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Sunday, February 24, 2008
Falcons address ‘safety’ concerns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Indianapolis — One thing is clear about the Falcons’ offseason and that is they are going to address the safety position in either free agency or the draft. The Jimmy Williams move from cornerback to safety has been a failure. Chris Crocker is a free agent and Lawyer Milloy isn’t getting any younger. Daren Stone is a fine athlete, but isn’t like ready to run the defense. At the combine, the Falcons brass has been meeting with safeties. Notre Dame’s Thomas Zbikowski (yeah the boxer!!) and California’s Thomas DeCoud meet with the team Saturday night. “I had a pretty good interview with them,” Zbikowski said. I felt comfortable with the coaching staff actually.” The Falcons have a tie to Zbikowski. “Alvin Reynolds was the one who interviewed me,” Zbikowski said. “His son was actually at Notre Dame, so I had a good interview with him.” Zbikowsk, 5-foot-11, 211 pounds, had to explain his ragged Mohawk haircut. “I had to do it for a Under Armour commercial,” Zbikowski said. “I was in training so I didn’t really care after that.” DeCoud started his career as a cornerback and has solid cover skills. He’s also a big-hitter and good special teams player. He said he tries to play like Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins. “I like the physical kind of punishing safeties, those guys that can make plays against the run and in the passing game,” DeCoud said. “Guys like that, who are just imposing figures on the back end. You have to know where they are at all times.” Zbikowski would be a second-day pick, while DeCoud is consider one of the top safety prospects along with Miami’s Kenny Phillips, N.C. State’s DaJuan Morgan, Alabama’s Simeon Castille and Tennessee’s Jonathan Hefney.
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D. Hall and Smith make peace
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Indianapolis — A group off 18 media teams — members of the Pro Football Writers of Association — watched the second group of wide receivers and quarterbacks workout at the combine in the RCA Dome Sunday. Most were disappointed that Boston College quarterback — and potential Falcons draft pick — Matt Ryan did not participate. Stunningly, Kentucky’s Andre Woodson also did not throw. Woodson had a rough time at the Senior Bowl and is dropping out of the first round on several draft boards. Here’s the group of QB’s who threw and went through the drills: Anthony Morelli, Penn State; Sam Keller, Nebraska; Kyle Wright, Miami; Bernard Morris, Marshall; Paul Smith,Tulsa; Kevin O’Connell, San Diego State; Thomas Ostrander, Stanford; and Adam Tafralis, San Jose State. Former Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, now with Oakland, put the quarterbacks through their drills, while Philadelphia receivers coach David Culley worked with the receivers. Smith threw a pretty deep ball, while Tafralis had some nice zip on his passes. Keller was wild on a couple his passes. Kentucky’s Steve Johnson and Arkansas’s Marcus Monk were the class of the receiver group. Coastal Carolina’s Jerome Simpson had a few dropped passes. But some scout overlook some mistakes from the small school players and attribute them to nerves of playing on a big stage for the first time.
HALL AND SMITH SEEN HUDDLED UP IN PEACE TALKS Falcons head coach Mike Smith and embattled cornerback DeAngelo Hall met Sunday morning. The two were seen sitting side-by-side in deep discussion over the cornerback’s future. After the public trade demand by Hall and Smith’s comments that followed, both sides wanted the dust to settle and were not ready to comment about their talk.
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A look at some of the QBs at the Combine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Checking in from Day 4 of the Combine and this morning, I was one of about 50 media types who got to watch a portion of the player workouts at the RCA Dome (my partner on the beat, Darryl Ledbetter - D-Led - was part of a second group).
A group of quarterbacks and wide receivers was working out but Boston College’s Matt Ryan - projected as the top quarterback in the group - was not in my group. He will be in D-Led’s group so he might be able to give you an update later.
Some of the quarterbacks I got to watch were Michigan’s Chad Henne, LSU’s Matt Flynn, Louisville Brian Brohm, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan, Delaware’s USC’s John David Booty and San Diego’s Josh Johnson.
There’s been a lot of hype mounting behind Johnson, who, at 6-3, 213, threw 43 touchdowns and just one interception last season for the Division II school. Johnson’s strong arm, field presence and evasive running style have him moving up some draft boards, but he struggled with a lot of his throws today. One of the knocks on him during some of his postseason workouts has been that he throws a wobbly ball.
He threw a lot of them today. A scout said a wobbly pass is usually a result of someone squeezing the ball too tight and said that was understandable for Johnson, who likely was nervous because has never been anywhere close to this type of stage. Receivers also had to wait on several of his passes.
The scout I spoke with said he’s seen Johnson play a few times. He said that today’s performance wouldn’t work much against Johnson, the MVP of the East-West game, because of how well Johnson threw the ball in real football situations.
Henne and Brohm looked like the most natural quarterbacks of the group. Their swagger and ease in which they executed drills put them at the head of a very talented assemblage.
One side note, FSU wide receiver De’Cody Fagg suffered a left leg injury while trying to catch a pass and had to be carted off the field. No official word of the severity of his injury has been issued, but it didn’t look good.
Combine Report: NFL types sample nightlife
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
INDIANAPOLIS — It was rough out on these mean streets of “Nap” town last night.
The NFL types hit the streets after a long day of watching prospects at the RCA Dome.
Oakland head coach Lane Kiffin was out and about. He was at Nicky Blaine’s, a popular cigar bar, with his father and Tampa Bay assistant Monte Kiffin. Lane Kiffin was later seen cutting the rug at Ike & Jonesys. Maybe we can look for him on “Dancing with the Stars” in the future.
Also spotted at Ike & Jonesys: New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese.
That’s where news got out that Arkansas running back Darren McFadden is not only battling a paternity suit, but that he told a team during an interview Saturday night that he has two children on the way. In addition to meeting with the Falcons, he met with the Raiders, who pick fourth in the draft, and several other teams.
McFadden created a major buzz at the NFL scouting combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds on Sunday.
McFadden ran right after Georgia running back Kregg Lumpkin ran a 4.64. On McFadden’s second timed 40-yard run, he was clocked at 4.33 seconds.
Just getting ready for another day.
My colleague Steve Wyche is currently in the morning’s first quarterback and receiver session. He just sent me a text message about Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm. That’s big news if he’s throwing because he skipped the Senior Bowl. Steve will update on that later.
I’m going into the second session, courteous of an access deal brokered by Alex Marvez, president of the Pro Football Writer’s Association and will check out Matt Ryan if he takes part.
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