The grind continued on Tuesday morning as we moved into Day 6 of Atlanta Falcons coaching camp. This was additionally the second day of padded observe, with the workforce persevering with the “ramp-up” following a shorter observe on Monday. As all the time, Adnan and Kevin had been on the scene to take every part in and to report all of it. For extra protection and clips, we direct you to our Twitter (X?) feeds (Kevin, Adnan).

You’ll be able to catch our reside present, recorded from the Flowery Department facility proper after the conclusion of immediately’s observe and press conferences right here.

Let’s get to it with a few of our observations from Day 6 of camp.

The run protection received the day as soon as once more

We had been actually trying ahead to seeing how Atlanta’s new-look run protection would carry out as soon as the pads got here on. Yesterday, they clearly got here out forward. As we speak, they had been by some means even higher.

Atlanta’s working backs had been stuffed virtually each time they took a handoff, and it was extremely uncommon to see the offensive line create a sufficiently big gap and preserve it open for lengthy sufficient for something to develop. Total, I don’t suppose I noticed a single run which went for even 10 yards because the entrance seven was outright smothering.

Rookie sensation Bijan Robinson, who was drawing headline after headline within the first 4 days of camp, has had virtually no room to function. He fumbled as soon as on a visit up and will have had a second fumble later in 11-on-11s, nevertheless it appeared like his knee hit the bottom. Arnold Ebikete pressured and Dee Alford recovered the second fumble (if the knee didn’t hit) however we didn’t see who was liable for the good defensive play on the primary one—it might have been edge rusher Lorenzo Carter.

Desmond Ridder continues to look sharp on short-to-intermediate passes, Taylor Heinicke has a powerful day

It was extra of the identical for Desmond Ridder immediately—he accomplished a powerful proportion of his passes however the very overwhelming majority throughout workforce classes had been very quick. Ridder was noticeably extra aggressive in 1-on-1s, the place he hit Penny Hart within the endzone on among the finest passes of the day. Nonetheless, there’s been a really restricted variety of deep makes an attempt for the second-year sign caller to this point.

Total, Ridder’s deepest go in scrimmage went for perhaps 10 yards to London on an out route. By Adnan’s rely, he had two passes that traveled longer than 20 yards downfield. One was to London (who was lined effectively by CB Jeff Okudah) and was too low for the WR to have an opportunity, the opposite was intercepted by S Richie Grant on his final go of the day. This one a miscommunication between Ridder and WR Josh Ali, and Grant made an impressive leaping interception for the ball.

Conversely, we had been impressed by what we noticed from Taylor Heinicke immediately. The go of the day was his throw to WR Frank Darby on a deep out route the place he actually wanted to string the needle on the far facet of the sector. Heinicke continued to be the extra aggressive of the three quarterbacks and is clearly extra keen to take dangers downfield. He additionally had a powerful throw to a tightly lined London alongside the sideline, which London toe tapped magnificently.

Outdoors of the constant deep passing assault, Heinicke maneuvered round within the pocket effectively, constantly set his go catchers up with yards after the catch (YAC) alternatives on shorter passes and solely had one “poor” go all day, and even that one was scooped up off the turf by a diving J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.

Drake London, Kyle Pitts have greatest days but

Drake London had a spectacular day immediately, following his spotlight reel one on one rep towards CB Clark Phillips III yesterday and powerful efficiency in these scrimmages. It seems like he was ready for the pads to come back on to begin taking up together with his distinctive mix of dimension, physicality, and athleticism.

London has clearly been the perfect go catcher on the sector over the primary week of coaching camp, however much more so over the previous few practices. He constantly obtained open for his QB and made some spectacular catches alongside the sideline even when working towards tight protection. He had toe tapping receptions on throws from each Ridder and Heinicke, and displayed his vary catching passes to all three ranges of the sector. London appears to have gotten into his rhythm and that’s not a superb factor for the protection.

He didn’t full win each rep, nonetheless. Okudah had tight protection on him on Ridder’s first deep throw which wasn’t totally correct and A.J. Terrell obtained the higher of him with a go breakup later in observe so iron has actually been sharpening iron.

Tight finish Kyle Pitts has additionally continued to change into extra concerned in each 1-on-1 and workforce classes because the pads got here on yesterday. Pitts and Ridder are clearly beginning to get their timing down, because the duo related on a number of passes all through observe.

