Atlanta Falcons Draft Spotlight: ILB Stephone Anthony

Oct 5, 2013; Syracuse, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Terrel Hunt (10) runs with the ball splitting the defense of Clemson Tigers safety

(27) and linebacker Stephone Anthony (42) during the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Clemson defeated Syracuse 49-14. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons have a lot of needs in this draft class. They desperately need an edge rusher and will almost certainly take one with the eighth overall pick. After that, they still need a starting left guard and an inside linebacker capable of playing all three downs.

The Falcons had one of the worst linebacker corps in the entire NFL in 2014, and it showed. It was a big part of the reason the team finished 32nd in yards allowed (and it wasn’t even close).

I’ve already addressed what the team might do to fill the vacancy on the offensive line, so today I take a look at the inside linebacker position.

The Falcons had one of the worst linebacker corps in the entire NFL in 2014, and it showed. It was a big part of the reason the team finished 32nd in yards allowed (and it wasn’t even close).

Part of that was due to injuries: Sean Weatherspoon and 2014 fifth round draft pick Marquis Spruill both suffered season-ending ailments in training camp, but the team also traded away former third-round pick Akeem Dent for a backup quarterback.

That left the team perilously thin at linebacker, and with a bunch of unproven starters. Paul Worrilow and Joplo Bartu, two undrafted rookies, were expected to take huge leaps forward and start. Prince Shembo, the 2014 fourth round pick, was being converted to inside linebacker. The team signed a bunch of over-the-hill veterans and special teamers to serve as depth.

As you can imagine – and witnessed firsthand, if you watched any games in 2014 – this strategy didn’t pay off. Worrilow was an absolute train-wreck in coverage and Bartu never found success at ILB. Shembo looked promising at times, but his snaps began to disappear for some unknown reason.

Dan Quinn came in and immediately changed all that.

Next: What's changed?