Matthew 28:3..."And his clothes were white as ICE!" The Official 2017 Atlanta Falcons Season Thread

[AtlienInTheGoodieMob]

 

[AVXL]

Sent Free flying

First day of pads and them boys already getting it in

 

[Warren Moon]

Went to training camp today. It was packed had great seats tho bc I got there early.

The Keanu hit was uncalled for personally free had gone through 3 levels of the d about to pull up and Keanu hit him. Some old dudes started booing and I rightfully agree don't see why u hit ur own like that.


Overall the team just has a deeper depth presence. Our lbs look fast as shyt and just the overall mood was just a we know we're good mentality and I loved it

That bj Daniels cat, the told Usf qb looked great. Idk if he's like a wr/rb hybrid but he looked like he could make some plays.

The young wideouts looked good too one from south Alabama and the other from Georgia, hardest workers all practice.


Mack was out a lot and I didn't know any of his backups playing but they were obviously making them battle for that backup spot today

Ryan looked good schuab too.

No unknowns jumped out the gym like Aldrich last year but overall we looked great


Our cbsbig fast physical interchangeable it was truly glorious to see. We got lots of depth

 

[AtlienInTheGoodieMob]

The Keanu hit was uncalled for personally free had gone through 3 levels of the d about to pull up and Keanu hit him. Some old dudes started booing and I rightfully agree don't see why u hit ur own like that.

Free needed that hit for missing that key block in the Super Bowl

 

[AVXL]

Went to training camp today. It was packed had great seats tho bc I got there early.

The Keanu hit was uncalled for personally free had gone through 3 levels of the d about to pull up and Keanu hit him. Some old dudes started booing and I rightfully agree don't see why u hit ur own like that.


Overall the team just has a deeper depth presence. Our lbs look fast as shyt and just the overall mood was just a we know we're good mentality and I loved it

That bj Daniels cat, the told Usf qb looked great. Idk if he's like a wr/rb hybrid but he looked like he could make some plays.

The young wideouts looked good too one from south Alabama and the other from Georgia, hardest workers all practice.


Mack was out a lot and I didn't know any of his backups playing but they were obviously making them battle for that backup spot today

Ryan looked good schuab too.

No unknowns jumped out the gym like Aldrich last year but overall we looked great


Our cbsbig fast physical interchangeable it was truly glorious to see. We got lots of depth

I can see why people didn't like the Keanu hit on Free but it really wasn't that bad. And let's be honest the Falcons defense is trying to establish a physicality that we're not used to seeing. Fast & Physical like DQ had been preaching. Keanu is gonna come up & hit you. Debo is gonna hit you. That mentality is infectious and I'm hoping to see more of it TBH

BJ Daniels has a chance to be the third RB behind Free & Tevin. He could beat out 5th round RB Brian Hill and Terron Ward if he has a good camp

I've heard good things about Reggie Davis :ugagrin: he has an outside shot to make the roster with Fuller tearing an ACL

A breh had to work today but I might go out there Monday. Need to see the guys in person & make my own assessments

on your breakdown tho, on point

 

[The ADD]

 

[AVXL]

Day 3 LIVE from the Branch! First day of padded practice

Here’s a few notes and takeaways from today’s action from those who were there on the scene.

1. Julio Jones clears the air
The weirdest story of the week has nothing to do with football. Apparently, Julio Jones lost an earring worth $150,000 in a lake and it was reported that he hired a dive team to retrieve it.

Now, Jones is saying he had insurance and he never did any such thing, per Vaughn McClure

2. Damontae Kazee runs with the starters
Rookie defensive back Damontae Kazee didn’t have to wait long to get a chance with the first-team defense.

Thanks to an excused absence for free safety Ricardo Allen, a spot opened up and Kazee stepped in to play some free safety and nickel, while Brian Poole moved outside:

3. Robert Alford snags another pick
For the second straight day, cornerback Robert Alford came away with an interception. Alford is projected to start opposite Desmond Trufant. If he can continue to keep his pass interference penalties in check, Atlanta’s secondary is going to be extremely tough to throw against.

