FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons are moving forward with plans to hold a players-only passing camp this offseason.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who tossed 16 interceptions in the first season in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone offense, believes that the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends need to get together over the offseason to work on the passing attack.
The players have plans to hold the camp in April in Miami.
In years past, the Falcons had veteran receivers and didn’t do the Peyton Manning-styled passing camp. Ryan believes that type of camp would be beneficial this offseason.
“I think that is something that we do need to do,” Ryan said on his season-ending show on 680 The Zone in January. “For a long time, we’ve been a very veteran team at those positions. Whether if it be at the tight end spot with Tony Gonzalez or our wide receivers where we had veteran guys for a long time.
“I think we are young. Young across the board. I think extra time put in together whether if it be here in Atlanta…so many guys are here during the offseason which is huge for us. Or, whether if it’s getting together somewhere else and spending some time together and working together and trying to iron out the details and be a little bit more refined than we were this past season. I think that’s a really good idea.”
Ryan tossed 16 interceptions — one off of his career of 17 — last season in a passing attack that revolved around wide receiver Julio Jones. Veteran wide receiver Roddy White’s production dipped to 43 catches and rookie wide receiver Justin Hardy, was slowed while learning how to study and prepare with a NFL playbook.
Despite the issues, Jones turned in one of the greatest seasons in NFL history as he finished with 136 catches for 1,871 yards, but he had just eight touchdowns.
The Falcons averaged 273.7 yards per game last season, which ranked sixth in the league. They ranked 11th on passing yards per play at 7.05 yards. But the Falcons struggled in the redzone and averaged just 21.2 points per game which was tied for 21st in the league.
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