Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn addressed a number of topics during the NFC coaches breakfast this morning at the NFL owners meetings.

As expected, Quinn talked about wide receiver Julio Jones' contract, with Jones due for an extension. It appears the Falcons are continuing to discuss the matter internally before beginning discussions with Jones' agent, Jimmy Sexton. Quinn even deferred to general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

"Thomas will address that,'' Quinn told the media contingent gathered in Phoenix. "It's something that's ongoing throughout the entire offseason. But definitely an important guy for us. I can't wait to get started with all these guys here.''

Here are some other topics Quinn spoke about:

On the left guard position: "When you play in a zone scheme, the guards are critical guys because of their ability to get to the second level and get to (linebackers) and stay on them. It's a competition for us. And that's not just the offensive line, that's across the board. And really, it's the competition of me and you going against each other and you going against the guys across from you, and it's for you to see how good you can get. That's one of the positions that we certainly have our eye on to say who's going to come through at it.''

On tackle Sam Baker being in the left guard mix off knee injury: "Well, he's one of the guys rehabbing really hard. As he goes through it, we're going to see when he can get healthy and get back on the field, like a number of the other guys.''

On pass-rushing draft prospects Vic Beasley, Shane Ray, Randy Gregory and Dante Fowler Jr.: "Well all of them have, No. 1, I thought [with] those guys that it starts for pass-rushers first, is the motor. It's the effort. And then you really look in to say, 'What is a guy's get-off? Can you get the tackle bailing early on?' So all of those guys have that as well. And then there's different levels of technique that all these guys are at now. But the one common thread for all of them is that these guys can all go. They've got speed. And as a pass-rusher, that's really where is starts first. I think those guys are going to have a huge future.''

(On evaluating inside linebackers: "The inside linebackers, really when you're evaluating them, you want to see No. 1, a guy with instincts. ... In my opinion, you get a better sense for the tackling with a player now with the spread offenses in college. So there's way more space than there used to be. There are plenty of examples to say, `Can [the player] tackle this player in space?' With that spot at linebacker, it's the speed, tackling and instincts. That position seems to be one that you can narrow. There are a lot [of positions] that are hard, but that one seems where you can clearly say, `This is something he would do in our defense.' ''