Falcons Training Camp: Recapping Desmond Ridder's First Day in Pads
FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Atlanta Falcons donned shoulder pads for the first time in training camp on Monday, meaning a return to normalcy at the IBM Performance Center.
After a strong showing on Saturday, quarterback Desmond Ridder had a solid albeit unspectacular day, hitting a majority of his passes, many of which came on underneath concepts. It was an efficient, turnover-free day, but Atlanta's still seeking some added explosiveness from its aerial attack.
Backup signal caller Taylor Heinicke had a good day, connecting with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside for a nice gain over the middle and showing a nuanced feel for his progressions. Arcega-Whiteside has enjoyed a solid summer and had another good day Monday.
Bijan Robinson continued to be a primary talking point, highlighted by an impressive stop-and-start route against linebacker Kaden Elliss in one-on-ones. Robinson also broke off a big run up the middle and showed the elusiveness and athleticism that has drawn praise thus far.
After practice, Robinson noted that he's been watching film on Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams, attempting to improve his release package and gain a greater understanding of the intricacies of the receiver position. He did, however, stress that he views himself as a running back who can do a lot of different things, as opposed to blending the lines of being a receiver.
There were two particularly impressive catches on the day, the first coming from Drake London, who went over the top of rookie cornerback Clark Phillips III for a touchdown before punting the ball into the stands as his teammates ran over, emphatically capping off one-on-ones.
The second came during the 11-on-11 portion, when receiver Slade Bolden fought through contact from defensive backs Cornell Armstrong and DeMarcco Hellams to make a diving catch down the sideline, hauling in a well-placed ball from Logan Woodside. It was roughly a 20-yard gain, one of the longer plays on the day for Atlanta's offense.
Monday marked the first time tight end Kyle Pitts has worn pads since suffering a knee injury in Week 11 and he looked comfortable, especially during a one-on-one rep against safety Jaylinn Hawkins in which he gained multiple yards of separation but couldn't make the grab on a ball thrown behind him.
It was another good showing for receiver Mack Hollins, who continues to assert himself as a legitimate weapon on Atlanta's offense, which is particularly important when factoring in his already-renowned special teams ability. Hollins has been a clear early winner from camp.
Apart from a few runs from Robinson, Atlanta's running game was largely limited, with the defensive line largely getting the better of the offensive line. Interior offensive lineman Ryan Neuzil had a strong rep in the one-on-ones, but the pass rush appeared to be too much to handle today.
Rookie left guard Matthew Bergeron noted he was heavily bull-rushed by veteran defensive tackle David Onyemata, which he called his "welcome to the NFL" moment, but handled the rest of his business well.
Reserve offensive lineman Kyle Hinton impressed with his movement skills and proved to be an effective lead blocker on screens. He's primarily worked with the second and third teams during camp.
Monday was running back Godwin Igwebuike's first day as a Falcon; he wore No. 42, donned last by fellow ballcarrier Caleb Huntley, who was waived last week. Falcons coach Arthur Smith praised Igwebuike's unique return background as a key aspect of the acquisition.
The Falcons will return to the practice field Tuesday at IBM Performance Center, officially turning the calendar to August in advance of the preseason opener on Aug. 11.
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