Pitts continues to be not on the market as a lot as the opposite starters, however he appears to be getting nearer every single day. He’s additionally beginning to appear to be the athletic marvel that the Falcons draft fourth general again in 2021.

Richie Grant data an interception in late phases of observe

After we had our first interception-free day on Monday, the protection obtained again to their behavior of takeaways. This time it was Richie Grant choosing off Desmond Ridder’s deep passing try to Josh Ali.

The play occurred on the primary workforce’s closing 2-minute drill the place they needed to go down discipline and try to rating a landing in 11-on-11 After choosing up a primary all the way down to tight finish MyCole Pruitt on the sideline, Ridder tried to go deep to Ali. There gave the impression to be a potential miscommunication on the route, which gave Grant a chance to make a leaping interception. It’s arguably the flashiest INT of camp thus far.

Grant additionally had a powerful day in serving to to close down the run sport, because the workforce has him taking part in nearer to the road of scrimmage than fellow security Jessie Bates III. We’re anticipating massive issues from Grant, who’s now getting into his third season and taking part in subsequent to an elite expertise in Bates.

Zach Harrison and Timmy Horne proceed to shine

Rookie edge rusher Zach Harrison has been one of many nice surprises of camp thus far. Whereas there was no doubting his expertise and traits, few anticipated Harrison to face out this early. He had one more sack on Tuesday and even utilized the strain on a go breakup on the line of scrimmage.

After the observe, veteran defensive sort out David Onyemata advised the media that Harrison is basically profiting from his alternatives to this point. We’d are likely to agree, because the rookie out of Ohio State might make an affect on the sector a lot sooner than anticipated.

Second-year nostril sort out Timmy Horne additionally continued his very sturdy camp, which has flown below the radar a bit of bit. He had a sack immediately and has been a nightmare in each run protection and in making use of strain alongside the inside of the road in passing conditions in 11-on-11.

Horne was an finish of roster depth piece in 2022, however he’s been constantly working with the starters in Eddie Goldman’s absence and has impressed. We anticipate him to not solely be a roster lock however a respectable contributor come Week 1. With Goldman being positioned on the exempt/left squad checklist, it looks like Horne has risen to the problem of the beginning lineup.

Different notes

• High cornerback A.J. Terrell continued his sturdy camp with a number of go breakups in each 1-on-1s and the workforce session. He’s been getting an increasing number of comfy in Nielsen’s new-look protection, and it reveals. The secondary has an opportunity to be an actual power in 2023.

• LB Troy Andersen had a very sturdy day immediately, notably in tight finish and working again protection in scrimmages. He broke up a go supposed for TE Kyle Pitts, and any time his man would catch the ball, he’d all the time be shut by to make the sort out for minimal acquire.
• WR Frank Darby had his greatest day of camp thus far. He introduced in a deep out go from Heinicke—which was the longest acquire of the day in scrimmage—and obtained a step on Clark Phillips III however acquired a poor go which let the CB get better within the one on one drill.

• WR Penny Hart was additionally closely concerned and had a powerful day general. He made some spectacular performs in scrimmage and one on ones, returned punts, and was even working as a gunner in punt protection drills. He additionally added a wonderful catch in a two-on-two drill. The flip facet was a foul psychological error on the finish of observe with the offense on the doorstep of the tip zone in QB Logan Woodside’s 2-minute drill. Following a catch, Hart went to the tip zone to have a good time, which led to time expiring. An irate Woodside slammed his helmet in frustration.

• TE Feleipe Franks closely concerned, notably throughout Woodside’s flip in scrimmage, and responded together with his greatest day of camp thus far. He was constantly focused and caught each go which got here his approach, together with a powerful one which he needed to modify to in visitors.

• Nonetheless no Matt Hennessy on the market as rookie left guard Matthew Bergeron continued working with the starters. Tight finish Jonnu Smith was not noticed, however that may very well be only a veteran relaxation day. Veteran receiver Scotty Miller was additionally carrying the yellow “no contact” jersey.
• Coaching camp interception counter (solely counting scrimmages and crimson zone drills): Jaylinn Hawkins (2), Micah Abernathy, Clark Phillips III, Richie Grant

That it’s from us for immediately! Each Adnan and Kevin shall be again on the market tomorrow morning persevering with their protection of camp for The Falcoholic! This shall be Kevin’s last day whereas Adnan will even be on the market as soon as extra, on Saturday.

What are your ideas on Day 6’s observe? Are you excited to see extra battles within the trenches now that the pads have come on?