FLOWERY BRANCH -- The position-by-position look continues in our countdown to training camp.
The players report tomorrow and take the field on Friday for their first practice.
Here's a look at the key special teams players:
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Matt Bosher, punter/kickoffs, Miami, 6-0, 208: In four seasons with the Falcons, he has punted 265 times for 12,006 yards with a 45.5 yard average and a 41.1 net average. He has placed 102 punts inside the 20-yard line with just 14 landing in the endzone for touchbacks. He also handles the kickoffs. He averaged 4.8 seconds on his open-field punts last season, which was tops in the league, according to profootballfocus.com.
Matt Bryant, place-kicker, Baylor, 5-9, 203: He has connected on 148 field goals since joining the Falcons, which ranks second in team history behind Morten Andersen who hit 184. He is one of three players in team history to reach the century mark in made field goals. Passed Jay Feely (98) and Mick Luckhurst (115) in 2013. Last season, Bryant made 29 of 32 field goals — including eight of eight from 40 to 49 yards.
Josh Harris, long snapper, Auburn, 6-1, 224: In two seasons, he has played in all 32 games serving as the long snapper on place kicks and punts. He a native of Carrollton.
Devin Hester, returner, Miami, 5-11, 190: One of the most prolific return men in NFL history, holds NFL records for punt return touchdowns (14) and combined career return touchdowns (20). Totaled 3,481 yards on 282 punt returns. He has also added 6,632 yards and five touchdowns on 267 career kickoff returns.
Eric Weems, returner-gunner, Bethune-Cookman, 5-9, 195: His main contributions were on the special teams units. He signed a two-year contract in March. Weems, who went to the Pro Bowl as a special teams player after the 2010 season, led the team in special teams' tackles with 13. He also caught 10 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns last season.
ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 COUNTDOWN TO CAMP: We started our countdown to training camp 11 days out with a position-by-position look at the team. Links are below if you missed one.
Here’s the schedule:
Thursday – Fullbacks/Tight ends
Thur., July 30 -- Assistant coaches (non coordinators)
Friday, July 31 – First day of practice.
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)
ROOKIE MINICAMP VIDEOS VIDEO:
Meet Falcons 2nd round pick CB Jalen Collins
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 3rd round pick RB Tevin Coleman
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick CB Akeem King
AJC's 2015 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
Falcons pick Vic Beasley, pass on Todd Gurley
Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
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