The Falcons unveiled several position changes and experiments when they opened their organized team activities on Monday.
The team’s decision to move Vic Beasley to strongside linebacker in the base defense was the most publicized move of the offseason, but there were several more on display as the team is looking for versatility and depth.
“Can you do more than one role?,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “Can you be a guard who can play center? Can you be a corner who can play nickel? Can you be a (defensive end) who can play (linebacker)? If you can have that versatility when we do ask you to make some switches and moves, it’s not such a big deal. Now’s the time to find that out about players.”
Here’s a look at five intriguing position changes:
1. Upshaw to defensive end: When in Seattle, Quinn and his staff were able to elevate the level of play of free agents Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril from their previous stops in Tampa Bay and Detroit, respectively.
His Atlanta staff is hoping to find the limits of Courtney Upshaw, a former second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens, who’s 6-foot-2 and 272 pounds.
“At the (defensive end) position, a little three technique and (defensive) linemen,” Upshaw said is where the Falcons told him they wanted to see him play. “They are trying to figure out where they want to play me. I’m just trying to learn every position that they want me to learn. So that I can go in there and compete.”
Upshaw, 26, started 51 games over the past four seasons. He helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl amassed 183 tackles, five sacks, seven passes breakups and three forced fumbles for the Ravens.
“He’s a big man so you can see just from the end of the line how hard it is to run over to his side, so we’re going to put him at defensive end,” Quinn said. “I know he can play (strongside) linebacker, so we’re going to try him at some defensive end this spring and see what that looks like.
“As we get closer to it we’ll navigate the roles, but now’s the time, in my opinion, to create the experiments. What you can do and see if we can have the vision for the player come to life.”
2. Person to right guard: Mike Person started at center for the Falcons last season. It was his first time playing the position and at times it showed.
After signing veteran center Alex Mack in free agency, the Falcons moved Mike Person to right guard. He’ll have a chance to beat out Chris Chester, who started 16 games last season. Chester is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
3. Reed to defensive end: Brooks Reed was signed as a strongside linebacker last season, but was slowed by a bothersome groin injury.
He looked a lot lighter than the 254 pounds than the Falcons have him listed. He shined in the pass rushing drills under the coaching of defensive coordinator Richard Smith and defensive line coach Bryan Cox on Monday.
“The quickness is the thing that jumped out to me and it started all the way back in his offseason preparation when I saw him for the first time out in the drill work,” Quinn said. “I pulled him aside and said this is the weight you should be at because it looked much quicker. He recognized that too. You can tell he worked extremely hard through this offseason to put himself and have his best foot forward.”
He’s being moved to the Falcons hybrid defensive end spot that they call the LEO.
“He’s off to a great start,” Quinn said. “He looks great.”
4. Goodwin to cornerback: Wide receiver C.J. Goodwin, a former practice squad player, was moved to cornerback.
Goodwin, who’s 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was used in practice at cornerback last season and went against star wide receiver Julio Jones.
“Guarding Julio Jones is not the easiest job on the planet,” Quinn said. “We said, ‘we might have something here.’ ”
Goodwin, who has ties to former Steeler great Mel Blount, was fine with the move.
“We talked to him after the season and said we wanted to go down this road,” Quinn said. “He wanted to do it. He’s going full-time at corner now. We’ll leave him there and see what it looks like. He’s got great ball skills. Can he play full speed and tackle? Those are things we’ll find out over the next few weeks.”
Goodwin, 26, played at California (Pa.) and was in camp with the Steelers. He also played two college seasons of basketball.
5. Hageman to defensive end: Falcons defensive linemen Ra'Shede Hageman is embracing his move to defensive end in the base defense. He lined up at end in the base and at tackle in the nickel package.
“We’ve liked what we’ve seen so far,” Quinn said. “We’ve moved him also to have some versatility from defensive tackle to defensive end. He’s done a good job of learning the system up to this point where he can play two different spots. Anytime you can play more than one, your value really goes up.”
