AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 13 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWilliams, Nicholas share LB spot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons outside linebacker Demorrio Williams did not play in the second half of Sunday’s 24-3 loss to Minnesota, as the coaching staff went with rookie Stephen Nicholas.
Nicholas produced five tackles to Williams’ four and was more effective overall with his gap fits and things of that nature. After the game, coach Bobby Petrino said that the plan was to play both players in the manner that they did.
Neither player said he was made aware of the strategy.
Petrino said the Falcons are preparing for both players to play again this Sunday at Jacksonville, but he and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer declined to name a starter.
Williams has worked with the starters most of the week but Zimmer said they’re going to roll with whoever has practiced well and is playing the best.
Williams admitted that he was off in the opener and that his rustiness could have been a byproduct of missing offseason workouts and most of the preseason while he recovered from torn pectorals surgery.
Nicholas said he benefited from all of the offseason and preseason work with the starting unit - in Williams’ place — and that he felt comfortable when he was on the field. Nicholas admitted that he still has plenty of work to do, though.
As far as injury news, safety Chris Crocker (bruised knee) did not practice. Tight end Alge Crumpler (knee) was given his usual day off from workouts and he is expected to practice Friday. Petrino said there is no update on defensive tackle Rod Coleman, who had surgery last week to repair damage to his right knee.
Comments
By A Falcons fan walks into a bar. . . .
September 13, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this
Does it matter?
By Mave2124
September 13, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this
Who is going to be the 3rd WR this week?
Who is the back-up to Jennings on ST?
By ag
September 13, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
hate to see demarrio lose his starting job, but if it makes the team better then by all means…
By Joe Bob
September 13, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
We should be talking about who is Joey Harrington losing his job to!! Where is Byron?
By GET US A QB
September 13, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
we need a QB Bad. We need a offense line bad we need line backers bad . we need mike Vick bad .oh well!
By Westside J.
September 13, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
Sorry fellow FALCON FANS this change means very little in the grand scheme of things. We aint gonna do much better than 3-13anyway lets play everybody and see what happens. we need the first pick overall. that should be the goal
By Mike
September 13, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this
Demorrio should keep his starting job and D Hall should get some kickoff and punt returns
By NASCARfan
September 13, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this
Steve,
The only thing I want to hear from Petrino is that Norwood is now the primary running back. Not any of this, “We’re gonna have to get him the ball more,” b.s.
Just like with Moreno at UGA, Norwood needs to be the guy at tailback. Dunn can be the third and long guy for his blocking skills. But Norwood needs to be the primary ball carrier.
Also, now that the o-line can speak, it would be nice to hear from the guys who tend to be the smartest on the field (as most of them actually graduate school and have real majors). It would be refreshing to hear intelligent comments coming from this team beyond Warrick Dunn.
By Joe Bob
September 13, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this
MESSAGE TO ARTHUR BLANK!!! FIND A NEW QUARTER BACK QUICKLY TO STOP THE PAIN!!! WE’RE IN PAIN AS FALCONS FANS!! I CAN’T WATCH ANOTHER DOWN!!
By NASCARfan
September 13, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
Oh, and Steve, the less we hear from DHall the better. He needs to focus more on what goes on the field as opposed to what’s coming out of his mouth. It seems to me that his skills began declining the moment he decided (annointed?) he was something more than he is, a decent cover guy who is far too inconsistant to be included in the same breath as Champ Bailey.
Everytime I’ve heard him talk the last couple of months, I just know he’s itching to bust out a Clinton Portis special (“It’s only dogs!”) to defend his VaTech Jokie boy.
Also, it might be nice if we finally ask GM Rich McKay if we’re done taking the kind of player that VaTech seems to attract. I’m tired of the selfish nature of these VaTech guys. West Virginia guys aren’t any better. What is it about that area of the country? Maybe it’s time to ask McKay if he’s going to start taking more SEC guys like Anderson, Taylor, Shockley, Norwood, etc. The guys from LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, etc. instead of the seedy element that seems to be coming out of the Virginias. And no more skill position players from the overrated Big-ZERO Conference or small schools, please.
If the Falcons would just draft out of the SEC every year, occasionaly dipping into the BigEast and Pac-10 for a speedy wideout or running back and the Big-II for linemen (like Blaylock), this team would be set with talent.
Stay away from the Big-ZERO schools, the Virginia-area schools and the ACC.
By that's funny
September 13, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
It’s funny how an entire state can support Joe Hamilton and DJ Shockley, but when detramental words are spoken about Vick the comments are racially motivated. The difference between these people is intelligence and class. The former had them, the latter had none. The resentment facing Vick has nothing to do with the way the QB played the game. Shockley is/was a very mobile QB. Falcon fans don’t give a rats a$$ about what the QB looks like, or his “style” of play. They care about winning and character. Vick posted two straight losing seasons, and did so without displaying intellegence or class. “Whitey” will embrace an upstanding winner, ie DJ Shockley. Anyone that BLINDLY supports Vick, also lacks the afore mentioned characters. Therefore, they simply are unable to understand why most of us can’t support him.
