10 things we learned from Camp Exile
110604 Buford - Quarterback Matt Ryan throws the football during the Atlanta Falcons player workout at Buford Park on Wednesday, June 8, 2011. A core of Falcons players are carrying on with off-season practices at the park, despite the NFL lockout. That's William Moore and Brent Grimes in the background. Johnny Crawford jcrawford@ajc.com
Buford — The Falcons wrapped up their unofficial offseason program with the closing of “Camp Exile” on Wednesday.
During the NFL Lockout they tried to a normal offseason as quarterback Matt Ryan led the organized team activities.
In a surprise move, rookie Julio Jones was a regular at the practices after he was medically cleared from his foot surgery.
The Falcons, with between 20 to 35 players at the practices, actually went a week longer than what would have been allowed under league rules.
Here are the 10 things we learned from the practices:
1. Jones should be ready to go: After the last practice, Jones spent some extra time on the field running routes before he went over to Ryan’s house for sandwiches and some chalk talk.
They have been meeting away from the field since Jones was drafted.
Little league players hang on the fence during the Atlanta Falcons player workout at Buford Park. With players barred from the team facility during the lockout, they have worked out at a nearby city park. Johnny Crawford, Jcrawford@ajc.com
“He’s taken me under his wings,” Jones said. “He’s let me come over his house to go over material that I don’t have in my playbook. Everything has been great.”
Jones said they study some of the finer nuances of the Falcons’ passing attack.
“We are just going over different material that I don’t have and I’m learning like that.” Jones said.
The Falcons’ offensive attack is not foreign to Jones.
“I recognize everything,” Jones said. “It’s the same pro-set that we ran at Alabama. Matt and all of the other guys, the other receivers, are helping me out as well.”
Jones and linebacker Akeem Dent were the only members of the rookie class to attend the seven-on-seven drills. Now, they must wait until the lockout is over to sign their deals and report for camp.
Jones went pretty hard during the workouts, but admitted that he guarded against injury. There were no major injuries during the practices, although reserve wide receiver Tim Buckley did tweak an ankle in a collision.
“Everybody knows how to practice out here,” Jones said. “This is the professional level. Nobody is going to do anything crazy and try to hurt anyone else. If the cornerback has position on me, I’m not going to jump up out here. I’m just going to let him get the ball and help him get better. I don’t want to push him, fall down and roll our ankles or something like that.”
2. Matt Ryan is the unquestioned leader: Ryan is about to enter his fourth year in the NFL and it’s clear that he’s the leader of the Falcons.
He organized the workouts, came up with the schedule and got input from the key veterans.
He also kept tabs on the players who were working out on their own, too.
3. Curtis Lofton has a whistle: Lofton came with a defensive script and thoroughly enjoyed calling the defenses.
He has to work on his coaching voice to become the next Brian VanGorder.
Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens at a recent players-only practice in Buford.
4. Offensive line might be in good shape: Although the offensive linemen don’t play a key role in seven-on-seven drills, Joe Hawley and Garrett Reynolds were at nearly all of the practices. Mike Johnson was also a regular.
They all could be competing for starting jobs if Tyson Clabo, Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock leave in free agency.
5. Shann Schillinger is recovering: The backup safety suffered a fractured ankle in the 15th game of the season. He took part in two of the practices.
“I’m getting closer and closer everyday,” Schillinger said. “I can start getting into more football related drills now. Hopefully, things will progress here in the next couple of weeks.”
Schillinger said he was at 85 percent healthy. He was limping some on Wednesday while playing free safety.
“I was cautious with it,” Schillinger said. “It was good to come out and move around a little bit. It was good to get back on the field.”
6. Franks maybe ready to challenge: Cornerback Dominique Franks, a fifth round pick in 2010, was a regular at the practices.
Franks was clearly more comfortable back pedaling and making his breaks on the ball. He could be ready from some action.
7. Roddy White is not a cornerback: One of the delights was watching White play cornerback during the last practice.
He bit on Michael Palmer’s inside move and gave up a sideline route before falling down.
The All-Pro receiver is not going to be a two-way player anytime soon.
8. Palmer’s has some nice hands: Palmer, the Parkview High and Clemson product, was a regular and received a lot of work.
Tony Gonzalez did not make any of the sessions and Justin Peelle and Robbie Agnone made a few practices, but for the most part it was the “Michael Palmer Show” at tight end.
He caught nearly every pass thrown his way.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan talking with the media after Tuesday's seven-on-seven practice.
9. Harry Douglas is fully recovered: He battled back from knee surgery last season.
At the NFL scouting combine, head coach Mike Smith noted that it could take an extra year to fully recover from major knee surgery.
Douglas was a regular, ran extremely well and showed that explosiveness he displayed as a rookie.
With Jones on board, and the recovery of Kerry Meier, the wide receiver position is stacked.