4. Running backs get beat up
Both running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman took big hits today. First, Freeman took a vintage hit stick pop from safety Keanu Neal that planted him right into the grass. Then not long after, Coleman got swallowed up by former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

5. Takk, Adrian Clayborn sit out 1-on-1s
On the injury front, two defensive linemen were limited during one-on-one line drills.

First-round pick Takkarist McKinley is still taking it slow as he rehabs from shoulder surgery in March. Meanwhile, Adrian Clayborn is also recovering from a torn bicep in the playoffs. Both sat out portions of practice:

6. Ben Garland starts at right guard
The carousel at right guard continues. Yesterday Wes Schweitzer got the majority of first-team reps, but today it was Ben Garland.

7. Matty Ice, Mohamed Sanu get the last laugh
It seems like the defense got better of the offense during today’s 11-on-11 drills for the most part.

However, the reigning NFL MVP got the last laugh.

Near the end of practice, Matt Ryan aired out a Hail Mary pass after the whistle, which Mohamed Sanu caught to the delight of the crowd:

 

[☑︎#VoteDemocrat]

 

[AVXL]

What you shedding tears for? You should be reading this thread like Robert Mueller reads his daily intelligence briefings on the Trump/Russia investigation. Anytime you read this thread your face should be a mix of & because you know it's good news. This is the best roster in the NFL brehs, now we gotta go out and prove we're the best team

 

[Teal.]

If we aint winning the super bowl this year. I may have to take a break from this team.

 

[AVXL]

Day 4! Sanu, rookies Kazee & Riley continue to impress

Ryan: the start of camp has been 'great'


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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The players took to the field again Sunday for their fourth practice of the 2017 AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp and second in full pads.

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> Alford shining through first three days of camp
> Injury report: Devin Fuller out for season
> Look: 60 images from day three of camp


As expected, there were some intense one-on-one drills that bred exciting moments, and the full-team periods looked fairly even between the offense and defense. At this point, a few players have begun to separate themselves from the pack.

But let's be clear, it's still early and the preseason games will reveal a lot more, but let's dive into the takeaways from Sunday's practice.

1. Matt Ryan likes the versatility Freeman, Coleman showing in campComing off of a career season in which he was named the NFL's MVP, Ryan enters 2017 with a new offensive coordinator to work with. The relationship between Ryan and Steve Sarkisian will undoubtedly be important, but Atlanta's offense isn't expected to look vastly different after the change.

The Falcons had one of the highest-scoring offenses in NFL history last season, and a vast majority of those players are back in the fold. As the quarterback, Ryan might be the central figure, but he knows just how special the players are around him, especially at running back.

"Those two guys, Tevin (Coleman), Devonta (Freeman) they're so versatile for us," Ryan said when asked about the value of his running backs. "When you watch those guys compete this offseason, the way that they practice at the start of camp, catching the football out of the backfield, it's going to be critical for us. I think those guys are two of the most talented guys in the league."

That BURST by @devontafreeman  pic.twitter.com/nMWIkqjJdi

Ryan didn't just discuss his running backs, however. He had great things to say about Austin Hooper and Mohamed Sanu two receiving targets who are entering their second year with the team. Both players have stood out in camp, and their quarterback expects big things from them this fall.

"I expect a lot, I think Hoop has done a great job for us," Ryan said of his tight end. "He played at a high level for us last year as a rookie, and I think having this offseason to be able to spend time in the facility, learn, catch his breath a little bit from his first year, too, and learn from that experience. I think he's going to do great things for us."

2. Line battles intensify on Day 4

The offensive and defensive linemen went after it during Sunday's practice, and things got competitive. Among the notable defenders who stood out were Grady Jarrett - who went head-to-head against Alex Mack at one point - Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn

Both sides of the line of scrimmage will be important areas for the Falcons in the preseason. The offensive line is still rotating players at right guard, including Ben Garland, Wes Schweitzerand Sean Harlow to lock down the position between Mack and right tackle Ryan Schraeder, Defensively, the addition of Poe gives Atlanta a strong defensive tackle group with he and Jarrett.

