FLOWERY BRANCH, GA— During the first period of 11-on-11 work during the Atlanta Falcons’ first OTA practice, rookie edge rusher James Pearce Jr. did not participate. That sparked some speculation regarding the team’s first-round choice, and possibly some uneasiness.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris addressed any concerns Monday, stating that it was purposeful for Pearce’s advancement.
“We had him on the side, ramping him up, as we call it when we get him in here,” Morris told me. “We want to get everyone to where we want them to be before we start practicing. We don’t like to simply put individuals into drills.
“For example, when a guy misses something. We may ease him back into it to ensure we don’t skip any steps.”
Morris also noted that Pearce participated in 11-on-11 workouts last week that were not exposed to the media, “which was really good for him.”
Still, Pearce has not missed a single open practice since joining Atlanta as the No. 26 overall draft pick. This includes last month’s rookie minicamp and last week’s first full-team practice. He also attended the Falcons’ second full-team practice on Tuesday, which was open to the media. And this time, he took part in the Falcons’ 11-on-11 practice.
There seems to be two team periods. Both times, Pearce worked with the second-string defense. During the first session, he lined up on the outside with fellow edge rusher and first-round pick Jalon Walker. Defensive linemen Kentavius Street and Simeon Barrow Jr. stood between them. Then, during the second session, he was seen alongside outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone, with Barrow and defensive tackle LaCale London also in the mix.
And on that note, here are some more observations from Tuesday’s open practice.
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