By Bob in SF
September 13, 2007 7:21 PM | Link to this
By all means stay away from Va guys! I mean look at Patrick Kerney! What a lazy, no heart thug he turned out to be… Oh wait he was the hardest working player they had until he got tire of all the BS and went somewhere to get a ring.
By Richard
September 13, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
will this post or not,will arthur Blank stay blank or get some balls, the commissioner is p** because he was lied to, so what ,How many lies did he tell to get the job. oh well the falcons are done for 2007, even with bryon at the helm,it would take at least 5 to 6 games for him to get up to speed, a little help is better than no help, and harrington is still a dude,wash out,redman not much better. mr. blank check out the empty seats after this sundays flop,you need a spin doctor and his first words will be: go with what got you here,trouble and all,no other player is more feared than mike, including the manning,Braddy and rivers,not even L.T.. Belive me mike is paying big time,it took kobe 3 yrs to bounce back, about the same for mike unless you allow him to be destroyed, 57 month ,that joke and a shame that these fools put a dogs life over a human one, after all man was made to have dorminon over all beasts and fowls of the air,4 games supenion should be enough, but now this organization will allow the team to fall, sorry mike you are only needed when you on top, but belive this as long as JESUS lives you will rise again,with wisdom, strength, faster,and much smarter,but on a lower scale
By Anthony Volk
September 13, 2007 7:47 PM | Link to this
Perhaps Williams was rusty but watching Boley try and arm tackle Petersen on 2 occasions made me think he did not want to put his body on the line. You not only have to be quick enough to make the play…you have to put yourself “in play”…Boley was absent without leave.
By SMack
September 14, 2007 1:42 AM | Link to this
Why change defense? They played fairly decent. OL horrible. Special Teams horrible. WR receivers horrible as always. This team has to many problems that were previously concealed(wonder why?).
By Charlie
September 14, 2007 6:59 AM | Link to this
Richard:
“man was made to have dorminon over all beasts and fowls of the air”. I don’t think Jesus told man to go around electrocuting or drowning dogs, let alone forcing them to fight to their deaths. If you have proof to the otherwise, please share it with the rest of us. What complete idiots you Vick supporters are. You are the type who would support Idi Amin if he were running for president. After all, Amin was ‘only’ feeding hungry crocodiles, wasn’t he?
By Casey
September 14, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this
Can we please have someone else returning kicks????
By A sign of things to come
September 14, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Doesnt matter, this team is crap.. 2-14 here we come.
By matto
September 14, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
The fakcons need to go 0-16 and get the #1 pick. Then take the QB from Louisville, Braughm. We do have a #1 pick next year don’t we? Are did we trade it away?
By John
September 14, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
Is it hockey season yet?
By BUSHWACKER
September 14, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you JOEY HATERS actually watch the game this week. You can blame him for the first int/td but not the one Jenkins basically handed to the defender then just stood there and watched him walk into the end zone. Joey completed 65% of his passes and if we would quit dropping the ball it would have been a higher percentage and we could have easliy won the game.
Be critical when we lose, but be fair.
Remembr, Vick could not compllete 50% of his passes and he has zero td passes in the 4th qtr over his last 18 games.
JOEY probably had the best day of anyone who played. Quit hating on him until you have a legitimate reason.
Otherwise you are showing you are not really a FALCON FAN, you are a gangsta lover!
By BUSHWACKER
September 14, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
well said that’s funny!
By terrell barron
September 14, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this
We need to step it up boys!!!
By Shamus Thacker
September 14, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
Does anyone really believe Michael Vick would have made a difference in the Vikes game? Score might have been 10-points closer, but the outcome would’a been the same.
Vick wouldn’t have fared much better with Sunday’s inconsistent, (sucked mostly), pass protection. Mike never played as well facing a stiff pass rush, and he ran into lots of sacks as well. Harrington stank, but I’ll bet he had a lot better grip on the playbook than Mr. Vick would have had, even if this dog fighting stuff never happened. I honestly don’t believe Mr. Vick would have EVER mastered THIS playbook… Too complicated for someone who’s not very smart, and and too voluminous for a player who doesn’t give enough of a damn to memorize ANY playbook!!
I’m personally glad Michael is gone, even if we lose every game…
Maybe come draft time we land a quarterback who gives a damn about something besides himself; that something preferably being football!!
By Jerious Norwood
September 15, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
Give me the fricking ball!
By Manny
September 16, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
I’m watching the game now, and seriously… we look like we’re not going to win a game this season.
By Chris
September 16, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Is Greg Knapp still calling plays? Good grief.
By Braves Fan 79
September 16, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Great move by the falcons by not bringing morten anderson back. Nah, we have no use for a guy whos automatic inside 45! maybe this is part of the strategy for a higher draft pick? as they say in the Guiness commercials…BRILLIANT!