Falcons hold tryouts for punt returner

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Falcons used their mock game at the Georgia Dome on Saturday to audition replacements for Harry Douglas as the team’s punt-returner. Douglas is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee Wednesday.

Eric Weems, Brent Grimes, Brian Finneran and Chandler Williams all took turns fielding punts. Finneran was the team’s returner last season for punts that were projected to land inside the 20-yard line.

“That was an emphasis early on to start the scrimmage,” coach Mike Smith said. “We wanted some different punt-returners back there to touch the ball.

“I thought the guys handled it well. We didn’t have any drops today.”

Williams did bobble a punt, and Finneran and Michael Jenkins told him that would cost him $10.

Weems and Grimes were very fluid, and Grimes showed a little wiggle while returning one punt for a touchdown.

Game-day routine

The Falcons practiced their stretching, how they run out on the field and had someone sing the national anthem in the mock game.

They even went through their halftime ritual.

“It is really an opportunity for us to come out here and get a feel for what it’s going to be like,” right tackle Tyson Clabo said. “It’s good for the young guys who haven’t been here before. I think we accomplished what we came down here for today.”

Attendance for the mock game was 11,565.

Kelly adjusts

Wide receiver Aaron Kelly, an undrafted rookie free agent from Clemson who played at Walton, has had to make major adjustments to the NFL. While at Clemson, the Tigers ran mostly out of the no-huddle offense and used hand signals to call plays. The Falcons do neither.

“I had to get used to huddling again and the quarterback calling plays,” Kelly said. “It’s been five years since I’ve done that. Just little things like that are difficult to adjust to.”

Time off

After the mock game, the Falcons were off for the rest of Saturday. They will reconvene at 6 p.m. Sunday for a team meeting, but they do not practice Sunday. “I’m going to go home,” Clabo said. “Sleep in my own bed and maybe catch up on some DVR.”