Although meaningful games won’t be played for nearly four months, preparations for the 2015 season will begin in earnest when organized team activities start Tuesday morning. The Falcons are scheduled to practice at 11:20 a.m. and continue at the same time on June 2 and 9. (Practices are closed to the public.)
Organized team activities, also referred to as OTAs, typically include weight lifting, conditioning, film study and light on-field training. Such workouts might not feel particularly significant, but many talent evaluators view them as an essential part of the NFL calendar.
“These practices help determine the specific roles for each player and set the tempo for all the new acquisitions, regardless if they are rookies or veterans,” former Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo said.