The Falcons were back in pads on Monday to practice with the Tennessee Titans for the ninth practice of 2014 XFINITY Atlanta Falcons Training Camp.
WR Devin Hester
LB Tyler Starr
CB Ricardo Allen
CB Ricardo Allen
Gerald Brown, running backs coach
S Kemal Ishmael
RB Jacquizz Rodgers and Titans LB Colin McCarthy
RB Jacquizz Rodgers and Titans LB Colin McCarthy
RB Antone Smith
CB Ricardo Allen
CB Desmond Trufant
CB Desmond Trufant goes against Titans DB Winston Wright
LB Tyler Starr
WR Julian Jones
WR Devin Hester and WR Julio Jones
WR Tramaine Thompson
CB Jordan Mabin
CB Devonta Glover-Wright and Titans WR Rico Richardson
LB Marquis Spruill faces off against the Titans
Head Coach Mike Smith
DE Kroy Biermann
LB Tyler Starr
DE Malliciah Goodman and Titans G Justin McCray
T Jake Matthews
T Jake Matthews and Titans OT Taylor Lewan
LB Tyler Starr and Titans DE Karl Klug
T Ryan Schraeder
S Kemal Ishmael
WR Harry Douglas, WR Julio Jones and WR Roddy White talk to offensive line coach, Mike Tice.
DT Jonathan Babineaux
DE Ra'Shede Hageman
DE Kroy Biermann
QB Matt Ryan chats with WR Devin Hester in between drills
T Jake Matthews and G Jon Asamoah take on Titans DE Ropati Pitoitua
TE Jacob Pedersen matches up with Titans LB Patrick Bailey
CB Robert Alford
CB Desmond Trufant participates in one-on-one drills with the Titans
S Kemal Ishmael works to keep Titans WR Derek Hagan from the ball
WR Desmond Trufant
Falcons owner and chairman, Arthur Blank, talk with general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, during the combined practice
RB Devonta Freeman
WR Tramaine Thompson
Titans QB Jake Locker shakes hands with QB Jeff Mathews and QB Sean Renfree
WR Julio Jones takes a break with Titans QB Jake Locker
WR Devin Hester wraps up a conversation with Titans S Michael Griffin
T Sam Baker
LB Tim Dobbins
T Jake Matthews and G Jon Asamoah
Following Wednesday's walkthrough, Falcons TEs coach Chris Scelfo and QBs coach Glenn Thomas took some time to meet with the media, offering position-group evlautions, including the competition at tight end and how QB Matt Ryan makes each player better.
Falcons TEs Coach Chris Scelfo
Q: How would you evaluate your tight ends group in 2014?
CS: There are some interesting battles going on in the tight end group, Levine making all five of those guys battle. It's a different role for those guys this year than what we had in the past with Tony Gonzalez. They are doing everything we are asking of them. They are doing a good job of competing.
Q: Can you forecast the percentage of footballs that may be directed toward your TEs in 2014?
CS: I think the way the ball is going to be distributed play-calling-wise, the defense kind of dictates where the ball is going to be distributed. Sometimes, we had a play specifically designed for Tony last year and if the defense took it away, it went somewhere else. Coming in this year from the standpoint of the tight end, he has a role in the progression and it may not be thought of as high as it once was, but when the ball comes his way, he has to make a play.
Q: What have you seen out of Levine Toilolo since camp began?
CS: I've seen him ascend every day. He missed all of last year; OTAs and all. This year in OTAs he had a lot of work. I've seen improvement every day on him. He needs to become more aggressive, have more urgency in everything, consistently. His leverage is different than most people's, because he is 6-foot-8, so, he has to know what he's dealing with every play; run and pass. **Falcons QBs Coach Glenn Thomas
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How will the offense be impacted, following the retirement of former Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez?
GT: Matt (Ryan) will have to adjust to it and then, we'll have to adjust to it as a coaching staff. We just have to see what a particular team does in those situations and adjust accordingly and do the best that we can to take advantage of him. Matt does a great job of finding those guys when they're open; he's one of the best in the business at doing that. We can design particular plays for particular players, but if it's not open, he'll get through the progression like he needs to and get it to the open guy.
Has there been a QB rotation set for Friday night's preseason game against the Miami Dolphins?
GT: We have not talked about that, but it will probably come in the next day or so, but particularly, we'll try to get all those guys in there, if we can.
Can you talk about the signing of T.J. Yates and his transition thus far with the team?
GT: We're excited to have him. He's been in the league a few years and had a chance to get in there and play and win some games and get some experience and brings that element to the game, which we're excited about.
