Camp Report: 5 Things To Know From Day 4

[JayOzOne]

Roddy Adjusting to Age: Now on the back end of his career, Roddy White, 33, understands that he is no longer a spring chicken. To combat the effects of age, he’s made an important adjustment to his daily routine.

“Just starting earlier,” White said. “Every day begins a little bit earlier.”

Quarterback Matt Ryan has certainly noticed White’s determination and believes his oldest receiver has a lot left in the tank.

“If there’s one thing I know more so than anything else, Roddy White is one of the most ferocious competitors that I’ve been around,” Ryan said. “He loves playing. When you have guys like that, you can’t discount them any time.”

Toilolo Impresses: The tight end competition is getting more intense, and Levine Toilolo, who started in 2014, had his best day of camp. The 23-year-old made several difficult receptions over the middle and displayed sound blocking technique — especially late in the practice when matched up against Vic Beasley, Jr. Although the skilled edge-rusher steadily exploded off the snap, Toilolo kept his composure and prevented any disruption in the backfield.

While Jacob Tamme and Tony Moeaki are skilled pass-catchers, Toilolo can still earn his keep by blocking well and developing a sense of consistency.

“That whole group has really been battling for it,” Quinn said of the TEs. “It’s kind of like, you see one, you see all of them together. They go to meetings, they go to the weight room, they’re out studying … I feel that connection from that group. That’s how you get better: one guy pushing another guy.”

Worrilow Happy with New Linebackers: The Falcons bulked up their linebacker corps by signing Justin Durant and Brooks Reed: two veterans who can assume starting jobs right away. MLB Paul Worrilow has enjoyed working with his new teammates and expects they’ll significantly improve the defense.

“These are two guys who have played at a high level before,” Worrilow said. “They’re learning to play together as a unit. The camaraderie — that will come. But they are a couple of proven guys who will make us better.”

Ryan On the Run: New offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan likes his quarterbacks to move around, and Ryan, a prototypical pocket passer, has spent considerable time adjusting to his new requirements. While some are skeptical of his ability to roll out and make throws on the run, he’s looked awfully comfortable on those plays — especially on Monday during 11-on-11s.

“I’ve done it at different points of my career,” Ryan said of being a mobile QB. “It’s been a big part of Kyle’s scheme in the past, and we’ll kind of figure out how it shapes to our personnel and shapes to the game plans that we’re going to put in. But we’re certainly working on it.”

Injury Update: Speaking of Reed, he took most of practice off to from a lingering hip/groin ailment. Ricky Hemuli (ankle) and Cliff Matthews (lower hip) were absent, as well. Lamar Holmes remains on the PUP list with a broken foot.

[jdawg4876]

this cant be right I was told by repeatedly being a good blocking TE is overrated and they are a dime a dozen. personally im not sold on the o line we have and we need all the good blockers we can get, especially if out starting RT is already hurt, you better want levine over there helping out whoever it is.

[likeriver]

Glad to see that Toilolo isn't being left in the dust. I hope the best TE starts but I always liked Toilolo (I like ukuleles) and hoped he would succeed. Keep it up!

[TheFalcoholic]

Levine is gonna make the team. I've never had any doubts about that. I think Moeaki will be cut.

[MasterBateser]

Still hoping that 6'8 string bean can get his hands to cooperate

[jdawg4876]

if levine is a consistent good blocker game in and game out, and can catch 3-6 tds a yr, than I think TD did a good job drafting him. I dont care about his yardage at all. thats what we have julio, roddy, tamme, and all those speedy rbs for, not to mention hankerson and hardy, and heck maybe even hester on a couple of gadget plays. right now on offense are weakest link is the oline especially at lg and rt, so if levine can help over on the right side than keep kim, and let tamme catch the balls

Edited August 3, 2015 by jdawg4876

[gazoo]

Toilolo's rookie season he dropped some easy passes and has been written off by a large segmant of the armchair GMs in fanbase as a wasted draft pick.

Well, he was a mid round draft pick rookie and got a lot of playing time in a complex offense. Of course he didnt look polished. Dude is still steep in his development curve, the armchair GMs need to get off his sack and see if he ups his game this year. Dropped passes by developing players can be due to too much thinking. Roddy White dropped tons of passes his first 2 seasons. The game will slow down for him this year and we'll see.

Toilolo came into the league as a blocking TE with some capacity at receiving. If he gets to the point where he excels at blocking but becomes proficient in passing game, he'll be a tremendious asset in goaline situations. Lets see how he does this camp before writing his obituary.

[Tuggle'2]

Super Toilet!

[Tribal Chief]

Tamme for starter

[mjqvi]

I give Toilolo his credit. Dude did a decent job of filling in on the oline when called upon last year. Think he can be another solid lead for our running game.

[Oldskooler]

I give Toilolo his credit. Dude did a decent job of filling in on the oline when called upon last year. Think he can be another solid lead for our running game.

I agree. That bought him a lot of slack from me. If I remember correctly, he didn't give up a sack as a RT? Can anyone confirm/deny?

[vel]

I actually have to say I was surprised at Toilolo when I was there. He looks like he's actually developing now that there is comp.

[TheFalcoholic]

I actually have to say I was surprised at Toilolo when I was there. He looks like he's actually developing now that there is comp.

Maybe us signing two TE's lit a fire under his ***. He may have gotten complacent when he was a rookie under Tony, knowing the job was his.

[Califalcon0013]

Jacob win te Levine brought in for blocking moeaki as 3rd string

[JC Falcon]

Toilolo at TE and Tamme at Wingback raises some interesting blocking and passing possibilities to that side. Do a power run like an overload, then come back and fake a run and let Tamme slide off his block to the next level for a short pass.

