Falcons get feisty at practice

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Flowery Branch — The Falcons got a little riled as they practiced Tuesday.

First, safety Erik Coleman moved up a couple of weight classes to take on offensive tackle Tyson Clabo. Later, center Todd McClure and defensive tackle Vance Walker got tangled up in a shoving match that took several offensive and defensive players to break up.

“Come on, I’m crazy,” Clabo said as he squared with defensive tackle Thomas Johnson.

With the heat, the multiple practices and a game coming up, Falcons coach Mike Smith almost expected the skirmishes.

“It’s part of training camp,” Smith said. “The guys are going to mix it up. They were out there competing and some of our nerves got frayed a little bit.”

By this time in camp last year, right guard Harvey Dahl had already taken on the entire defense, a few times.

“That’s also the way it goes when you’ve been out here about 10 days and you’ve been hitting the same guys,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “There are going to be some fights and some scuffles.”

Receivers ready

Wide receiver Roddy White, who returned to practice Monday after an eight-day contract holdout, should see some action in the exhibition opener against Detroit on Saturday.

“Barring any change, I wouldn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t go out and play,” Smith said.

Newly acquired wide receivers Robert Ferguson and Marty Booker are picking up the offense quickly and also should play against the Lions.

Plays of the day

In the morning session, left tackle Will Svitek put a nice block on defensive end Kroy Biermann and drove him to the ground on a running play toward Biermann’s side of the defense.

In the afternoon session, rookie right tackle Garrett Reynolds had a couple of good snaps against fellow rookie Lawrence Sidbury. Reynolds wasn’t fooled by a spin move and threw Sidbury off his rush lane.