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(The NFL Draft is finally here!!! The Cover 9@9 is here every Wednesday at 9 a.m. We’ll try to get to everything about the Atlanta Falcons from who really turned up the noise at the Georgia Dome to exactly who's going to play left guard. -– D. Orlando Ledbetter)
1. Jones ready to roll: Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who's not too worried about a contract extension at this point, spent a month out in Arizona training with Roddy White this offseason before the team's official program started.
White usually works out with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, but we need to check with White to see if he was in the group this year.
Jones, the team’s primary offensive weapon, likes how the new offense utilizes his position.
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
“You definitely have to be in shape, more so that we were last year,” Jones said. “There is going to be lot demanded out of us.”
Jones said there will be more an emphasis on route-running.
"In the past, I don't think it was emphasized enough, 'hey, you've got to go out there, no matter what's your play on the backside, if you're getting the ball of if you're not getting the ball, you have to go out there and go full speed in order to pull the defense and pull coverage."
2. Team unity: You could tell that head coach Dan Quinn has been preaching team unity.
“We have to go out there and play for the guy next to us,” Jones said.
The entire team worked together on the first day of minicamp on Tuesday. They wrap up the camp today.
“It feels great,” Jones said. “Just the mindset of everybody is that I’m going to take care him and he’s going to take care of me. But at the same time, we’re going to go out here and compete each one another.”
Jones said Quinn has delivered a clear message to the team.
“Just from the meetings since coach Quinn got here, he’s been telling us what he expects out of us and what we can expect out of him,” Jones said. “We don’t want to let no one down. We don’t want to let him down and we know that he doesn’t want to let us down.”
3. Zebras on the field: The Falcons have officials working the minicamp practices.
“If we can play at our best, we have to do it without grabbing or holding,” Quinn said. “It’s doing it within the guidelines of the game. If we can simulate everything that we can as close to the game while practicing safely, let’s do that.
“The officials here are an important part of that to make sure that we’re not grabbing or just maybe taking the easy way out as a defensive back holding or an offensive linemen grabbing. It’s all part of the general atmosphere of practice, how competitive can we make every scenario.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
4. Check the scoreboard: The Falcons kept score in the seven-on-seven drills on Tuesday. Under Quinn, they will score different portions of practice with a goal of keeping everything competitive.
“Another day we’ll do a different period of practice,” Quinn said. “It’s just another way to have fun, change up a period and let them know there’s a little more at stake that if it’s complete on incomplete.”
5. Draft Day is coming: After the players scatter after the final minicamp practice, Quinn will shift back into draft mode.
“There’s just the last little reminders,” Quinn said. “Thomas (Dimitroff) and I have been together for this whole time. Between the two of us, it’s been a terrific process. We are ready to go. We’ve had kind of our own final meetings, but I’m sure there will be a few more just to prepare and get ready. We’re ready.”
The players like the scoreboard sessions.
“Everything is a competition,” cornerback Desmond Trufant said. “From the first meeting, we’ve been competing. Whoever. Offense vs. Defense. Seven- on-seven. Blitz period. It’s wins and losses. Everything is a competition and I love it."
6. Ryan and Shanahan: Quarterback Matt Ryan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan are working on establishing their relationship.
“We’ve spent a lot of time these last few months trying to get to know each other,” Ryan said. “It’s been positive, it really has been.”
Ryan felt the first practice went well.
“I though the energy was really good,” Ryan said. “ I thought the execution was OK. We have a long ways to go, but it was a good start for us.”
7. No contact drills: Ryan was elated to have all of the receivers on hand during these no contact drills.
“The speed is there, but what you lack is the contact at this time of the year,” Ryan said. “We can get a lot of really good work done at this time of the year, especially with the new scheme. When you are in shorts, it gives you a really good chance to kind of learn that scheme before you are actually hitting.”
Who’s the D.J.: Music blared out from the speakers for most the practices. “Atomic Dog” by George Clinton was my favorite.
Trufant has a musical request.
“It was a cool playlist today,” Trufant said. “I approve of it, but we need some West Coast in there for me.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
8. Cheerleader Auditions: The 2015 Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders auditions will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Georgia International Convention Center.
The Falcons are looking for enthusiastic ladies with a dance/cheer background, a positive attitude, a winning smile and dedication to be the best.
The requirements included
Must be at least 18 years of age by June 7, 2015
- Must be a high school graduate or have a G.E.D. by June 7, 2015
- Must have a part-time or full-time job or be a college student. (Yes, a mother is considered a full-time job!)
Audition Documents and Information
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders auditions are comprised of two stages: Preliminary auditions and final auditions.
Final auditions will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame . Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. Final auditions are open to the public.
9. Final Mock will be posted later tonight: Right now, it looks like this. With so many guys getting into trouble with the law lately, I'm going to go up close to The Huddle Report deadline of 11:59 p.m. this year.
Robby Esch, the fine owner/editor over at The Huddle Report, is scoring the mocks again this year. After a down year, I need to big season in 2015.
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FALCONS DRAFT BOARD
5 questions with Boise State running back Jay Ajayi
5 questions with Miami offensive lineman Ereck Flowers
5 questions with Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams
5 questions with Oklahoma tight end Blake Bell
Kentucky's Bud Dupree vs. Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Nebraska's Randy Gregory
5 questions with Kentucky's Bud Dupree
5 questions with Missouri's Shane Ray
5 questions with Clemson's Vic Beasley
5 questions with Alabama safety Landon Collins
5 questions with Alabama quarterback Blake Sims
5 questions with Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.
5 questions with Oregoan DL Arik Armstead
5 questions with Miami inside linebacker Denzel Perryman
Falcons go to check out several Miami Hurricanes
Some of the attendees to the Falcons locals day
ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 DRAFT PICKS
First round: 8th overall selection
Second round: 42nd overall selection
Third round: 73rd overall selection
Fourth round: 107th overall selection
Fifth round: 146th overall selection
Sixth round: 185th overall selection
Seventh round: 225th overall selection
Seventh round: 249th overall selection*
*Pick is from New England through St. Louis
POSITION-BY-POSITION FOR 2015 NFL DRAFT
Wednesday: Top 5 Inside Linebackers
Miami linebacker Denzel Perryman ,
Thursday: Top 5 defensive tackles
(Leonard Williams' Rugby skill will become handy in the NFL)
Friday: Top 5 defensive backs
Alabama's Landon Collins is the top safety prospect
Saturday: Top 5 special teamers
Dorsett, Alford could be top returners
Sunday: Top 5 edge rushers (defensive ends/outside linebackers).
Big Chuck Smith breaks down the top pass-rush prospects
Monday: Top 5 Offensive line
Georgia Tech's Shaquille Mason trying to convert to center for NFL
Tuesday: Top 5 Wide receivers
Georgia's Chris Conley now projects as a fourth-rounder
Wednesday, April 22: Top 5 Running backs
Thursday, April 23: Top 5 Quarterbacks
NFL must handle Winston, Mariota with care. Both need seasoning
Friday, April 24: Top 5 Tight ends
South Carolina's Rory "Buster" Anderson hopes to get his NFL shot
ICYMI: Here's a link to last year's Position-by-Position series.
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