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DEL.ICIO.USHartwell Ready to Impress. Is Anyone Else?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons play their second preseason game - and first at home — tomorrow against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Dome will be rockin’ and so will middle linebacker Ed Hartwell, who’s talked more smack to his ex-Ravens teammates this week than the united Hawks’ management has spewed at exiled owner Steve Belkin.
It’s ironic that the Falcons are playing Baltimore because Hartwell is simply amped to bend anyone’s facemask. The Falcons rarely allow full contact in practice and in last week’s preseason-opener against the Colts, the head-banger didn’t get the chance to stuff too many runs because Peyton Manning was flinging it so much.
It should be good to see Hartwell’s initial impact on a defense set on improving its stock against the run.
Other than that, some other things to look out for:
The punting/kickoff duel between nine-year vet Toby Gowin and undrafted rookie Mike Koenen. The Falcons want the same person to punt and kick off and there seems to be the feeling that Koenen has the stronger leg. Koenen did all the kickoffs in the preseason opener, putting two out of bounds but kicking several others very deep. You could surmise that two kicks out of bounds might have hurt him but he’s still around. Gowin should see some action Saturday.
Will WR Michael Jenkins step up? In the opener, he did not seem overly aggressive or poised to take the step to be a starter, a role deemed to him at the outset of training camp. Veteran Peerless Price has had a good camp and a nice performance against the Colts, applying pressure to reclaim his starting job. Will Jenkins respond?
How will rookies Roddy White and DeAndra Cobb fare returning kicks? The Falcons would like to see Cobb assert himself as the kick returner, since he was such a game-breaker at Michigan State. They also want to see White’s big-play potential, since he’s not picking up the offense fast enough at WR for them to give him significant reps on offense.
Will Ike Reese fare well enough to convince the coaches he’s worthy to start at strong side linebacker over Demorrio Williams? Reese is a locker room leader and special teams marvel but has never been a full-time starter in seven seasons with the Eagles. Guys typically are backups for a reason; however, Reese is the type of athletic rough customer the Falcons want at that outside LB spot. Williams is an up-and-comer who has just relegated to coming off the bench, although that could be for just a game. How will he respond?
What things are you going to be looking for against the Ravens?
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By William Kitchens
August 18, 2005 09:58 PM | Link to this
There use to be some comments here… but the AJC in an effort to tick off their paid Sports Plus subscribers removed them when the site became free for the rest of you.