AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 13
Friday, October 13, 2006
Shockley impressive as backup
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This blog doesn’t necessarily deal with Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. Instead, I wanted to talk about a well-known player whose progress is being measured on the practice field.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen third-string quarterback D.J. Shockley look very impressive, which is sometimes tough for a backup whose main role is to emulate the visiting team’s quarterback. Shockley, the rookie from Georgia, has embraced his position and gone about sharpening his skills against the No. 1 defense, which happens to be ranked 6th overall in the NFL. In individual drills, Shockley has been very solid throwing the ball and seems to have established pretty good chemistry with the Falcons’ receivers.
I spoke to him for a while this week and Shockley said he is very pleased with the way he has progressed. Most of it, he said, deals with the way he’s been coached by quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and Greg Knapp. Instead of just using him as a practice player, Shockley is quizzed on the same material, coverages and reads as Michael Vick and Matt Schaub.
Part of Shockley’s progress also stems from the type of player he is, which is a humble one who wants to always get better and do what is right for the team.
