Veterans on both sides of the football are impressed with Falcons rookie linebackers Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell.
Both were working with the first-team defense during the first day of the mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
“I think Jones and Campbell have done a really good job,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. “Both of them are super athletic. That’s the number one thing going against them every day, they are fast. I think as they get more comfortable in the scheme, they are going to continue to get better and better.”
The Falcons wanted to improve the speed of the linebacker group this offseason.
“That’s exciting for us,” Ryan said. “We’re really impressed with those guys. They’ve made some good plays in the passing game. Their recovery skills and length of both of them. Both of those guys are long. They’ve done a really good job.”
Defensive tackle Tyson Jackson is proud of Jones. Both played at LSU over different periods.
“Deion has been really, really impressive,” Jackson said. “He’s explosive. I’m impressed that a guy could come in on his rookie year, learn the defense that quick, adapt to it and be able to communicate it to all levels of the defense. He’s doing a really good job with it so far.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn said that Jones are Campbell are being tested by getting the first-team repetitions.
“That’s part of it by design,” Quinn said. “For all of the young players, at some point in time, they are going to be up with the first group whether at linebacker or receiver or offensive line.
“We want to find out what a guy can do. We tell the players in advance, be ready.”
Quinn is not ready to proclaim the rookies starters, but they are certainly getting a crash course in the defense.
“We are pleased with their development up until this point,” Quinn said. “It’s a pretty good linebacker group when you’re talking about (Philip) Wheeler, (Paul) Worrilow and (Sean Weatherspoon), guys who’ve played a lot of ball and have helped to bring them along, too.”
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