Tuesday Ota Thread

[JRid]

I figured I would start a thread for OTA news to be posted.

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 4h 4 hours ago

Five Falcons to watch during organized team activities. http://es.pn/1Kx1MBp

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 57m 57 minutes ago

OTAs to start shortly. Curious about the LEO spot, where Biermann and Goodman worked during minicamp. Should be Beasley's spot for season.

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 3h 3 hours ago

No contract protest for Julio Jones as he's set to attend OTAs. Rookie Vic Beasley plans to be there, too. http://es.pn/1AvCqR7

D. Orlando Ledbetter @DOrlandoAJC · 1h 1 hour ago

OTA UPDATE: Falcons first-round pick Vic Beasley is at the facilities today. Practice set to start in 4 minutes.

D. Orlando Ledbetter @DOrlandoAJC · 1h 1 hour ago

OTA practice is starting. We can't tweet until practice is over. Look for updates then. Practice is open to the media;

[JRid]

I don't remember hearing that Goodman played Leo during mini camp.

[Unintentional Grounding]

Whoa!!!!! Goody at Leo.

[blizzard_falcon]

I don't remember hearing that Goodman played Leo during mini camp.

Makes sense for him to see some work there if he's lost weight and has his speed back. He was a pretty good pass rusher in college, after all, and he has the length Quinn likes in his DEs. I think we'll see him play at RE and LE; probably see the same from Biermann and Schofield.

[JRid]

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/5/26/8659889/4-things-to-look-for-when-atlanta-falcons-otas-begin-today

Organized team activities begin today, and the first wave stretches through Friday. As always, there will be a million little story lines worth monitoring as we try to figure out position battles, how the new coaching staff will utilize their players and who is showing up ready to destroy Falcons' opponents in 2015. There's not much in the way of contact, though, so be wary of drawing strong conclusions from what you'll see and hear in the days ahead.

To help you sort the wheat from chaff and keep your eyes on what's truly important, I've prepared this short, four-point guide to all things Falcons OTAs. Get it.

1) Early position battles unfold

Mike Person isn't going to win the left guard job in non-contact practices, but if he can show strong athleticism and good technique, he'll certainly give himself a leg up heading into the summer. Ditto a player like Justin Hardy, who can flash soft hands and quality route-running even in non-contact practices as he attempts to win the slot receiver gig outright.

You'll see this unfolding across the board, and those early returns will give us a decent idea of who the coaching staff is watching closely at key positions like left guard, receiver, tight end and safety. It'll be months before most of those battles are decided, but any edge you can snag in late May is a meaningful edge.

2) The health of Sam Baker, Antone Smith and others

The Falcons need to figure out whether Antone Smith will be 100% in the near future, or if they need to consider keeping another back around through the summer and perhaps even fall as insurance for the dynamic back. Ditto with Sam Baker, whose future with the team hinges on his health and effectiveness over the summer.

It's not imperative that either of those guys are zipping around on the practice field just yet, but showing progress is a necessity, particularly with mandatory minicamp and training camp just around the corner. Baker may well survive the axe this year, but he's going to be an awfully expensive reserve if he can't show the Falcons something in the near future.

For everyone else, pray they avoid injuries.

3) The rookies and free agents in action

Unfortunately, we'll probably miss out on Brooks Reed, who will step into a starting role in the linebacking corps this fall so long as he's healthy. Everyone else should be out there, though, and it'll be our first real opportunity to hear breathless first-hand reports about Vic Beasley, Grady Jarrett, Justin Durant and others.

Considering how many players are brand new to the team, we're going to want every indication we can get about where they're going to play and how they might fare. Again, OTAs are only so valuable in that regard, but Beasley and rookie RB Tevin Coleman should shine with their incredible speed and athleticism, at the very least.

4) Any indications of where players will play

I've alluded to this a couple of times in this piece, but OTAs usually give us our first concrete indication of where players will line up. Mike Person, for example, has been lining up as the starting left guard, and if he's still doing so in OTAs, there's some legs to the idea that he's the favorite.

Jeanna Thomas will be at OTAs and collecting comments from Dan Quinn and others, and it's very possible he'll address earlier passing comments about the free safety competition and others in more detail. That's worth keeping an eye out for.

What will you be watching for?

[RunningThePiszOuttaTheBall]

What time do OTA's end today?

[The Martyr]

I wonder how fast Ryan will pick up the new offense

[AtlantaFanatic]

I wonder how fast Ryan will pick up the new offense

Ryan is a smart guy. I'm not worried.

[mtldirtybird]

I wonder how fast Ryan will pick up the new offense

im sure hes already got it lol its a very simple offense. ZBS...which sets up quick slants, rollouts deep to JJ, and PAs on Posts/go's/deep crosses. Very very simple for a QB like Ryan

[Dirtybird56]

@vxmcclure23: Brooks Reed (groin) William Moore (shoulder) Dez Southward (knee) Jake Matthews (foot) among players held out of practice

@vxmcclure23: Vic Beasley showed flashes of his speed and power working against Lamar Holmes

@vxmcclure23: Dan Quinn said he was happy with the third down and two-minute work today.

