Atlanta Falcons players and coaches speak following practice at AT&T Training Camp

Uh Brian, first what's it what's it been like these first few days of practice getting to know all your teammates, getting to know this running back? >> Oh, it's been great. You know, um you know, I always love, you know, just combining our group back together and just coming out here and grinding and getting back to work. So, um you know, the last couple days been pretty fun for me. >> What's it been like to work with Michael Petri? >> It's been great. You know, he's very, you know, high energetic guy. You know, he's been great for us. Um he's a great teacher. >> You know, I love just being able to ask him questions. So he's, you know, open to just continue to teach us. >> I'm a I'm I'm a great learner. You know, I love to learn, you know, so I got questions all day long and he don't have a problem with just making sure that he's continually like, you know, answering the questions that I have. So I appreciate Peter. >> He did say you're a student of the game. What can this change of scenery do for you in your career? Uh, I think it can really elevate me and um, my game, you know, not only with, you know, just coming being so close to home, but, you know, being around guys like Petri and B, you know, um, you know, I think they they really help keep me motivated and actually motivate me more than I was when I got here. So, um, you know, I think it's just going to um, help me elevate. >> Okay, you talked about Bejan. What's it like being around him? >> Uh, great guy, you know, um, even better guy, you know, than he is a no football player. So, um, you know, I appreciate, you know, how he comes to work every day and know uh know our plan to compliment each other and, um, you know, he's he want to win, you know, and I love being around winners. >> How do you think you can compliment Bejon in this offense? >> Uh, just not not letting anything fall off, you know, from the time he comes out of the game, you know, no, there's no fall off, you know, when I when I step on the field, u same standard, you know, I expect to make the same amount of plays, you know, you know, be just as explo as as explosive. >> Yeah. So, you know, I don't really have expect to have any type of fall off. You know, whenever he comes out the game, you know, same standard. >> What have you learned about him? Was it nice to have him out on the field today? >> Yeah, it was definitely nice to have him, you know, uh for a little while that we did have him, you know, with his son cooking like the way it is, you know, so definitely a blessing to have him back. Um, you know, always good to have, you know, all of our guys out on the field and, you know, you know, putting in the work and competing because, you know, at the end of the day, we got to win or lose together. So, um, you know, it's good having him back out there working. I know what happened with Jaylen. It's part of it, but how uh bad a note was that to end the day? >> Um, you know, obviously it's very unfortunate. We don't want to end a day like that. Um, but at the end, you know, this part of the game, you know, this football, it happens. And, um, you know, if it's 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, we got to go win a football game. You know, we going we going to keep him in our prayers and, you know, um, you know, show him the love that we, you know, he deserves, but we got to, you [clears throat] know, be professionals and stay locked in on the task at hand. and we got to go win a football game right now. >> You have a long history with Tua. >> What's it like being back with him on a team? >> No, it's been great. You know, just re reuniting with one of my um really close um college friends and um you know, we we were really good boys back in school, so you know, be able to meet back up at this level, you know, it's been fun. It's been exciting. We locker mates as well, so um you know, we we extremely familiar with each other, so it's like it's it's been just like home for real. >> What do you feel like is underrated about the way that he approaches the quarterback position? Uh what's underrated about it is um he's actually very very studious. He's smart and he he he understands the game very well, you know. So um not only is he's a phenomenal, you know, person, phenomenal athlete, you know, he uh he puts time into his craft and um he wants to get better. >> What's it been like interacting with coach Defansky, learning this offense under Tommy Reese as well? >> Uh it's been great. You know, it's been interesting. you know, uh, you know, they've been doing a great job of just, you know, you know, coaching us up on all the details cuz at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter about the plays. You got to hone in on the details that that it takes to make the plays work. So, um, I appreciate, you know, how, you know, they've been coaching us, you know, so far. >> What was it like being around Van while he was kind of holding in? I'm sure you've been around holding his hold outs in your career. I mean, how different was what he did? >> I mean, like he's such a friendly guy. >> Yeah, it's it's business. It's part of, you know, you know, you you just got to let them, you know, handle handle his business and, you know, he's a great guy. You know, he wants to be out there practicing. You know, he wants to be competing. Um, so, you know, I used to just tell him like, yo, like, you know, take your time, handle your business. Whenever your time come, he's going to come. You know, I know you want to be out there with us, but we going to hold it down until you come back. >> Could you tell he was kind of itchy to get back? >> Yeah, he was definitely anxious. [laughter] He was ready. He was ready, you know, >> as he should, as a competitor should. Any competitor is ready to get