This article is part of our Team Previews series.

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

While change is afoot at the running back position, the Falcons return several key offensive threats. Matt Ryan will look to turn in his fifth consecutive 4,000 yard, 25-touchdown season, and he'll once again be tossing passes to Julio Jones and Roddy White. The pair of wideouts both upped their receiving yardage and touchdown totals from the 2013 campaign, but the offense may look a little different under the tutelage of Kyle Shanahan, who took over as the team's offensive coordinator after Dirk Koetter jumped ship to Tampa Bay. Effective deployment of his zone-blocking scheme could lead to a more balanced attack.

With that in mind, to whom Ryan will be handing the ball off remains a mystery at press time, as Devonta Freeman and rookie Tevin Coleman, with a combined one year of NFL experience, are set to battle for the starting role. Steven Jackson was released during the offseason as the Falcons look to hand the role to a younger player with less mileage. Although some sort of timeshare is likely, whoever wins the starting gig could see anywhere from 250-to-300 total touches.

On defense, the team made it clear that run-stopping would be a top priority in 2015. The Falcons added Adrian Clayborn to bolster the defensive line, signed outside linebackers Brooks Reed, Justin Durant and O'Brien Schofield in free agency, and then went defense with their first two picks in the draft, grabbing DE/LB Vic Beasley and cornerback Jalen Collins. As for their passing defense, the Falcons field one of the youngest secondaries in the NFL. Safety William Moore is the elder statesman of the starting unit, with six seasons under his belt. Meanwhile, Dezman Southward is coming off his rookie season, with fellow cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford are both entering their third season in the league. The secondary could get even younger if Collins supplants Alford at right cornerback.

OFFSEASON MOVES

Key Acquisitions

Tevin Coleman - RB, Indiana (ROUND 3, 73rd overall)
Has the potential to overtake Devonta Freeman in the battle for the team's feature back role.

Brooks Reed – LB, Texans
The versatile OLB is expected to start on the strong side in Dan Quinn's "4-3 under" scheme.

Justin Hardy – WR, East Carolina (ROUND 4, 107th overall)
Could move into the slot role previously held by Harry Douglas.

Jacob Tamme – TE, Broncos
Signed along with fellow TE Tony Moeaki to compete with incumbent starter, Levine Toilolo.

Key Losses

Steven Jackson - RB, FA
The Falcons cut ties with the veteran after two ineffective seasons.

Jacquizz Rodgers - RB, Bears
The change-of-pace back took a deal with Chicago during the offseason.

TEAM NOTES

THE DAN QUINN ERA
Despite leading the Falcons to five consecutive winning campaigns to start his career as an NFL head coach, it was the last two seasons that ultimately cost Mike Smith his job. The Falcons followed a 13-3 campaign in 2012 with consecutive sub .500 seasons, finishing just 10-22 over the last two years. In an effort to get back to the playoffs, the Falcons replaced Smith with defensive guru Dan Quinn, who's coming off consecutive Super Bowl appearances as Seattle's defensive coordinator. In Quinn's initial season as defensive coordinator, the Seahawks became the first team since the 1985 Bears to lead the league in fewest points allowed, fewest yards allowed and total takeaways. Quinn's presence should help reshape a defense that ranked 27th in points allowed and dead last in passing yards allowed in 2014.

NO SURPRISES WITH Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan has been the epitome of consistent quarterback play over the last three years. Since 2012, Ryan has thrown for at least 4,500 yards, but never more than 4,750 yards. In the process, his top touchdown total was 32, while his low was 26, and he's thrown between 14 and 17 interceptions in all three seasons. You know what you're getting with Ryan, but it's unlikely that he'll vastly improve on those numbers this season. Roddy White is another year older, the team is still in search of a viable offensive threat at tight end, and Dirk Koetter's departure means Kyle Shanahan will assume the role of offensive coordinator. Under Shanahan the team could run more, with a slight statistical regression for "Matty Ice" more likely than a stark improvement.

VALUE METER

Declining:Roddy White had a nice bounce-back year in 2014, but once again failed to top 1,000 receiving yards as he did consistently between 2007 and 2012.

Sleeper:Justin Hardy should be the slot option in a potent passing attack, and he's only one injured player away from seeing a big boost in targets.

Supersleeper:Jacob Tamme has the potential to beat out starter Levine Toilolo, who proved rather ineffective in the role vacated by Tony Gonzalez.

IDP WATCH

Justin Durant - LB
Was on pace for 130 tackles with the Cowboys before injuries struck.

Vic Beasley – DE/LB
Needs to win the starting job this summer but has drawn comparisons to Von Miller.