Here are today's top things to keep an eye on:
- Today's first practice session is open to the public. Practice begins at 8:30 a.m. with gates opening at 7:30 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, practice will be closed and the team will head to their indoor practice facility. To find out the latest on the weather, follow us on Twitter @AtlantaFalcons, keep checking AtlantaFalcons.com, sign up for Verizon text alerts or call our camp hotline at 770.965.2752.
- Coming off a great Friday Night Lights performance, wide receiver Kerry Meier is starting to really turn some heads. The second-year player is out to prove that he's 100 percent healthy after a knee injury last season and that he can contribute in big ways.
- Back on the field today will be the Falcons' newly signed players, who have only had one practice session plus Friday Night Lights under their belts so far this camp. Brent Grimes, Tyson Clabo, Ray Edwards, Justin Blalock, Mike Peterson and Stephen Nicholas are just a few of the players who will be looking to make up for lost time.
- Running back Jacquizz Rodgers continues to impress in camp. Again, his footwork and quickness are two things that have really stood out about the Falcons' fifth-round selection. Rodgers is a whole lot of athleticism packed into a small frame, and it seems like he could be looking to make a case as the steal of the 2011 Draft.
- Now that Grimes is back on the field, the battle between Chris Owens and Dominique Franks for the nickelback spot should really heat up. The two will likely get most of their reps from that position with Grimes claiming his place opposite Dunta Robinson, and every one of those reps will count. Both Owens and Franks will make sure they do.
- We saw some good things out of punters Ken Parrish and Matt Bosher during Friday Night Lights, and you can expect their duel to continue this week. Special teams coach Keith Armstrong said during the Friday practice that the two have been very impressive thus far. Both look to have excellent power in their kicking legs and this battle could be very close.
- Offensive tackle and seventh-round selection Andrew Jackson could be a sleeper in camp. With so much attention on Clabo and Blalock being back and the battle for the open guard position between Mike Johnson and Garrett Reynolds, it's easy for Jackson to get overshadowed. But he's been looking solid in camp so far from what we've noticed. Yet another player vying to be known as a steal.