back out there. talk about this team going to a transition transition at quarterback position and the importance of the running game quarterback. >> No, obviously we you know we're trying to you know make that position stick and um you know you know you got to have players around you as well you know and um and our running game we expect to you know you know be tone setters you know so we got to be the ones that you know bring our quarterback along you know we got to be the unit that does that. So, um I expect our running back room to be, you know, one very strong units and we got to we got to pull that unit along with us. >> You talked about people talking about your size and athleticism and trying to be violent when you run. Is that something that you always want to put into your game when you're running it? >> You know, that's who I am. You know, uh big, fast, physical, you know, that, you know, uh I I know a lot of guys probably, you know, walk around here with my size, but I want to I want to play with my size. I want to actually use my size, my weight, and my speed, you know. >> Outside of being on the field in the film room, obviously, what has been the best part about being here in Atlanta, maybe outside of like the football aspect of it? >> Uh, this is close to home, you know, right from down the road in um Alabama. So, you know, I got a lot of family and friends that's like, you know, right right here in the mix. So, um it's been fun just, you know, kind of coming back home and u it feels like the home team again. And um I just been feeling that support, you know, from all of my people, you know, just kind of welcoming welcoming me back home. >> You and two are looking forward to that stadium again together. >> Of course, we um you know, we became champions in that stadium for the first time. So, um you know, the history is there, you know, uh we going to do it again. >> Can you go back to whenever that happened, that moment when you guys were champions? The game was insane obviously, but that was really one of your last memories in that building, >> right? Uh one of those that moment was one of the greatest moments of my life. Um, you know, Tul had just, you know, came in at halftime. Um, you know, he hadn't started a game that whole season. He had just got thrown into the fire, you know, in the national championship at halftime. He came in and, you know, he made play after play after play. And as soon as we thought it was over, he got sacked and it was second and 26. I'm like, "Oh, we going to lose to Natty." And he comes back and he no looks him and left arm throws a touchdown to win a game. So, I would never I would never forget that ever in my life. So, how's it been going for you out there in Mason? >> Um, you know, it's been fun, man. Just getting somewhere new and just kind of getting a fresh start. Um, being around one of my best friends and the teammate, Harold Perkins. Um, it's been fun, man. Just being around people that, you know, I feel like, um, really trusting me and trusting what I can do. Um, and yeah, it's been a great it's been a great transition and, you know, I've been having a great time. >> What did you see during the play where uh, Jaylen went down? Uh, you know, I was on the opposite side of the line, so I didn't really see too too much, man. But, um, my thoughts and my prayers go out to Jaylen. You know, I've had to endure, you know, my own um knee, whatever his knee, calf, whatever. Um, I've I've had to endure those type of injuries before, man. And you don't wish that on nobody. So, uh, you know, not knowing what happened, uh, you know, just prayers up to and sending him positivity. >> You obviously haven't been around Jaylen too too long, but you know enough about him. What What is he like as a player and a person in your opinion? Um, he a great dude. I actually just went to his house not too long ago. Um, probably like two days ago on an off day just to hang out with him, chill with him. Uh, you know, I'm a little older than him, which is not all, you know, it's not very much that I'm older than somebody. So, you know, when I could try to give him some knowledge or some game I always do, but that's like my brother. Um, you know, just being here. Um, after OTAAS, you know, I thanked all the guys about just taking me in and, you know, welcomed me with open arms. Um, and he was one of the guys that, you know, just kind of made the transition easier. Uh, and I I you're right. I I haven't known Jaylen for a long time, but I've always knew of him, you know, in his football industry, you kind of know um even going through high school and stuff like that, you kind of know guys um you know, different guys through the recruiting trail and everything coming through high school. So, but he's a great dude, man. Great dude. Even better person. Um great player. Um and yeah, >> what do you enjoy about the vision that this staff has for the defense this year? >> Um I just I just like playing hard-nosed football, man. just being able to get off the ball and, you know, let the guys up front make plays with, you know, their abilities and what they do best. Um, and just letting everybody else just kind of just cover and, you know, how Brick says it, just be just be the hammer, not the nail. And, you know, uh, take the fight to people and not let the people take the fight to us. Um, and just attack and play physical, play fast. Um, and not too much thinking. You know, my coach always say, if you think, you stink. [laughter] You played with Harold in 22 and 23. Is that correct? >> Um, one, what do you remember about playing with him? And two, what do you think he can prove out here this year as a rookie? >> Um, you know, I think he has everything to prove. Um, you know, being picked in the sixth round, uh, knowing what type of caliber player he is, um, you know, I don't think nobody