Falcons OTAs, Minicamp Rundown: 5 Thoughts from Atlanta's Summer Practices

The Atlanta Falcons wrapped up a three-day session of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, fresh after concluding OTAs, officially turning the page on all pre-training camp activities.

Pads have yet to be put on, but each of Atlanta's new additions have hit the practice field and been around the locker room as the team continues to develop chemistry.

So, what are the biggest headlines from the Falcons' early summer practices and press conferences? Here are five ...

Desmond Ridder May Have Outside Doubters - But None Inside Falcons Locker Room

All eyes were on Desmond Ridder as he entered his first handful of offseason workouts as Atlanta's starting signal caller, and the early returns were largely promising.

Sure, there were a few missed throws that raised some eyebrows, but Falcons coach Arthur Smith would be - and was - the first to point the ludicrous nature of highlights (or lowlights) at this time of year.

Instead, the focus shifted to leadership, where Ridder drew praise from seemingly everyone who stepped in front of a microphone. Smith added that he was impressed with Ridder's instincts for finding open targets, something that was on display during his college career at Cincinnati and again this spring.

For more on Ridder's leadership - with anecdotes from teammates, coaches and executives - click HERE.

Ultimately, the verdict on whether Ridder's taken the second-year jump won't fully be known until the regular season, let alone training camp and the preseason, but he handled his business during the spring and has unwavering support inside the Falcons' locker room.

"He's been coming in here and working his butt off and just progressing each and every day, always looking to improve," tight end Jonnu Smith said. "I've got nothing but good things to say about Desmond - great teammate, great guy, great player."

Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson Excited - Not Deterred - by Bijan Robinson Pick

The Falcons had the league's No. 3 rushing offense last year at just under 160 yards per game, and the 2022 fifth-round pick Tyler Allgeier broke the franchise's rookie rushing record with 1,035 yards ... and yet, Atlanta selected Bijan Robinson with its first-round selection this spring.

Robinson joins a productive backfield featuring Allgeier and veteran offensive weapon Cordarrelle Patterson, who was amongst the league leaders in rushing yards through three weeks in a bigger role last season before suffering a knee injury and resorting to more of a complementary role down the stretch.

The rest of Atlanta's running backs room consists of Caleb Huntley, who's poised to recover from his Achilles injury in time to be a full-go at training camp, Avery Williams, who suffered a torn ACL a few weeks ago and will be out for the season, and a group of past or present undrafted free agents, headlined by Carlos Washington Jr., a standout during camp.

Nonetheless, the top of the Falcons' depth chart at running back was just fine - but Robinson brings a different level of talent while also providing the ability to play slot receiver, and he's even seen some time as a return specialist following Williams' injury.

Better yet, neither Allgeier nor Patterson took the Falcons' decision to draft Robinson as a slight and instead are optimistic about the upside he brings to the offense.

"Honestly, it's good - he's a great player," Patterson said. "I've been watching practice every day, just seeing him (and) the things he's doing out there, him and Tyler, it's great. It's going to be a fun year. I'm glad we got him - he just brings that much to this offense. We wouldn't have drafted him if we didn't need him at this position. He's going to be great for us."

Added Allgeier: "Not only is he a good player on the field, but having a great relationship off the field is always great, and I think we've bonded pretty well. So, I think it's been good."

Dee Alford Stakes His Claim for Starting Nickel Job

The Falcons watched as Isaiah Oliver, last year's starter at nickel corner, signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency this year, and responded by signing former first-round corner Mike Hughes, who spent 2022 with the Detroit Lions, seemingly to fill his void.

But behind the scenes, Oliver passed the torch to Dee Alford, who rose from CFL impact player to Falcons training camp and preseason standout and eventual contributor in the secondary last season.

And so far, Alford has delivered. He's up six pounds from last year, standing 5-11, 181 pounds, saw the majority of first-team reps at nickel during OTAs and minicamp, and has been involved with the returners on special teams.

With Hughes and fourth-round rookie Clark Phillips III in the mix, Alford's path to the starting nickel role is far from secured ... but he's positioned himself nicely entering training camp and has stood out to Smith with his performance both on and off the field.

"Very pleased with the spring Dee's had," Smith said. "He's very consistent in his habits and all he does is just work - and he works and he works and he works and he gets better every day.

"He's really done a nice job."

Free Agency Class Already Delivering Leadership

The Falcons spent considerable capital on improving their defense this spring, signing a number of players headlined by safety Jessie Bates III, defensive end Calais Campbell, defensive tackle David Onyemata, inside linebacker Kaden Elliss and outside linebacker Bud Dupree.

Like with Ridder, it's relatively difficult to judge on-field impact, especially with the front-seven players, but it's been impossible to ignore the buzz generated by the new additions for the leadership and locker room presence.

Let's start with Bates - he's been around team facilities in Flowery Branch as much as anyone since signing in March, and Jeff Okudah, a fellow newcomer in the secondary, has already praised his voice and vision on the back end.

Campbell's well-established as a community staple around the league, having won Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2019, and is already doing the same in Atlanta, hosting an event on Friday in which he helped single moms.

As for the former New Orleans Saints duo of Onyemata and Elliss, the former has been hailed for his toughness and work habits while the latter has helped second-year linebacker Troy Andersen learn new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen's scheme, which he played in with the Saints last year.

Dupree is another who's been praised by Smith in regard to his competitiveness and physicality, and his personal flavor of leadership, both by voice and example, provides another layer to Atlanta's locker room.

Lastly, on the topic of defensive newcomers, let's shift to the coaching staff, where Nielsen has been given lofty praise from a number of his new players; defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said he's receiving "some of the best coaching instruction" he's ever had, while others like Okudah and Campbell have raved about his competitiveness, effort, intensity and football intelligence.

By all accounts, Atlanta's active offseason on the defensive side has created positive returns in the early goings ... but the real test will come when pads come on later this summer and into the fall.

Injury Updates

The Falcons were without four players as minicamp ended - Williams, Huntley, tight end Kyle Pitts and defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.

Williams isn't expected to play this year, while the belief is that Huntley should be ready for training camp. The same is true for Pitts, who suffered a torn MCL in Week 11.

Goldman is still working his way back into football shape after retiring last summer and unretiring this spring, but Smith is optimistic about where he's at and stressed that there's been a consistent line of communication.

Elsewhere, the Falcons welcomed defensive tackle Ta'Quon Graham back onto the practice field for minicamp after he worked his way into individual portions of OTAs. Graham, like Pitts, tore his MCL in Week 11 last year.

The Falcons will return to Flowery Branch for training camp in late July, with the first open practice session slated for July 27.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

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