10. Free agents flow: You have to respect linebacker Stephen Nicholas, kicker Matt Bryant, and linebacker Mike Peterson, who all made some practices despite the fact they are free agents. Nicholas was a regular.
(Well, it’s that time of the year to take a pause for the cause. I’m going to burn up this vacation time in anticipation of Roger and DeMaurice getting this labor deal done. Headed to the beach, see y’all around July 5 or 6th.)
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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171 comments Add your comment
willie
June 24th, 2011
5:32 pm
I was at Bone’s recently and the best table has an “indefinitely reserved” sign on it for the Blank/Dimitroff/Smith/Van Gorder/Ray Edwards party.
SeenThisB4
June 24th, 2011
5:38 pm
48-21, at home, with all hands on deck, says even more………it’s an indictment.
Geaux Saints!
Mave2124
June 24th, 2011
5:50 pm
You’re not going to FL to cover the NFLPA Rookie Program? Talk to the ATL Rooks who might show up like the RB Rogers? I’d like to know what is up with them? Thanks for the updates, enjoy the vaca and get someone else to update us while you are away!
hiramsaint
June 24th, 2011
5:58 pm
@supa-win a playoff game ? …there goes em again with his fantasy about THE hiramsaint
hiramsaint
June 24th, 2011
5:58 pm
@ stb4- untill halftime that is …lol lol
SeenThisB4
June 24th, 2011
6:27 pm
LOL! It was Green Bay’s home field by then!
Keith Mercer
June 24th, 2011
7:27 pm
What the hell good is that whistle going to do in a dam game? Did they give any money to that high school for using their practice field and keeping those kids from doing what they were supposed to do. This camp exile was a bunch of BS, Nobody learned nuttin!!!!! You guys give your money to AB.
Loyal Falcon
June 24th, 2011
8:04 pm
GUYS, PLEASE IGNORE hiramsaint and seenb4 AND THEY WILL GO AWAY! (Hopefully) Let’s just talk Falcon football. I think cliff matthews is gonna be a player.
hiramsaint
June 24th, 2011
8:51 pm
i thougt he already was a player
cwltank
June 25th, 2011
12:55 am
I can not wait to see the Falcons receivers perform. I think we are now similar to the receivers the Rams had. I think if we run no huddle with 3 & 4 receiver sets, the Falcons will easily lead the league in scoring. I see no more double teams on Roddy & Tony and no more 7 men in the box. Turner will make them pay if they play zone. Who ever said defense win games is no longer living. That was a different era. lol
Dr. Warren
June 25th, 2011
3:10 am
Have a great one, DOL. We look forward to an agreement in place by the time you get back, and then another season of your fine reporting as the Falcons win out.
dmr
June 25th, 2011
7:06 am
The lockout may be the time that players learn more about themselves and each other than when they are required to be at practice or meetings or whatever. Matt Ryan is obviously growing more comfortable as the leader of this franchise. There seems to be a work hard attitude regardless of the lockout. I think the efforts put in by those who attended these voluntary sessions will bode well in the longer term.
So, let’s quit the bitchin’…split the $9 Billion…get a rookie salary cap…provide veterans better health coverage and benefits and let’s get to it.
Falcons Chic
June 25th, 2011
12:50 pm
I blame BVG for the GB playoffs loss. You change your defensive system at halftime if it is not working. Playoff level players aren’t going to win without playoff-capable coaches.
Ace
June 25th, 2011
2:24 pm
I hear about Jones being at these practices, but I haven’t heard about any of the other draft picks. I thought they really had plans for the running back that was drafted. Just wondering has he shown up for any?
Sid
June 25th, 2011
2:47 pm
I’m looking forward to see if Kerry Meier gets a shot at WR………………
cwltank
June 25th, 2011
3:09 pm
Meir want see anytime this year. Weems has been promised time so that leave Mier to battle for the 5th spot. I am excited about free agency. What will the Falcons do? I pray they stabilize the OL & leave the defense as it is.
Douglas Impresses | Atlanta Falcons
June 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
[...] D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC has been all over the Falcons’ player-organized workouts, and he put together a great list of 10 things he learned while watching the player practices. [...]
DR. FALCON
June 26th, 2011
12:40 am
ONE WORD: SUPERBOWL! I LOVE TH MAKE=UP OF THIS TEAM! THE PLAYOFF LOSS TO GB, WILL INSPIRE US TO ACHIEVE TO HIGHER LEVELS. THE SCHEDULE IS DAUNTING, BUT WITH OUR VETERANS, 12-4 IS REALISTIC! AT THIS OPOINT, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHO WE PLAY! BRING ON THE SCHEDULE!!!!!
the one and only Falcons fan in Taiwan
June 26th, 2011
5:00 am
Any news about Jacqui22 ??
