Injuries have been one of the biggest headlines for the Atlanta Falcons over the past two years. Whether it was a season-ending injury to Julio Jones or the constant shuffling of the offensive line, the team has struggled to stay health which has impacted their recent downfall. The Falcons are hoping that 2015 brings better luck to the franchise and it all starts at OTAs as the team got a slew of players back from big injuries just in time for mini-camps to begin.
According to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, Tuesday was a big day at OTAs as several players made their debut on the field. Last year's first-round pick Jake Matthews was back after undergoing Lisfranc surgery. Joe Hawley and Peter Konz also came back onto the field after suffering ACL injuries. That should start to help stability on the offensive line which has been struggling with several players still out. Another encouraging sight on the field was the return of Williams Moore which should make the battle for starting safety an interesting one heading into the season.
Moore returned to practice after undergoing right shoulder surgery. He is expected to resume the starting role at strong safety but it remains a mystery as to who joins him. The Falcons have been rotating around with safeties and cornerbacks to find the right mix. Moore will be a starter at safety while Desmond Trufant resumes his role as the lead cornerback. Players like Robert Alford, Kemal Ishmael and Charles Godfrey are now working to find their roles.
According to McClure, Alford might not be switching to safety as originally assumed. He has been excelling at the cornerback spot while rookie Jalen Collins sits out with an injury. When Collins returns to the field, it is uncertain who will get the starting nod as several NFL sources believe the rookie is a strong contender to be on the field Week 1. For now, Alford will stay put, but there is a chance that he sees action at the safety spot.
"We would try anybody if we thought it could make the team better at that," Quinn said, via ESPN.com. "He looks so good outside right now. We've talked about (free safety), but we haven't made the decision to do that just because he's really on it just in terms of playing outside."
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the pressure is on players like Alford and Ishmael to really step up this season. With veteran depth and young rookies fighting for spots on the field, they cannot afford to lose a step. The same can be said for the defensive line as Vic Beasley emerges as a star for the team. He could end up pushing players like Kroy Biermann and Ra'Shede Hageman to the sidelines.
"I've learned a lot of different moves and just about being better with my hands," Beasley said, via ESPN.com. "Obviously, I've been blessed with great speed, but DQ and Coach Cox have been helping me become more violent with my hands. You've got to be violent with your hands at this level to be a successful pass-rusher."
