AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USNoticeable change in minicamp
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons first mini-camp workout went as expected: like the first round of a boxing match with both sides feeling each other out.
Coaches took note not only of how players produced but how well they followed directions. Players, although they’d been verbally prepared on how practice would operate, worked through some kinks as to where to go for certain drills, how to line up, things like that.
New head coach Mike Smith was very hands-on, going from position to position, giving pointers when he felt they were needed. He’s pledged to be communicative with his players and that he was.
Though he had knee surgery and there were concerns about his availability for this mini camp, linebacker Keith Brooking did take part in most drills. Several other players, including quarterback D.J. Shockley, did not participate because they are recovering.
The most noticeable change in the lineup was the move - potentially temporary - of starting left guard Justin Blalock to right tackle. Blalock was moved, in large part, because of the uncertainty of starter Todd Weiner’s return from knee surgery. Blalock played some tackle in college, so the move wasn’t totally foreign.
Smith said Blalock could return to left guard at some point and that the Falcons are simply cross-training Blalock in case they need him at either position.
Chris Redman opened as the starting quarterback, with Joey Harrington working behind him. Laurent Robinson also worked with the first unit at wide receiver with Roddy White. Smith said a lot of players are going to be shuffled in and out with different groups so a depth chart today will be very different tomorrow.
Free-agent acquisition Von Hutchins opened at left cornerback in place of DeAngelo Hall, who was traded to Oakland for a second-round pick in 2008 and a fifth-rounder in 2009. Erik Coleman, also a free-agent signee, worked as the starting free safety.
It was kind of strange not seeing maintstays Warrick Dunn and Alge Crumpler on the field. It’s clearly a different team, a young team, that will only get younger after the April 26-27 draft, at which Atlanta holds 11 picks.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Roswell Ed
April 14, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
The futures so bright I’ve got to wear shades.
As long as they’re
rose colored!!
Let’s go Falcons!!!
By DeacKillsaDevil
April 14, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
Blalock at RT. Interesting
By Pepe
April 14, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Ahhhhh…football, FALCONS football. Bring on the draft, and let’s build from the inside-out.
By ab
April 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Come on DJ, get in there, we are pulling for you!
By Deep
April 14, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Fresh team, fresh start. It is good to see Bobby go. Lets pull off a 8-8 season, and groom a few young players for future success. Go Falcons!
By RTW
April 14, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
YEAH BOOOOOIIIII!!!!! GO BIRDS!!!!
By TOM
April 14, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Who was our LT? How did Chris Redman look? What about Turner, and Norwood?? Come on AJC give us some info!!
By GATORZONE
April 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
Glad to finally have our franchise ran by professionals!!! GO FALCONS!!!
By Mike
April 14, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
D-Hall for a second and fifth round pick? Sounds like Smith wanted him to get the heck out of dodge.
By Brandon
April 14, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this
I hope the falcons keep Shockley. He is a playmaker when given a chance.
By Jim H.
April 14, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this
Young is good (with a few key veterans thrown in the mix for leadership). A fresh start with mostly new personnel that can grow together is what this team needs. I like the direction the new management is headed.
By Starting QB
April 14, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
I think that D.J. Shockley should get a shot at starting QB. As a starter in college he was 10-2, and in the 2, UGA scored 30+ points in each game and he accounted for well over 300+ yards in each. The guy is a gamer and knows how to win and make the right plays.
By Big Deal
April 14, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Who cares? The birds will likely go 5-11 this year. You’d be better off writing a story about the UGA Bulldogs.
By Poor McKay
April 14, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Who was the left tackle, Clabo? Asking Blalock to serve as a “utlity linman” doesn’t sound like much of a vote of confidence to me. How can he become an anchor at guard if he’s bouncing between positions? Glad to hear Laurent got the nod next to Roddy. Still feels like we’re another 2-3 drafts away from the debacle of having Rich make those awful draft picks. Mike Jenkins, Jimmy Williams and possibly Jamaal Anderson and Blalock may all be huge early round busts for this team. Why didn’t Turner particpate in the drills?
By billy g
April 14, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
Mr Wyche,
What can you tell us about the OL’s on the roster? How is the health of Foster? Is Quarterman a serious contender to start at either OG or OT? Is Blalock considered a Guard or RT?
I don’t want the team to give away secrets, but can we get a hint?
By parks
April 14, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update
By Mel O
April 14, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
I am 49 yrs old & I have always been an Atlanta Falcons FAN. I have endured the seasons of near misses, not close to winning, huge one sided lostes, last minunte lostes. But, trading off our best players with nothing in return is a slap in the face. I thought that Racken Smith & family made the worst moves for the team. But, wow I am ashame to call my self a Falcon FAN.
By Dan
April 14, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
A young team isn’t a bad thing. This team will develop into something much better than what we have had in the past. I like the way we have shed the old group of players who were more trouble then they were worth. We need a good draft, and then we can start to develop a long term winner. Or I’ll just go back to drinking…
By John Q. Public
April 14, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
Hooray, a new team, hopefully some talent!! Hopefully some wins!!! Hope….dayum, these is the Falcons….Lawd.
By Moreno for Heisman
April 14, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Shockley is gonna be the starter…I mean come on he’s got more natural talent in his pinky finger than Redman and Harrington combined. Plus hes got the intelligence to play the position. I just hope he can recover from the ACL.
By N. Lewis
April 14, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
Let’s hope this new team will bring a new attitude about Atlanta falcon football to our fans. P.S. Matt Ryan is a good old school pocket QB. Unfortunately he doesn’t fit with an offense of explosive, athletic and exciting players that this city is familiar with at every position. With a line that needs to be addressed Matt’s skills would be minimized to the point that he would look like a Joey of last season. Good QB just not good for us.
