AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDay 2: Looking foward to pads
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s Day Two of Falcons training camp with the team set to hold two sessions, one starting at about 8:30, the other, beginning at 6:15 p.m.
I’m really looking forward to the evening practice because the pads will be on and in very little time, we’ll know the men from the boys.
Day One was very hectic, very busy and it moved at a very high tempo.
There were a lot of early jitters. Roddy White dropped more passes than he should have and quarterback D.J. Shockley has had and better have better days. Shockley struggled with his accuracy at times and with limited practice reps, that can’t happen too much.
Tailback T.J. Duckett looks really good physically and, after speaking to him, he is really excited about having a good year. Safety Kevin Mathis, who had a horrific, season-ending knee injury last season, looked surprisingly fluid. I didn’t expect him to be able to move as well as he did. He was wearing a much less obtrusive brace and was working as Chris Crocker’s backup at free safety.
Someone I haven’t mentioned much with all the defensive additions is starting outside linebacker Michael Boley. He looks like he’s put on about five pounds and is very comfortable with what his duties are. Boley might be among the top pure athletes on the team and could be set to make a big-time move this season.
I’m going to try and post a new blog every day or every two days to provide as much insight as possible. I look forward to hearing from you guys and please, hit me with some questions. If I don’t answer them right away, I’ll try to get to them over the course of the week.
Comments
By RSC
July 28, 2006 10:46 AM | Link to this
Steve, thanks for the info. Jimmy Williams - I would be interested in hearing how he is progressing. Thanks.
By RSC
July 28, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Steve, thanks for the info. Jimmy Williams - I would be interested in hearing how he is progressing. Thanks.
By RSC
July 28, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this
Steve, thanks for the info. Jimmy Williams - how is he progressing? Thanks!
By RSC
July 28, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this
Steve, thanks for the info. Jimmy Williams - how is he progressing? Thanks!
By justin
July 28, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this
boley is starting? what happened to demorrio williams?
By will c
July 28, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this
Steve nice update. Any news on Jenkins and the other wide receivers. I’m very concerned that we did not bring in a top flight wide out like T.O. The Falcons brass should have taken him since he lives and works out in Atlanta. I think T.O. is worth the risk.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By will c
July 28, 2006 12:32 PM | Link to this
Steve nice update. Any news on Jenkins and the other wide receivers. I’m very concerned that we did not bring in a top flight wide out like T.O. The Falcons brass should have taken him since he lives and works out in Atlanta. I think T.O. is worth the risk.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By WaCoJacket
July 28, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this
D-Mo Williams is a nice player but not a full-time LB with Boley and Beck back there. D-Mo over runs lots of plays and loses gap control. He doesn’t take on blocks very well either. He’ll be around but i hope he isn’t starting very much…
By Edgar
July 28, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
I’m coming out to the 6pm practice today. Boley had a good year as a rookie. They were really high on him last year. They were hoping he would last until they could draft him and he did. He did himself great last year. The player I’m interested in Steve is Jordan Beck. Any news on him? He should be a great addition for this year.
By tmoney in ben hill
July 28, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this
with all their depth at LB, i was wondering why didnt we make a trade from there. losing one wouldnt have hurt too much. but at least we know of one position that seems o be really set. i like demorrio alot, but if boley is in front of him, that means great things.
By Carlos
July 28, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
Will C,
You are an idiot. The falcons should have signed T.O. because he lives in ATL? Geez, how dumb of a reason is that? If the team is trying to build toward long-term success, why bring in a guy who has killed 2 teams? Why, fool??
Steve, I’d like to know how the competition for nose tackle is going (Lava-lard vs. Shrop vs. Lake) and how the guys coming back from injuries (i.e., Hartwell and Beck) look when they actually are on the field.
It really scares me when you comment about Roddy’s hands (and no, Will C, that is not a cue for you to chime in about T.O.)
By mBake
July 28, 2006 01:35 PM | Link to this
Hey WaCoJacket are you serious? Who had the most tackles on the team last year? Demario Williams. He is in on ever single play,he never stops going, and most talented players on the field. he is definitely undersized, but that is made up with his speed and agility. The rest will come..
By mBake
July 28, 2006 01:39 PM | Link to this
Hey WaCoJacket are you serious? Who had the most tackles on the team last year? Demario Williams. He is in on ever single play,he never stops going, and most talented players on the field. he is definitely undersized, but that is made up with his speed and agility. The rest will come..
By FalconsFan
July 28, 2006 01:59 PM | Link to this
If the Falcons don’t get a solid placekicker we are going to lose some games we should win this year.
I can’t believe we would pick up a place kicker from someone another team would release and expect to win close games. Too many games that Vick don’t get the ball into the end zone where we need the 3 points.
