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FLOWERY BRANCH -- Finally, training camp is here.
The team takes the field this morning and holds an afternoon practice that will be open to the public.
We'll have updates throughout the day, so feel free to check back at AJC.com for updates.
We started our countdown 10 days out.
Countdown to camp: Day 10 – The new coaches
Countdown to camp: Day 9 – Special teams
Countdown to camp: Day 8 – Defensive backs
Countdown to camp: Day 7 -- Linebackers
Countdown to camp: Day 6 -- Defensive line
Countdown to camp: Day 4 -- Wide receivers
Countdown to camp: Day 3 -- Tight ends
Countdown to camp: Day 2 -- Running backs.
Countdown to camp: Day 1 -- Quarterbacks.
Today, we’ll look at the quarterbacks.
Here’s our projected depth chart for the quarterbacks.
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 8 T.J. Yates, 12 Sean Renfree, 9 Jeff Mathews
Credit: Michael Cunningham
Credit: Michael Cunningham
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who’s set to enter his seventh season in the NFL, will try to rebound from his first losing season in his NFL career.
Ryan, 29, the unquestioned leader, will have to spread the ball around even more in order to replace the productive Tony Gonzalez, perhaps the best tight end ever to play in the modern era.
Gonzalez averaged 81.8 catches over five seasons with the team. Of his 409 catches, 267 went for first downs, or 65.2 percent.
Ryan believes that a committee of wide receivers and running backs will help fill the void created by Gonzalez’s retirement.
“Harry falls into a little bit of that role,” Ryan said. “Last year when he had the opportunity to (play), with Roddy (White) and Julio (Jones) out the majority of the year, I thought that he showcased what he could do. He was a 1,000-yard receiver last year and certainly (was) productive for us.”
Ideally, Douglas would be on the field when the Falcons employ their three-wide receiver formation.
“I think he can fit into that role really well,” Ryan said. “I’ve said that a number of times in the past. I really feel comfortable (with Douglas). He’s probably one of the smartest guys that we have on the offensive side of the ball. He and I are very much on the same page.”
The Falcons were able to cut former No. 2 quarterback Dominique Davis, when T.J. Yates became available over the offeseason. Yates will be the No. 2 quarterback.
Davis was beaten out by Sean Renfree over the offseason. Since Davis didn’t have any more practice squad eligibility, he was released.
The Falcons have been living on the edge with their backup QB slot since parting ways with Chris Redman. In 2012, they added Luke McCown as insurance, but didn’t re-sign him for 2013. Last season, Davis, a former undrafted player from East Carolina, was the primary backup, but appeared in just one game.
After making it through two seasons without an experienced reserve, the Falcons made a trade to acquire Yates from the Houston Texans for linebacker Akeem Dent.
Yates, 27, was forced into action in his rookie season after Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart suffered injuries. He made his first NFL start against the Falcons and led the Texans to a 17-10 victory on Dec. 4, 2011, completing 12 of 25 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown.
In 13 games in three years with the Texans (five starts), he completed 101 of 166 passes (60.8 percent) for 1,100 yards with three touchdowns, six interceptions and a 71.4 quarterback rating.
Mathews, meanwhile, started for three-plus years at Cornell (he started five of 10 games as a freshman). He set an Ivy League record for career passing yards (11,284) and was named the league’s player of the year as a sophomore.
