Kevin Stefanski shares his ideas. Plus, extra notes and observations from observe.
Tori McElhaney
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Will starters play within the preseason?
At this time of yr, that is at all times the go-to query. And each head coach carries with them a unique philosophy. Kevin Stefanski was requested his.
While he mentioned that each crew is completely different, and yearly’s group could require a unique reply, in the case of the Falcons in 2026, he’d like starters to see preseason motion.
The plan because it stands proper now’s to get starters some runway within the Falcons’ first preseason sport in opposition to Denver and the ultimate preseason sport in opposition to Miami.
Live reps in these video games will range, Stefanski mentioned, and they are going to be massaged primarily based on gamers’ (and coaches’) wants. But in these particular video games, anticipate starters to see time in some capability.
“We will work through our plan for the first and third game,” Stefanski mentioned. “But in general, I think for guys to get ready to play football they have to play football.”
For the second sport in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, Stefanski mentioned the crew will deal with that in another way due to the 2 joint practices within the lead as much as the sport.
“The majority of the reps in the practices with the Colts will go to our starters,” Stefanski defined. “So, those guys will not play in that second game.”
As for whether or not Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. will probably be amongst these taking part in, Stefanski mentioned that will probably be a choice made at a later date and, for Penix particularly, will probably be closely thought-about in regard to the place he’s in his restoration.
Practice notes and observations
(Quarterback) Roll Call:All 4 quarterbacks Tagovailoa, Penix, Jack Strand and Cooper Rush have been working towards Friday, all at varied ranges of participation.
Tagovailoa missed the whole lot of the primary day of observe Wednesday with what he described as decrease again “tightness.” He mentioned it flared up late final week, however that he’s feeling higher each day.
“I feel great right now,” he mentioned after observe.
Though Tagovailoa famous that he does not know when he will probably be absolutely cleared, he expressed optimism that it would not be too lengthy. He participated in particular person drills, and quarterbacked an 11-on-11 interval halfway by means of observe through which the offense and protection operated at a walk-through tempo.
Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. continued to be held out of full crew drills. However, he did get all the excessive redzone reps in 7-on-7. We will discuss extra about this era in a later portion of this report.
To wrap up the quarterback replace, rookie UDFA Jack Strand continued to take the majority of 11-on-11 work, however Cooper Rush who joined the Falcons Wednesday morning did get a couple of appears to be like quarterbacking the third-team reserves as he continues to study the playbook.
A word on Bijan Robinson:The operating again has been a non-participant in observe for the reason that begin of camp. Stefanski was requested about Robinson’s standing in his post-practice press convention. Here is what he needed to say concerning the state of affairs at hand:
“There’s a business side to everything that we do, and there’s a football side. And sometimes you’re living in both worlds, if you will. But (I’m) just going to continue to coach the football team.”
Stefanski added that “we all trust in the process of what’s going on” and “it doesn’t change relationships.”
The Sydney Brown rotation:The Falcons traded for Brown earlier this yr in try to construct quite a lot of depth within the secondary. Early in camp, Brown is displaying that versatility practically play-in and play-out. He has gotten fairly a little bit of runway within the beginning nickel spot, rotating (at occasions throughout 11s) each different play with Darnay Holmes.
Brown was seen Friday heading again out onto the sector with the second crew, solely this time at deep security, which is primarily how he was used together with his former crew, the Eagles. Still, Brown has that place flex the Falcons covet on protection. At least early, he is pushing for a beginning spot at nickel.
That mentioned, Stefanski mentioned rotation is the secret, not simply within the secondary, however all around the discipline because the coaches consider the completely different groupings.
“We’re going to rotate different players in there, different packages, to see,” the pinnacle coach mentioned. “Once you get to Week 1 you have to have a plan of who’s starting in this package and that package. But we are going to mix and match a lot.”
Let’s get to the redzone:As said above, Penix received to run the gamut of the redzone, 7-on-7 interval. Things began sturdy for the protection. Christian Harris clogged a throwing lane and practically missed a decide. A pair performs later, A.J. Terrell jumped a path to overtake Drake London, inflicting a PBU. He will get his fingers on it, it is seemingly taken 99 yards the opposite method. Speaking of Terrell, he had a very nice play on a deep ball in 1-on-1s to begin observe. Tracking a ball from Tagovailoa supposed for London on a submit, Terrell slashed the move down with a protracted arm.
In the 7-on-7 interval, DeMarcco Hellams additionally received a tip in that brought about an incompletion. Penix ended the drill on a constructive word, although: As the play received off, the secondary coated up receivers. An enormous, blow up ball below his toes to imitate stress, Penix tracked during his development earlier than discovering Cash Jones on the verify down. Penix confirmed good poise with a ball at his toes and all his receivers closely coated.
Speaking of rotations:Jake Matthews and Matthew Bergeron didn’t take part a lot in full crew, 11-on-11 drills. They participated in the whole lot else, so this was nothing to be involved about as coaches have been evaluating the offensive line depth.
That mentioned, their absence in these durations opened the door for Wanya Morris at left sort out and Kyle Hinton at left guard to get a great chunk of reps. Michael Jerrell was nonetheless the first starter at proper sort out, the place he has been within the wake of Jawaan Taylor’s placement on lively/PUP.
Inside linebackers swap out:After lacking quite a lot of spring practices therapeutic a calf damage he sustained in school, Kendal Daniels returned to observe Thursday. The Falcons are slowly working him again in, although, and so he didn’t observe immediately.
That mentioned, fellow inside linebacker JD Bertrand who additionally missed a lot of the OTA voluntary interval and obligatory minicamp with an undisclosed damage returned to observe immediately. He took Daniels’ spot alongside rookie Harold Perkins Jr.
Play of the day:OK so, perhaps this wasn’t the perfect play of the day but it surely was my favourite second. In the very first full crew interval, Strand handed the ball off to Tyler Goodson operating to the appropriate facet of the safety, Zachariah Branch was streaking reverse on a reversal as Goodson tossed the ball again the opposite strategy to him. Branch now with the ball streaked again left solely to be met by Xavier Watts. Watts had learn the play from go and in a real-life state of affairs, seemingly would have dropped Branch for a significant loss behind the road of scrimmage.
That mentioned, this second mentioned extra about Watts and his growth and smarts than Branch. Don’t fear. Branch is a standout early. His quick space quickness stays on show, evident throughout 1-on-1s to begin observe when few defensive backs even touched him by means of his two reps off the road. Long story quick on Branch?
“You see him,” Tagovailoa mentioned, “he’s usually open.”
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