If Falcons left tackle Sam Baker can’t play Sunday against the Rams, recent addition Jeremy Trueblood says he’s ready to go after about a week of learning his new team’s offense.
“I think I’ve got most everything down,” he said Thursday. “I feel really comfortable out there.”
Trueblood was at right tackle with the starters Thursday for the second consecutive day. Lamar Holmes, the starter at right tackle for the season opener, filled in for Baker at left tackle as Baker sat out again with a knee injury.
“It was an opportunity to get out there with our offense calling our plays and doing our terminology (instead of the scout team),” Trueblood said. “I thought that was really beneficial for me, and then I will just go from there.”
The Falcons entered training camp short on experience among the offensive linemen. After Holmes struggled during the preseason, the Falcons signed Trueblood, who started 84 of 101 games at right tackle for Tampa Bay from 2006-12.
The Redskins cut Trueblood on the first roster reduction during training camp this summer. The Falcons waited a week before signing him to a free-agent contract.
When Trueblood arrived, he said there are only so many plays an offense can learn, so his biggest challenge would be learning his new team’s calls.
“There are a few calls that are universal to offenses like this, which I’ve run before,” Trueblood said. “That’s helped out a lot, but really it’s just sticking your nose in the playbook every night, using flash cards every night and doing what you have to do.”
Injury report: Wide receiver Roddy White (ankle) and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (knee) joined Baker on the did-not-practice list for the second consecutive practice. White and Babineaux also sat out Wednesday.
Wide receiver Julio Jones (knee) participated in a portion of practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Cornerback Asante Samuel (thigh) and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (knee) also were limited in practice Thursday.
Safety Thomas DeCoud (knee), defensive tackle Peria Jerry (knee) and defensive end Cliff Matthews (neck) participated fully in practice Thursday after they were limited Wednesday.
Gonzalez 'embarrassed' by blocking: Tight end Tony Gonzalez vowed the team would improve its pass protection Sunday, and he said it starts with him.
Gonzalez was responsible for one of the three sacks against quarterback Matt Ryan in the loss at New Orleans on Sunday. He said it’s only the second sack he allowed in 17 seasons, and the first was 13 years ago.
“It’s embarrassing,” Gonzalez said. “It’s one of the things you can look at early in the season, and I can make sure that it doesn’t happen again. We have to keep Matt upright and keep him in that pocket, have it nice and clean so that he can throw that ball down the field.”
Douglas back on returns: Wide receiver Harry Douglas handled both punt returns for the Falcons at New Orleans, a sign that he could be back in the role full-time for the first time since his rookie season of 2008.
Douglas and rookie cornerback Robert Alford competed for the return job during training camp. Douglas gained 7 and 13 yards on his two returns against the Saints.
“The second one when I (saw) the crease I actually thought I was going to score on that one,” Douglas said. “It was good to be back there again. I fell in love with it my rookie year. I have faith in every guy that is on it (punt-return team). It’s something we take pride in.”
With Dominique Franks as the main return man in 2012, the Falcons ranked 25th of 32 teams with a 7.9 average.
Fine for hit on Ryan: Saints rookie safety Kenny Vaccaro told the The Times-Picayune in New Orleans that the NFL fined him about $8,000 for his late hit against Ryan on Sunday.
In the first quarter Vaccaro hit Ryan after the quarterback had started to slide near the end of a 12-yard run. Referees penalized Vaccaro for unnecessary roughness.
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