birdz4i Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 There's going to be a lot to learn from training camp, but you should be careful about putting too much stock into these five nuggets.Training camp is an absolute blast to watch, and it's fun to follow from a distance. This is an opportunity to see rookies really work for the first time, to carry realistic and unrealistic hopes and dreams for your favorite team, and to follow along obsessively with dozens of updates every single day. It's a little dizzying, frankly.It's also a prime opportunity to get sucked into the space-filling stories, the ones that will be long forgotten by the time the season rolls around. With less than a week to go until training camp, I'm dredging up five storylines that you'll want to take with a grain of salt.1) Dan Quinn's practices have such a great tempo!This was relevant and welcome in the spring, when the practices don't mean a ton and we're looking to get a sense of direction for the new regime. The fact that Quinn wants faster, more physical practices and that he's got some great playlists is a lot of fun.You'll hear this a lot, however, over the next month or so. The change is so marked and the team's fortunes so dim after the last two years that I'm sure it's borderline electrifying to experience in person, so it will be remarked upon again and again and again. Make no mistake: It's welcome, but in terms of impact on this team's 2015 fortunes, it's likely to be negligible. Enjoy those blaring songs and let these mentions wash over you.2) Borderline Roster Guy reported in the best shape of their life!Ra'Shede Hageman showing up looking like he's auditioning for the next Terminator movie is great, especially given the context of his rookie season. Bernard Reedy coming to camp ridiculously jacked is less meaningful, even if (like me) you're rooting for the second-year receiver to make a huge impact.The fact is that fitness and looking like a Greek god who just walked out of the mists of myth isn't enough, particularly when you're down the depth chart, to make a meaningful difference for most players. It's very different if you were injured or out of shape in your first year, and perhaps even if you're an aging veteran trying to do battle with Father Time. For the most part, though, you should be beyond skeptical of the3) The offensive line is really gelling!Sorry, I just can't listen to this one after the last two seasons. The Falcons' offensive line in 2014 looked vastly improved, but then injuries smacked the team so hard it hardly mattered.No matter how good the offensive line looks, keep in mind that it's a motley crew of incumbents who weren't working out of a pure zone blocking scheme, newcomers like Chris Chester who have mixed track records of success and that guys like Joe Hawley may never be 100% this year, even if they're nice scheme fits. I'm bullish on the line's chances of being noticeably better than years past, but don't buy the feel-good story until you see it in game action.Oh, and as a corollary...4) Player X is recovering nicely from injury.We've just been burned so many times. Dan Quinn may not approach injuries with the same mix of skulduggery and secrecy that Mike Smith & Co. utilized, but he's still an NFL head coach working for one of the 32 NFL teams, where misinformation and half-truths are the norm when it comes to injury. If you hear William Moore is bounding back from his injury, that's great news, but take it with a grain of salt until you see him (again, I repeat) in game action.5) Player Y is primed for a breakoutI'm more guilty of this than most, so I'm basically telling you to ignore me. You guys should already be comfortable with that.We have to be very careful of anointing players who have strong camps and even strong preseasons, as those players routinely fade into the background by the time the season comes around. I'm still getting questions about why Amsterdam isn't being talked about, despite the fact that he was waived with an injury settlement late last August and hasn't latched on with an NFL team since. The franchise's recent history is littered with the names of players like Brandyn Harvey, Amsterdam, and others who delivered eye-opening training camps and then disappeared. Unless the player has a role lined up and is making the most of that opportunity, be cautious about this story.There are times when these stories will come true, particularly #5, but you're better off treating them as background noise in July and August until you receive a concrete reason to do otherwise.http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/7/25/9007999/what-to-expect-when-youre-training-camping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkerFalcon8710 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Great post defiantly holds true for these boards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Great post defiantly holds true for these boardsI'd call this a typo if it wasn't also true that way as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlfanstckndenver Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Funny concept yet so enormously true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Okay. So what should we pay attention to? About all that's left is coaches' quotes (boring) and injuries (and I'll be crossing my fingers hoping we don't read about that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanadonis Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) Ok so don't have hope for this team and accept the fact that we will have a losing season. Gotcha. Man I am sure glad these boards are really making it feel great to be a Falcons fan. ******* Marks. In fact here is what I got to say. If your not excited about this team and want to talk about them like your on the Saints forum, then go the **** over to the Saints forum and talk all the **** you want about the falcons. It's sad as **** that this forum has more trash talk about the Falcons than the Saints forum does. The best thing about it all. The freaking Admin LIKES the topic and what was said. HOLY **** Edited July 26, 2015 by R_The_Great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Okay. So what should we pay attention to? About all that's left is coaches' quotes (boring) and injuries (and I'll be crossing my fingers hoping we don't read about that).They're not saying not to pay attention. They're saying to take it all with a grain of salt, until you can see game action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madman88 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Good post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheldon Cooper Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Only five? