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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
‘08 schedule out, Otah attends practice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons’ schedule has been released and Atlanta plays just 3 playoff teams from last season (Tampa Bay twice, Green Bay and San Diego). Whether that means anything in terms of them being a contending team remains to be seen since last year’s successes or failures tend to mean very little. However, life for the Falcons, at the moment, doesn’t seem nearly as daunting.
The Falcons aren’t on any nationally televised games and all of their games are played on Sundays. Atlanta opens at home against Detroit and closes the season at home against St. Louis. Of its first 8 games, five are on the road, including a trip to Oakland, where old friend DeAngelo Hall awaits. Prior to facing the Raiders, the Falcons have to travel to Philadelphia The Falcons have a second west coast trip to San Diego, where newly acquired running back Michael Turner will get to face his old team.
The entire schedule is available on the AJC.com sports page.
In other news, University of Pittsburgh offensive tackle Jeff Otah (6-6, 322) watched part of the mini-camp practice as part of his pre-draft visit. Otah, a left tackle, is bigger and taller than just about anyone on the team. The young man is HUGE. The Falcons are scheduled to continue having visits, with LSU DT Glenn Dorsey and Kansas CB Aqib Talib being among those scheduled to come to Flowery Branch
Then Falcons concluded their second voluntary mini-camp workout today under far better conditions than Dai 1. I stress voluntary because safety Jimmy Williams did not show up for practice. Coach Mike Smith said the staff knew that Williams would not be in attendance but he gave no reason why the third-year defensive back failed to attend.
Turner and LB Michael Boley did not practice for the second straight day.
Smith said the non-contact workout went better than Day 1 because players were more familiar with the routine, but there were still a wealth of mistakes because of the information overload coaches have heaped on players.
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey also said that the coaching staff is watching players closely to see who might develop as a leader and who might be malcontents. Mularkey said the staff is watching which players are first to meetings, gravitating toward teammates in the cafeteria and off the field and who seems intent on doing what’s asked of them.
