The Falcons are one step closer to beginning the NFL season as they took part in the first day of their mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
The goal the Falcons wanted to achieve on their first day of their three-day camp is getting a lot of work done in a short amount of time. And Falcons head coach Mike Smith believed the team did just that.
“We had a good day,” Smith said. “It was the continuation of our OTAs in terms of our installation. Unfortunately, the weather ran us inside but I thought the guys responded well with the change of venue.”
The Falcons had to move the practice indoors because of the rain, which caused the fans to go home instead of watching an early look of the 2013 edition of the Smith-led team.
However, the fans got to see just enough of what the team was capable of and based on what the fans and Smith saw, this team is ready for the season to begin.
“They were ready to come out and work,” Smith said. “It was great to have everyone that was expected to be here.”
One player that was not in attendance was Tony Gonzalez who decided to come back for one more season after mulling over retirement after the Falcons loss to San Francisco in the NFC title game. Gonzalez was excused from taking part in this year’s minicamp.
“Tony has been doing this for a long time,” Smith said. “There is no reason for Tony not to be resting and getting his body ready for the regular season.”
Gonzalez, who is 37 years old, may not need to go through the minicamp drills, but newly acquired Steven Jackson has to be at camp in order to get familiar with the playbook. And after 11 offseason practices (10 OTAs and one minicamp practice), Jackson is getting accustomed to the terminology used by Matt Ryan and rest of the offense.
“I’ve really become familiar with it,” Jackson said. At first, it sounds like another language. But once you get the carries and you get to look at the film, you begin to be more comfortable.”
Julio Jones does not have to get familiar with the playbook because he has been in the system the last two years. The one thing he wants to do is just improve so he can help the Falcons get over the hump and reach their ultimate goal.
“Nobody is going to give us anything,” Jones said. “You got to work for everything you earn. It’s on you to make that decision to get back there or get farther than that. Everybody just got to keep working.”
As for the young players, specifically the draftees, they got a lot of work in on the first day of minicamp. That was the goal for Smith because they want them to be game-ready as soon as the season begins, no matter if they are on the first-team or second team.
“When you draft the guys that we drafted early, they are expected to play,” Smith said talking about cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. “We believe they have the skill set to be successful. We are going to give them every opportunity to play.”
The Falcons will continue minicamp practices on Wednesday with an afternoon session and will conclude minicamp on Thursday with a morning session. All practices are open to the public.
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