Falcons Minicamp: Everything is Different

You've heard a lot about Dan Quinn and the energy he brings to the Falcons' facility in Flowery Branch. You've seen Quinn's pressers where he throws around phrases like "fast and physical" and often refers to himself as being "fired up" about any given situation. Today's minicamp was the media's first opportunity to see how Quinn's boundless energy and intense personality would impact the team on the practice field.

If you're hoping for in depth analysis of how players seem to be fitting into the new schemes and who looks most ready to compete for a starting role, you're going to be disappointed. One thing that won't be changing from the previous area is the restriction of the portion of practice that is open to the media to just 30 minutes. We're viewing practice from a different angle, though, stationed now in the end zones as opposed to between practice fields.

One thing that was extremely noticeable from the start of practice was the level of intensity throughout the first part of practice. Players were expected to go full speed through every drill. Some of the drills the players were working through early were drills I recognized from my high school track practices; they're designed to target the development of fast twitch muscles, the ones that help with quick, explosive movement. The transition to becoming a fast and physical football team is certainly already in the works.

Attendance is voluntary at minicamp, but the turnout was great. There were one or two guys I didn't see, and it's possible I missed them. If turnout isn't 100%, it is very, very close. That's ideal for a team that has a lot to learn with new schemes and a lot of adjusting to do with a mostly new coaching staff.

Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Desmond Trufant and Dan Quinn all spoke to the media after practice, and they all seemed very pleased with a productive first day.

Your thoughts on the news coming out of minicamp so far?