Some excerpts from Falcons coach Dan Quinn’s news conference before Thursday’s practice:
On the practice plan:
“It’s a fun day for us where we really dedicate this time to the ball. That’s everything for us, and through the first preseason game we’re sitting at a turnover margin of zero, so not where we want to be in that aspect.
“The important things for us today, we’re going to put a big emphasis on third downs. We’ve done that a good bit in camp, and we’re going to throw that at them today.
“We’ll have a move-the-ball period with as much good-on-good as we can.
“We won’t really do any game-planning (for Sunday’s preseason game at Pittsburgh). We’ll do a small portion next week (before an Aug. 26 game against Arizona in Mercedes-Benz Stadium). This week, the focus really is on us.”
On whether rookie pass rusher Takk McKinley will debut against the Steelers. He did not play last week against Miami as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery:
"I can probably give you a good update tomorrow. He's had a good week. ... We're going to see where it goes with (wide receiver Taylor) Gabriel (lower body), Takk and (defensive tackle Jack) Crawford (groin strain). We're going to take it through the whole week. If they're able to play without anything holding them back, then we'll let them play."
On the status of running back Devonta Freeman, who is in the NFL’s concussion protocol:
"He will not play; he's in the protocol. No practice today."
On why the Falcons are not game-planning for the Steelers:
"The most important thing for us right now is to find out about the players, and not give them – especially young players – things that might jam them up [to] where we don't see them at their very best.
“We want them to be really clean-thinking, straight forward and not concerned about disguising a defense, or motion or a concept offensively. It’s how hard can they play?
“Sometimes, if we give a player too much to think about now they’re playing at 90 percent or 85 percent. ... We’ve got to find out all we can.”
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