Kroy Biermann's recovery is ahead of schedule

Kroy Biermann is sure to play a big part in the Falcons' conversion to a 3-4 defense. He fits the mold of a pass rushing 3-4 OLB, and the Falcons have already committed themselves to his current contract.

But before he can contribute, Biermann needs to recover from the achilles injury that kept him sidelined last season. For what it's worth, it appears he's making good progress in that regard.

"Kroy has started his on the field work," Smith said. "We’re excited about his progress to this point. I don’t know if there’s anybody that’s worked harder than both of those guys. Mid-season and this offseason. Kroy and Julio have an opportunity to work during the season. They’ve been doing well. Kroy has been running on the field. When I say running, I mean he’s working on the field. So that’s a positive."

Biermann was one of six starters to go down in the Falcons' week 2 defeat of the St. Louis Rams. At the time, none of us knew what affect injuries would have on the Falcons in 2013. Biermann's loss was significant, as the Falcons consistently failed to generate any meaningful pass rush. Sure, he's no Pro Bowler, but Biermann's an important role player - the Falcons could have used him.

No matter how you assess his value, Biermann's undoubtedly a hard worker. It says something that he's ahead of schedule; it says he's not wasted a minute of his recovery. So good for him, and [fingers crossed] good for us.

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