Atlanta Falcons

Happy to be facing Matt Hasselbeck? Not so fast, says Dan Quinn

Published Nov. 17, 2015 8:35 p.m. ET

foxsports

While no one would really be able to blame any Atlanta Falcons fans for being happy about not having to face Andrew Luck in Week 11, Dan Quinn isn't so quick to just write off Matt Hasselbeck, for good reason.

According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, head coach Dan Quinn had nothing but positive things to say about Hasselbeck, who has gone 2-0 while filling in for Luck this season.

“I had a chance to work with Matt and I think the thing that jumps (out), is this guy has football smarts,” Quinn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s got the ability to anticipate really well. He knows what’s coming and knows where to put it. The fact that he’s doing it for as long as he has, speaks to the competitor in him as well.”

While Hasselbeck may be 40, he's looked solid in his two games this year, and will need to fill in for Luck for multiple weeks due to a lacerated kidney, as Ledbetter explains.

While Quinn was sending plenty of compliments in the direction of Hasselbeck, the veteran quarterback had nothing but great things to say about Atlanta's head coach as well.

“Dan Quinn is an awesome coach,” Hasselbeck said. “I spent time with him and have a tremendous amount of respect for him and also the scheme they’re running. They’re probably going to be more concerned with themselves than they are about us.”

It'll be interesting to see what the Falcons' defense can do out of their bye week, and what type of things they will look to throw at Hasselbeck.

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