FLOWERY BRANCH – With the Falcons set to report for training on July 30, it's time to start the countdown to training camp.
Each morning leading up to the start of training camp, we’ll take a look at one of the position groups.
We started o ut by looking at the wide receivers on Monday. We'll look at the quarterbacks today.
Three-time Pro Bowler Matt Ryan, who's averaged 4,526.25 yards passing over the past and 28.75 touchdown passes over the past four seasons, will have his third position coach.
He started with Bill Musgrave and then Glenn Thomas, who was not retained. Thomas landed in the college ranks at Temple in the same position.
Matt LaFleur, who coached at Notre Dame last season, was hired to replace Thomas. He spent the four previous seasons in the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the Washington Redskins.
Before joining the Redskins, LaFleur spent two seasons as an offensive assistant for the Houston Texans (2008-09) where he worked with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
LaFleur played quarterback at Saginaw Valley State where he guided the Cardinals to three straight NCAA Division II playoff appearances.
Here’s a look at the quarterback group:
Sean Renfree, Duke, 6-5, 225: He was on injured reserve in 2013 but made the team as the third-stringer last season. He will need a strong exhibition season to unseat T.J. Yates as the backup. It will be interesting to see if the Falcons carry three quarterbacks again.
Matt Ryan, Boston College, 6-4, 220: Ryan, 30, who's set to enter his eighth season in the NFL, guided the Falcons to five consecutive winning seasons and the NFC Championship game after the 2012 season. The team regressed the past two seasons and posted a 10-22 record that led to the dismissal of coach Mike Smith. However, Ryan continued to play at a high level despite operating behind makeshift offensive lines. The Falcons are determine to establish a rushing attack and that should help keep the offense from being so predictable.
T.J. Yates, North Carolina, 6-4, 217: Yates was acquired from the Houston Texans in a trade for linebacker Akeem Dent in June of 2014. He was resigned over the offseason to a one-year $1.5 million contract. Yates, who's from Marietta and played at Pope High and North Carolina, was added to give the Falcons a veteran backup to quarterback Matt Ryan. He played 18 snaps last season and completed 3 of 4 passes for 64 yards. He played under former Houston coach Gary Kubiak, who gave new Falcons coordinator Kyle Shanahan his start in the league. There is some system carryover for Yates. He was recently rated the 25th best backup quarterback in the league by NFL.Com's Marc Sessler.
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ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 COUNTDOWN TO TRAINING CAMP
Tuesday -- Quarterbacks
Wednesday -- Running backs
Thursday -- Fullbacks/Tight ends
Friday -- Offensive line
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: The Falcons will hold their training camp at the team's headquarters for the 11th consecutive year and will have select practices open to the public from July 31 – August 19.
On Friday, August 7, the Falcons will hold their “Friday Night Lights” controlled scrimmage at Buford High School.
Here’s the training camp schedule:
Friday, July 31 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 1 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 2 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 3 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 4 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Wednesday, August 5 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 6 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 7 – “Friday Night Lights” (Buford High School – open to the public)
Saturday, August 8 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 9 – Practice 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 10 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 11 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 12 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 13 – Practice 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 14 – Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, Georgia Dome, 7:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, August 15 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 16 – Walkthrough (closed to the public)
Monday, August 17 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 18 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 19 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
TRANSACTIONS: Here's a list of the Falcons transactions since Quinn was hired on Feb. 2.:
06/18/2015 -- Signed WR Carlton Mitchell; Waived WR Shane Wynn
06/15/2015 -- Released OT Sam Baker
06/02/2015 -- Signed LB Boris Anyama
05/30/2015 -- Signed G Chris Chester; Waived LB Derrick Malone Jr.
05/29/2015 -- Waived LB Prince Shembo
05/14/2015 -- Signed T Tyler Polumbus
05/13/2015 -- Waived OT Cody Clay
05/11/2015 -- Signed DE Sam Meredith
05/10/2015 -- Signed T Matt Huffer and DB Jonathon Mincy; waived DT Chris Brown, CB Jordan Ozerities, and WR Joshua Stangby
05/06/2015 -- Agreed to terms with North Texas LB Derek Akunne, Tarleton State DT Chris Brown, Central Oklahoma WR Marquez Clark, Azusa Pacific University OL Cody Clay, Louisville S Terell Floyd, Northern Arizona TE Beau Gardner, Wisconsin DT Warren Herring, Fort Valley State CB Mike Lee, Cincinnati T Eric Lefeld, Oregon LB Derrick Malone, Houston DT Joey Mbu, Central Florida CB Jordan Ozerities, Florida Atlantic S Damian Parms, Ottawa University WR Joshua Stangby, Auburn S Robenson Therezie, New Mexico State C Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, Oregon State RB Terron Ward, Texas Christian CB Kevin White, and Indiana WR Shane Wynn.
05/04/2015 -- Signed FB Collin Mooney
05/03/2015 -- Waived TE Kyle Miller
05/02/2015 -- Selected ECU WR Justin Hardy with the No. 107 overall pick; Selected Clemson DT Grady Jarrett with the No. 137 overall pick; Selected Eastern Washington OT Jake Rodgers with the No. 225 overall pick; Selected San Jose State CB Akeem King with the No. 249 overall pick
05/01/2015 -- Selected LSU CB Jalen Collins with the No. 42 overall pick; Selected Indiana RB Tevin Coleman with the No. 73 overall pick
05/01/2015 -- Waived S Brandon Bishop, OL Reid Fragel, CB Jordan Mabin, LB/DE Jacques Smith and RB Ronnie Wingo
04/30/2015 -- Drafted Clemson DE Vic Beasley Jr. with No. 8 overall selection in 2015 Draft
04/02/2015 -- Waived S Zeke Motta
03/19/2015 -- Signed TE Tony Moeaki
03/19/2015 -- Signed TE Jacob Tamme
03/18/2015 -- Re-signed DE Kroy Biermann; Signed OL Jared Smith
03/12/2015 -- Agreed to terms with LB O'Brien Schofield
03/12/2015 -- Agreed to terms with DE Adrian Clayborn and CB Phillip Adams
03/11/2015 -- Signed WR Leonard Hankerson
03/10/2015 -- Agreed to terms with LB Justin Durant, LB Brooks Reed, G Mike Person and RB Antone Smith
03/10/2015 -- Signed QB TJ Yates to contract extension
03/07/2015 -- Signed WR Eric Weems to contract extension
03/05/2015 -- Signed S Charles Godfrey to contract extension
02/27/2015 -- Waived DE Jonathan Massaquoi
02/27/2015 -- Released G Justin Blalock
02/27/2015 -- Released WR Harry Douglas
02/26/2015 -- Released RB Steven Jackson
02/25/2015 -- Signed K Matt Bryant to contract extension
02/24/2015 -- Signed DL Cliff Matthews and FB Patrick DiMarco to contract extensions; Signed free-agent WR Nick Williams
02/13/2015 --Signed LB Allen Bradford
02/02/2015 -- Hired Dan Quinn as club's 16th head coach
