis. Long snapper – Josh Harris With the kicking and punting operations in good shape with Bryant and Bosher, the Falcons set out to improve their special teams units over the offseason. The Falcons hope they landed a dynamic coverage duo in Bethel, a three-time Pro Bowler, and rookie receiver Russell Gage. “One thing is that you are bringing speed that is coming off the edge,” Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong said. “(Bethel) is a veteran who’s has leadership and has film that demonstrates that he can go and make plays. That’s big.” Gage, who played at LSU, was drafted in the sixth round. “Then you take a guy like Russell Gage and you put that speed on the other side,” Armstrong said. “Now, you’ve got two gunners that people have to think about putting a (two-man) vice on both sides. It’s huge to have that speed outside.”