[vel]

Maybe us signing two TE's lit a fire under his ***. He may have gotten complacent when he was a rookie under Tony, knowing the job was his.

No he just wasn't developed. Development wasn't a priority before now. The competition helps though.

[k-train]

No he just wasn't developed. Development wasn't a priority before now. The competition helps though.

I've been extremely hard on the guy, and I still have serious doubts he'll ever amount to much... but I agree with you that the past coaching staff did such a pisspoor job of developing players, that it's with keeping my fingers crossed & hoping for the best with him still.

He's got the size to be a monster, but I don't know if he's got the consistent drive to put it all together & become what we hope he could be. He just doesn't seem to have any fight in him. He doesn't separate or box out, and his leaping ability is so underwhelming that it takes away his height advantage.

I would love for him to get some fire under his azz, learn how to get off the line, create separation, and catch the ball. I hope he can do it, and I hope while he's still a member of this team.

Then again, maybe he should just add some weight and move to RT.

[falconidae]

No he just wasn't developed. Development wasn't a priority before now. The competition helps though.

He also had to do a lot of blocking last year.

[vel]

I've been extremely hard on the guy, and I still have serious doubts he'll ever amount to much... but I agree with you that the past coaching staff did such a pisspoor job of developing players, that it's with keeping my fingers crossed & hoping for the best with him still.

He's got the size to be a monster, but I don't know if he's got the consistent drive to put it all together & become what we hope he could be. He just doesn't seem to have any fight in him. He doesn't separate or box out, and his leaping ability is so underwhelming that it takes away his height advantage.

I would love for him to get some fire under his azz, learn how to get off the line, create separation, and catch the ball. I hope he can do it, and I hope while he's still a member of this team.

Then again, maybe he should just add some weight and move to RT.

I agree. I don't think he'll be much more than a back up TE. But, he didn't look like he didn't belong out there. I wouldn't be surprised if he caught a pass like I was all last season.

I'm not that blown away big guys with "size" like Toilolo. It's not functional size. There is a reason there aren't many true 6'7+ guys in the league. That height is more detriment than advantage.

[vel]

He also had to do a lot of blocking playing last year.

Which he is terrible at.

Haha but seriously, he just isn't that good and didn't have that high a ceiling to begin with.

[Pacific_Falcon]

Toilolo's rookie season he dropped some easy passes and has been written off by a large segmant of the armchair GMs in fanbase as a wasted draft pick.

Well, he was a mid round draft pick rookie and got a lot of playing time in a complex offense. Of course he didnt look polished. Dude is still steep in his development curve, the armchair GMs need to get off his sack and see if he ups his game this year. Dropped passes by developing players can be due to too much thinking. Roddy White dropped tons of passes his first 2 seasons. The game will slow down for him this year and we'll see.

Toilolo came into the league as a blocking TE with some capacity at receiving. If he gets to the point where he excels at blocking but becomes proficient in passing game, he'll be a tremendious asset in goaline situations. Lets see how he does this camp before writing his obituary.

When young guys screw up they get written off/crapped on by fans - that's not just TATF IMO. I will say it was pretty discouraging seeing some of his drops last year...some of them were really, really bad. But you can't start throwing around bust labels and assuming NFL careers are automatically going into the abyss when they don't have a good rookie year.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

It would be super cool if the addition of Reed and Durant made Worrilow a better player. He would conceivably have more support around him which could narrow his responsibilities. Could help him take a step forward...

[vel]

When young guys screw up they get written off/crapped on by fans - that's not just TATF IMO. I will say it was pretty discouraging seeing some of his drops last year...some of them were really, really bad. But you can't start throwing around bust labels and assuming NFL careers are automatically going into the abyss when they don't have a good rookie year.

The problem is he wasn't a rookie and had a year to sit behind Tony G. I know he's young and he was thrown in the fire, but I never saw the potential for growth to begin with.

It would be super cool if the addition of Reed and Durant made Worrilow a better player. He would conceivably have more support around him which could narrow his responsibilities. Could help him take a step forward...

I think a simplified scheme and actually having two LBs on the field with him will make Worrilow look better. He was trying to two gap the run while covering twice the space after being asked to gain mass. He's a smart LB, but even Ray Lewis would have looked stupid in that scheme.

[gazoo]

That's right vel, I forgot that was Toilolo's second season. I give a second year player far less latitude than I do a rookie with mental mistakes. Rookies have a grueling schedule from college to combine to pros. For a second year player, a full offseason to relax and a second training camp, and lot of the mental errors should be behind you.

[k-train]

When young guys screw up they get written off/crapped on by fans - that's not just TATF IMO. I will say it was pretty discouraging seeing some of his drops last year...some of them were really, really bad. But you can't start throwing around bust labels and assuming NFL careers are automatically going into the abyss when they don't have a good rookie year.

I know what you're saying & people can tend to give up on guys a little prematurely. However, there is a point when potential actually turns into progression... or just stays potential.

We had people on here claiming "this'll be the year" over & over & over & over with HD until the guy was 30. At some point, you just gotta say hey, that's all this dude is ever gonna be & move on. Is that after 1 year? In most cases it shouldn't be... but this is year 3 for Toilolo, and IMO 3-4 years should be plenty long enough for a guy to show whether he's gonna be a starter, just depth, or outta the league soon.

Nothing I've seen from him indicates to me that he has any business being a starter. Not saying that's all bad, it's totally unrealistic to expect every player to turn into a star & we need depth after all... I just don't have high expectations for him ever being more than what he's shown thus far. So, I guess I'm not giving up on him, I'm just not getting too locked into the idea of him consistently being much better than what he is now.