Falcons Rookie Minicamp Day Two Reactions
By John Buhler

I though we’d start today off on a good note after how yesterday fell apart for our city’s teams. The best part about spring football practices is that nobody loses. Except for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Get well soon, Dante Fowler, Jr. Yesterday Coach Quinn, DT Grady Jarrett, and WR Justin Hardy met with the media after Day Two of the Atlanta Falcons Rookie Minicamp.
Grady Jarrett felt like he performed better in the second day of the rookie minicamp as he is now aware of the tempo Coach Quinn wants to consistently play at. Jarrett likes that he and his Clemson teammate Vic Beasley get to begin their professional careers together with the Atlanta Falcons being that they are both Georgia natives. He’s not overly concerned about being drafted in the fifth round or being labeled as the steal of the draft. Grady told the media that everyone came out of the fire safely that destroyed his home in Conyers, GA during the 2015 NFL Draft.
“He demands the best and he’s getting it out of us every day.” – Falcons DT Grady Jarrett on DL Coach Bryan Cox
His eagerness to work with DL Coach Bryan Cox was my key takeaway from his interview. If he is willing to learn from Cox’s in-your-face coaching style, I can see Grady Jarrett becoming a great interior pass rusher for the Atlanta Falcons. While you typically see most of the pass rush coming from the edge, if Jarrett can get penetration inside that can definitely add an interesting element to how the Falcons front seven gets after opposing quarterbacks.
Coach Quinn said the rookies had great recall from day one and the team was able to do a bit of installation in day two of their minicamp. He thought that defensively the effort was better in day two and that he likes how everyone is embracing the challenges of playing special teams. This is a crucial element that rookies have to understand. Taking special teams seriously can result in roster spots and more playing time. Maybe outside of Vic Beasley, no one is above special teams as a rookie.
Quinn also likes having a ‘developmental staff’ full of great teachers. He mentioned LB’s Coach Jeff Ulbrich and OL Coach Chris Morgan in particular. Quinn is all about finding out what each player does best and how to reach him in the classroom to make him the best player that he can possibly become.
Quinn mentioned that rookie DB Terrell Floyd who suffered from dehydration in day one of the rookie minicamp did rejoin the team for the latter part of yesterday’s practice. Floyd will be inactive in the third and final day of the Atlanta Falcons Rookie Minicamp and will get started on his offseason program on Monday. His limited participation in the minicamp is strictly precautionary.
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Justin Hardy believes that his route running, his hands, and his ability to run block are going to translate to the NFL. He is eager to learn as much as possible from Falcons Pro Bowl WRs Julio Jones and Roddy White. Hardy can’t wait to learn from WRs Coach Terry Robiskie, as he is one of the best in the business.
He talked fast about playing fast. I feel that he’s the most nervous of the 2015 Atlanta Falcons draft class. I think it’s because he expects to contribute right away as the Falcons third receiver, jumping Leonard Hankerson and Devin Hester on the depth chart. While he might be a little ahead of himself, I’d love to see him compete for the role of Falcons primary slot receiver. Hardy did lead the FBS in receptions his senior season at East Carolina.
Let’s hope that the final day of the Atlanta Falcons Rookie Minicamp goes off without any hitch.