FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Here are five observations on the Atlanta Falcons gleaned from Thursday's training camp practice:
1. It's always difficult to make judgments when a team goes through a practice that isn't a fully padded workout, as was the case with the Falcons in their initial on-field session of camp Thursday afternoon. But you could put the Atlanta defense in a padded cell, and outfit the entire bunch in straitjackets, and it still would be pretty obvious the unit is quicker overall than it was a year ago.