McKinley looks to join 2nd-year successes

But for now, he’s still working his way back from offseason surgery.

FLOWERY BRANCH — As Takk McKinley strolled up to the podium Monday afternoon after training camp, frustration emanated.

Asked how he felt, McKinley summoned just one word.

“Good,” he s aid. He then repeated that twice more, pausing in between.

Frustration is forgivable for the second-year defensive end out of UCLA — coined next in line for the breakout second season that seems to have become an annual tradition for the Falcons. Head coach Dan Quinn recently spoke with McKinley about that very subject, and how McKinley would follow suit.

“He gave me examples of our second-year guys,” McKinley said. “(Deion Jones) made the Pro Bowl his second year, (Keanu Neal) made the Pro Bowl his second year, Vic (Beasley) made the Pro Bowl his second year, Grady ( Jarrett) had a good year.”

Next year at this time, it would seem no stretch to forecast McKinley being the next on that list. He had six sacks a season ago, two more in the playoffs. He says he should have had 13.

But?

“Just because they had a good second year, don’t guarantee that I’ll have a good second year,” he said. “Sophomore slump is a huge thing.”

And then there’s the matter at hand. Progress becomes much more

difficult if you can’t find the field. McKinley remains limited in camp, still working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. That’s where the frustration seeps in.

When asked about the jump from first year to second year, Quinn spoke glowingly about one of his second-year defenders. But it’s not McKinley his mentions first, rather linebacker Duke Riley.

McKinley and the team say it’s nothing major. He practiced in a limited capacity Monday, but was held from full 11-on-11 work. He might even play Friday night in the exhibition opener against the Jets. If he doesn’t, one preseason game will do little to stunt his growth.

Allen gets three-year extension: Two down, one to go. The Falcons reached a three-year contract extension with safety Ricardo Allen, reportedly worth $19.5 million.

Allen is the second of the team’s stated three priorities for contract extension that included defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and left tackle Jake Matthews. Jarrett is now the only left without a new deal after Matthews agreed to a five-year, $75 million deal. Julio Jones had his contract restructured to avoid a holdout on the eve of training camp last month.

In four seasons with the Falcons, Allen, 26, has played in 46 games and made 45 starts. He has six interceptions, 10 deflected passes, one fumble recovery and 158 tackles. Last season, Allen, who knows the intricacies of the defense, slid inside to play nickel back as the secondary was hit with injuries. — CHRIS VIVLAMORE

Falcons work on red zone: When the three consecutive whistles sounded to signal the end of practice Monday afternoon, quarterback Matt Ryan and his receivers knew where they were going. It’s where they’ve honed so much of their attention thus far at training camp, and where last season ended: the goal line.

Ryan lined up under center with two receivers on one side. One would run a fade route, the other a slant. Sometimes they’d flip. The next play Ryan would signal at the line which combination they’d try this time.

Last season, the Falcons ranked 23rd in the NFL in red zone touchdown percentage, scoring a TD on just 49 percent of their trips inside the opposing 20. In total, the team scored 36 touchdowns after scoring 63 the year before. There’s a unanimous, vocal stream at training camp from all involved: That’s not good enough.

“There’s definitely a point of emphasis for us to continue to get good work in the red area, try to be more productive, score more touchdowns than we did last year,” Ryan said.

Injury update: The Falcons will be without kicker Matt Bryant (undisclosed) and offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo (hand) in Friday’s exhibition game at the New York Jets, the team announced.

Bryant did not participate in Monday’s practice. The team indicated it did not believe the issue was a long-term concern. David Marvin, from Georgia, is the other kicker on the Falcons roster and will kick against the Jets.

Sambrailo missed all of last week’s practice, dealing with a lingering hand injury.

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Falcons defensive end Takk McKinley (working with assistant coach Travis Jones on a rushing drill in May) has been limited in practice so far since offseason shoulder surgery but might play in the exhibition opener Friday against the Jets.