By old timer
April 14, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
One positive point. The new management is rebuilding instead of talking about it. I like the way the new team is shaping up. We’re gonna be okay.
By jcarson
April 14, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Bring in Dorsey, Brohm/Flacco/Henne, a couple offensive lineman (Sam Baker from USC?) and some depth at D-line and secondary, and this team could be well on it’s way to rebuilding itself. I hope the fans are patient and give the new regime a couple of years.
By Martin
April 14, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Free at last Free at last Thank God almighty We’re free at last from Meangelo
By Jeff
April 14, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
Where did Jimmy Williams line up?
By yankee
April 14, 2008 3:48 PM | Link to this
You guys are lucky,you could be from Detroit. It’s OK with me if Joey settles in as the backup.
By Lindsay
April 14, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
And how about that new (older) kicker from Brookwood HS by way of Denver, Jason Elam! Yeah!!!
By BOBO
April 14, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
GO SHOCKLEY GO RECOVER SOON
By Stinky Pete
April 14, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
I just wish we could fast forward past this season to 2009 so we can get our best player back- Michael Vick!!!
By Busta Nut
April 14, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Does anybody know how Shockleys knee is? The Falcons have been quiet about it, and DJ is the type of class act that could really get the birds turned around…
By ladbaby
April 14, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Quinn Ojinaka could be good at guard. I think he would be able to pull and be very dangerous.
By Skeptic Tank
April 14, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
After the Mora years of zone blocking, the Petrino debacle, and the Vick/Hall fiascos, I’m not expecting a damned thing this year from the Falcons. Dimitroff and Smith have stripped this team bare, and that’s exactly what they needed to do. Hopefully the talent pool in this year’s draft will get us some muscle in the offensive and defensive lines. We can go after skill positions like QB, CB and WR through free agency and the draft in 2009. It takes time to resurrect a cadaver. Be patient Atlanta. I think we’re in capable hands this time.
By truedawg
April 14, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
DRAFT JAKE LONG!!!!!
By Sec. 338
April 14, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Chill out it is the first camp. Blalock at RT for one practice means nothing. Let them draft first so then we can see the holes they will have to fill. At least a couple of theOL there today will not be come August. Someone had to play RT today with Weiner out and since Blalock is more of a lock to stay train him in a different position to have some flexibility.
By truedawg
April 14, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
I dont mean to be one-sided but the kid gave up maybe one sack his whole career at Michigan and he is a beast!!!
By Roswell Ed
April 14, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Enough with the
Shockley talk.
He’s 6’ tall and how many great QBs
are 6’ tall?
By VABirdDawg
April 14, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
I have been a Falcons fan from the beginning, but as you all know it’s not easly loving a looser. Lets get behind the new plan and just hope for the best. 11 draft picks could make a big difference as long as we do better than in the past 41 years. Give DJ a shot at QB. We need some SEC talent on this team. That’s whats been wrong with the birds all along. We NEVER draft SEC guys. We need fast strong black guys who are used to playing agains talent week in and week out. Go Falcons!
By Rod
April 14, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
From the pictures on ajc the passes did not look good. DJ Shockley get ready we need you to finally get a chance to compete.
By UGA homers
April 14, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Just because Shockley had a good school record doesn’t mean he will be a good NFL QB. Comin guys, think before you post.
By RJ
April 14, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Starting QB,
So Shockley should get a chance because he was 10-2 in college? Just like how Erik Crouch and Gino Toretta should be starters. At some point you need to realize that because someone did well in college doesn’t mean anything at the next level. Why don’t all you people realize that if Shockley wasn’t a UGA alumnus, not one of you would want the Falcons wasting money on him. Whoever the best QB is should start, and trust me, if Shockley isn’t good enough to move ahead of Harrington and Redman on a depth chart, you can count on him never getting a starting job on this team.
By ATLfan
April 14, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Spare me the whining “rebuilding” talk, remember New Orleans two season’s ago? There wasn’t any real dominating team in the NFC last year, so we need a few breaks to go our way for once…….
By UT96
April 14, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
This team will be lucky to win 5 games with Redman/Harrington at qb. I can’t believe they are not going after a proven QB. Well, of course I can, they’re the Falcons! Oh well, I’ll still be there as usual.
By tbone
April 14, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
I just wish the clowns over at the Thrashers home would take note on how to turn a franchise around. Go Birds
By marko
April 14, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
I was, and still am, of the opinion that Long or Dorsey with the third pick would best serve our needs. However,if the rumors that Ozzie Newsome wants to trade into our slot, to secure Ryan, are true we should take a long hard look at the kid ourselves. Ozzie does’nt miss on many picks. drafting big strong fast guys seems to be a no brainer, still I hope Mr Dimitroff will consider Danny Woodhead as a kick returner. Little white boys need role models too.
By Clay
April 14, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Don’t read too much into training Blalock at Right Tackle. The fact of the matter is that Blalock is probably the best offensive lineman the Falcons have right now and if Weiner can’t play, RT would be a more important position that LG.
HOPEFULLY, the Falcons will use no less than 3 of their 11 picks on offensive linemen. They have no left tackle on the roster at this moment of consequence. I hope Jake Long is available at 3 for this reason.
By Adeberry
April 14, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
You falcons fans are the worst fans in the national football league. You only support your team when they win. You worry about whether a qb is white or black, and you dont appreciate the fact that you have one of the best owners in football. Falcons fans are the biggest joke! Give the new guys a chance and shutup!