The Falcons' brain trust has put their defense under a great deal of offseason scrutiny.
The final analysis is that they must get better.
Depending on what happens in free agency, the unit could be undergoing a major overhaul, Falcons head coach Mike Smith has acknowledged.
"We definitely have some holes to fill on our football team," Smith said. "We are going to take a good strong look on the defensive side of the football. But we're not going to say that we are going strictly defense."
Five starters - Grady Jackson, Keith Brooking, Michael Boley, Domonique Foxworth and Lawyer Milloy are set to become free agents. Also, reserve defensive end Chauncey Davis, who out-played Jamaal Anderson wants to be a starter.
Smith has a master plan to improve the defense starting with the defensive line.
"That's an area that we would like to address," Smith said.
The two solid starters on the line are defensive end John Abraham and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who signed a five-year extension in November.
The Falcons may have to replace Jackson's girth next to Babineaux.
"Jonathan plays bigger than he measures," Smith said. "He really does. He's a disruptive guy. You either want to be able to disrupt the line of scrimmage or gobble up two blockers."
