LB Wheeler Enjoying Fresh Start With Falcons

After being cut by San Francisco on Sept. 4, Philip Wheeler remained unemployed when the regular season began. That allowed the Falcons, who sport a much-improved defense, to swoop in.

In his short time with the Falcons, Dan Quinn has done a tremendous job identifying defensive players and using them in ways that illuminate their strengths. Free agent acquisitions O’Brien Schofield and Adrian Clayborn, for instance, have grown into their new roles; Ricardo Allen’s transition to free safety has gone well; Kroy Biermann has improved greatly since the new regime took over, especially in the run game.

Another good example of Quinn’s keen eye is the addition of Philip Wheeler. The Georgia Tech…