By FalconsFan
July 28, 2006 02:00 PM | Link to this
If the Falcons don’t get a solid placekicker we are going to lose some games we should win this year.
I can’t believe we would pick up a place kicker from someone another team would release and expect to win close games. Too many games that Vick don’t get the ball into the end zone where we need the 3 points.
By bye bye wendy
July 28, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this
len pasquerellie reports:
In fact, linebacker might be the team’s deepest position. So deep that the guy who is arguably the best athlete at the position, third-year veteran Demorrio Williams, will struggle to get onto the field. The emerging player to watch is second-year strongside backer Michael Boley. He’s a very nice meld of size and speed, and he plays with leverage and a natural ability to shed blockers. Boley notched 60 tackles in 11 starts as a rookie, and he really is an impressive player to watch, even in unpadded practices.
SWEEEEEEETT
By bye bye wendy
July 28, 2006 03:13 PM | Link to this
len pasquerellie reports:
In fact, linebacker might be the team’s deepest position. So deep that the guy who is arguably the best athlete at the position, third-year veteran Demorrio Williams, will struggle to get onto the field. The emerging player to watch is second-year strongside backer Michael Boley. He’s a very nice meld of size and speed, and he plays with leverage and a natural ability to shed blockers. Boley notched 60 tackles in 11 starts as a rookie, and he really is an impressive player to watch, even in unpadded practices.
SWEEEEEEETT
By bbw
July 28, 2006 03:18 PM | Link to this
Funny thing, but after preaching speed for the first two years of his tenure here, Jim Mora acknowledged this spring that it might not be a bad idea to add a wide-body to the front four. The team flirted with a few veteran free agents, most notably Grady Jackson, but didn’t sign him or any of the other interior defenders it considered
Another len quote
STEVEY —-whats the word with a big DT? i would very much rather see a former Carolina Panther(B. Buckner-hes still available isnt he?) suit up in the red and black over grady jackson. or what about big daddy wilkinson? just a thought. im still favoring Buckner. everyone must certainly remember all the plays chris draft made against us last year after we didnt sign him. WHAT DO U THINK?
By bbw
July 28, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this
Funny thing, but after preaching speed for the first two years of his tenure here, Jim Mora acknowledged this spring that it might not be a bad idea to add a wide-body to the front four. The team flirted with a few veteran free agents, most notably Grady Jackson, but didn’t sign him or any of the other interior defenders it considered
Another len quote
STEVEY —-whats the word with a big DT? i would very much rather see a former Carolina Panther(B. Buckner-hes still available isnt he?) suit up in the red and black over grady jackson. or what about big daddy wilkinson? just a thought. im still favoring Buckner. everyone must certainly remember all the plays chris draft made against us last year after we didnt sign him. WHAT DO U THINK?
By Poor McKay
July 28, 2006 03:31 PM | Link to this
Chris Cash and Omare Lowe. What’s the story with our DB depth (other than Mathis). And will Norwood have a shot at both kick-off and punt returns?
By Brian
July 28, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
How is it that you recognized Boley gained 5 pounds? FIVE POUNDS? It looked like maybe 4.5-5.5 pounds. Dude can gain 5 pounds eating a Wendy’s quadruple stack. I am usually serious on these blogs; however, saying dude gained 5 pounds was to goofy of a statement to pass up. 5 pounds…funny.
By brian
July 28, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this
So, how is it that you noticed Boley had gained about 5 pounds? Are you sure it was not 4…or maybe 6? Dude can gain 5 pounds in one meal. Boley is 6’3” 236 lbs and you actually noticed that he may have shot up to over 240? Normally I am serious in these blogs; however, that line was just to goofy to pass on. Five pounds…funny.
By This gets old
July 28, 2006 05:48 PM | Link to this
Steve:
It’s disconcerting that all of the talk has clearly gotten into Michael Vick’s head. He was clearly better when Reeves coached him and that leads me to these questions which while related don’t all pertain to MV.
How’s our FB looking?
2.Vick, Brooking and Abraham are on the hot seat nationally as well as in Atlanta. All of these guys have played hard for their teams but they catch a lot of flak [which is part of the territory].
For Brooking and Abraham (and to a lesser extent Vick) this year is crucial to how their careers are percieved. They’re certainly aware of it but do they acknowledge it to you?
3.For the new guys (vets), what brought them to the ATL and (rooks) what do they think of the town?
By the by I wrote last year this time that we’d be talking about a new stadium. This time next year…the stadium deal will be in the planning situation and we’ll be talking about federal funds to make it easier for the fan base to reach the new, “revitalized” downtown.