[The Martyr]

@vxmcclure23: Brooks Reed (groin) William Moore (shoulder) Dez Southward (knee) Jake Matthews (foot) among players held out of practice

@vxmcclure23: Vic Beasley showed flashes of his speed and power working against Lamar Holmes

@vxmcclure23: Dan Quinn said he was happy with the third down and two-minute work today.

Does this mean OTAs are done for the day?

[Dirtybird56]

Frustrating Southward is hurt yet again, hard to pick up a new position from the sidelines

Also 1st team Oline was:

Holmes-Person-Stone-Asamoah-Schraeder

Obviously we'll be getting Matthews/Hawley back, but that 1st team Oline is scary for Matt Ryan. Gotta pray we don't go through injuries on line again

Does this mean OTAs are done for the day?

Yep pretty sure, since McClure said no tweeting til after and Matt Ryan addressed the media a few mins ago

Edited May 26, 2015 by Dirtybird56

[hjerry]

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 3m3 minutes ago

Quinn said Clayborn, Beasley and Biermann stood out as pass rushers today

[Dirtybird56]

@DOrlandoAJC: Beasley and Clayborn jumped out at #Falcons coach Dan Quinn during the pass rush drills at OTAs today.

@vxmcclure23: Quinn said Clayborn, Beasley and Biermann stood out as pass rushers today

@vxmcclure23: Robert Alford told me he's more than willing to play nickel but of course wants to prove himself outside. Phillip Adams played nickel today

[hjerry]

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 3m3 minutes ago

Quinn said Clayborn, Beasley and Biermann stood out as pass rushers today

[Jaymadd]

WE need to have as many joint practices as we can. I remember when Jamie Dukes stated that hearing good news about our pass rush can be misleading if the Oline that they are going up against are below average.

[hjerry]

WE need to have as many joint practices as we can. I remember when Jamie Dukes stated that hearing good news about our pass rush can be misleading if the Oline that they are going up against are below average.

Nope, there will be zero joint practices, already reported.

[hjerry]

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 2m2 minutes ago

Rehab crew: Moore, Smith, Reed, Konz, Matthews

[Dirtybird56]

WE need to have as many joint practices as we can. I remember when Jamie Dukes stated that hearing good news about our pass rush can be misleading if the Oline that they are going up against are below average.

Quinn's said we're not having any

[hjerry]

vaughn mcclure @vxmcclure23 · 2m2 minutes ago

Rehab crew: Moore, Smith, Reed, Konz, Matthews

So basically, this means that most of our injured guys are able to rehab on the practice field, but Baker and freshly injured Southward, are only able to rehab inside. Southward is a new injury, so I really don't mind as long as he's ready for TC, but Baker is concerning, that after nearly 9 months, he still can't even go outside to rehab.

Edit: It was later reported that only Baker was rehabbing inside, so Southward's injury is not as serious.

[Dirtybird56]

There was a pic, but it wouldn't copy.

So basically, this means that most of our injured guys are able to rehab on the practice field, but Baker and freshly injured Southward, are only able to rehab inside. Southward is a new injury, so I really don't mind as long as he's ready for TC, but Baker is concerning, that after nearly 9 months, he still can't even go outside to rehab.

What about Hawley?

[Tuggle'2]

So basically, this means that most of our injured guys are able to rehab on the practice field, but Baker and freshly injured Southward, are only able to rehab inside. Southward is a new injury, so I really don't mind as long as he's ready for TC, but Baker is concerning, that after nearly 9 months, he still can't even go outside to rehab.

Well it is Baker we are talking about. I guarantee you they are going to baby this injury of his. They all know that one more and it is the end of his career.

[hjerry]

What about Hawley?

Not in the pic. I haven't seen anything specifically mentioning him, but we already know that he's been cleared to run already, so he's on track.

[Dirtybird56]

Not in the pic. I haven't seen anything specifically mentioning him, but we already know that he's been cleared to run already, so he's on track.

Now that I look, I think he's the guy between Smith and Matthews

[hjerry]

Here's everyone's answer to injury stauses.

FLOWERY, BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick Vic Beasleyparticipated in Tuesday's organized team activities despite remaining unsigned.

The pass-rusher from Clemson is the only unsigned player among the team's seven draft selections. It is unclear what is holding up negotiations.

Typically a player not under contract who participates in OTAs will sign an injury waiver which states the team will negotiate his contract in good faith based on his draft position. Beasley was the eighth overall pick.

The Falcons sorely needed a pass-rusher, which is why they selected Beasley. He showed off his power and speed in bull-rushing by left tackle Lamar Holmesduring a drill.

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said Beasley stood out rushing the passer in third-down situations Tuesday, along with Adrian Clayborn and Kroy Biermann.

There were a handful of players sidelined during the practice while rehabbing from injuries: safety William Moore (shoulder), left tackle Jake Matthews (foot), linebacker Brooks Reed (groin), center Joe Hawley (ACL/MCL), tackle Sam Baker (knee), guard/center Peter Konz (ACL), running back Antone Smith (leg), defensive back Dez Southward (knee) and rookie cornerback Jalen Collins (foot).

Quinn said Baker was rehabbing indoors while the other injured players were on the field working with the athletic performance staff.

http://espn.go.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/13602/unsigned-vic-beasley-participates-in-otas