Flowery Branch—The Falcons take the field Thursday for their first time conducting a full training camp under the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement practice rules.
With a walk-through and one full practice each day, the coaching staff will be under additional pressure to evaluate players in key position battles. The old days of two-a-day practices are officially over.
With key competitions at middle linebacker, left tackle, right guard, fullback, kickoff returner and punt returner, Falcons coach Mike Smith and his staff, which features new offensive and defensive coordinators in Dirk Koetter and Mike Nolan, will have less practice film to evaluate during the decision-making process.
Smith, in an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, went over what the coaching staff will be looking for — mentally, physically and athletically — to determine the winners at those key spots.
Here's how the staff will evaluate those position battles:
Middle linebacker
In the Falcons' 4-3 base defense, the middle linebacker must be able to run from the middle to the outside of the alignment and arrived with some force when tackling the ball carrier. He must have a combination of power and speed.
The middle linebacker must also be strong enough to overpower or shed an offensive linemen or fullback and get to the ball carrier.
"You've got to be able to run first and then if you aren't able to win your gap by speed, then you've got to be able to play it with strength," Smith said.
There are also pass-coverage duties in a zone or one-on-one against a running back in man-to-man coverage.
Projected depth chart: 1. Akeem Dent, 2. Mike Peterson, 3. Max Gruder, 4. Rico Council
Left tackle
Smith has declared an open competition along the offensive line.
"The left tackle is the guy that is responsible in most protections to protect the blindside of your quarterback," Smith said. "First and foremost, it's being able to pass protect. You've got to pass protect, and most of the time you are drawing the most efficient pass rusher."
The winner of the competition must have the right mental demeanor. Since he faces the top pass rusher, Smith want to see him maintain an even keel emotionally.
Projected depth chart: 1. Sam Baker, 2. Will Svitek, 3. Lamar Holmes, 4. Andrew Jackson, 5. Bryce Harris
Right guard
Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley started at the position last season.
"Stoutness is one of the biggest traits that you look for," Smith said. "You've got to make sure that the inside of the pocket is not getting pushed back."
In the rushing attack, the right guard must master combination blocks with the center and have enough speed to climb up and block a linebacker.
"It's not a one-on-one battle there," Smith said. "It's basically, a two-on-one and somebody has got to go, either the center or the guard, based on where the defensive tackle goes, up to the second level."
Projected depth chart: 1. Peter Konz, 2. Vince Manuwai, 3. Reynolds, 4. Mike Johnson, 5. Hawley, 6. Phillipkeith Manley
Fullback
When the Falcons are in their two-back formations, the fullback is more of a lead blocker than a ball carrier.
"The way that the linebacker is filling a hole, the fullback and the tailback have to see it the same way," Smith said. "If they are not seeing in the same way, you can block the wrong leverage as a fullback. If the back is going to that side of the leverage, it's going to be a minus-yardage play."
Smith also noted that the fullback is vital to the pass protection in Koetter's new offensive attack.
Projected depth chart: 1. Bradie Ewing, 2. Mike Cox, 3. Lee Meisner
Kickoff/punt returner
The punt returner must have nerves of steel.
"He has to have the ability to concentrate on the ball because there are going to be people in his face when he's catching it," Smith said.
Once the punt returner has the ball, he must have great vision to read his blocking and instincts if his blocking breaks down.
"Some of the best returns that we see are not necessarily always executed the way that they are drawn up," Smith said. "Punt returners must have a little bit more vision than the kickoff returner; whereas a kickoff return is more of a set play. You are catching the ball and running to a spot."
Speed is required for both positions.
Projected depth chart at KR: 1. Antone Smith, 2. James Rodgers, 3. Robbie Frey
Projected depth chart at PR: 1. Harry Douglas, 2. Dominique Rodgers, 3. James Rodgers
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