Since the NFL draft in April, much of what Falcons coach Mike Smith said about rookies possibly starting this season — especially rookie quarterback Matt Ryan — sounded like cliched coach-speak.

"We want them all to compete as if they'll be starters," the first-year coach said more than once.

As the Falcons get set to open training camp at team headquarters in Flowery Branch on Saturday, Smith's tone and message, especially when it comes to who will be the team's starting quarterback, is far more succinct and emphatic.

"It's going to be an open competition," Smith said.

Ryan, Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and D.J. Shockley will spend the next month or so engaged in the most important and intensely scrutinized preseason battle for the rebuilding franchise.

"We'll have a rotation so that all of our quarterbacks have an opportunity to work early," Smith said. "That's something that we want to do, to give every guy an opportunity to compete for the starting job."

Said Ryan: "I think there's no right or wrong way to do it. If it were an exact science, then everybody would follow the same protocol. As a competitor and a player, I think that you want to be out on the field and you want to have the ball in your hands."

Smith said position battles aren't limited to quarterback — cornerback could be the most heated, but some spots are up for grabs along the offensive and defensive lines.

Yet, there is no greater intrigue than at quarterback, especially for the Falcons, who are trying to move beyond quarterback Michael Vick. His indictment and eventual imprisonment on dogfighting charges dominated the organization this time a year ago.

Ryan, the third overall pick in the April draft, has already signed a $72 million contract and been tabbed as the franchise quarterback, so his time is coming. He just has to prove himself

Redman, signed to a two-year, $4 million contract last spring, started the final four games of 2007 and has worked primarily with the first-team offense through offseason mini-camps and organized team activities (OTAs).

Though he seemingly has the edge entering training camp, Redman has never played more than seven games in a season during his on-and-off, four-year career and he's on relatively similar footing as Ryan in that both are learning a new offense.

"You put pressure on all the players and see how they're going to respond to pressure," Smith said, referring to how the coaching staff plans to push players mentally to gauge their readiness — and worthiness. "There is pressure in this league every day, and we need to see how guys handle pressure.

"When they're faced with pressure, we have to make sure they don't get stressed out. That's the thing that's important. We have to put them in those situations, manufacture them not only in practice, but in games."

The competition for backup jobs should also be interesting.

Though Harrington, who started most of last season before being demoted, and Shockley technically are up for the starting job, each is in a battle for his NFL life.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 draft, Harrington was cut by the Falcons in the spring before signing a one-year, $1 million deal. He has been given numerous opportunities to start in Detroit, Miami and with the Falcons, and he has failed to build any track record of success.

Shockley missed all of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Now cleared to practice, Shockley seemingly will have to regain his game in a hurry to stand a chance.

Then it could be up to the coaching staff to decide whether to keep a veteran with plenty of game experience or a younger player, other than Ryan, who could be developed as the third option.

"You have to go into it saying you have to have two guys that are ready to play — you want to have your No. 2 guy ready to go," Smith said. "If you look back, I don't think there were many times teams had to go to No. 3 quarterback during a game."