FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — It's install season in the NFL, and teams across the league are busy laying a foundation that will carry them through the upcoming fall and hopefully to the postseason.
The Atlanta Falcons are no different. Players are back on the field, learning new head coach Kevin Stefanski's program from the ground up.
Because Stefanski is in his first year with the organization, the Falcons were permitted by league rules to start their offseason conditioning program two weeks before teams with returning coaches. They've used this accelerated on-ramp into their 2026 campaign to focus deeply on player technique and fundamentals.
There are many benefits to starting simply, especially in a coaching staff's first year with the players. Beginning with the basics eases the mental load so players can think less about what they are doing and more about how they are doing it. The emphasis is on the process and building the correct habits for future success.
"This is the time of the year where you're going to make a mistake and then we're going to learn from it," Stefanski said. "We're going to identify the reasons that it was made and we're going to correct them. So, I think you're seeing from the, certainly the veterans that have been around, you're seeing them continue to get better in each rep, get better in each practice."
For league veterans, the material covered during this voluntary period may feel familiar or even second-nature. For the rookies, whose pro journey began less than a month ago, they may be learning critical information for the first time and need to master it quickly.
The goal is to get everyone on the same page, regardless of their experiences before they arrived in Atlanta. In an offseason defined by change, these weeks are spent creating a new baseline from which everyone can begin moving in the same direction.
"For us to go out there on the field and have the same mindset and have the same understanding of what's going on around us, it's only going to help us be better," quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. "It's been really good."
To implement a standard of operation, there must also be a common language. Anyone who's traveled abroad knows what it feels like to need something and not have the words to ask for it.
When a receiver steps into the huddle, he has to understand exactly what the quarterback tells him. When he speaks with his position coach on the sideline, he needs to be able to describe what he's seeing on the field in terms his coach will understand. And the level of nuance in the pros only increases the need for precise terminology.
Communication happens fast in the NFL, but it is essential for high-level execution, which is why the Falcons are taking a thorough approach to this installation period.
"I feel like for the new coaching staff, they want to come in and make sure that we're all speaking the same language, we're all on the same page," Penix said. "So that when we go out on the field, it's like, 'Okay, what did we see?' I can say what I saw without it being like, 'Okay, what?'
"For us, it's like everything from last year is flushed. So, I can't come and ask coach, 'Hey, what is this route,' and call it a route from last year whenever I'm in a new system."
As they put a routine in place and reinforce the terminology they want to use, the Falcons' coaching staff are also making slight adjustments to player techniques on the field. Whether it's hand placement for an offensive lineman or the depth a receiver gets on his route, these details can mean the difference between success and failure on Sundays.
Using the quarterback position as an example, Stefanski explained that there aren't often wholesale changes to a player's approach. Rather, these are tweaks meant to make sure players are efficient in their movements and maximize their abilities.
"We coach so much on the footwork, because everything comes ground up when you're talking about technique," Stefanski said. "A lot of players, how they throw the ball anatomically is how they've always thrown it, so you don't want to get too into the weeds of changing releases and those types of things. Having said that, there are subtle quarter-turn adjustments that I think you can make with technique, and that may be where the toe is pointed when the ball is thrown. It may be how you're transferring your weight from your back foot. It may be how you finish your throw."
Join the Atlanta Falcons on the practice fields during Week One of OTAs at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Ga.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Jahan Dotson #4 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Charlie Woerner #89 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Michael Jerrell #72 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom #63 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus #54 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ross Blacklock #95 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari #51 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus #14 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Goodson #25 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III #22 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons inside linebacker Malik Verdon #43 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Trevor Siemian #13 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. #15 during an OTA workout at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Charlie Woerner #89 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
https://bfob.photoshelter.site/library/show/C00007neg8OCg1DI/G0000Tu8tQT6OSCs during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback C.J. Henderson #39 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell #12 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Natrone Brooks #35 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes #21 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Avieon Terrell #12 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Darren Hall #41 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Darren Hall #41 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Sydney Brown #29 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive end Cameron Thomas #99 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari #51 during an OTA workout during phase 3 at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Jay Bendlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Natrone Brooks #35 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Sydney Brown #29 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jammie Robinson #34 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch #17 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Vinny Anthony II #86 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Brian Robinson Jr. #15 and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Jalon Walker #11 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa #1 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III #3 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson #7 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London #5 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Zachariah Branch #17 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. #8 during practice at Atlanta Falcons Training Facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Photo by Taylor McLaughlin/Atlanta Falcons)
One technique Atlanta's quarterbacks are busy practicing is dropping back from under center. Under the watchful eye of quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, Falcons passers spend the early portions of practice taking emphasized steps over bags before planting and throwing into a net.
For a player like Penix, who had one dropback from under center in 2025, according to Next Gen Stats, these are important reps. The time spent now should help him become more comfortable once training camp rolls around and the intensity picks up.
"That's what we start off with every day, just getting away from the center," Penix said. "We don't want to get no toes stepped on. That's the biggest thing, just getting away from the center on your drop."
Players aren't the only ones spending this time learning. Offensive and defensive coaches use each offseason to learn from their counterparts around the league and reassess their own schemes.
If there's a concept that could naturally fit into a team's identity, the summer offers opportunity to test it out before the stakes are high. Likewise, coaches have the time to flex their creativity and develop new ways to attack or defend against what they saw from the previous season.
"Everything in football is trends, right? Like things come in and come out pretty cyclically throughout time, and you want to be on the forefront of that," offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "You want to have some foresight on where things might be going or where things might be transitioning into."
All of this work is done to ensure the installation process is comprised of information that will lead to success in the regular season. From setting a standard and culture in the locker room to providing answers to a test that is months away, the work done in the dog days of summer is imperative, even if it's unglamorous.
The Falcons got a two-week head start on their installation period, and the groundwork is well underway.
"There's a lot of buy-in amongst the players and the staff," Rees said. "Really pleased with that. Our focus really offseason-wise is like fundamentals, technique, mastering the offensive system, and every day we're with the guys we feel improvements where we're asking them to. And there's always going to be things to clean up, but that's why we're here right now and [I'm] looking forward to the rest of it."