Steve
June 26th, 2011
6:39 am
Orlando Ledbetter keep up the good work you do a outstanding job covering the falcons hopefully the birds will tweak there defense and bring back Charles Johnson and Thomas Davis back to Georgia.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 26th, 2011
9:28 am
The two things that the exile camp did bring out, is, some of these rookies are ready to go and will probably have an impact on the Falcons fortunes in years to come. Number two, was the fact that a lot of these players that didn’t show up, are in it for themselves and aren’t going to do anything extra to get them to the top. I realize this league is only about the money, but how in shape will these members be when they have a shortened practice schedule and are then supposed to be ready for the regular season. They might just find out that they needed all of the practices they could get. I am going to assume, that the rookies that did not attend were advised not to do so by their agents. Maybe that keeps them from possible injury but it might also keep them from a possible roster spot. I bet you coach Smith knows who was there, and a whole lot more stuff than the players thinks he knows about.
Matt Ryan is one team player and leader, as these work outs would suggest. He is a good team player and he must have a pretty good head on his shoulders. Hats off to Roddy White as well. He was an all pro. last year but felt he could make a contribution by helping out J. Jones and getting in some work as well. These are the kind of team players you need to have a successful team.
D man
June 26th, 2011
12:19 pm
Falcons are gearing up for another great season. Last year was a good building year and this will be an even better year. GO FALCONS!!!
Too Legit to Quit
June 26th, 2011
3:09 pm
I wonder what kind of sandwiches they ate?
SeenThisB4
June 26th, 2011
4:10 pm
The falcan’ts defensive weaknesses were also exposed, inspite of a coordinated effort by the team, players and news media to play down that aspect of reality. A reality magnifided by management’s decision to let it fester and ignore it during the draft.
NotImpressed
June 26th, 2011
4:10 pm
I can’t wait to see the big professional NFL linebackers tear “Mr. Smiley Face – Computer Thief -Academic Cheat” Cam Newton’s head off and crap down his neck…..
SAINTS LSU
June 26th, 2011
6:11 pm
@ FlexLuth Fluke Don’t win championship Great Coach’s Great QB ( SEE SAINTS)
SaintsLSU2
June 26th, 2011
9:56 pm
The saints were not bad for a second place divisional team. They’ll be third this year.
jpq falcon fan
June 26th, 2011
11:24 pm
falcons 10-6 playoff with the addition of a quality defensive end. I think well take care of that in free agency. or resign nicholas and move him to end i think hed be a better end.
Just when I thought I was out… they pull me back in. | Get The Picture
June 27th, 2011
6:35 am
[...] run a pro-style offense. You’ll understand why that clicked in my brain when you read this quote from Julio Jones about the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive scheme: … The Falcons’ offensive attack is not [...]
joe white
June 27th, 2011
8:45 am
I am ready for the season now lets do this nfl. falcons primed for a superbowl year.
cwltank
June 27th, 2011
9:12 am
1 Bad game and some suggest we need help on defense. The Falcons have boosted their receivers. If they can sure up their OL, they will score more points. I like the defense that we have in place, maybe we need to bring in more younger guys to add debt.
PBR
June 27th, 2011
9:55 am
Good read. Thanks for the insight into the 2012 Falcons. Hope Palmer is given the chance to show us what he can do.
eM
June 27th, 2011
9:55 am
SAINTS LSU
June 26th, 2011
6:11 pm
@ FlexLuth Fluke Don’t win championship Great Coach’s Great QB ( SEE SAINTS LOOSE TO A 7-9 PLAYOFF TEAM ) WOW! MUST BE TIME TO RECALCULATE THAT GREAT COACH AND QB COMMENT.
eM
June 27th, 2011
10:01 am
Let’s look at what is the truth.
The Falcons lost to Green Bay and the aints lost to the…ehem..ehem..the 7-9 Seahawks. Yes we got it handed to us but for aints fans coming in here bragging about their (use to be superbowl champs, who the following year a 7-9 playoff teams takes the Lambardi trophy and shove it down their throat) is just funny of the foolish idiots.
SeenThisB4
June 27th, 2011
10:28 am
Like they say, “on any given Sunday….Yes the Saints lost to a 7-9 team, but the falcan’t were ripped to shreds by the sixth seed, on their own home field and with virtually no one on injured reserve. The falcan’t collapse was so bad, that by half time, the national television audience only saw Packer fans in the georgia dome…half-time
Falcons4life
June 27th, 2011
10:37 am
I think the falcons will be fine this year, this we be the best team on paper for the falcons in years, we have a tough schedule and a few holes to fill on are depth chart, but we should make a deep playoff run, if not a superbowl (if they all stay healthy)
Klim Kadiddle Hopper
June 27th, 2011
11:05 am
That same “six seed” won the Super Bowl you cajun schmuck.
eM
June 27th, 2011
11:17 am
SeenThisB4
June 27th, 2011
10:28 am
Like they say, “on any given Sunday….Yes the Saints lost to a 7-9 team, but the falcan’t were ripped to shreds by the sixth seed, on their own home field and with virtually no one on injured reserve. The falcan’t collapse was so bad, that by half time, the national television audience only saw Packer fans in the georgia dome…half-time
Duh…..but that still doesn’t change the fact the previous SB champs, who ya’ll aints fans all claimed was the greatest thing going in the NFL, got beat by a 7-9 playoff team.
