After claiming wide receiver Taylor Gabriel off waivers this weekend, coach Dan Quinn revealed the third-year receiver out of Abilene Christian University has impressive speed.
“The route running, the speed, the ability to break people off — those were the things that totally jumped out to us,” Quinn said. “He’s lined up mostly at X where we play Julio as well. But having that speed, another guy with that kind of speed to take some of the vertical routes that we like to do, he’ll be an important part of what we like to do.”
Last season with the Cleveland Browns, Gabriel had 28 catches for 241 yards after finishing his 2014 rookie season with 36 catches for 621 yards and a touchdown.
Quinn was confident that the Falcons will find a way to feature a player with Gabriel’s speed in several spots on the field including returns.
“He’s played on teams before (where) he’s been a gunner on punts, he’s been a hold-up guy on punt returns,” Quinn said. “We’re going to throw him into the mix and see how we best feature him.”
In 2014 with the Browns, Gabriel had four kick returns worth 96 yards and a long of 30 yards.
Quinn said finding how Gabriel’s strengths best fit the Falcons’ needs will be a task for special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong as regular season begins.
Quinn didn’t rule out Gabriel being ready to play in the Falcons’ season opener game against Tampa Bay on Sunday, but said Gabriel playing depends on how Gabriel practices this week.
“(When he plays is) going to be up to him and how fast he can pick up the system and how fast he can get acclimated on offense and on teams,” Quinn said. “It’s good that he’s here (Monday) because we get a bonus practice in.”
