Kickoff Primer: An instant guide to the 2016 Atlanta Falcons

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Atlanta Falcons

Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Dan Quinn
Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Shanahan
Defensive Coordinator: Richard Smith

Key Additions

• C Alex Mack
• WR Mohamed Sanu
• DE Derrick Shelby
• S Keanu Neal (1st round)
• S Dashon Goldson
• LB Sean Weatherspoon
• LB Courtney Upshaw
• QB Matt Schaub
• DE Dwight Freeney

Key Departures

• DT Paul Soliai
• WR Roddy White
• OT Jake Long
• DE Kroy Biermann
• K Shayne Graham

Preseason Power Rankings - No. 23

Still recuperating from a second-half collapse last year, Dan Quinn's unit will have to prove it's learned its lessons on the field. More...

Projected Starting Lineup

*Rookie safety Keanu Neal is expected to miss the first week or two of the season with a knee injury

Questions to Answered

• Which version of the 2015 Falcons was for real - the first half or the second?
• Can Julio Jones break the single-season receiving yards record?
• How much closer can Dan Quinn get his defense to the unit he had in Seattle?

Best-case Scenario

The Falcons already know what their team has to do to win; they were one of the league's top teams for the first seven weeks last season. The trick will be staying at that level. If the offense can get a balanced mix of bombing it to Julio Jones and getting the ball to Devonta Freeman in space, the pieces are in place for a top-scoring unit. If Quinn can push his defense to be more like the unit he coached in Seattle, the Falcons could topple the NFC South with an 11-5. If Matt Ryan can overcome his dreadful playoff record, the team could go all the way to the NFC conference finals.

Worst-case Scenario

The Falcons already know what this looks like as well. After starting with a 6-1 record, Atlanta squandered away a playoff spot, helplessly dropping games left and right down the stretch. If there's no balance on offense and Jones has to deal with double and triple coverage on a regular basis, things will go south quick. The defense has a few strong pieces, but if they can't stay disciplined and play in Quinn's system, there's not enough talent to stop many offenses. With several strong teams at the top of the schedule, the Falcons are at risk of picking up where they left off last season, sliding down to a 4-12 record.