By bushwacker
July 28, 2006 05:54 PM | Link to this
Steve, did you ask Vick, blunt or black and mild?
By Peter
July 28, 2006 06:28 PM | Link to this
I wanted to write something about Shultz’ column in which I was called a racist. I am without a doubt very, very, VERY pro Michael Vick. I post here a lot and I’ve never attempted to convict Vick.
The blog spoke to PERCEPTION and in a picture that appears to show him holding a “blunt”
It’s impossible for me to hate black people and I’m not really even against “blunts” In fact every world leader involved in the current world crisis’ need to just “sit down and talk it out”
Like it or not gang affiliations are a problem in pro sports (should we start off with European soccer?)
I didn’t say Vick was in a gang, I don’t think that he is but the topic was about the PICTURE.
Perception makes a difference, ask former Colorado coach Bill McCartny.
By DIRRTYBIRD
July 28, 2006 06:46 PM | Link to this
I would have to venture out on a limb here and say that most people don’t “perceive” Mike Vick to be throwing up gang signs in this unverified photo. This whole thing is not even newsworthy. As far as I know, AJC is the only paper covering it. How about some coverage on actual football instead of a picture of Mike Vick riding around in a limo, trying to make something out of nothing?
By larry w.
July 28, 2006 08:23 PM | Link to this
Amen DIRRTYBIRD, Amen.
By Where did she go?
July 28, 2006 10:13 PM | Link to this
What happened to Wendy’s blogs?
By Nikki
July 29, 2006 08:14 AM | Link to this
Thanks for the blogs, Steve. I’m interested in the Lavalais/Shropshire battle. Who do you think will win the starting job?
By Nikki
July 29, 2006 08:20 AM | Link to this
When is the Falcon fan blog coming back? Training camp is in full swing now.
By larry w.
July 29, 2006 12:49 PM | Link to this
I was watching the NFL network the other day and they were showing a segment on linebackers. Ray Lewis was interviewed, and they related stories about some of the ex great linebackers like Nitcshke, Butkus, Nobis, and Huff. And it occured to me that all of these linebackers had one thing in common. They all had real mean streaks, an unharnessed nastiness about them. We don’t have that on our defense. We have great and potentially great players, but no one that is so mean and so nasty that they are feared around the league. The guys that I mentioned above were feared by their own teammates in practice. And with good reason. I would love to see someone on our defense with that type of scary, nasty attitude. Someone who “brings it” on every play.
By T
July 29, 2006 01:04 PM | Link to this
Nice Blog Steve. I really enjoy the updates that you provide, but I have a suggestion. How about trading Warrick Dunn sometime this year, for Cadillac Williams? What do you think about AJ Hawk being lead blocker? he would make agreat addition.
By atalian
July 29, 2006 07:51 PM | Link to this
I would like to know why we decided to go K-Mart on the kicking team. I mean we lost how many games last year because of kicking?
I understand wanting to save on the cap space, but come onnnnn, how much space can a kicker take?
With all of the NFC south building up, I think we should have addressed that area.
By bucko
July 30, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
Let me clear up T.O. not being a consideration for the Falcons. The Falcons organization could not have the truth shown on national T.V. when T.O. would pitch a fit when Vicky could not find him open or over throw him wide open. NOW FOLKS THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE ( GOOD DAY )
By bucko
July 30, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
Hey for all you that think vick is so good. Look at the the view,a higher percentage of people are still worried about our so call pro bowl Q.B. still needs to concentrate on learnig his Q.B. skills
By robert
July 30, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this
Hey steve sorry to break in on your blog but Terrence Moore is hiding out on the braves page. Who does he think he is calling the falcon front office liars because they wont talk to his stupid a**e. Take a look at the track record you clowns have with this organization. And if you dont know what I mean just listen to moores comments on the video. This guy really needs to go.Part of being a PROFESSIONAL sports writer is building a relationship of trust and respect with the organization. Terrance has niether, with this organization or any other. He needs to go work for the star where maybe someone will believe his childish comments. The fans in Atlanta deserve better.
By Ken Strickland
July 30, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
BUCKO, I am a Vick fan and I will be the 1st to admit that he needs work on his QB skills. However, I am openminded enough to recognize that even with his perceived shortcomings, he puts points(22ppg avg)on the board and is in the top 5 in wins. Some haters focus on how he performs in the battles, I focus on whether he’s winning the war. Let me put things into perspective. Even with all the negative things Vick did, or was accused of doing last yr, and the sorry DEF play, we lost 4 games in the last minutes by 3pts each. Vick, with all of his deficient QB skills, directed the Falcons OFF well enough for them to have finished the season 12-4. It was the DEF that couldn’t stop the run or the other team from scoring, not Vick. Finally, all players that participate in the Probowl are selected by fellow players and coaches, not fans. These are people that know the game, make their living in the game, coach against, play against and understand first hand what his talents present to players, DEF’s and coaching staffs. I would suggest that these people, his peers, are more qualified to assess his value than any selfserving dillusional fans.
