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Quinn And The Defense: Year One


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Man oh man! Was that a nice draft or what?! If you have complaints about that draft, I don't know what's wrong with you.

In Free Agency, we added guys like Brooks Reed, Adrian Clayborn, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield. That was a solid haul, one that led Quinn to say they nailed free agency, while some questioned how he could "nail" FA without a single star added to the roster.

Well, the draft shows just what the plan was, which a few of us could see coming after the FA dust settled. Here is a guess at the depth chart day one:

LE: Clayborn/TJax/Goodman

NT: Soliai/Hageman

DT: Babs/Jarrett

LEO: Beasley/Schofield/Biermann

SLB: Reed/Shembo

MLB: Worrilow/Spruill

WLB: Durant/Bartu

#1 CB: Trufant/Alford

FS: Godfrey/Southward

SS: Moore/Ishmael

#2 CB: Collins/King

Another uncommon theme around here was that we had more talent on this defense than given credit for. When healthy, this defense looks to be really good. Not top ten. But definitely in the teens. First, we have a legit scheme we are going to run. Second, players are going to have very few assignments at a times. The 7 will be about gap control, one gap, not multiple gaps, and dominating that gap. You know how simple that is schemewise? That lets you play fast. Third, we will attack every snap. EVERY SNAP. Not just third down. Not when we're losing and desperate. Every single snap we're coming. The DL is deep enough to come from everywhere. SLB, LEO and all three DL spots. Even MLB and WLB.

I hope yall are ready. This is just year one, but a lot of people will be surprised when guys that "sucked" last year look good and this defense overall is at least average (16th) most games. Ask the Cowboys. They went from 32nd to 19th after changing schemes and losing Ware.

Another thing people have overlooked is how Quinn assembled his coaching staff:

Quinn: Developer of DLinemen

Richard Smith: Developer of LBs

Raheem Morris: Developer of DBs

Brian Cox: Developer of Big Swinging Dlck attitude

Jeff Ulbrich: Former player and intense coach

This is a stark contrast from any kind of coaching staff we've had before. All of those guys are intense coaches who will push their guys and develop the talent on the roster. So now you can take chances on some rawer guys because they'll get coached up on the roster. It's up to the player to taking to coaching.

I hope yall are ready to see some real defense. Our best defense was ranked 12th in yards in 2011 but they were 18th in points allowed. I think we'll be around 16th year one and well on our way to top ten by year three with Quinn. Don't be surprised when we point to this draft as the foundation for that.

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Really wish we'd gotten a stronger pass rusher than Clayborn in FA, but you can't complain about the strides that have been made on Defense this offseason. DQ, TD and co have completely remodelled the Defense. It's practically unrecognisable from last season.

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Really wish we'd gotten a stronger pass rusher than Clayborn in FA, but you can't more the strides that have been made on Defense this offseason. DQ, TD and co have completely remodelled the Defense. It's practically unrecognisable from last season.

Like who? Yall have to realize that it's not just "Hey! I want you! You're a Falcon now!" Players have to want to come here. They have all of the power.

But you're right. I'm ready for the baffled fans on this board. Again, before anybody thinks I'm saying Quinn remade the Seahawks defense in 4 months. Nowhere have I said that. But yall will see what defense should look like.

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Like who? Yall have to realize that it's not just "Hey! I want you! You're a Falcon now!" Players have to want to come here. They have all of the power.

But you're right. I'm ready for the baffled fans on this board. Again, before anybody thinks I'm saying Quinn remade the Seahawks defense in 4 months. Nowhere have I said that. But yall will see what defense should look like.

Morgan or Graham would have been better. Don't get me wrong, I love the contract that Clayborn was given, but his condition is a little concerning. I admit it is a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things. What we've done, at least on paper, is incredible. I can't wait to see the result on MNF against Philly.

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What are the possibilities of Hageman over Soliai and Southward over Godfrey?

I just put Soliai and Godfrey due to experience and I don't think either have done anything to be the starter at this point.

Morgan or Graham would have been better. Don't get me wrong, I love the contract that Clayborn was given, but his condition is a little concerning. I admit it is a minor gripe in the grand scheme of things. What we've done, at least on paper, is incredible. I can't wait to see the result on MNF against Philly.

Graham didn't even consider Atlanta. They may have been better, but TD can't sign them if they don't even answer calls from a 404 area code. Morgan was shopping his deal to get more money. We tried to get him, but again, the players have the power. He decided not to come here.

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Tru is definitely the RCB

not even. Quinn will keep his best CB at LCB. he played LCB last season. why do you even think Quinn would move him?...especially if you have Collins penciled in as the starter. definitely not followin' your logic on this one...but it is 'your' depth chart...

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not even. Quinn will keep his best CB at LCB. he played LCB last season. why do you even think Quinn would move him?...especially if you have Collins penciled in as the starter. definitely not followin' your logic on this one...but it is 'your' depth chart...

Yall really take these guesses at depth charts serious lol

Fixed it so hopefully yall aren't bent out of shape anymore

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Man oh man! Was that a nice draft or what?! If you have complaints about that draft, I don't know what's wrong with you.

In Free Agency, we added guys like Brooks Reed, Adrian Clayborn, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield. That was a solid haul, one that led Quinn to say they nailed free agency, while some questioned how he could "nail" FA without a single star added to the roster.

