NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers

Buccaneers’ QB coach Clyde Christensen said on Thursday that QB Tom Brady was not at full health when it came to his knee last season.

“I don’t think he was 100% last year,” Christensen said, via Jenna Laine of ESPN. “His quote, or close to a quote was, ‘Hey, I’m gonna get my knee fixed up and I’m gonna be better next year and you’re gonna be excited about that.’ Performance-wise, you wanna feel good. I think that thing was a nagging nuisance to him, having to tape it every day, just make sure he had that thing loose. So I think he’s excited about just feeling good again.”

Falcons

Falcons TE Hayden Hurst said he’s been committed to getting stronger and faster over the offseason.

“I hit it pretty hard,” Hurst said, via Scott Bair of the team’s official site. “I try to get as strong and as fast as I possibly can. I’ll do whatever it takes to do that, whether it’s lifting for three hours and hitting the field after that. That’s just how I’m wired.”

Hurst called himself a “man on a mission” and that he’s altered his diet to reduce his body fat down to eight percent. 

“This year was big for me, adding the diet to my routine as well,” Hurst said. “I’m down to almost eight percent body fat right now. I’m definitely a man on a mission this year. I have a lot of reasons to play a little bit harder.”

Hurst feels he brings uniqueness to the tight-end role because of his “vertical speed” and mobility on the field. 

“What I bring to the table is pretty unique as far as my vertical speed and how I’m able to move at my size. The way I play in games, my tempo is a match [to the system]. I think it’s a great offense and I’m excited. I think that, in my fourth year, I’m going to get utilized vertically. That’s what I was able to do in college. Finally, an offensive coordinator can see that and utilize it this year.”

Hurst mentioned that Falcons’ new HC Arthur Smith plans to run “multiple tight end sets” and expects them to “create mismatches” with their system. 

“That’s the beauty of this offense,” Hurst said. “We’re going to operate at multiple tight end sets. History has proven that with Coach Smith in Tennessee. I think we have a pretty good group of guys here in Atlanta and that he’s going to be able to utilize all of us in specific ways to create mismatches and make defenses uncomfortable.”

Panthers

• Panthers have hired former Seahawks West area scout Tyler Ramsey as a national scout. (Brady Henderson)