Atlanta Falcons Fan Base

The Falcons generated good vibes two months ago in acquiring defensive end John Abraham and the starting safety tandem of Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker.

Depth, however, is still a potential problem at those positions.
Just like last year, when Brady Smith's injuries led to an all-out collapse of the run defense, Atlanta can't afford any extended time frames without Abraham or Patrick Kerney.

The same outlook applies to safety. President-general manager Rich McKay believes the marketplace will still offer some quality alternatives if Kevin Mathis struggles to rehab a potentially career-threatening knee injury.

Mathis, who's projected as Milloy's backup at strong safety, is a cornerback by trade, but he tackles so well and brings such an aggressive approach that he can adapt easily. In 2004, Mathis did such an excellent job of filling for injured starters DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster that he earned a three-year contract extension.

"I don't know that we've completely settled on that yet, but I'd say if we're leaning one way, it's to getting him some safety work as well as the nickel stuff," Mora said of Mathis. "The great thing about Kevin is his versatility. He can play a lot of positions."

Omare Lowe can play any position in the secondary, but he lacks the speed and recognition skills to become a full-time starter. Though the Falcons still list him as a cornerback on their official web site, Lowe is likely to open training camp as the No. 2 free safety behind Crocker.