FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Tuesday he doesn't want his team to fight in practice. On Sunday, the first fights of training camp broke out.
Things initially heated up during the first-team offense's third series of 11-on-11 work. Running back Tyler Allgeier took the ball on the first play. All was good. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. then completed a pass to wide receiver Drake London. Back along the line of scrimmage, though, things were apparently not good this time.
Rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. and center Ryan Neuzil got into it, which prompted others to get involved. Primarily, veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd came to Pearce's defense, while left guard Matthew Bergeron jumped in to help Neuzil.
Morris, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford broke it up.
"We're trying to develop a culture, a style of play, for sure," Ulbrich said. "Part of that is the violence in which we play – aggression, urgency and all that. Today, at times, it went a little too far. We got to learn how to manage that. You're going to get agitated, especially when you're playing really good defense, the offense is going to get very agitated. So, you got to anticipate punches being thrown, things being sad, people being pushed. In those moments, you got to thrive, not retaliate. It's a good lesson to be learned today."
On the very next play, another completion to London, a second swarm happened in a very similar manner. Pearce and right tackle Kaleb McGary got tangled up, and Floyd and Bergeron swooped in again, among others.
As soon as this period ended, Morris pulled the whole team together at midfield, presumably to settle everyone down before the "mamba" period in which the first-team offense and defense went up against each other rather than splitting first vs. second.
There was one more heated moment during that following period, but it did not escalate.
"I think celebrating the guys that take it right there and push it as far as that violence and urgency and intensity, but don't go past the line," Ulbrich said. "Don't throw the punch. Don't retaliate. The more we can take it there and not retaliate and celebrate it, I think that's when you create that style of play."
Open practice count: 3 of 11 | See all dates
Most notable player: Pearce. The first-round draft pick seemed to really be giving it his all Sunday, whether that be during pass rush or coverage. He was in the backfield. He batted down a pass. His involvement in the multiple skirmishes proved he wasn't holding back on his teammates. Oh, he also was involved on special teams with kickoff coverage.
Say what now: "I laugh only because when it happened, I told the DBs, 'As long as y'all don't jump in, y'all good. We'll spare y'all. Just don't jump in.' Other than that, we let the big boys tussle it out," said wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III on not getting involved in the fights.
Song of the day: Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne (1980). RIP, Osbourne. The singer died Tuesday at 76 years old.
Roll call: Defensive lineman Zach Harrison and edge rusher Jalon Walker were missing for the majority of practice but were along the sideline during late 11-on-11 work. They did not participate.
General observations:
-- Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was in attendance with his two sons, Marshall and Johnny.
-- Kicking battle: For the first time this training camp, there was live field-goal practice on the main field. Younghoe Koo made four of his five attempts (good from 37, 40, 47 and 53 yards out; miss from 47 yards). Lenny Krieg made all five of his attempts (good from 33, 37, 47, 50 and 55 yards out).
-- Quarterback stats: During 11-on-11 work, Penix completed 13 of his 16 passes. Kirk Cousins hit six of his 11. Easton Stick was 2-of-2.
-- Receiver redemption: After a rough Saturday, London caught all three of the passes Penix threw his way Sunday. Two of them were on those back-to-back plays with fights. When he caught the second pass, which was a deep shot, London punted the ball out of excitement, only to turn around and see attention drawn elsewhere. His third and final catch, though, was a 10-yard touchdown against the first-team defense during red-zone work.
-- Notable moments: Cornerback Dontae Manning broke up an end-zone pass from Penix to wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge. Safety Jessie Bates III did so between Cousins and tight end Joshua Simon. Cornerback Mike Hughes, on the last play of the day, forced an incompletion from Cousins to wide receiver Nick Nash.
-- Names to watch: Carlos Washington Jr. is building a strong case for himself as the Falcons' third running back. Teagan Quitoriano is doing the same at tight end.
What's next: The Falcons hold their fourth open practice Tuesday at IBM Performance Field.
Countdown to kickoff: There are 42 days until the Falcons' Week 1 opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 7 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | See full schedule
