Obviously, Dan Quinn is a man with a plan, which is why Arthur Blank and the Atlanta Falcons will sign Quinn to a five-year contract.

But Quinn, fresh off being the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl runner-up Seattle Seahawks, will have some challenges as a first-time head coach. One of the toughest will be fixing the league's worst defense. Targeting pass-rushers capable of contributing immediately has to be a priority for Quinn and his staff.

Here is the rest of my to-do list for Quinn:

1. Have dinner with general manager Thomas Dimitroff and assistant general manager Scott Pioli: These three no doubt sat down in a room together during the interview process. Now that Quinn is set to assume his new role, everyone has to be clear about being on the same page. Blank said there wouldn't be a power struggle but also implied the head coach would have plenty of say, if not the bulk of the control, over the 53-man roster. Pioli, who will be the architect of the draft and free agency, has been known to strong-arm folks in the past, but he apparently has made a conscious effort to change his approach. And nobody truly knows where Dimitroff stands in the pecking order right now. Whatever the case, one can bet Blank wants Quinn to come in and be a take-charge guy.

Signing Julio Jones to a long-term contract should be a priority for new coach Dan Quinn and the Falcons. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

2. Sign off on a long-term extension for Julio Jones: Speaking of the roster, Blank said any thoughts of signing Jones to an extension would come down to Quinn first evaluating the roster. Well, for a guy who was part of a Super Bowl team that competed on the biggest stage with a handful of undrafted receivers, Quinn certainly realizes the value of having a marquee talent such as Jones for the long haul. It doesn't have to happen tomorrow. In fact, it doesn't even have to happen immediately, with Jones signed through the 2015 season. But it has to happen at some point before the 2016 free-agency period. Jones is a talent you can't let walk away. Health might be the only deterrent in such a situation, but Jones, who turns 26 on Tuesday, is completely recovered from the foot fracture he suffered during the 2013 season. His other injuries (ankle, oblique) didn't cause him to miss a significant amount of time.

3. Make a tough decision on veteran running back Steven Jackson: There is no doubt Jackson brings value to the Falcons with his leadership. He a true professional, and his approach to the game is something the younger players in the locker room should emulate. But Jackson, who turns 32 in July, knows his best days are behind him, although he vowed to come back stronger after ending this past season injured and in street clothes. Teams can start cutting players today. The Falcons seem likely to cut ties with Jackson with one year left on his contract, a move that would save $3.75 million in cap space. Quinn was spoiled the past few years in Seattle watching Marshawn Lynch run the ball for the Seahawks. Although it would be hard to imagine Lynch winding up in Atlanta, there could be a running back on the free-agent market capable of helping upgrade the position. But don't forget about Devonta Freeman, either.

4. Check in on the progress of Jake Matthews, Sean Weatherspoon, and William Moore coming off injuries: All three of these players could be key for the Falcons in 2015, if healthy. Matthews, the starting left tackle, had surgery last month to repair a Lisfranc ligament rupture in his foot and will be fully recovered in three more months. Weatherspoon, who can become a free agent, missed all of this past season with an Achilles' tear. And Moore separated his right shoulder twice. There is no reason to believe Matthews will have any lingering effects entering the regular season. Weatherspoon has dealt with his share of injuries in the past two years, but would be a significant upgrade at linebacker if he can stay on the field. The Falcons probably could get him at a reasonable price. Moore simply brings a different energy to the defense and fits the mold of the type of aggressive player Quinn would want in the secondary.

5. Get all the details on the Noise-Gate: This could turn out to be much about nothing in the end, but the Falcons are being investigated for allegedly piping in crowd noise to the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons. A resolution to the matter is expected to come quickly, and is likely to involve a fine and possibly a loss of a draft pick. From Quinn's perspective, I would want to know immediately what type of draft pick I'm losing. Most would assume it would be a late-rounder and no big deal. But what if, in light of the whole Deflate-gate incident with the Patriots, the league decides to come down a little harder on the Falcons just to send a message? Who knows. But the head coach needs to know what's going on, if he hasn't been briefed already. One other aspect Quinn should be made aware of is who is responsible for the blunder. Early word is it was one individual. I wonder who blew the whistle on the Falcons in the first place.

Other quick-hitters: Make sure the team re-signs Matt Bryant, Dwight Lowery, Eric Weems, and Antone Smith; rekindle relationship with Florida pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. prior to the draft; find an offensive line coach as a good as Mike Tice; send long thank-you text messages to any Seahawks defensive player capable of coming over to help the Falcons; make an appearance at an Atlanta Hawks game to get a sense of what the electricity of a winning team in this city feels like.