Falcons: 5 Things To Look For At Today’S Ota Session

[Statick]

Falcons: 5 things to look for at today’s OTA session

7:38 am May 29, 2012, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. AP

BIRDLAND – The Falcons open their organized team activities today at Flowery Branch.

Here are five things to watch during these important offseason non-contact practices:

1. Check attendance. Some veterans have been excused in the past.

2. Who’s playing middle linebacker with the No. 1 defense, Lofa Tatupu or Akeem Dent? Confirm who’s going to be in the slot (Dunta Robinson) if they line up in the nickel.

3. How much time is spent on working on screen passes. Good screen teams spend a lot of time installing their screens. In addition to how much time, we’ll have to make notes of the variations of the screens. Good screen teams have a bundle of screens at the disposal.

4. Who’s catching the punts and kickoffs? Wide receiver Harry Douglas returned 19 punts for 226 yards and scored one touchdown as a rookie in 2008. He also had four kickoff returns for 46 yards that season.

Cornerback Dominique Franks showed some promise returning punts during the past exhibition season. He had just one for no yards during the regular season.

James Rodgers, the older brother of running back Jacquizz Rodgers, caught kickoffs at the rookie minicamp. He amassed 2,124 yards and averaged 24.7 yards on kickoff returns in college.

5. There will be plenty of cross-training going on along the offensive line. But we’ll have to pay close attention to the left tackle spot and see who’s getting worked in behind Sam Baker and Will Svitek.

[FalconinPA]

Falcons: 5 things to look for at today’s OTA session

7:38 am May 29, 2012, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. AP

BIRDLAND – The Falcons open their organized team activities today at Flowery Branch.

Here are five things to watch during these important offseason non-contact practices:

3. How much time is spent on working on screen passes. Good screen teams spend a lot of time installing their screens. In addition to how much time, we’ll have to make notes of the variations of the screens. Good screen teams have a bundle of screens at the disposal.

This is the one that I am most willing to see happen. After watching a few horrible attempts and basically no screen plays for the past few years, seeing this problem addressed would be nice.

[g-dawg]

are these OTA's open to public?