CMG QA Player
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons coach Mike Smith puts a lot of stock into the offseason program.
Now, with the draft and the rookie minicamp over, he can start pointing to the OTAs and training camp.
The rookie minicamp was designed to get those players familiar with the team’s schemes,
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
verbiage and practice flow.
They’ll go a little deeper during OTAs and then even deeper during the mandatory minicamp, which will consist of five practices over three days.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do with these young rookies that our coming in to catch up with our veterans,” Smith said. “When we can really go out and do football, and what I mean by do football, is work against each other and not against air like we are in the coaching sessions here in phase two of our offseason program which we certainly hope changes in the future, because it is not the most beneficial for players or coaches.”
The Falcons are finalizing the training camp schedule, which has included practices against another team in each of the past four seasons.
The Falcons have held joint practices in each of the past four training camps.
Last season, the Falcons hosted the Cincinnati Bengals.
In 2012, the Falcons practiced against the Tennessee Titans in Dalton.
In 2011, the Falcons held practices with the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
In 2010, they hosted practices against the Jaguars and the Patriots.
The Dolphins and Titans could be candidates as the Falcons host Miami on August 8 and Tennessee on Aug. 23.
HERE’S THE REMAINING OFFSEASON SCHEDULE
--Today: Coaching session Field workouts No. 9.
--Thursday: Coach session Field workout No. 10.
PHASE THREE OF OFFSEASON PROGRAM
--Tuesday, May 27 – OTA No. 1.
--Wednesday, May 28 – OTA No. 2.
--Thursday, May 29 – OTA No. 3.
--Friday, May 30 – Strength and Conditioning plus a rookie practice
--Monday, June 2 – OTA No. 4.
--Tuesday, June 3 – OTA No. 5.
--Wednesday, June 4 – OTA No. 6.
--Thursday, June 5 – Rookie Practice.
--Monday, June 9 – Hacks vs. Jocks golf tournament. Defending champs – Team Scelfo.
--Tuesday, June 10 – OTA No. 7.
--Wednesday, June 11 – OTA No. 8.
--Thursday, June 12 – OTA No. 9.
--Friday, June 13 – OTA No. 10.
--Monday, June 16 – Physicals.
--Tuesday, June 17 -- Day One: Mandatory minicamp (5 practices over three days)
--Wednesday, June 18 – Day Two: Mandatory minicamp.
--Thursday, June 19 – Day Three: Mandatory minicamp. (Offseason program ends for veterans).
TBA – Rookie Symposium
TBA – (Late July) – Report to Training camp.
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