Picking up the pieces from the failures of a previous regime is always going to be a difficult process. That’s what Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot faced when being hired in their respective roles to rebuild the Atlanta Falcons. After several seasons of poor decision-making and baffling signings in free agency, the Falcons roster became depleted, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
The organization had to improvise in difficult circumstances and bring in players with starting experience to fill specific needs on the defensive line and in the secondary. While they didn’t necessarily address those needs with potential long-term upgrades, they had to start somewhere and give Dean Pees something to work with as the new defensive coordinator.