FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After an excellent day from the offense on Thursday, the Falcons' defense responded with an impressive showing in the team's sixth open practice of AT&T Training Camp.
If there's been a theme of camp so far for the Falcons, it's that no one side of the ball has defined it. One day, the offense looks precise and effective. The next, they are disrupted by an attacking defense determined to rebound. So it has gone thus far, but that's not a bad thing for an aspiring team looking to push one another.
"It's a competitive atmosphere out there, both sides of the ball," Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said after practice. "There's a good period for the offense. There's a good period for the defense. It's been back and forth, like I mentioned. They're giving us some great looks, challenging us with some things. Hopefully they feel like they are getting challenged from us offensively, scheme-wise, too. It's really fun to just go out to the practice field and hear guys talking crap to each other, and that's football. That's what happens when they're playing real games between the lines on Sunday. It's a blast."
Atlanta's quarterbacks looked crips and showed off some playmaking abilities during Thursday's session, but on Friday they had a hard time getting comfortable. The Falcons' defensive front must have taken the offensive output personally, because they made sure there would not be a repeat performance.
Rookie edge defender James Pearce Jr. continues to win reps regardless of who is in front of him. He has displayed a broader array of moves than he got credit for during the draft process, and it's not often that a veteran of Jake Matthews' caliber looks as locked in as he has when opposite No. 27. When coaches talk about creating an environment where players make each other better, it's hard to imagine a better example than one where a rookie defender is bringing out that level of play from an 11-year vet.
Other important parts of the defensive line have also been standing out recently. Defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro ended one rep in the blink of an eye with a beautiful side-swipe into the A gap that gave him a clear path to Kirik Cousins. The quickness Orhorhoro displayed was reminiscent of the man whose former spot he now occupies. Former third-round pick Zach Harrison continues to impress and is in line to be a strong end in this defensive group. His versatility has helped him navigate multiple defensive coordinators in his first few seasons, allowing him to get on the field and hone a variety of skills. Now, he's in position to put it all together.
"The versatility of what he brings to the game is something that really excites you," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said of Harrison on Thursday. "Monday in practice, he was one of the more physical defensive players that we had and those are the things that I think he's going to really flourish this year and jump off and have a big jump for us and that's what we want. I think this system that we're playing right now has a unique fit for him. I think the buy-in from the coaches, the buy-in from him, the buy-in to all the things that he can do and what he's willing to do is really what excites me."
The two-day series of padded practices on Thursday and Friday provided the clearest sense yet that the two sides of the ball on this team pushing one another. There have not been many 1-on-1 periods between the offense and the defense. Instead, there has been a heavy does of team periods that get 22 players on the field at once. It's led to some heated moments, but it's also created an environment that feels a bit like the flows of an NFL game. That's exactly what the goal should be.
Better indicators of where this team is in its preparation are forthcoming. The first preseason game against the Detroit Lions on Aug. 8 will provide new information, and the two joint practices against the Tennessee Titans will also help shape an early opinion of the 2025 Falcons. At this point, though, it's safe to say Atlanta's camp has been a competitive one.
Open practice count: 6 of 11 | See all dates
Most notable player: James Pearce Jr. It's getting hard to keep the rookie out of this spot, because he makes it difficult to look away when he's out there on the field. Regardless of who he's up against, Pearce is giving each rep the energy it deserves and he's making a lot of plays. He had what would very likely have been a sack on game day, and he batted down yet another pass at the line of scrimmage. This is a defense that wants to attack, and Pearce, at this point in camp, is often the tip of the spear.
Say what now: "Where Rah and I were coaching at before with the Rams, we weren't really a 7-on-7 operation — to get those live reps in the pocket for the quarterback, to get the pass protection with the offensive line. So we're able to get a bunch of team reps, which is nice. No 7-on-7. Where you can feel good coming out of the day, but you know there's going to be a real pass rush in the game. So, those reps have been awesome, just for quarterbacks feeling what the pocket feels like. They know they can't get hit, but they're still making those movements they need to try to simulate a game. But all those team reps that Rah has got scripted up have been great." Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson on the benefits of doing a lot of team periods.
Song of the day: "Joke and the Thief" by Wolfmother. I had a dueling pianos-type of experience at practice on Friday. From where I was positioned, I had the music from the field channeling into one ear and the music from the weight room channeling into the other. "Joker and the Thief" struck the best blend of the two, and that's why it's the pick here.
Roll call: Keith Taylor continues to be absent at practice, but there were two new players missing on Friday. Second-year linebacker J.D. Bertrand was not spotted on the field. Neither was veteran tackle Storm Norton. Rookie safety Xavier Watts did not participate in team drills Thursday, and he was held out of practice on Friday.
General observations:
-- Friday's practice felt heavier on full-team periods than others in camp. Players will get a few days reprieve before the pads come back on, so it was a good time to push.
-- Arnold Ebiketie is flying under the radar a little bit this summer, but he has been getting starting reps and had an excellent speed rush early on Friday. His jump of the ball was flawless, and it allowed him to fly around the edge for what likely would have been a sack on Sunday.
-- My favorite play of the day involved some of the team's biggest names. Lined up on the right side of the defense, as he often has been, James Pearce Jr. sprinted headlong into the pads of Kyle Pitts and began to bull rush the tight end back into the lap of Michael Penix Jr. Just before the rookie defender succeeded in his mission, however, Pitts dropped his weight and stopped Pearce shy of the quarterback. That effort from Pitts gave Penix enough time to escape the pocket to his left and scramble upfield for what would have been a first down in a live game. All players involved had an impressive moment in quick succession.
-- German kicker Lenny Krieg had back-to-back kicks drift right of the uprights during a kicking session midway through practice.
-- Cousins and Penix each had some excellent passes on an otherwise down day for the offense, particularly over the middle of the field. And after Penix was intercepted on a low throw to London in the end zone Thursday, the duo connected for a touchdown on a similar play Friday. The pass was probably still a little bit low for Penix's liking, but London came up with the contested catch.
-- Carlos Washington has been one of the most consistently impressive players in camp so far. The former undrafted free agent has grown in each of his first two seasons with the team, and it feels like he's made a small jump in Year 3. Another running back further down the depth chart who impressed on Friday was Jashaun Corbin.
-- Kaden Elliss made several highlight plays on Friday, and his versatility has been on display throughout camp. He logged what looked to be a sack against Cousins and had a few stops in the backfield.
-- Dee Alford is not backing down from the battle at nickel cornerback, and he made a great play on the ball in coverage to breakup a pass over the middle. He's been running with the starting defense for most of camp.
-- Ray-Ray McCloud made some solid blocks on the perimeter of the defense that helped spring big runs. It appears London isn't the only receiver willing to mix it up as a blocker.
-- We haven't talked a lot about Bijan Robinson so far, but he's still making the most difficult moves look easy. On an inside carry during a red-zone period, Robinson patiently followed his blockers to the second level before his instinct took over. He cut back to the left against the flow of traffic, finding space that seemed to be completely out of his field of vision. Watching it back on the replay screens, running backs coach Michael Pitre marveled at Robinson's read.
What's next: The Falcons hold their seventh open practice Monday at IBM Performance Field.
Countdown to kickoff: There are 37 days until the Falcons' Week 1 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | See full schedule