ever expected that. And, uh, I don't think he really got to prove nothing to nobody but himself. You know, I feel like it's a battle within itself. Um, and, you know, I think he going to do great this year, man. I think he going to prove a lot of people right. Um cuz I don't think nobody doubting him in a sense. But you know, everybody going to always have something to say. But I mean, if he keep his head down, it'll be good for him to show. >> When you left in 23, he he was viewed as a really elite guy at the time. I mean, how how similar is he now? Does he still look kind of he was then? >> I mean, he he been the same exact guy, you know, since the beginning, since I met him. Um it ain't, >> you know, football is football, man. So, I mean, what he did back then, he can still do now is just where he where he was at on the football field of something else. But, you know, he going to do I I have all hopes in the world and all the praise in the world and I have I'm excited to see what he does this year for sure. >> This has been kind of a >> What kind of goals and roles uh do you envision for yourself entering camp? >> Uh, man, really, I wouldn't even say I had any real goals, man. I'm just trying to progress and get better each and every day. Um, I know if I maximize my ability and um the sky's is the limit. So, I'm just trying to get better each and every day, man, and put on for the organization, put on for myself, put on for my family. >> Change of scenery, I'm sure, has been a little bit of a breath of fresh air for you. How you talked about the transition being smooth and everything like that, but just the fact that you get a different opportunity with a new team. How refreshing has that been? >> Um, it's been very refreshing. Um, you know, my first interview when I got here, I I just said, you know, it's good to be to not feel tolerated, but to be feel celebrated. Um, and you know, coming from LSU, coming into the league, um, you know, just coming through coming up through high school and everything like that, I've never really been one to, um, you know, not have people on my side or, you know, deal with something, you know, that I not necessarily could control. Um, so coming here, you know, it's just kind of a comfortability thing like, you know, like I said, um, they believe in me. Um, so it's easier to do your job when you know that somebody believes in you, somebody has your best interest at heart. Um, so I mean it's been, like I said, the transition's been going good and you know, I can't wait for the season. >> You got a chip on your shoulder a little bit? >> I definitely do. Um, you know, last year wasn't definitely not my best ball. Um, for a lot of reasons. Not to name not one of them, but you know, just, you know, I'm just getting back into it. I'm ready. I'm ready to go. Uh, this off season put the most work in I ever have in my life. Um, you know, never I never really since I've been in the league, I never really had a plan in the offseason, but you know, talking to my former vets and everything like that, I kind of put together a plan. kind of stuck to the plan and uh it's been going good. So, I'm excited. >> How how comfortable are you? How does that feel, I guess, for you early on? >> I feel I feel the same every day. I'm just taking it day by day on trying to build trust with my teammate and my coaches. >> I think Devon mentioned yesterday that you're just way ahead of where he thought you'd be now. I mean, do you feel like you're ahead of kind of the scheme, the playbook? Do you feel like you're kind of on top of it all? >> I'm just my feet at every day, bro. I'm just trying to do good for myself and my teammates and my coaches. I'm just trying to work as hard as I could to get them to trust me. Do >> you have an idea of what your role might end up kind of ultimately >> picking I believe it's going to be on ball be off ball. Like where do you think you'll kind of play a lot this year? >> We got to wait. We going to see. >> We going to see. >> Can you describe kind of the end of of that practice and and what the feeling was like as everyone kind of saw Jaylen Walker there? >> Um to be honest, I didn't really see uh the whole situation. and um it was kind of in the moment in the play, but um my prayers and my thoughts go out to him. I hope he good. >> What have you enjoyed about working with this defense so far? >> Everybody hardworking. Uh we all want to be great, not just as a defense, but as a team, as a coaching staff, and um every day we building our future, creating our future. So, that's what we doing. >> You've been getting to know Brick a little bit. What is it like to learn from someone like that who has such a clear vision for what this defense wants to accomplish? Uh, strong strong person, strong mentally. Um, and I'm just learning every day, every every day from from and about him. >> Kendall said you're helping him catch him up after he missed a lot of OTAAS. What's your relationship like with him? >> Uh, KD, that's my dog. >> And uh, I be helping him, but he be helping me too. We be helping each other. Don't let him don't let him g me up like that. [laughter] What's your what's been your biggest adjustment to I know you haven't really played in the game yet to the NFL versus what you did in college. >> One thing >> I don't really feel like it's no big adjustment. I've been doing this my whole life. I've been balling my whole life. So I don't really feel like it's a big adjustment. Um it's just football to me. >> Coach Rude said you're a little bit more polished as a pass rusher than a lot of the rookies he gets. I'm assuming that's because that's kind of your background from LSU, right? I mean, you you know, that's sort of your that was your home to begin with. >> I got to thank God for that. I ain't going to lie. That's just something that God gave me. I'm just natural with it. I can't even explain it. Um it's something I could just do. