Falcons D: Where Will We See The Most Improvement in 2015?

New Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn looks to transform a lackluster defense that has kept the Dirty Birds out of the playoffs each of the last two seasons.  Quinn knows a thing or two about defense as his former team the Seattle Seahawks went to two straight Super Bowls when he was their Defensive Coordinator.  While I am not expecting a Legion of Boom-type secondary for the Falcons in Year One of the Dan Quinn Era, I know that Atlanta will be much improved defensively this year.  But where will we see the most improvement in 2015?

On the defensive side of the ball for the Atlanta Falcons, one could argue that the team’s best player is CB Desmond Trufant.  In his first two seasons in the NFL, Trufant is gradually becoming a Top Ten cornerback despite playing in a defense that finished dead last in pass defense in 2014.  Trufant benefits from competing against Julio Jones and Roddy White, two of the league’s most talented wideouts, in practice every day.  Trufant could garner his first Pro Bowl selection in 2015.

The Falcons revamped its linebacker corps with the signings of Justin Durant and Brooks Reed in free agency.  Atlanta’s lack of depth at linebacker was appalling these last two seasons as UDFA Paul Worrilow was the best middle of the field player for the Falcons.  No knock on Paul, he’s a great player, but it should not come to an UDFA being the team’s best option at linebacker.

Atlanta’s non-existent pass rush these last two years has been incredibly difficult to stomach.  Opposing quarterbacks had all the time in the world to dissect Atlanta’s pass coverage as the Falcons pass rush made even a mediocre pocket look like Fort Knox.  Only the Cincinnati Bengals, a perennial playoff team now, had fewer sacks in 2014.

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The good news for Dan Quinn is that there is room to improve Atlanta’s defense exponentially in all facets.  If he can get Atlanta out of the bottom third of the league in most defensive categories, Atlanta could find a way to make it back into the postseason in 2015.  But where is the easiest place to start on reestablishing credibility to an underwhelming defense?

While it might take another year of roster calibrations to make this Falcons defense truly suitable for Quinn’s liking, I believe that Atlanta can drastically improve on third down defensively under Coach Quinn right away.  Coach Quinn emphasizes playing fast on the defensive side of the ball.  By bringing in a simpler read-and-react approach to playing defense, Atlanta won’t look out of position on third down situations trying to run through lengthy mental checklists and give up the big play in the process.  Playing looser on third down should benefit this young defense as confidence will come with ending their opponents’ offensive drives sooner.

Atlanta might still have to win shootouts in 2015, but Matt Ryan might have an easier time scoring 30 points for the Falcons than say 40 every Sunday.  We all have to start from somewhere.  The Atlanta Falcons will get back to relevance if their defense improves under Dan Quinn.  If the Falcons D focuses on playing fast, tackling better, and making stops on third down, Atlanta can speed up the process of becoming a sound defensive football team.