Quinn seeking to add versatility for his defense

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Dan Quinn, a longtime proponent of the 4-3 defense, admitted that the team is working on some “3-4 principles.”

“We tried to mix in versatility for a lot of players in all of the spots,” Quinn said. “It’s important for us to have the ability to go in and out of some of those looks.”

Quinn addressed the topic after the Falcons’ red-white scrimmage, which quarterback Matt Schaub’s red team won 23-15 over Matt Ryan’s white team.

Quinn, who will call the defense as the coordinator this season, wants more versatility because of all of the mobile quarterbacks the Falcons are set to face.

“Big nickel guys, big safeties, two safety packages to match up,” Quinn said. “We’ve got corner guys. Sometimes you’ll see four corners out there. Three defensive ends as a package at a time. You’ll see, it could be some three or four linebackers the way they can run. Little packages. Not tons that could have an impact.”

“This time of year, you plan big,” Quinn said. “What do you do against this scenario and then that one? Now, you have it all in, you can bring it in for that game as opposed to putting in the week of the game.”

Quinn is getting the defense ready for eight games against mobile quarterbacks who run read-option packages or zone-read running quarterbacks. The Falcons play the Eagles (Carson Wentz) on Sept. 15, the Titans (Marcus Mariota) on Sept. 22, the Texans (Deshaun Watson) on Oct. 6, the Cardinals (Kyler Murray) on Oct. 13, the Seahawks (Russell Wilson) on Oct. 27, the Panthers (Cam Newton) on Nov. 17 and Dec. 8, and the Jaguars (Nick Foles) on Dec. 22.