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Monday, October 2, 2006
Boley a real boost at LB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A quarter through the season, the Falcons are 3-1 and on top of the NFC South. No one thinks that right now they are good enough to compete for a Super Bowl, but they are laying the foundation to position themselves for a playoff push.
The main reason for optimism is the defense. The Chicago Bears are the only other team in the NFL besides Atlanta whose defense has allowed just one touchdown.
Lawyer Milloy, Keith Brooking, Grady Jackson and Rod Coleman set the tone from Game 1 at Carolina. Then, Chris Crocker, Demorrio Williams, Darrell Shropshire, DeAngelo Hall and Jason Webster jumped on board. Now that he’s back to full strength, Patrick Kerney re-established himself. Nickel back/safety Kevin Mathis is showing no signs his knee injury from last season is a problem.
The two most promising things, though, are the pending return of defensive end John Abraham from a groin injury and the emergence of Michael Boley at strongside linebacker.
Boley, 6-4, 240, has played lights out the past two games. He is showing the needed physical prowess to accompany his remarkable athleticism and fluidity that had coaches contemplating moving him to safety this offseason. Boley often was used in man coverage on the slot receiver and, of late, he’s been used as a rush end in pass situations. He’s also one of the Falcons’ top special teams players.
Boley had seven solo tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a tipped pass that led to DeAngelo Hall’s 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Falcons’ 32-10 victory over Arizona Sunday.
A fifth round pick in 2005, the Falcons could have a gem to add to a solid group of linebackers.
How coach Jim Mora and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell incorporate middle linebacker Ed Hartwell (back from dual knee surgeries) into the lineup over the next few weeks will be interesting because the linebackers have been outstanding.
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