It’s hard to believe that Anthony Rush was ever a player looking for a place to land around this time last year.
In 2021 Rush signed for the start of the training camp at Tennessee. He was released at the end of September. When he got back into the open market, he got on the Falcons radar. Atlanta needed some bigger bodies in the defensive interior and brought Rush in.
Rush wasn’t promoted to the active roster until early November, but his presence – all 350 pounds – made an impression. Against the Saints in Week 9, Arthur Smith called Rush an unsung hero of the game. In Jacksonville a few weeks later, Rush forced a fumble into the win.
When the season was over, the Falcons couldn’t say goodbye to Rush. They liked that he played with Grady Jarrett, so they signed him to a one-year deal so he could return.
Rush was a mid-season player the Falcons took off the street who excelled and immediately helped the defense. Now he works for a starting place.
He’s a near-perfect example of what the Falcons want to do as they chug the bottom end of the roster.
But what does this example of Rush mean for the Falcons during training camp? A lot actually.
While catching up with local media on Thursday, Falcons vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith said the front office is currently actively looking for players like Rush.
Not literally of course. They’re not looking for a copy of Rush. They are looking for players who demonstrate the same thing as Rush, which is a plug-in that expands.
Smith said the front office has already divided the 31 other teams in the league to keep an eye on who gets cut when.
This is the current job of the professional staff (and a few university employees too): to keep an eye on every team in the league and evaluate the players who could fall through the cracks.
“You take on just about all — what we call — bubble guys who have a chance of getting cut,” Smith said. “We evaluate them.”
And that evaluation starts now, because although the training camp has only just started, the completion date always looms.
On August 16, teams must shorten the roster to 85 players. On August 30, they established the roster of 53 men. However, for a team like the Falcons, the 53-man roster is extremely fluid.
Last season, Terry Fontenot was always candid about how often this Atlanta roster would change. This season, Smith echoed the same sentiment.
“We’ll be watching the preseason. We’ll be evaluating those guys,” Smith said, “and if there’s any opportunity for us to upgrade our roster, we’ll do it.”
Thinking back to Rush’s example, Smith said it’s gratifying to find such a player. It is what they seek and what they hope to find.
“A guy who’s cut somewhere else but could come in here and play pretty well for you,” Smith said of what the Falcons want. “…That’s why you turn over every stone as best you can.”
Atlanta Falcons walk back to Cordarrelle Patterson #84 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota #1 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons in linebacker Mykal Walker #3 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Watch defensive linemen perform drills during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
View of a Guardian Cap during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons tackles Kaleb McGary #76 and takes the impact of offensive lineman Germain Ifedi #74 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta falcons )
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Atlanta Falcons in linebacker Mykal Walker #3 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons Offensive Lineman Germain Ifedi #74 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons walk back to Qadree Ollison #30 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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View of Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 and coach Justin Peele during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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f4 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons fullback Keith Smith #40 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett #97 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons run back to Cordarrelle Patterson #84 and run back to Tyler Allgeier #25 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons defensive back Mike Ford #28 and cornerback Casey Hayward #29 respond to their Madden ratings during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood / Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith and Quarterback Marcus Mariota #1 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at Atlanta Falcons Headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Marlon Davidson #90 during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 and cornerback Teez Tabor #20 respond to their Madden ratings during AT&T Atlanta Falcons Training Camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/ Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith during AT&T Atlanta Falcons training camp at the Atlanta Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Notes, observations from practice:
Notes, observations from practice:
Setting the tone: In the first 10 minutes of practice, Arthur Smith called the entire team to a distant field to begin practice. However, instead of huddled together, he had them line up. He pointed to several players and let them go one-on-one in front of everyone. A defensive lineman or edge rusher versus an offensive lineman. This may interest you : ‘Don’t look back in anger’: Lessons learned during football season…. A defensive back versus a receiver. And so they went on, for five minutes, battling against each other in their set skills while teammates watched. After practice, Grady Jarrett said this was the spark the Falcons needed to start the second day of training camp. He said it set the tone for the rest of the training.
Mario Kart Connection: As you’ve probably heard or seen, Guardian Caps are required for certain position groups to use during camp. They are large, black pads over players’ helmets that add an extra layer of protection for linemen, edge rushers, tight ends and linebackers. And when they wear them, they look… kinda funny. Here are some of the things people around me say they look like in practice today: Dave Archer said they look like Chia Pets. Grady Jarrett said they look like they all have big, 70s-inspired afros. Personally, I see Toad from Mario Kart when I watch the players running across the field. Whatever you see, it probably also makes sense.
Offensive Line Change: As Arthur Smith said on the first day of practice, the Falcons Matt Hennessy and Drew Dalman will turn heavy in the middle. Yesterday Dalman walked with the first team. Today it was Hennessy. Along with that change came another. Elijah Wilkinson — who picked up the Falcons in free agency — took on the majority of the entry-level left guards. Jalen Mayfield ran with the second team. The different combinations of offensive linemen the Falcons perform there during the early days of training camp will be important to watch out for as training progresses.
Safety rotation coming up: Almost every time you look at the field you see Jaylinn Hawkins and Richie Grant side by side, both on the field and on the sidelines. In the early days of the camp, this duo works safely with the defense of the first team. Both are on the younger side. Hawkins in his third year, but he’s only started four games. Grant is in his sophomore year and played a major substitution role last year. This duo is the future of the feature, and it may well be that this future has arrived. As for the second team, veterans Erik Harris and Dean Marlowe rotated in. At Nick’s, Mike Ford and Isaiah Oliver (who did some light 11-to-11 work on Thursday) were the main men inside.
