Training camp tour: Reeves bends system to ease Vick's load

(Editor's note: Jay Glazer is on a four-week training camp tour, during which he'll report back several times a week on the 20-or-so teams he visits as they prepare for the season.)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Postcards from the Glaze.

July 29 -- Falcons players say sophomore star quarterback Michael Vick has a much quicker release than a year ago. One of the biggest reasons is the fact that Vick has less to think about in terms of calling the plays. Coach Dan Reeves changed his longtime, overly wordy system this offseason.

Michael Vick gets loose at Falcons camp. (AP)

Reeves said he had been thinking about paring down the length of the play-calling, but was given a little push in the offseason. When Reeves interviewed Norv Turner for the offensive coordinator's job, Turner asked him if he would mind making the change. Reeves said he had thought about it anyway. Although Turner did not come aboard, the Falcons coach followed through on his plan.

"It's much easier and allows me to just go out and play, I don't have to think as much," Vick said following the team's morning practice. "They did a great job of simplifying the offense and all the quarterbacks are benefiting."

In the past, the system was so wordy that a quarterback was often forced to think too much. Considering a young quarterback like Vick needs to be able to play as loosely as possible, a change was for the best.

"It's a numbering system, so now there's not as much a language," he said. "I don't have to say as much now. There are only eight or nine words now as opposed to 15 or 16. I don't have to give a speech now."

Opposite sides

The Falcons' new 3-4 defensive scheme has everyone inside the organization buzzing. Reeves said that new coordinator Wade Phillips makes this complicated defense so easy on the players, it seems nobody can stop talking about how awesome Keith Brooking will be in this new scheme.

The offense, however, has a curious omission. The Falcons never hired an offensive coordinator after they failed to lure Turner. The plan is for quarterbacks coach Jack Burns to call the plays, but everything will go through Reeves. A coordinator-by-committee approach does not seem like the best viable route for any team in today's game.

Running back woes

While the Falcons had dispatched personnel people to East Lansing to get a medical update on first-round running back T.J. Duckett, the team lost two more backs for the day to injuries -- including their current starter.

Warrick Dunn missed the afternoon workout with a hamstring strain. His backup, Maurice Smith, was forced out with a hip flexor, so Travis Jervey, the fourth RB, ran with the first team. Reeves was a little annoyed that he was forced to pare down the number of offensive plays because of his lack of running backs.

The trainers do not believe Dunn's right hammy pull was anything serious and he is not expected to miss much time.

Best part of Falcons camp

While having dinner with some Falcons brass, veteran defensive players forced a rookie defensive lineman to get up on a chair and sing for the team. Unfortunately, he didn't know any songs, so linebacker Patrick Kerney brought him over a song sheet and made him practice his lines in order to properly entertain. After practicing the words and the tune, he stood up and belted out the song as the entire room clapped along. It was the power of the football food chain in full swing.

Unfortunately, when the veterans turned to rookie quarterback Kurt Kittner to provide the next act, he refused to sing using the excuse that he didn't know the words to any songs.

Kids, listen up loudly. You've heard all the stories. You know you're going to be asked to sing for the big boys. Come to camp prepared. Go out and learn Born in the USA or something along those lines for goodness sake before showing up to your first NFL camp. Trust me, you'll save yourself a lot of abuse.

Thing I didn't know before I got to the Falcons

Linebacker Jeff Kelly got married this offseason to a woman named, get this, Kelle. Put two and two together and it equals Kelle Kelly. I'm sure her friends had a blast with that one.

Temperature for today's workouts ...

... was 105 degrees with the heat index. That makes it four out of six days for me sitting through practice in 100-plus-degree heat. I'm hopping on a 6:25 a.m. flight for the Louisiana Bayou and the Saints tomorrow morning, meaning I'm facing another four workouts in 105 to 120 degree heat. I'm not sure what's worse, the time of my flight or the heat when I land.

Glazer's previous camp tour stops: Redskins | Giants | Panthers