Falcons Rookie Minicamp: News and Notes, 5/9/15

Rookie minicamp is not about installing scheme or helping young players adjust to the Atlanta Falcons in particular. It's about helping rookies adapt to the speed of the NFL and refine their technique. It also allows the coaching staff to get a feel for each player's skill set and how they might fit with the Falcons.

The coaching staff, from Dan Quinn to every assistant, seems to be proactively engaging with players. Whether they're offering one-on-one instruction, conducting drills, or just tossing a ball around with a player, they're always connecting, as Quinn would say.

Quinn certainly sets the tone for that. As players were running drills, an undrafted free agent patted Quinn on the shoulder as Quinn walked by. It stood out that a rookie who wasn't even drafted would feel comfortable enough to interact with a head coach in such a way. When Quinn talks about the importance of connecting with players, he means it, and it applies to every guy on the field.

Quinn's playlist for today's practice was just as eclectic as the day before, with M.I.A.'s Paper Planes, LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem, Fall Out Boy's Sugar We're Goin' Down, Tone Loc's Wild Thing and Guns 'n' Roses' Welcome to the Jungle all featured today.

The Falcons did add one more player to the rookie minicamp roster. Tim Wynn, an offensive lineman out of Georgia State University, is on the field today. Safety Terrell Floyd out of the University of Louisville, who left practice yesterday in an ambulance after apparently becoming dehydrated and overheated, was not on the field at the beginning of practice today. Dan Quinn said after practice that Floyd joined the team later, but was held out of practice as a precaution. They will plan to incorporate him into team activities on Monday.

The team did a few things differently today. Players were working on angles and technique for special teams with giant orange balls, which was something new. Bryan Cox was working with his defensive tackles on not being drawn offsides. This involved a lot of hilarious yelling from Cox, and was highly entertaining.

It's difficult to get a sense of how individual players are performing given the very basic nature of the instruction and activities at rookie minicamp, but it's evident that everyone is working hard. They all seem to be trying to take full advantage of this opportunity.

Your thoughts and questions about rookie minicamp?