9 observations from Wednesday’s Falcons practice
With James Carpenter and Matt Hennessy in a heavy rotation at first-team left guard, the Falcons worked on short-yardage and goal-line situations in a padded practice Wednesday.
The team has installed the playbook and defensive schemes. Coach Dan Quinn is expecting the rookies and second-year players to start getting “sharper and faster” with their assignments.
Here are some observations from the practice:
- Quinn gave an injury report before practice. Also, center Alex Mack and running back Todd Gurley were held out on a rest day. Justin McCray took over at center for Mack with Ito Smith and Brian Hill takeover for Gurley.
- Defensive end Dante Fowler appeared to tweak his left leg late in the practice. The injury didn’t appear serious.
- Brandon Powell appeared to suffer an injury, which allowed Chris Rowland to take most of the punt returner reps. Wearing No. 14, Rowland looks like a quicker and faster Eric Weems, the former returner from Bethune-Cookman who wore the same number and went on to become a Pro Bowl special-teams player in 2010 and play in 151 NFL games from 2007-17.
- In the one-on-one defensive line vs. offensive line matchups, defensive end Hinwa Allieu used a nice rip move to get free. Deadrin Senat and Justin Gooseberry battled to a tie. Gooseberry, of Rice, also received some action with the second team at right guard. Defensive end Austin Edwards, of Ferris State, won a matchup with veteran Justin McCray.
- Kicker Younghoe Koo made all of his field-goal attempts, which brought on shouts of “Automatic Koo.”
- Falcons running backs coach Bernie Parmalee worked with the group on their pass protection.
- Wide receiver Julio Jones beat cornerback Kendall Sheffield up the left sideline for a nice grab. Sheffield was in phase, but didn’t make a play on the ball.
- Tight end Khari Lee made a nice catch along the left side.
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Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
