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ESPN: Watch Tevin Coleman, Brooks Reed, Paul Worrilow in OTAs

A handy little guide to standout players from one of the team's beat reporters.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There are a great many things worth watching this week as the Falcons take to their practice fields for OTAs, but it helps to narrow down who you'll be keeping an eye on today, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Vaughn McClure at ESPN has a list of players and subplots to watch, and we'll highlight a few here that we just so happen to agree with. I like things I agree with.

  • Tevin Coleman, who "the team still firmly believes...has big-play ability." Coleman has a lot to clean up from an up-and-down rookie season, but we're big believers in the talent here at The Falcoholic (or at least I am), and I do think he'll wind up splitting carries more evenly with Devonta Freeman than a year ago, even if Freeman will dominate passing down work.
  • Brooks Reed, who McClure somewhat hilariously writes that the team is excited about, "for some reason." Reed has come in healthy and with a little less bulk, likely because the team projects him to rush the passer more in 2016 than he did in his lost 2015 season. With some coverage ability and a little pass rush skill, Reed can be used creatively while guys like Courtney Upshaw, Paul Worrilow, and the beefy guys up front worry more about the run. That assumes he's effective, of course.
  • Speaking of Worrilow, he'll be locked into a battle with rookie Deion Jones at middle linebacker. Jones should be considered the favorite to win with his speed and coverage ability, but McClure notes that even if he doesn't win the gig, he could carve out a role on third downs, where Worrilow has traditionally gone from steady starter to active liability due to limitations in coverage. This is our top camp battle to watch, and it begins here in OTAs.
Who will you have your eye on?