By Ken Strickland
July 30, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
BUCKO, I am a Vick and a Falcons fan and I will be one of the first to acknowledge that he needs to work on his QB skills. However, I’m openminded enough to know that, with all of his perceived flaws, he is able to put points on the scoreboard(22ppg avg)and rank in the top 4 in win. Some haters focus solely on how he’s fighting the battles, I chose to focus on if he is winning the war. To put things into perspective let’s look at last seasons results. The Falcons lost 4 games, in the closing minutes, by 3 pts each. The DEF, not Vick, gave up between 20-33pts in those gms. Taking into account all of Vicks faults, the Falcons, based on his performance and in spite of his flaws, could have finished 12-4, at least, with a better DEF performance in those 4 gms. All Probowl participants are selected by fellow players and coaches. These are people that play against and coach against Vick. Thus they understand, first hand, how talented he is and the difficulties he presents to DEF’s, players and coaching staffs. His value as a Probowl QB is determined by his peers, not some selfserving, dillusional fan(s).
By will c
July 30, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this
@carlos “You are an idiot.” Why do you have to resort to personal attacks? Are you incapable of getting your point across without demeaning someone.
Second, “It really scares me when you comment about Roddy’s hands (and no, Will C, that is not a cue for you to chime in about T.O.”
That’s my reason for suggesting the T.O. acquisition. We do not have a legitimate game breaker that will stretch the defense. I’m not completely sold on Roddy or Jenkins. Dallas pulled the trigger and signed T.O., I’m afraid that we will see Dallas in the playoffs and T.O. will go off on us.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By will c
July 30, 2006 01:45 PM | Link to this
@carlos “You are an idiot.” Why do you have to resort to personal attacks? Are you incapable of getting your point across without demeaning someone.
Second, “It really scares me when you comment about Roddy’s hands (and no, Will C, that is not a cue for you to chime in about T.O.”
That’s my reason for suggesting the T.O. acquisition. We do not have a legitimate game breaker that will stretch the defense. I’m not completely sold on Roddy or Jenkins. Dallas pulled the trigger and signed T.O., I’m afraid that we will see Dallas in the playoffs and T.O. will go off on us.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By Ken Strickland
July 30, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this
BUCKO, I am a Vick and a Falcons fan and I will be one of the first to acknowledge that he needs to work on his QB skills. However, I’m openminded enough to know that, with all of his perceived flaws, he is able to put points on the scoreboard(22ppg avg)and rank in the top 4 in win. Some haters focus solely on how he’s fighting the battles, I chose to focus on if he is winning the war. To put things into perspective let’s look at last seasons results. The Falcons lost 4 games, in the closing minutes, by 3 pts each. The DEF, not Vick, gave up between 20-33pts in those gms. Taking into account all of Vicks faults, the Falcons, based on his performance and in spite of his flaws, could have finished 12-4, at least, with a better DEF performance in those 4 gms. All Probowl participants are selected by fellow players and coaches. These are people that play against and coach against Vick. Thus they understand, first hand, how talented he is and the difficulties he presents to DEF’s, players and coaching staffs. His value as a Probowl QB is determined by his peers, not some selfserving, dillusional fan(s).
By mike
July 31, 2006 10:55 AM | Link to this
I heard a good joke this morning i wanted to share.
What does Vicks IQ and Interceptions per game have in common?
They are both the same number, 4!
By El Guapo
July 31, 2006 12:13 PM | Link to this
* The RSS feed for this blog is not working (not updated for a year now). Please pass this along to someone who can fix it. Thanks *
By mike
July 31, 2006 01:29 PM | Link to this
“One of his big problems is people want to tell him how great he is. Mike is just being Mike. Well, Mike being Mike is just running, being an all-right passer, and Mike gets hit a lot. If they want to let Mike be Mike, we’ll take that.” - Chris Draft
There goes the theory that Vick strikes fear in the opposition. I bet free safties sit in the locker room and make wagers on how many INT’s they will get against the falcons “I’ll get 3” “Yea well I bet I can get 4”
By bucko
July 31, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this
Finn gone, White trying to learn how to catch the ball, here we go again with no passing attack. No wonder why we have a good blocking schem for the run. I can’t remeber when we have had a descent reciver. Well I guess who cares we don’t have Q.B. (Vick that is) that can find or throw a accurate pass but forty percent of the time. LETS GO DUNN