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. God giving. >> What do you want to prove to everyone in this training camp? >> I don't want to prove nothing. I'm proving everything to myself. I don't got nothing to prove to nobody. I know I know [snorts] what I could do. So, I'm just really proving everything to myself. >> And what can you do? whatever I put my mind to. >> You got some outside linebacker snaps in you still? I mean, is that is that still, you know, enough of your nature? You feel like you could scoot out there if you need? >> Oh, most definitely. If need be. Yeah, most definitely. >> Yeah. No, I think it's huge for uh the Falcons, you know, being able to have all our guys out there um and be able to continue putting this thing together as an offense and as a football team is huge. >> Are you excited to kind of not have to think about it and talk about it and now that it's done? Yeah, I think it's there's peace that comes with that, right? Because it's just something else that can be a distraction. So now our focus can just be on, okay, hey, let's get better today. Focus on what the install is and how we can improve watching the film. >> You've met Coach Bejon for a couple years now. What part of his game do you feel like has evolved the most? >> Um, it's a great question. I think, um, obviously all aspects of his game has evolved, but I think like him and I talked about when we drafted him, there was going to be a point where the game slowed down for him. And I think the fact that the game slowed down, obviously he's a natural runner with the ball in his hands, but I think as a in the pass game, specifically pass protection, um he he does that at a really high level. Takes a lot of pride in it and ultimately that protects the quarterback, which gives us a better opportunity to win. So I think that part of his game has evolved the most. >> Cool stuff. Coach, how is his uh acclamation program? How will that look like here over the next week as y'all ramp him back up into things? >> Yeah. Uh Jake and Griffin, those guys, they have a great plan put in place for him and they'll let me know what we can do and what we can't do. And so I'll just follow the rules and follow the protocol and when we can use them, he'll be out there and when we can't, he'll be getting his work in. >> Was that the least contentious hold in ever? Just [laughter] out there every day smiling, you know, cheering up his teammates, encouraging people. >> It's my only hold in I've ever been a part of. So I guess to answer your question, yes. [laughter] >> Was he aggravating to you? He looked like he was about to come out of his skin attached to your hip. you want to tell him to go away at? >> No, I think you know the biggest thing is just he's a guy that loves football. He loves football. He loves his teammates and I think the biggest thing is the fact that he's back out there with his teammates. Um the energy, the enthusiasm that he brings um is infectious. And so ultimately again that just helps us continue to be a better football team. >> We know that Bejian is a great leader and he's evolving in that aspect as well. But what's he like in a meeting room? >> Very intentional. Um, you know, he again his his football mind is is better than most people understand. And so there's very in-depth conversations about pass protection, the run game, kind of what he sees as a runner, what I see as a coach, and then we just put that all together um in order to put him and put us in the best position as a football team. >> Talk about the importance of him and and him being back on the field as you look to settle in a new person at quarterback position. Yeah, I think the biggest thing is just being able to have um the 11 guys out there continuing to play and get in uh in sync with each other, right? And so be it V-Rod, TG, Bjan, whoever's out there, we need to be able to have those guys out there, be able to play at full speed and be able to play and be on the same page in order to give ourselves the best chance to be the offense we want to be. >> Talk about B Rob really quickly because we haven't asked you a ton about him. What's his presence been like and what has he been doing so far in camp that you're impressed with? >> He's a big human. He he really is. You don't understand how big he is until you see him. Puts those pads on. Um and he he's another one, man. Just a student of the game, great teammate, uh brings great enthusiasm every day, loves to compete. Um but at the same time loves being coached and wants to be coached hard. And so as a coach, you love that. And I think that's really the entire room. You know, it's a good bunch of guys that work really, really well together. And I think obviously having um Ryan and Bjon out there, it's been really really good getting them out there together because I think because they're naturally competitors, they're going to bring the best out of each other. >> What kind of role do you see for B- Rob going forward? >> I think it's too early to talk about roles. I think the most important thing is he's going to have a role to help this football team win. You know, I think as we this thing keeps evolving and coming together, all those things will figure itself out. But I've been very very happy and impressed with how he's learning the playbook. um his urgency to get better every single day and then most importantly the leadership role that he's kind of embraced um being in the room. >> How good of a compliment is he for for just physically and and their styles of build? >> I think he has a chance to be a really good uh complimentary piece, but again I think it's hard to say until we actually get out there and we're playing real football with pads on and some of those things. So right now I think it looks really