After practice, coach Dan Quinn explained what he looks for in the trenches on both sides of the ball and why the addition of pads is important for that practice.

"I was happy on the first day, looking back" Quinn said of the battle on the line of scrimmage. "Can we play really tough, really physical at the line of scrimmage (in the) run game (and) pass protection. Offensively, it's all 11 the way we come off the ball. That's the intent we're looking for, so I'm always trying to keep that in mind. Defensive line-wise, it's about penetration. When you can get that, that's when the disruption happens. If you penetrate along the front along the front, especially in the run game, I'd say about eight out of 10 times something is going to happen good for you if you can play that aggressive style."

Stability up front last season played a big role in the Falcons' offensive success, and the defensive line could be one of the most improved units on the team in 2017.

3. Rookie Damontae Kazee continues to make big plays When thinking of the rookies who have opened eyes during the first stretch of training camp, there are a few names that come to mind. Reggie Davis, an undrafted free agent out of Georgia, has made a name for himself at receiver, and Duke Riley looks just as fast as advertised. The rookie who seems to be making big plays every single day, however, is Kazee.

Coming out of San Diego State, the fifth-round pick was looked at as an aggressive player who could produce turnovers in the secondary. Thus far, he's been exactly that. Kazee snagged a nice one-handed interception on the second day of Falcons training camp, and he repeated that feat on Sunday. Going up against the much bigger Joshua Perkins, Kazee got one hand on the ball and wrestled it away from the tight end during a full-team portion of practice.

For more on Kazee's impressive start with the Falcons and his Q&A he did with atlantafalcons.com, click here.

4. Mohamed Sanu already appears to be in mid-season form Sanu is arguably having the best camp of any player at this point. With Julio Jones and Taylor Gabriel limited, Sanu has been the receiver making spectacular plays.

Speaking with the media after Saturday's practice, Jones said Sanu could be more of a deep threat in his second year with the team, and he certainly might be onto something. Sanu is getting a lot of work, and he's scored touchdowns in a variety of ways: slants, posts and deep routes. He even pulled down a Hail Mary near the end of Saturday's practice.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound receiver also drew praise from his quarterback. Ryan expressed great appreciation for the work that Sanu puts in on a daily basis.

"Yeah, I mean, Mo brings a lot. Obviously you guys see the plays that he makes on the field, but the day to day energy that he brings on the practice field - he's a high-energy guy," Ryan said. "That energy that he brings, guys feed off of it, for sure. ... He's been really good for us, he's a leader for this football team and does a great job with it."

5. Austin Hooper talked about working out with Matt Ryan this offseason

With all of the offensive weapons the Falcons have, they hardly need a legitimate threat at the tight end position. As Hooper enters his second year, however, he may give Atlanta just that. During his rookie season, Hooper caught 19 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns. He came on strong in the second half of the season, and he worked out with Ryan in the offseason to develop that chemistry.

"Matt has this quarterback guy, Adam (Dedeaux)," Hooper said. "He works out of Golden West Junior College in Long Beach, so Matt thought it would be a good idea if I came down for a couple days and worked with him. And we really just repped some stuff we felt we could both work on, and it was just a good opportunity one-on-one with Matt to get to know him a little bit better both on and off the field."

Ryan took notice of Hooper's work ethic while spending time with him. This is a relationship that should pay off for the team on the field.

"I'm just impressed with the way that he works," Ryan said. "He's dedicated, he wants to be a great player, and when you have guys like that, it's exciting to be around them."

To see Hooper's entire post-practice interview, click here.

6. Highlights: Kazee and Sanu bring excitement to Sunday's practice It should come as no surprise that Kazee and Sanu, two of the players making big plays so far in training camp had some of the biggest highlights on Sunday.

Kazee's one-handed interception that he wrestled away from Perkins had his defensive teammates jumping up and down and swarming around the rookie defensive back. Going against second-year cornerback Brian Poole, Sanu ran a post route and sprinted into the end zone untouched to make yet another big impression on those in attendance.

