AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 03
Monday, December 3, 2007
Redman could be the next option
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons coach Bobby Petrino didn’t want to comment on who the team’s starting quarterback will be when it plays host to the Saints Monday night because players were given the day off following their 28-16 loss at St. Louis Sunday.
Even so, it seems as if is will be hard for Petrino not to give Chris Redman a shot after Redman played well in the fourth quarter of Atlanta’s ninth loss in 12 games. Besides getting rid of the ball quickly and being accurate, players seemed to rally around Redman, something that they have rarely, if ever done with Joey Harrington.
That, in itself, would seem reason enough to play Redman. Petrino has given Harrington multiple chances to secure the starting job and has ended up replacing him or starting someone else, repeatedly.
Harrington has not been awful but Atlanta’s offense is mundane and unproductive. As for Byron Leftwich, his immobility seems to be his biggest drawback. Petrino would like to play him but with a shaky, injury-racked offensive line, Leftwich hardly stands a chance.
On the issue of the offensive line, Petrino’s deactivation of longtime starting right guard Kynan Forney vs. the Rams was interesting. Petrino did not want to explain why he had Forney watch the game in street clothes, but it wasn’t health related. So sitting a seven-year starter for non-health related reasons could mean that Petrino has no further use for Forney and is giving D’Anthony Batiste a shot. Petrino said Monday that Batiste played hard and competitively and was solid in pass protection.
Forney wasn’t the only player to be moved down the depth chart Sunday. Second-year safety Jimmy Williams was deactivated for Antoine Harris. Williams has struggled to do what is needed to get on the field defensively and his spotty special teams play resulted in coaches putting someone else on the field.
Whether Williams gets motivated and is on the field next week remains to be seen but Petrino has given guys 12 games to prove themselves, so he’s seen enough.
