ATLANTA FALCONS (6-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 31, Flowery Branch, Georgia.
LAST YEAR: Falcons' second straight losing record, following five straight winning seasons, cost coach Mike Smith his job. Team lost four starting offensive linemen to season-ending injuries. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, expected to be defense's top playmaker, hit IR before season. WR Julio Jones had big year with 104 catches for 1,593 yards, but defense gave up league's most total yards and yards passing. Atlanta's 22 sacks were second fewest in league.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Coach Dan Quinn; CB Phillip Adams; DE Adrian Clayborn; LBs Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield; WR Leonard Hankerson; TEs Tony Moeaki and Jacob Tamme.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: OT Sam Baker; OG Justin Blalock; WR Harry Douglas; RBs Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers;, S Dwight Lowery; DEs Osi Umenyiora and Jonathan Massaquoi; CB Robert McClain; DT Corey Peters; LBs Weatherspoon and Prince Shembo.
CAMP NEEDS: With Jackson gone, hole must be filled at running back. Rookie Tevin Coleman and second-year player Devonta Freeman are top candidates to start. First-round pick DE Vic Beasley will look to show he can be impact player as edge rusher. New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will install zone-blocking scheme on line. Second-year LT Jake Matthews and guard Chris Chester, who played in this scheme in Washington, must develop chemistry. Starter must emerge at tight end, where newcomers Tamme and Moeaki will compete with Levine Toilolo.
EXPECTATIONS: QB Matt Ryan is 30 and WR Roddy White is 33, so there is sense of urgency to rebuilding job under first-year head coach Quinn. Defense was a fiasco last year, and there are big questions at running back and on offensive line, so .500 finish would show Quinn is on right track.
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