Atlanta Falcons: 5 offseason needs in 2020

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 22: Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons talks to Matt Ryan during a time out during game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images /

4. Evaluate the safety positions

During his first two seasons in the league, Atlanta Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal totaled at least 100 tackles each year and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017. The 17th overall pick in 2016 started a combined 30 games, forced a combined eight fumbles and knocked down 14 passes his first two years.

The past two seasons, Neal has missed a combined 28 contests. This past season, he went down for the year with an Achilles injury in the team’s Week 3 loss at Indianapolis.

Neal’s limited availability these past two years has certainly been tough for Quinn and the Falcons’ defense. He is a physical performer who always seems to be around the football, as evidenced by his tackle total in each of the first two seasons. This is obviously a very pivotal year for him. Ricardo Allen, who missed the final 13 games of 2019, rebounded to start all 16 games this past season and finished third on the team with 84 tackles and second on the club with eight passes defensed, as well as two interceptions.

New defensive coordinator Raheem knows what he has when it comes to the back end of the secondary. Keeping Neal and Allen on the field would be a huge plus. Hopefully for the former, he can avoid being bitten by the injury bug for the third consecutive season. And where does versatile Damontae Kazee fit into the picture in terms of a bigger role?

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