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DEL.ICIO.US‘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.
Comments
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By Jim H.
April 15, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Thank God we don’t have any national prime time games….they don’t need any added distractions. They need to rebuild this team quietly and under the radar….and then maybe we’ll be ready for prime time again in ‘09.
By Rick
April 15, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
I love the sound of this report. It tells me the new mgt. is concerned with the “character” of this team. In the past we have had far too many people who were all about “me”. I think times are changing and it is for the better. Another thing I saw in the photo section that I had forgotten about. Assit. Head Coach Emmit Thomas, from everything I have read he may be the wild card in all this, he is the type of coach players love to play for, the kind of guy you want to win for. Just my thoughts.
By Najeh Davenpoop
April 15, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
The more gigantic players the Falcons draft the better. Size, strength, and skill along the lines. That’s what the Falcons need to target in the draft.
By AH
April 15, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
go ahead and get your season tickets now I’m sure they will be flying off the shelf now that the schedule has been released.
If you want to watch any home games your going to have to see them live.
By RA
April 15, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Hey Steve,
Hypothetically speaking, if we were to try and draft a strong satety in the 2nd or third round, who would you like to see with that pick??? Not that Jimmy Williams hasn’t fulfilled my every expectation up to this point and by no means am I ready for the team to show him where the door is… I’m just curious…
By rick
April 15, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Love the schedule/ besides all one p.m. starts this is a winnable schedule. As a season ticket holder you can have the night games or late afternoon.
By JB
April 15, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
08 will be the year all the old stinch players will be ” highlighted” and dealt with. By 09, I would say only 7 or 8 players who played for Mora/Per-quito will still be on this team. The purge will be complete and people with NFL experience will have picked the new players. Ask yourself Why Dan Reeves got to the super bowl. By the way, that was Blanks biggest mistake. Dan would be our GM now with a team with NFL players. good ones.
By Paddy
April 16, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this
Jimmy Williams was not at practice??He was up at Va Tech picking up the players the Falcons are interested in drafting this year. They all should be arriving any moment now. What do you mean???? they can’t leave the state without the courts permission.
By jeff carter
April 16, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
*Dimitroff is showing promise with personnel changes, very impressed. But what is up with JIMMY Williams??? A promising lock to be a top 10 pick coming out of the draft, falls all the way to the 2nd round. Apparently we were the only team that didnt realize why everyone else passed on him…and we had to have another Virginia Tech thug.
By aqg17
April 16, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
jimmy williams is terrible. he is gone after june 1st. the guy never lived up to his hype, yet another VT player that has let atlanta done. he’s a joke!
By crazybird
April 16, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
No primetime games …. Well the playoffs and SUPERBOWL thats primetime right????????????
By coastal jim
April 16, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this
Is Frank Beamer’s entire program an insane asylum, or just the one’s the Falcons choose to pay millions of dollars. It’s past time to show Jimmy Williams the door. What a waste!! Hey, he was a Rich Mckay draft pick, wasn’t he. Let the Dimitroff era begin.
By Joe
April 16, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Jimmy Williams was the ONLY player UNDER CONTRACT that was not in attendance.
Trade him. Wasn’t he a Va. Tech guy too?
By T.C
April 16, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Man please!this team will suck for a long time.yea its good to get excited about change but it will be 2030 and you all will still be saying wait til next year.and someone had the nerve to thank GOD for no primetime games.thats because your used to this sorry franchise not doing anything year in and year out.
By T.C
April 16, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
keep thinking this schedule is soft if you want too,i will give the falcons two wins at best.yall kill me,we get a new coach in thats making a few changes and some of those were dumb and yall think were superbowl bound.let this sink in ya brains,every new coach that comes to a new team makes changes.i can see the band wagon falcon fans calling for his head after a season and a half.