The Sports Xchange

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Dan Quinn, Seattle’s former defensive coordinator, is embracing his first head coaching assignment — to turn things around for an Atlanta Falcons team with two consecutive losing seasons.

Quinn hit the ground running. Shortly after Seattle’s dramatic loss to New England in the Super Bowl, he boarded a plane for Atlanta and hammered out the final details of his contract.

Before the two losing campaigns, the Falcons had posted an unprecedented five consecutive winning seasons under former head coach Mike Smith, who was dismissed despite being the winningest coach in Falcons history.

After reviewing the talent remaining, Quinn knew the undertaking would be major and challenged all of the players on board to have the best offseason program they could possibly attain.

The team said goodbye to some old veterans that were key to Smith’s winning teams. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and defensive tackle Corey Peters landed in Arizona.

Wide receiver Harry Douglas was cut and ended up in Tennessee. Offensive line mainstays Justin Blalock at left guard and Sam Baker at left tackle were released. Blalock has decided to retire.

The offense will be built around quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Julio Jones and a rushing attack that will be led by either Devonta Freeman or rookie Tevin Coleman in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone blocking scheme.

The team has been busy installing the attack while some of the key offensive linemen — center Joe Hawley (knee), center/guard Peter Konz (knee) and left tackle Jake Matthews (foot) — recovered from surgeries.

Quinn has been pleased with the offseason and installation.

“I think now that we’re playing faster, that’s a sure indicator to me that the install is fully understood,” Quinn said at the conclusion of the team’s mandatory minicamp. “At this point, we should know the assignment and now it’s making that call come to life.”

Ryan is learning a totally new offense for the first time in his pro career.

“All offseason we’ve had great practices starting with our first minicamp and going through OTAs and then being out here for our final minicamp,” Ryan said. “It’s been really good and consistent. Up to this point, I think we’ve gotten a lot of really great work done.”

It has not come quickly and there’s still plenty of work to be completed when training camp convenes in late July.

“I think it’s daily improvement. I mean that sounds kind of general, but when you’re learning a new scheme, getting reps on new plays, new protections, and those kinds of things every day, you make strides and every rep that you get is really important,” Ryan said. “I think that’s the mindset for everybody right now. Let’s soak it in, get these reps, get a little bit of down time and then get back here for training camp.”

The Falcons’ defense is under major reconstruction.

Defensive end Vic Beasley was drafted to help the pass rush and the linebacker corps is being revamped after the signings of free agents Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O’Brien Schofield.

The Falcons also must find a free safety, where second-year man Ricardo Allen received a long look during the offseason.

“I just have to be as smart as possible,” Allen said. “Study your playbook. Know the defense inside and out.”

Allen was drafted in the fifth round (147th overall) out of Purdue last season. He was cut and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on Dec. 16 when cornerback Robert Alford was placed on injured reserve.

Allen, at 5 feet 9, 186 pounds, was a ballhawk for the Boilermakers. He finished his career with 250 tackles, 13 interceptions and four touchdown returns.

“I was a corner, but now I’m a free safety,” Allen said. “I just have to slow my feet down. You know, because as a corner, everything is reaction. Now it’s more eyes because you have to see what you’re going for. You have to look at everything. You have to see the bigger picture and not just focus on one thing.”

Quinn believes in the players brought in and now is ready to forge onward in training camp.

“At this point, it’s about how far we can develop the players, find out all the unique stuff that a guy has and then know how to best feature them,” Quinn said. “For us, our job as a staff is to find out and collect all the information about the guys and as we’re heading into camp, this is how we’ll try to feature them.”