good in you know t-shirts and shorts and those things cuz that's the only time we've seen those two together. But I think once we get in there and we see, you know, see these guys playing pads together, um I think we'll see a lot more of his physical [music] presence of, you know, being a 6'2, 230 lb one man. >> Uh yeah, Coach Goodson, how's he coming along? Uh trying to get looked really good on the screen out there in shorts today. >> Yeah. No, TG looks good. Again, he's another one that's come in um veteran, fifth year in the league, so he's got the right mindset, extremely competitive guy, and um takes a lot of pride in his in his craft. And so we've been very very happy with him and everything that he's done up to this point. >> How's Cash been? Thank you. >> Cash has been good. Yeah, Cash has been good. He's getting better every single day. And I think the biggest thing for any rookie is just continuing to get comfortable with um just being continuing to get comfortable with um the speed of the NFL game, right? Yeah. Georgia is high level football, but being in the NFL is a completely different thing. And so I think the more reps he gets, the more comfortable he'll continue to get. But I've been very happy with how he's learned everything up to this point. >> With Bjan, if you could, obviously he was an elite prospect, top 10 draft pick. You knew he'd be good. When he got here, how early on do you think you could tell that he was really unique and just how good he is? >> Yeah, [snorts] that's a loaded question. Um, I think when you take someone number eight, you're you have pretty good idea that you think they're going to be really good. um how good they're going to be I think is up to how much work they're willing to put in right to maximize the abilities that he's been given and when you look at Bjon he's a guy that works endlessly to maximize the talents and gifts that he's been given and so I think up to this point he's done everything that he's he's done everything he could do to get himself into this position but I also think there's a lot of room for him to continue to grow and so that's where our focus goes on now that he's back out here is like how can we continue to get better. How do we get better with our ball security, some run game things and those things? >> One more question right here. >> Who's your favorite daughter? >> I wouldn't say I have a favorite. I think uh my oldest is my favorite oldest and my youngest is my favorite youngest would be. Yeah. >> Thank you, [laughter] >> coach. I mean, highest paid running back in NFL history. Is it warranted? And two, how do you think he can handle the pressure of that label? >> Yeah. Um, I think that question is really it's one person's opinion, right? Like the fact is, yeah, okay, they say he's the highest paid running back ever. That's awesome for him. It's awesome for the Falcons cuz that means we have him for three more years, right? But is it warranted, not warranted? That's one person's opinion. I think the most important thing is like how do we maximize the things he can do to help the Falcons win? Because one person may say it's not, one person may say it is. Again, everyone has an opinion and you respect everyone's opinion. And I think the focus has to be on how do we maximize the things that he can do to help our football team win and then how does he help the other guys around him get better and elevate the guys around him. >> How much has his mind matured from 23 to now? Like is he asking harder questions? Like is has he reached a higher level questions that he's asking? Do you how much has he grown in that aspect do you think? >> Yeah. No, I think for anybody comes in, right, rookie year, second year, third year, now going in his fourth year, there's been constant evolution, right, and learning because he's learning what the NFL game is, right? He's first time he sees something is no longer the first time he sees it anymore, right? And so, like we talked about earlier, the game is continuing to slow down for him. So, he's able to anticipate certain things happening now within the run game and pass game because he's seen some of these things. And so yeah, I would say he asked a lot more, you know, we call like instead of 100 level questions, it's two or 300 level questions now because he's now a two or three 400 level player because of the amount of reps that he's had in this league up to this point. >> How does he elevate as a player? I mean, he led the league in scrimmage yards last year, I believe. Obviously now he's highly paid, extremely well compensated, welld deserved. I mean, how does he level up? Um, I think if you were to ask him, he'd say there's a lot of things he's got to get better at. And I would say the same, right? I think, um, when we watch the film, we don't spend too much time worrying about the good things. We'll watch, okay, what allowed this play to be good, but any runner is going to tell you a good run play happened because of the other 10 guys on the field that allowed that play to happen. And so for us as we watch it as runners, um we're looking at what are the plays that we didn't make and how do we make those plays because to me and to him those are missed opportunities for explosive plays or for plays that help our football team win. And so that was that would be the biggest thing is I would say how do we continue to be more efficient in the run game to allow ourselves not to miss some of those plays that are there. >> Last one I got for you. Um obviously been wide zone heavy here for a while. Maybe a little bit more gap concepts now. I mean how how much does that change how you have to coach or explain things? things like are you explaining more this year do you think in that regard? >> That's a good question. I'll say we're going to run the football. [laughter] We're going to run the football.