Imagine 50 years from know someone reading a sports alminac and say “Wow the Saints won a Superbowl in 2009. I wonder what they did the next year…..WHAT!!!! BWAA HA HA!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME……THEY GOT BEAT BY A 7-9 PLAYOFF TEAM!! NO WONDER THEY ARE WEARING PAPER BAGS!”
JeanE
June 27th, 2011
11:23 am
They’ll miss Finneran, Kerry Meier is NO B. FINN!!!!
Falcon57
June 27th, 2011
11:30 am
Hey D-Led, I’ve been saying all of last year and all off season that Palmer was a lot better than he was being given credit for. Look back at last years games and the guy caught every catchable pass that came his way, even when he was sandwiched between two defenders. I had asked numerous times if anyone knew what his 40 time was but after no one responeded I found it to be something like 4.7. Not too fast by any means but not much slower than Kerry Meier. What makes them valuable is their ability to not only find the open spot but they both have hands made of glue!!!
cssjones
June 27th, 2011
12:25 pm
Enter your comments hereFalcons are gearing up for another great season. Thanks for the insight into the 2012 Falcons. Hope Palmer is given the chance to show us what he can do.
Bath Mortgage Brokers<
yengsai
June 27th, 2011
12:32 pm
I think this camp brought out two things for this team. First, the rookies are harnessed, ready for the next game and will have a good impact on the team for the next years to come. Second, players who did not show are given a chance to do good, practice and maybe earn more confidence to show more what they got on the next season for the glory of the team.
Power flushing
G
June 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Hiramsaint and STB4 are trolls. Why do people still respond to the?
just sayin'
June 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
two consecutive years, dome based NFC South teams went 13-3, with #1 seeding and home field advantage for the playoffs…one went 3-0 in the playoffs and won the Super Bowl…one went 0-1…one can brag about it…one has to say ‘wait till next year’…just the facts..
just sayin'
June 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
and doesn’t Matty Melt look a little like Dennis the Menace?….like the hairdo…call that ’stylin’ i guess..
eM
June 27th, 2011
1:17 pm
just sayin’
June 27th, 2011
1:09 pm
two consecutive years, dome based NFC South teams went 13-3, with #1 seeding and home field advantage for the playoffs…one went 3-0 in the playoffs and won the Super Bowl…one went 0-1…one can brag about it…one has to say ‘wait till next year’…just the facts..
eM
June 27th, 2011
11:17 am
SeenThisB4
June 27th, 2011
10:28 am
Like they say, “on any given Sunday….Yes the Saints lost to a 7-9 team, but the falcan’t were ripped to shreds by the sixth seed, on their own home field and with virtually no one on injured reserve. The falcan’t collapse was so bad, that by half time, the national television audience only saw Packer fans in the georgia dome…half-time
Duh…..but that still doesn’t change the fact the previous SB champs, who ya’ll aints fans all claimed was the greatest thing going in the NFL, got beat by a 7-9 playoff team.
Imagine 50 years from know someone reading a sports alminac and say “Wow the Saints won a Superbowl in 2009. I wonder what they did the next year…..WHAT!!!! BWAA HA HA!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME……THEY GOT BEAT BY A 7-9 PLAYOFF TEAM!! NO WONDER THEY ARE WEARING PAPER BAGS!”
I’m still just saying…….aints first team in history to win a superbowl then the following year get handle by a 7-9 playoff (first ever to play a playoff game with a loosing record). Oh well, however you can get in the history books I guess.
dub366
June 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
Matt Ryans has not prove he’s a leader yet.
eM
June 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
The next 20 years from a aints fan will be “Yeah, but we won the superbowl in ‘09.” But somehow forget the 2010 season. Look we both lost in the playoffs……the aints loss to me, of course, is just hilarious. I know 100% of the aints fans on this board just knew there was no way the “high powered returning superbowl champs” were gonna lose to the Seahawks. And know ya’ll just can’t accept it. Priceless….more sad really.
eM
June 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
dub366
June 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
Matt Ryans has not prove he’s a leader yet.
And you have not proved you deserve to live in society. Go back to your padded room.
just sayin'
June 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
eM….another fact…that u can’t get over….how many super bowls has atlanta won?…0….how many has new orleans won?…1….you can spew all you want about them losing to a 7-9 team, but the FACT that atanta hasn’t won a super bowl is apparently hard to deal with…