The Atlanta Falcons were far too streaky and inconsistent under first-year head coach Dan Quinn last year. After opening the season on a five game winning streak, the team dropped seven of its next eight games. Atlanta finished the year a pedestrian 8-8 and franchise quarterback Matt Ryan finished with his lowest passer rating (89.0) since 2009.
Ryan and Co. are trying to make sure that doesn't happen again.
The quarterback, along with RB Devonta Freeman, WR Julio Jones, newcomer Mohamed Sanu and fellow pass-catchers Justin Hardy, Nick Williams, Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo all gathered together at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for workout sessions yesterday. Cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford were also present, along with other defensive backs.
The group enjoyed a basic warm-up session together, reportedly catching passes, working out and re-acclimating themselves to football activities after several months off. Inclement weather forced them to cut the workout short, but the group is expected to get together today and Thursday.
Following the Falcons' disappointing season this past year, the team could use these extra workouts. Atlanta's offense finished the 2015 season ranked just No. 21 in points per game (21.2), No. 18 in rushing yards per game (100.7) and No. 23 in passing touchdowns (21). Ryan threw 16 interceptions and lost five fumbles last season, but he believes these extra workouts can help with Atlanta's current youth movement.
"I think that's something that we need to do," Ryan said. "For a long time, we have been a veteran team at those positions, whether it be at the tight end spot with Tony Gonzalez or wide receivers where we had veteran guys for a long time. I think we're young. We're young across the board.
"I think extra time put in together, whether it be here in Atlanta - so many guys are here in the offseason, which is huge for us - or whether it's getting together somewhere else and spending some time together and working together and trying to iron out some of the details and be a little bit more refined than we were this past season, I think that's a really good idea."
Atlanta's official offseason program will begin on April 18.
Follow Brandon Katz on Twitter at @Great_Katzby