OFFENSE
WR 11 Julio Jones, 13 Darius Johnson, 14 Courtney Roby, 18 Freddie Martino, 89 Bernard Reedy,
LT 72 Sam Baker, 76 Lamar Holmes, 74 Terren Jones
LG 63 Justin Blalock, 68 Gabe Carimi, 67 Adam Replogle
C 61 Joe Hawley, 66 Peter Konz, 62 James Stone
RG 75 Jon Asamoah, 69 Harland Gunn
RT 70 Jake Matthews, 79 Mike Johnson 73 Ryan Schrader
TE 80 Levine Toilolo, 86 Bear Pascoe, 82 Mickey Shuler, 81 Jacob Pedersen, 49 Brian Wozniak
WR 84 Roddy White, 83 Harry Douglas, 15 Geraldo Boldewijn, 16 Julian Jones, 87 Tramaine Thompson
QB 2 Matt Ryan, 8 T.J. Yates, 12 Sean Renfree, 9 Jeff Mathews
RB 39 Steven Jackson, 32 Jacquizz Rodgers, 35 Antone Smith, 33 Devonta Freeman, 30 Josh Vaughan, 34 Jerome Smith
FB 42 Patrick DiMarco, 45 Maurice Hagens, 43 Roosevelt Nix
4-3 DEFENSE (with an extra line for the nickel back)
RE 95 Jonathan Babineaux, 50 Osi Umenyiora, 96 Jonathan Massaquoi, 90 Stansly Maponga
DT 99 Tyson Jackson, 91 Corey Peters, 92 Travian Robertson
DT 96 Paul Soliai, 97 Peria Jerry, 98 Cliff Matthews, 65 Donte Rumph
LE 77 Ra’Shede Hageman, 98 Malliciah Goodman, 49 Tyler Starr, 64 Nosa Equae
OLB 71 Kroy Biermann, 48 Brenden Daley, 45 Jacques Smith
MLB 55 Paul Worrilow, 52 Tim Dobbins, 54 Yawin Smallwood
OLB 59 Joplo Bartu, 53 Prince Shembo, 51 Marquis Spruill, 46 Walker May,
RCB 21 Desmond Trufant, 28 Javier Arenas, 37 Ricardo Allen,
NB 26 Josh Wilson, 27 Robert McClain, 28 Javier Arenas, 41 Dezmen Southward
LCB 23 Robert Alford, 24 Jordan Mabin, 43 Devonta Glover-Wright
SS 25 William Moore, 36 Kemal Ishmael, 40 Kimario McFadden, 22 Zeke Motta
FS 20 Dwight Lowery, 41 Dezmen Southward, 29 Sean Baker
SPECIALISTS
K 3 Matt Bryant, 6 Sergio Castillo
KO 5 Matt Bosher
P 5 Matt Bosher
KR 17 Devin Hester, 28 Javier Arenas, 14 Courtney Roby
PR 17 Devin Hester, 27 Robert McClain, 28 Javier Arenas
LS 47 Josh Harris
H 5 Matt Bosher
Date Practice Times (public availability)
Tuesday, July 22 Rookies report
Thursday, July 24 Veterans report
Friday, July 25 Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, July 26 Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, July 27 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, July 28 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, July 29 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, July 30 Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Thursday, July 31 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 1 “Friday Night Lights” at Archer High School (Lawrenceville)
6:45 – 9:10 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 2 Practice 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 3 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 4 Combined Practice w/Tennessee 3-5:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 5 Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Wednesday, August 6 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 7 Pregame Walkthrough (No Media Availability)
Friday, August 8 Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
Georgia Dome
7:00 p.m. ET – CW69
Saturday, August 9 Practice 4:30 – 5:45 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 10 Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Monday, August 11 Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 12 Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 13 Combined Practice w/ Houston Texans (Houston, TX)
Thursday, August 14 Combined Practice w/ Houston Texans (Houston, TX)
Friday, August 15 Pregame Walkthrough (No Media Availability)
Saturday, August 16 Falcons at Houston Texans
NRG Stadium
8:00 p.m. ET – CW69
Sunday, August 17 Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Monday, August 18 Practice 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (closed to the public)
Break Camp
Q&A with Falcons QB T.J. Yates
Falcons to practice with Titans, Texans in training camp
Falcons coach Mike Smith will try to rebound from first losing season on Hard Knocks
Sam Baker is back to help line re-establish its identity
Falcons WR Roddy White: 'Hard for me to deal with' death of a brother
How much the Falcons rookies will be paid
Rookies getting advice on NFL life
Open competition in training camp will be good for Undrafted Rookies
Sean Weatherspoon suffers season-ending Achilles injury
What's next for Sean Weaatherspoon?
What's next for the Falcons at linebacker?
Falcons minicamp is open to the public
VIDEO CORNER
Sean Weatherspoon to miss 2014 season
Matt Ryan on Harry Douglas' contribution to the offense
Falcons defensive line coach Bryan Cox
Falcons tight end Levine Toilolo
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