Falcons Begin Madrid Camp, Focus on Defense

The Atlanta Falcons touched down at Madrid Barajas Airport on Tuesday evening, ending a flight of approximately nine hours from United States. The team has a short schedule. They have five days in the Spanish capital before they return home on Sunday. The primary goal is preparation for their upcoming matchup against the Real Madrid Lions.

Head coach Art Briles led the squad into a walk-through at the Real Madrid training complex. The weather in Madrid is warm, with highs in the mid-70s Fahrenheit. This condition differs from the colder air back home. The team will not play a game during this week. They are there to practice in a different environment.

The Falcons practice at the Real Madrid Lions facility. They share the space with the Spanish club. The Lions play in the NFL. Their players are interspersed with the Falcons during drills. This setup allows for a different type of football practice. It is not a game, but it provides a new challenge.

Xavier Watts, a safety for the Falcons, is in his first year with the team. He landed in Madrid with Jahan Dotson, a receiver. The two players sat at a dais at the training complex. They tried to learn some basic Spanish. Watts greeted them by saying, "Hola. Como estas? Buenos dias. Paquito."

Dotson attempted to follow. He said, "Hola. Como estas?" The players were not fluent. They had only just arrived. They did not expect to become fluent in Spanish during the trip. They simply wanted to make a small effort to connect with the local culture.

The team will focus on their defense during this camp. They will also work on their offense. The coaches want to see how the team responds to a different style of play. The Real Madrid Lions have a different approach to the game. This difference is part of the learning process for the Falcons.

The Falcons will leave Madrid on Sunday. They will fly back to Atlanta. They will then resume their regular schedule. The trip is a business trip, not a vacation. The players are there to work. They are there to get better.