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Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ryan debuts, Brooking among many changes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch - The Falcons just finished the first of five mini-camp practices and there were a ton of interesting developments.
First off, there were hundreds - if not thousands - of fans on hands for the two-hour sessions and they were into it.
The part of practice that drew the biggest uproar were the one-one-on passing drills, which were very heated. Backup left cornerback Brent Grimes continues to show arguably the best man coverage ball skills and it appears the coaches are devising ways to get him on the field.
As for people being on the field, everyone was accounted for, including safety Jimmy Williams, who missed two of the three voluntary workouts at an April mini camp. Williams, once again worked as the third team free safety behind Erik Coleman and Antoine Harris, respectively.
I’ve made you wait long enough. Quarterback Matt Ryan made his debut and he made it as the third-team quarterback. This veteran coaching staff is going to make him earn his stripes. So, for now, he worked behind Chris Redman and Joey Harrington and rotated with D.J. Shockley. Shockley, who spent all last season on injured reserve after tearing the ACL in his left knee, participated in all drills and looked active and fairly sharp.
He did not wear any type of support brace on his knee unlike Ryan, who wore a brace on his left knee. Ryan said he wears the brace as a precaution. At Boston College, the coaches required the quarterbacks to wear a brace on their plant leg so Ryan said wearing the brace was out of habit.
Other players who were back from injury: WR Brian Finneran, OLB Michael Boley and TB Michael Turner. OT Todd Weiner and NT Trey Lewis, both recovering from knee operations, have not been medically cleared.
Coach Mike Smith said there were more positions open than at any point of his nine years in the NFL and some of the competition was already being staged. Rookie LT Sam Baker worked with the second unit behind Quinn Ojinnaka. Justin Blalock returned from right tackle to his natural spot at LG. Tyson Clabo worked as the starting right tackle, the position he held down for most of last season after Weiner got injured.
On defense, rookie Curtis Lofton and second-year Georgia product Tony Taylor rotated at middle linebacker. Keith Brooking returned to his natural spot at weakside linebacker. Coach Mike Smith said that a lot of the positions changes are experimental, although Brooking feels far more comfortable at weakside linebacker than inside.
Mandatory mini-camp opens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Apparently the idea to open Coach Mike Smith’s first mandatory mini-camp is going to be big hit.
An hour before the team took the field, about 100 fans were already lined up alongside the practice field. The makeshift Falcons store had a line of about 20 people waiting to buy merchandise.
All of the kid toys were being inflated in the parking lot.
The whole scene has a little training camp feel to it.
Here are couple of things to look for when the team hits the field:
Will defensive back Jimmy Williams show up? (He scooted out a couple of days early from the optional mini-camp).
Who’s going to be on the offensive line? Will rookie Sam Baker go to left tackle with the No. 1 unit?
How far along are the injured players, Todd Weiner, Trey Lewis, Brian Finneran et al.
How will Matt Ryan do in the 7-on-7 drills?
Check back later as things progress.
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