Allstate All-Access Weekend

Fans had a unique opportunity in the midst of Russell Falcons Training Camp to get a behind-the-scenes, all-access view of the new-look Atlanta Falcons. Allstate All-Access Weekend included two events that brought family fun and player-fan interaction to the Atlanta community.

Roam the Dome
The Falcons took the field at the Allstate All-Access Roam the Dome Saturday with two goals: Work hard and put on a show.

With thousands of fans in attendance and a mock game that featured turnovers and three touchdown passes, both missions were accomplished.

Head Coach Mike Smith split his roster and ran the team through 11-on-11 stretches across the Georgia Dome turf. The red team won the mock game, 21-6.

Quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Michael Jenkins had the early highlight — a 28-yard touchdown strike up the seam in the first half.

On the next series with the first team, Ryan found newly-acquired tight end Tony Gonzalez on three straight passes, including a 10-yard play to the end zone for a score over safety Jamaal Fudge.

Chris Redman also threw a touchdown pass, finding Ben Hartsock from 6 yards out in the second half of play.

Three times the white team, quarterbacked by John Parker Wilson and D.J. Shockley marched into the red zone. Two stops were treated as field goals. The third trip ended with a Brent Grimes interception.

• BLOGS: J. Michael Moore's blog posts from Aug. 8, 2009
• VIDOEO: Roam the Dome Intro | Roam the Dome Countdown
• PHOTOS: Photos from Roam the Dome (Flickr)

Friday Night Lights
Some names and faces on the roster have changed, but there’s nothing like a little rematch to get the juices flowing.

The Falcons defense took an early lead in the second Allstate All-Access Friday Night Lights, this time at Brookwood High School, but the offense stormed back to walk away with a 37-34 win.

The team’s defense won the inaugural event, which uses a unique offensive and defensive scoring system 29-28.

Defensive play makers included Brent Grimes, who expanded his group’s lead in the first half by stripping the ball from tight end Justin Peelle, recovering the fumble and racing 35 yards for a touchdown.

Minor scoring continued with points being awarded for defensive stops, three-and-outs and offensive drives into the defense’s half of the field (click here for detail).

The offense turned to the running game to wear the defense down and got three scores — touchdown runs by Jerious Norwood and Thomas Brown and a 20-yard pass to Michael Jenkins from Matt Ryan.

• FEATURE: Memories stir for Elam at Friday Night Lights
• BLOGS: J. Michael Moore's blog posts from Aug. 7, 2009
• LIVE BLOG: Live notes from Friday Night Lights
• PHOTOS: Photos from Friday Night Lights (Flickr)