Atlanta Falcons

Michael Vick on his impressions of the Falcons QB battle and more at training camp.

The Falcons' 2021 draft class looks like it's making the infamous second-year jump in training camp. And the Falcons hope to see much more progress this preseason, especially from a player like Frank Darby.

The Falcons are ramping things up for the first preseason game on Friday in Detroit.

Everyone is getting settled in now that we’ve been through two weeks of training camp - and so is this Falcons defense. Dean Pees raised some eyebrows earlier this off-season when he said that the Falcons only utilized about 60 percent of his playbook last year. But, this year he feels they can open that up to 100 percent - and a lot of that is due to guys feeling more confident and comfortable in the scheme but in themselves as players too.

At Wednesday's practice, it seemed the defense had the upper hand -- but it depends who you ask. Kelly Price has more on the defense's growth through training camp as it prepares for its first preseason game.

For players like Feliepe Franks and Avery Williams and even Cordarrelle Patterson, it?s been a lot of 'other duties as assigned' in a Falcons uniform. But they are great examples right now of selflessly doing whatever it takes to help this team win games this fall.

A.J. Terrell headlines a young secondary that could potentially be one of the Falcons? deepest position groups this season. And after injuries and inexperience marred the secondary?s effectiveness last year, they?re looking to make noise this year.

Lots of eyes will be on the Falcons offensive line battle this training camp, including at the center position.

Falcons training camp is getting heated, but that's exactly how they want to bring this team together.

Competition is everywhere at Falcons training camp, from the practice field to the fan zone.

AtlantaFalcons.com beat writer Tori McElhaney will join FOX 5 Sports' Kelly Price as a cohost on 'Rise Up Tonight,' Fridays at midnight on FOX 5 Atlanta.

Only 32 of the 90 guys on the Falcons' current training camp roster were with Atlanta last season, and with so many wide-open spots and position battles, competing is what these players have at the forefront of their minds.

It's been 14 years since the Falcons didn't have Matt Ryan as their quarterback entering training camp. This year, both veteran addition Marcus Mariota and rookie Desmond Ridder are open about the "healthy competition" they'll go through together before a starting signal-caller is cemented. Kelly Price reports from Day 1 of camp.

Fifth-round draft pick Tyler Allgeier is ready to make a case to be the four-down running back the Atlanta Falcons have been looking for in recent seasons. His physicality comes from being a two-way player in 2019, and his "just get to work" mentality comes from working for every bit of success he's earned, even collecting carts at Walmart as a BYU freshman.

Kelly Price goes one-on-one with the newest Falcons QB Desmond Ridder about how fatherhood has changed him, getting to work with someone he looks up to in Marcus Mariota, his own leadership aspirations, progress in rookie minicamp, and much more.

While Falcons leadership won?t call it a rebuild, Atlanta?s 2022 draft class is aware of what they?re stepping into. And they?re excited about that opportunity. Kelly Price has more from rookie minicamp.