The Atlanta Falcons are set up to have a ton of new starters in 2016
You can never quite tell what a new coaches’ vision is going to be after just one season under his belt but Atlanta Falcons’ head coach Dan Quinn is likely set to overhaul the roster for the second consecutive year.
In just one offseason Quinn remodeled the Falcons’ roster which featured 12 new starters from the previous season. Of the 22 starters on offense and defense, more than half of them were new faces in the starting lineup. That is quite tremendous when you put it into perspective.
More from Blogging Dirty
- Atlanta Falcons are the perfect fit for Leonard Floyd
- 3 Largest Atlanta Falcons 2023 dead cap hits
- Atlanta Falcons trade up for a quarterback in this full mock draft
- Atlanta Falcons: 3 trade packages to land first-overall pick
- 3 Reasons the Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t fear Derek Carr and the Saints
And while you would think that would not happen again, it’s looking more and more like the Falcons could have another 10 or 11 new starters by the start of the 2016 regular season. Let’s take a look at who could be replaced in the starting lineup.
On the offensive side of the ball the Falcons will likely have anywhere from 3-5 new starters. The positions include center, right guard, left guard and wide receiver.
The Falcons will have a brand new starting center without a doubt so you don’t even have to debate anything on that. Chris Chester occupied the Falcons’ right guard position in 2015 but is set to become an unrestricted free agent in just a short time. Left guard Andy Levitre is under contact for 2016 but had an extremely poor showing and may be on his way out as well.
As far as wide receive goes, the Falcons could part ways with long-time Falcon Roddy White and replace him with a younger, more productive No.2 receiver that the Falcons desperately missed in 2015. Either way the Falcons will bring in at least one new receiver but it might be two.
On the defensive side of the ball a lot of new changes will be coming. The defensive alone could see upwards of seven new starters in 2016. Both safety positions are up the air, two linebacker positions are in the same boat, a third cornerback is needed and the defensive line could see a couple shakeups as well.
Let’s take a look at who’s starting spot is a 100 percent lock at the start of 2016. Defensive end Vic Beasley is safe, cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford are safe but that’s about it, folks.
Players that will likely retain their starting job but aren’t locks include defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman, nose tackle Paul Soliai and free safety Ricardo Allen.
Strong safety William Moore will likely get the axe in very short time as well as defensive end Tyson Jackson. Both have overstayed their welcome and just aren’t good enough to be starting for the Falcons any longer.
The Falcons’ three starting linebackers in 2016 will be the hardest to judge at this point. Middle linebacker Paul Worrilow is up for a new contact, Justin Durant is extremely injury prone and Brooks Reed has been a complete bust up until this point. Your guess is as good as mine as to who the three starters will be next season.
Next: What players do the Atlanta Falcons need to re-sign?
If all of this were to take place that would put at least 10 new starters on the Falcons’ offense and defense in 2016. That would mean that in just two years under Quinn the Falcons would have replaced every position with exception of quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones, left tackle Jake Matthews and cornerbacks Turfant and Alford.
How wild is that?
Quinn has a vision and he isn’t wasting any time turning that into a reality. This team might not be ready to compete at a high level next year but you can bet your ass that Quinn will have the Falcons clicking on all cylinders by the start of the 2017 regular season.