FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons had some fun on the last day of minicamp Thursday, allowing quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub to call offensive plays while having linebacker Paul Worrilow and cornerback Desmond Trufant call the defense during the two-minute and move-the-ball, 11-on-11 drills.
Both Ryan and Schaub were in baseball hats as they rested on Day 3. The intensity was still there, though, as Ryan was demonstrative while controlling the offensive huddle.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn certainly enjoyed it.
"It was just another way to just change things up and put those guys in a different spot to help with the learning and understanding, too," Quinn said.
"[Camp] was a great session. The guys have put in the work. And now, we told them, rule No.1 is absolutely in effect, and that's protecting the team. There's a number of things for them to work on as they go home, but making sure that the connection that they have with one another stays strong. ... When we come back to [training] camp and we report [July 27], everybody's got to be on point. And protecting the team is the No. 1 priority."
The last moments of minicamp featured spirited battles between the young players. Worrilow, the starting middle linebacker who is competing with rookie Deion Jones to keep his spot, enjoyed calling the shots.
"Calling plays today was awesome," Worrilow said. "I can't lie; I might have favored some calls to get the linebackers rolling downhill more than usual."
Worrilow noted how his defense got the offense in a third-and-long on the first drive and won. On the second drive, safety Kemal Ishmael intercepted a tipped pass.
At one point, Worrilow called for a twist between the rookie linebackers Jones and De'Vondre Campbell.
"Yeah, I called that pressure a few times," Worrilow said. "I let those guys create some pressure up the middle and get the quarterback off his spot. It was a lot of fun, for sure. It was unique in the fact of always thinking ahead situationally and in regards to personnel."
But it's safe to say offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Richard Smith don't have to worry about the players stealing their jobs anytime soon.
Here are a few other notes from the final day of minicamp
Quinn said the one things he was most pleased with over the three-day minicamp was the few mental errors.
Quinn singled out the offensive line for how the players competed against one another. There's a battle at right guard with Chris Chester, Mike Person, rookie Wes Schweitzer and Tom Compton.
Second-year cornerback Jalen Collins had an interception during drills.
Punter Matt Bosher returned to practice after being excused Wednesday for personal reasons.
Devin Hester (toe), Devin Fuller (hamstring) and offensive lineman James Stone (ACL) continued to rehab their injuries.