Well, the draft shows just what the plan was, which a few of us could see coming after the FA dust settled. Here is a guess at the depth chart day one:

LE: Clayborn/TJax/Goodman

NT: Soliai/Hageman

DT: Babs/Jarrett

LEO: Beasley/Schofield/Biermann

SLB: Reed/Shembo

MLB: Worrilow/Spruill

WLB: Durant/Bartu

LCB: Collins/Alford

FS: Godfrey/Southward

SS: Moore/Ishmael

RCB: Trufant/King

Another uncommon theme around here was that we had more talent on this defense than given credit for. When healthy, this defense looks to be really good. Not top ten. But definitely in the teens. First, we have a legit scheme we are going to run. Second, players are going to have very few assignments at a times. The 7 will be about gap control, one gap, not multiple gaps, and dominating that gap. You know how simple that is schemewise? That lets you play fast. Third, we will attack every snap. EVERY SNAP. Not just third down. Not when we're losing and desperate. Every single snap we're coming. The DL is deep enough to come from everywhere. SLB, LEO and all three DL spots. Even MLB and WLB.

I hope yall are ready. This is just year one, but a lot of people will be surprised when guys that "sucked" last year look good and this defense overall is at least average (16th) most games. Ask the Cowboys. They went from 32nd to 19th after changing schemes and losing Ware.

Another thing people have overlooked is how Quinn assembled his coaching staff:

Quinn: Developer of DLinemen

Richard Smith: Developer of LBs

Raheem Morris: Developer of DBs

Brian Cox: Developer of Big Swing Dlck attitude

Jeff Ulbrich: Former player and intense coach

This is a stark contrast from any kind of coaching staff we've had before. All of those guys are intense coaches who will push their guys and develop the talent on the roster. So now you can take chances on some rawer guys because they'll get coached up on the roster. It's up to the player to taking to coaching.

I hope yall are ready to see some real defense. Our best defense was ranked 12th in yards in 2011 but they were 18th in points allowed. I think we'll be around 16th year one and well on our way to top ten by year three with Quinn. Don't be surprised when we point to this draft as the foundation for that.

I think that job title is on Brian Cox's business card

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You touched on this Vel, making the defense simpler so players can play faster. Nolan complex scheme didn't work. One player who has received some criticism who I will be interested to watch is ILB Paul Worrilow. Coming out of college his best attributes were effort and instincts. In Nolan's complex scheme as ILB I think he was overburden and took his instincts out of play. I hope he has a great year.

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I just put Soliai and Godfrey due to experience and I don't think either have done anything to be the starter at this point.

Graham didn't even consider Atlanta. They may have been better, but TD can't sign them if they don't even answer calls from a 404 area code. Morgan was shopping his deal to get more money. We tried to get him, but again, the players have the power. He decided not to come here.

I'm not even sure Graham was on Atlanta's radar. He seemed to sign with Philly without much fuss. With Morgan, TD didn't consider Morgan worth the contract that he got. I can accept that. Getting Clayborn, Schofield and Kroy back on one year prove-it deals was smart business in a weak free agent class. I personally would have acted differently if presented with the same situation, just because Clayborn's condition worries me a little. Is his right side strong enough to overpower opposing tackles? I'm not sure.

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D will be visibly improved. That I am sure of with Quinn alone and the culture change...

Statistically improved? Yes! I see us somewhere in the teens in overall defense.

DLine looks to be a complete 180 from previous years.

That said, I am weary of the the LB depth. I hope we add better depth at MLB and possibly WLB once a vet is released. SLB is strong with Reed and Shembo (his natural position)

The CB position will have some growing pains with Alford's third year and Collins....

Overall, I see good improvement from previous years this year and drastic improvement once Quinn and company have another offseason under their belt.

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You touched on this Vel, making the defense simpler so players can play faster. Nolan complex scheme didn't work. One player who has received some criticism who I will be interested to watch is ILB Paul Worrilow. Coming out of college his best attributes were effort and instincts. In Nolan's complex scheme as ILB I think he was overburden and took his instincts out of play. I hope he has a great year.

People need to go back and use their brains when watching Worrilow. The problem is they have no clue what they're even looking at 75% of the time. Worrilow is a good player. He was asked to bulk up for a heavier role then we played a defense that requires faster, lighter LBs to cover more ground. No surprise he looked downright terrible. HeIl, the first thing Quinn told Goodman to do was get that weight off he gained to play in a nonexistent 3-4 base. Let's just chalk last year up as a clusterf*ck.

I'm not even sure Graham was on Atlanta's radar. He seemed to sign with Philly without much fuss. With Morgan, TD didn't consider Morgan worth the contract that he got. I can accept that. Getting Clayborn, Schofield and Kroy back on one year prove-it deals was smart business in a weak free agent class. I personally would have acted differently if presented with the same situation, just because Clayborn's condition worries me a little. Is his right side strong enough to overpower opposing tackles? I'm not sure.

That's when you rely on Morris and Cox, two guys that know Clayborn very well since they both coached him in Tampa. People say they wanted other options but either not the contract or a player that didn't even consider Atlanta.

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D will be visibly improved. That I am sure of with Quinn alone and the culture change...

Statistically improved? Yes! I see us somewhere in the teens in overall defense.

DLine looks to be a complete 180 from previous years.

That said, I am weary of the the LB depth. I hope we add better depth at MLB and possibly WLB once a vet is released. SLB is strong with Reed and Shembo (his natural position)

The CB position will have some growing pains with Alford's third year and Collins....

Overall, I see good improvement from previous years this year and drastic improvement once Quinn and company have another offseason under their belt.

Given the number of positive changes made in FA and the draft, I think DQ can get this Defense in the 18-20 range. Not great, but enough to get this team into winning season territory.

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Good thread by OP, my only disagreement is the "we had more talent on D than given credit for" part. By your own depth chart, we will have 6 new starters on D, 7 if you count Moore coming off IR.

That's a major overhaul of D

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