You knew Matt Ryan had faith in Austin Hooper when the league MVP targeted the rookie tight end on consecutive plays in the Super Bowl, the second resulting in a 19-yard touchdown.
The chemistry between the two Atlanta Falcons continued through organized team activities and minicamp, as Ryan put the Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots behind him and Hooper continued his maturation going into his second season in the offense.
Although Hooper's play stood out this offseason, he was far from content. So the Northern California native recently joined Ryan for three days of workouts in Southern California, a routine Ryan started last season while connecting with the experts at 3DQB training.
"That's what L.A. was about ... just another opportunity for me to work with the MVP and just understand exactly where he wants me to be," Hooper said, "and work routes that we both feel we can progress on."
Hooper had a quiet rookie season, but that's not unusual for a young tight end. He plays in a high-octane offense with one of the better quarterbacks in the league, so there is some upside here.
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