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-Nite-Toker Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Add the rb storyline as well. I like the rb unit, but it's wait and see also. Especially considering the O line situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 My pet peave is the TATF guys that do camp reports and declare things that will happen based on one or two camp visits. This guy is sorry, this guy will beast. Many times you get conflicting reports on the same players from two different TATFers who watched the same player on the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 "So-and-so is already practicing with the first string" (because the two guys in front of him sat out practice). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskooler Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Okay. So what should we pay attention to?The week 1 regular season results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Track Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Thanks for sharing and I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Too late for this list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beef Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Ok so don't have hope for this team and accept the fact that we will have a losing season. Gotcha. Man I am sure glad these boards are really making it feel great to be a Falcons fan. ******* Marks. In fact here is what I got to say. If your not excited about this team and want to talk about them like your on the Saints forum, then go the **** over to the Saints forum and talk all the **** you want about the falcons. It's sad as **** that this forum has more trash talk about the Falcons than the Saints forum does. The best thing about it all. The freaking Admin LIKES the topic and what was said. HOLY ****About the first time I've really agreed with everything R has said.This place has more garbage posters telling us how bad this team is going to be and how being optimistic is stupid and wrong than it has the opposite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconidae Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 1. Thought the cliche was "you play like you practice" If so, practicing hard, fast and intense seems like a good thing.2. I want to hear Reedy is in great shape, also want to know he's spent time in the film room and catching ball from a juggs machine, staying after practice with Ryan. And not just Reedy- want to know that about every player. Going from that info to "Reedy is the next Steve Smith" is the problem, not the info itself.3. My understanding is that Chester had a "mixed track record" because his previous team was in a ZBS system, which he excelled in,then went to a man blocking system, which he didn't. He's going to be in a ZBS here, he should be fine. If the same 5 players can stay on the field for the Oline, they WILL gel and be better simply for playing together.4. meh, applies to every team, twice to the Pats. I swear Belichick doesn't even tell the player how he's recovering.5. Hageman IS poised for a breakout year, so is Freeman, So is Matthews, if healthy, so are a dozen other 2nd and 3rd year players. That what we find out in TC, who can take that leap. Think identifying the ones that can is part of the fun of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moist Words Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Ok so don't have hope for this team and accept the fact that we will have a losing season. Gotcha. Man I am sure glad these boards are really making it feel great to be a Falcons fan. ******* Marks. In fact here is what I got to say. If your not excited about this team and want to talk about them like your on the Saints forum, then go the **** over to the Saints forum and talk all the **** you want about the falcons. It's sad as **** that this forum has more trash talk about the Falcons than the Saints forum does. The best thing about it all. The freaking Admin LIKES the topic and what was said. HOLY ****I haven't decided what voice to read your posts in yet but I'm going with an angry Mr.Rogers on this one.P.S. I hate quoting you because of all the editing I have to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papachaz Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I'm anxious for one of you that go to camp to let us know if they did away with the cap tippning drills.....@ R and Beef, where in any if this did you see ANYTHING that said don't be excited? Some of y'all go out of your way to find something to b1tch about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHALCONABERNATHY Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I'm excited. I think it's habit as Falcons fans to take a cautious approach, but all signs point to things being better. I think it goes without saying to ignore any hype because of the team we love. In fact, I say be excited about anything positive that comes from camp because if we suck again than its not like we won't know what it feels like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Door Gunner Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Good article. I'm looking forward to how Freeman is Beasting, yet had a Meh day behind Coleman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeriver Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 The only one I disagree with is 1. Why would a faster, more physical, more mentally aggressive practice be "negligible?" I'd say it will have an impact in the 4th quarter when everyone's tired and out of breath. Because they were pushed so hard in practices they're going to have more physical endurance and the mental willpower to keep pushing when we need it most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazbykr Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 Heil, I'm just ready for any action reports. With all the change there is so much excitement with just a touch of anxiety about what we have coming. Bring it on and please let it be GOOD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentayeJones Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 (edited) I kinda understand what the author is trying to get at but I don’t think fans should temper their enthusiasm during training camp.This is the time of year for excitement, hope, hype, high expectations etc. The reality of the season will set in soon enough. Edited July 26, 2015 by FentayeJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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