"Mike Nolan is not going to change the Falcons' 4-3 defensive scheme. About that the new coordinator is adamant.

The Falcons have built toward that scheme in the draft and free agency, and Nolan considers it a "solid foundation." Nolan has been known to use a 3-4 defense, but said Wednesday that his 14 seasons as an NFL coordinator have been equally split between the two schemes.

"We are not trying to move this toward a 3-4," Nolan said in a conference call. "I will flat say that.""