The new Falcons head coach recruited the former Gator in college and now could use him along the defensive line.
INDIANAPOLIS -- It’s clear leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft that the Atlanta Falcons need players who can pressure the quarterback.
Last season Atlanta finished 30th in the league in sacks, with just 22, ahead of only Oakland and Cincinnati. No player had more sacks on the team than Kroy Biermann with 4.5. It just so happens that new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn has a close relationship with one of the draft’s best pressure players.
While he was a coach at the University of Florida in 2010 and 2011, Quinn helped recruited Dante Fowler Jr. Widely regarded as one of the draft’s three best pass rushers, no one in the NFL should have a better understanding of what Fowler can do and how he projects going forward. In a sense, the recruiting process at Florida forced that on Quinn.
"One of the fun parts, whether if it’s recruiting or going through the draft process, when you look at player and look at what that vision is of what that player can become. Sometimes, the player doesn’t even know that," Quinn said. "How good you can become? They don’t even know. So, it’s our job to pull it out of them or draw it out of them."
What was drawn out of Fowler is a potential top five pick in the draft. He turned into an all-conference player by SEC coaches and finished his career with three sacks in Florida’s bowl game against East Carolina.
"It’s very rewarding for me to see that Dante be the player that he maybe would have been three or four years ago," Quinn said. "Now, it’s up to him to continue it, take the next step and develop it. One of the most fun parts in coaching is finding guys, see what they can become and see it play out in front of you."
When Quinn was in Seattle, he was the benefactor of having defensive lineman Michael Bennett on the roster. Bennett was capable of moving around, rushing from the inside, outside and even standing up as a linebacker. Quinn could see his own version of Bennett in Fowler.
At the start of his Florida career Fowler played in a 3-4 and was used as an end. By his junior season, Fowler was in Florida’s hybrid buck position shifting between playing linebacker and on the line. Fowler said that versatility is helpful
"I can play anywhere from linebacker to being a d-end to going in the trenches and playing the three technique," Fowler said. "I can do a lot for a team and I caused a lot of fits for the offense."
Despite only playing for Quinn a season at Florida, Fowler said the team was running a version of his defense.
"He taught me so much that I was able to have enough information for four years," Fowler said. "He was just a great coach. A player’s coach type of guy. He’s smart. I was hurt when he left but I knew he was going to do great things."
Now with Quinn owning the eighth overall pick in the draft, maybe he and Fowler can reunite and do great things together in Atlanta.
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