Atlanta Falcons: Austin Hooper needs to play catchup at minicamp
After missing the Atlanta Falcons’ organized team activities, rookie tight end Austin Hooper is forced to play catchup at mandatory minicamp.
It’s tough enough for a rookie to make the transition to the NFL as it is, but the challenge is made all the more difficult when forced to spend time away from the team facility.
Due to NFL rules, Falcons rookie tight end Austin Hooper had to return to Stanford to complete the academic year, which meant he missed the organized team activities which finished last week. He returns in time for the three-day minicamp held this week, but Hooper is now forced to play catchup.
"“I think it’s one of the toughest rules that there is in this league,” Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said of Hooper being prohibited from attending OTAs. “I think it’s pretty unfair to these players, to tell you the truth. It’s tough on a guy who’s not able to come here. He’s behind the eight ball, which isn’t his fault."
Following minicamp, there is a six-week break until training camp begins on July 27. This makes life more difficult for Hooper, who has been forced to get familiar with his role in the Atlanta offense from his home, without being able to get hands-on lessons on the practice field.
More from Blogging Dirty
- Atlanta Falcons are the perfect fit for Leonard Floyd
- 3 Largest Atlanta Falcons 2023 dead cap hits
- Atlanta Falcons trade up for a quarterback in this full mock draft
- Atlanta Falcons: 3 trade packages to land first-overall pick
- 3 Reasons the Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t fear Derek Carr and the Saints
There is still plenty of time for him to get comfortable ahead of the start of the season in training camp and preseason, but the rookie is behind the eight ball.
Long term, the Falcons are hoping Hooper can become the pass catching tight end the offense has lacked since Tony Gonzalez retired. He is a big-time threat with the ability to attack the middle of the field, which will sound like music to the ears of quarterback Matt Ryan.
Jacob Tamme put together an average season in that role in 2015, flashing spells of reliability with games where he would disappear. The Falcons will hope Tamme’s role becomes complementary to Hooper, who will eventually look to take the bulk of the snaps at tight end. In an ideal world, the Falcons will be able to create mismatches down the field in two tight end sets.
For now, it’s important not to look too far ahead. Hooper is going to need time to settle into his new role in the NFL, and it may take the young tight end more time than others to learn the ropes due to his time away from the facility.
Next: Justin Hardy, the unforgotten man
It’s an NFL rule Shanahan would be pleased to see the back of, but it’s a reality Hooper and the Falcons must deal with this summer.