 

[AVXL]

Falcons had the day off today but they get back to it tomorrow morning. I'll leave this for y'all. Vaughn McClure on TeCo & Devonta...arguably the best RB duo in the game

Matt Ryan ready to utilize 'versatile' two-back tandem to the fullest
Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman provide the Falcons with a dangerous and versatile 1-2 punch in the backfield. Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP
9:08 AM ET

• 
  
  Vaughn McClureESPN Staff Writer

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- In case anyone forgot that Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman can do more than just run the ball, both Atlanta Falcons running backs have given spectators friendly reminders throughout training camp thus far.

Whether it was Freeman beating Deion Jonesdown the right sideline Sunday with a double move or Coleman darting across the and securing a pass in traffic earlier in camp, quarterback Matt Ryan knows both backs have the ability to be big-play threats as receivers.

The running back duo combined for 883 yards on 85 catches with five touchdowns last season, so their dual-threat ability is not a new revelation. But again, watching them in practice reinforces how much talent Ryan has to work with outside of All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones.

"The two guys -- Tevin, Devonta -- they're so versatile for us," Ryan said. "When you watch those guys compete this offseason, the way that they've practiced the start of camp, catching the football out of the backfield, it's going to be critical for us. I think those guys are two of the most talented guys in the league and are three-down backs. They catch the ball really well for us. They run the ball in between the tackles, outside the tackles. And they pass protect for us really well. So we're lucky to have both those guys."

Freeman came to the Falcons with soft hands and the ability to run routes like a receiver. He had 73 receptions (for 578 yards) in 2015, second on the team behind Jones, who had 136 catches. Coleman really started to improve as a pass-catcher last season after he got over some of the fumbling issues that plagued him as a rookie. His breakout performance as a receiver came last year against Denver, when he won his one-on-one matchups against linebackers and caught four passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Health will factor into Coleman's productivity moving forward, as he's dealt with his share of nagging injuries.


"The goal is to just finish the season without being injured," Coleman told ESPN. "I had a couple injuries in my past two years, and I just want to finish this season without any injuries."

Meanwhile, Freeman, who continues to wait for a contract extension, wants to play at an even higher level than the one that has earned him Pro Bowl selections the past two seasons.

"It's another level I can go to," Freeman said. "It's always another level I can go to."

New Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, who took over for Kyle Shanahan, said one of the tweaks he planned to make was to find even more ways to use his dynamic running back tandem.

"I think, first and foremost, we have two really electric tailbacks, and they are bad matchups on defenses," Sarkisian said. "Just making sure we're putting those guys in the best position to be successful -- whether it's separately on the field, whether it's being on the field together."

 

[Fade Runner 2049]

 

[AVXL]

• 2017 ATLANTA FALCONS TRAINING CAMP

Falcons training camp: Tracker and notes for the first practice of August
Atlanta’s back to practice, and here’s what you need to know heading in.
by Dave Choate Aug 1, 2017, 8:00am EDT TWEET

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Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons had a day off from practice yesterday, but they’re coming back to it today. Let’s take a few minutes to reflect on what we’ve seen thus far.

The Falcons look like a great team in the making, but it’s too early to draw any real conclusions from what little we’ve seen at practice. We’ll round up a few notes worth paying attention to, though.

• With Devin Fuller’s unfortunate injury, the chances of Andre Roberts seizing that returner job went way, way up. The fact that Taylor Gabriel is involved still complicates things, because if the Falcons aren’t planning to significantly up his targets, his explosiveness makes him one hell of a potential returner.
• Jalen Collins is apparently working with the deep reserves at the moment, mostly. We told you not to worry overmuch about that just yet, and we meant it, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to the work Collins gets from here on out.
• The Falcons have—and will continue to—given Ben Garland and Wes Schweitzereven reps to this point. That battle will go deep into August, and it’ll always be one worth watching.

 

[The ADD]

Man this Collins situation is odd people...............