5 questions facing the Falcons in training camp

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The Atlanta Falcons head into the 2015 season with a new head coach in Dan Quinn, hoping he can turn around a defense that's been dismal for the last two seasons.

Atlanta attempted to bolster that side of the ball early in the draft by taking pass-rusher Vic Beasley eighth overall. Beasley is a tremendous talent, but it remains to be seen if he can be an every-down player right away.

There are also questions on offense - most notably regarding the line, Roddy White's health, and whether the unit can generate a consistent running game.

Here are five questions facing the Falcons heading into training camp:

Can Vic Beasley be an every-down player as a rookie?

There's no doubt Beasley can get to the quarterback, but an NFL pass-rusher has responsibilities beyond that.

The Falcons managed a measly 22 quarterback takedowns last season, good for 31st in the league. Beasley and his 33 collegiate sacks should help the team in that department, but it's his play against the run that will dictate how many snaps he sees.

At just 246 pounds, Beasley is going to have to adjust to bigger offensive linemen at the NFL level. He'll get his first chance to prove he's up to the task in training camp and during preseason games.

Is Roddy White still a legitimate receiving threat?

White has been a productive receiver in Atlanta for nearly a decade, but there are signs he's starting to slow down.

The 33-year-old struggled to stay healthy over the past two seasons and was held to fewer than 1,000 yards receiving in each of those campaigns. Julio Jones has long surpassed him as Matt Ryan's top target, but how long will White remain the second option?

Atlanta has been singing the praises of rookie Justin Hardy, who was a productive receiver at East Carolina. If healthy, White will surely be the starter in Week 1, but drafting Hardy indicates the Falcons see a future without their veteran wideout.

Will a tight end emerge?

What makes White's decline even more scary for the Falcons is their lack of tight-end production.

Gone are the days when Ryan could use Tony Gonzalez as a security blanket. Instead, he's stuck trying to make something out of Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo. Toilolo hasn't panned out to be the athlete Atlanta imagined, and Tamme hasn't done anything outside of an offense run by Peyton Manning.

Expect the receivers to still get the majority of targets, but given the attention they'll draw, there will certainly be an opportunity for a tight end to step up and produce.

Who will be the starting running back?

With Steven Jackson gone, the Falcons need to build some form of a running game to help Ryan and the offense.

It's a three-horse race right now, with Tevin Coleman, Devonta Freeman, and Antone Smith all in the mix to earn the job.

If Freeman hopes to secure the job, he'll have to improve on the 3.8 yards-per-carry average he posted last year. Coleman, a 2015 third-round pick, will have every chance to start as a rookie after posting 28 touchdowns in three years at Indiana. Although Smith showed flashes of brilliance and big-play capability last season, he may be in tough to beat out the other two.

Atlanta's backfield will have a lot riding on every training-camp snap this summer.

Can Jake Matthews become a reliable left tackle?

It was a rough rookie campaign for left tackle Jake Matthews, who ranked dead last in Pro Football Focus's grades at the position.

The Falcons are hoping the former top-10 pick can make vast improvements to his game this year, but offseason issues could take a toll. Matthews had Lisfranc surgery to repair a foot injury and missed some workouts. Maximizing his reps in training camp will be paramount to his second-year development.

Ryan was sacked nearly twice per game in 2014, and Atlanta needs that to change if they hope to return to the playoffs. After spending a sixth-overall pick on Matthews, the team will be expecting a big leap forward from their prized pass-protector.