Dan Quinn speaks about building new Falcons' regime, Earl Thomas
The Atlanta Falcons sputtered to a disappointing 6-10 record in 2014, and with their failures came widespread changes.
Dan Quinn was named as the team's new head coach after the Falcons fired Mike Smith.
Quinn previously led the Seattle Seahawks' defense to consecutive Super Bowls as their defensive coordinator.
Upon taking the Falcons job, Quinn assembled an almost entirely new staff and spoke about fitting his scheme to the personnel he inherited and signed in free agency.
"It goes back to getting to know our team the best. And then once we find unique stuff they have and how to feature them, then that will play a big part in the scheme," Quinn said to Monday Morning Quarterback's Greg Bedard. "So I don't just want to say, 'We’re going to do exactly everything the same,' because it's not the same so I want to make sure I get to know our own players as well as we can and try to feature the things they do best."
Under Quinn's guidance, Seattle almost exclusively ran a Cover 3 scheme. All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas was paramount to the success of the formation and Quinn spoke about his impact when building his new squad.
"Well, yeah, there's only one Earl so…” Quinn said of the Seahawks' superstar. "He's such a unique player. But I think the free safety position is a big one because you have to have the range to be able to play over the top on the deep balls to either side when you play a lot of three deep or man to man. And then I think one of the things that goes unspoken about Earl is his ability to tackle. He's a terrific tackler. So sometimes as a free safety, when the ball does break or get outside, he's the one that can eliminate it from becoming an explosive play."
This is Quinn's first head coaching opportunity at any level and the 44-year-old is frothing with anticipation over the upcoming campaign.
"It's challenging only because you want to get started so quickly but one nice part is it's the same for everybody," Quinn said. "I would have loved to have gotten started already, no doubt about it."