FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Dan Quinn brought a hands-on style to his first training camp with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.
Whether sprinting from one side of the field to the other or standing in the middle of a play while deflecting pass-rushers with blocking pads on his hands, the first-year head coach was extremely active on the opening day of camp.
The high-energy style captured the attention of his players, including rookie outside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr., who said seeing Quinn so involved "says a lot."
Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn works with linebacker Stansly Maponga (90) an NFL football training camp Friday, July 31, 2015, in Flowery Branch, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) "I've never seen a head coach actually getting involved with the players," Beasley said. "It's great to have him here as my coach in my corner."
Running back Devonta Freeman said players can't go half-speed, even in the heat, when Quinn, 44, is running full-speed.
"If we look at him and see he can do it, all the years he's been coaching, and he's twice my age, why not us?" Freeman said. "We can go out there and do it. It's mind over matter."
Quinn said coaches "feed off the players, too, and the energy they bring each day for one another. It's really contagious."
It's one thing to run from one portion of practice to another, encouraging hustle from players. Many coaches try to set that example. It's different to see the head coach in the middle of live action, using his hand pads - similar to those used to train boxers - to deflect pass rushers.
Quinn said the hand drills are designed to teach pass rushers to quickly fend off blocks with their hands.
"I think as a rusher, that's one of the areas I can help the defensive line and the linebackers with," Quinn said. "When we do those hand drills, it's for hand speed and how linemen play."
Quinn said his active involvement should be no surprise for players who have seen his style in the offseason.
"I think they're kind of used to it by now and know I'm going to be really hands-on in the areas I can help and support the players the best," he said.
Quinn, the former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, has a major challenge in bringing improvement to an Atlanta defense that allowed the most total yards and yards passing in 2014. But he said his focus is immediate rather than on a long-term project.
"This is not a rebuild in any way," he said at Friday's practice, which lasted less than two hours. "Everything we're doing is about right now."
The Falcons open their preseason schedule when they host the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 14. Their regular season opener is also at home, Sept. 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"We're off to a great start," Quinn said. "We've got a long way to go, but for the first day, to get to where we need to, I was pleased. I like the mindset."