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July 2008
Falcons’ Lofton, Turner, Mughelli get to play some hits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch - Of the varieties of drills the Falcons run during training camp, the end result, in a nutshell, is simulated football. There is hitting a point, scheming to a point, playing full speed…to a point.
Well, Coach Mike Smith is finally going to allow his team to play football at a scrimmage Friday at Mill Creek High School. It will be a no-holds barred, full scale hitting and tacking practice, with only the quarterbacks being off limits.
If you plan on going, get there early because after a few kicking drills, Smith said the first teams from both sides will face off to start the scrimmage.
Here are some things to look for:
• Michael Turner: The “Burner” seems to be craving some contact but besides that, the big offseason free-agent acquisition could showcase some of his speed that could allow him to get out of some jams.
• Of course, the quarterbacks. While the completions will be a big thing, also take note of how Chris Redman, Joey Harrington, Matt Ryan and D.J. Shockley command players in the huddle and on the field. So much of being successful at that position depends on the quarterback’s overall presence.
• Along the offensive line, how left tackle Sam Baker executes will be worth taking note, but the guard play could be more interesting. Left guard Justin Blalock is said to have improved, which is hugely important after his so-so rookie season. Right guard Harvey Dahl has been impressive so far and needs to develop consistency to fend off Kynan Forney.
• Defensively, left cornerback Brent Grimes, who looks like he’ll be the starter, needs every bit of live action he can get. Him vs. Roddy White, who has had a great camp, will be fun to watch. Rookie WR Harry Douglas has also made some DBs look bad so far.
• Former Georgia middle linebacker Tony Taylor is working with the first unit but he’s being pushed by rookie Curtis Lofton. Lofton is a thumper and the coaches want to see him thump. Taylor, meanwhile, doesn’t make mistakes and has done nothing to hurt himself from retaining the starting position.
Of all the things I’m looking most forward to, it would be a third and short situation with fullback Ovie Mughelli — yes, he will actually be on the field this season — lead blocking for Turner with DT Grady Jackson, Lofton, OLB Keith Brooking and safety Lawyer Milloy trying to stand their ground.
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Rookie Douglas, RB Turner deliver hits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch — It was the Falcons’ first day in full pads and there were definitely some guys eager to bang. The linemen really got after each other and on more than one occasion, safety Lawyer Milloy had someone sized up for a KO blow.
Amid it all, something totally unexpected happened.
Rookie Harry Douglas, one of the smallest players on the team, swung and connected with Milloy after the pair got locked up on a failed running play. A dust-up wasn’t unexpected but one where someone went after Milloy certainly caught everyone off guard. Milloy is the resident enforcer but he’s also the ultimate professional who carries more locker room juice than anyone on the team. So he seemed untouchable, literally.
Milloy opted not to retaliate right away but you can bet that at some point during preseason, Douglas is going to get a reminder from Milloy that he’ll probably never forget.
Still, Douglas’s refusal to back down scored him major points with his teammates, coaches and front office staff. As someone with the team told me, if you don’t take any mess as a rookie, you won’t ever take any mess. That little incident could set the tone for Douglas’s entire career.
In some interior running and team drills, tailback Michael Turner provided an early glimpse of his running style and for what offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey wants to do, he could be a great fit.
Turner can really get to the hole - or crease - in a hurry and he attacks the line of scrimmage so aggressively that even there isn’t any room, he’s going to move the pile. If there is some room, by the time he gets to the second level of the defense, his momentum is so fierce that there will either be a big collision or room for him to blast into the secondary.
Besides his speed and power, Turner can also cut to evade — although that might be a second option since he doesn’t mind engaging contact. Turner said that his style is part innate, part experience. Some of the ways he goes about gauging big hits or finding open space was learned over four seasons backing up LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego.
Coach Mike Smith said rookie running backs frequently try to bounce plays outside when the sledding gets tough. Not Turner, which is why they feel that signing him in free agency instead of drafting a tailback best suits this system. Turner is going to take it between the tackles with ferocity, which is what the Falcons want.
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Let’s get this party started
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s Note: Steve Wyche’s live blog has come to an end. If you still want to ask Steve questions, please do so and he’ll get around to answering them once he has an opportunity.
Well, things are about to officially get rolling with the Falcons as they open training camp Saturday at team headquarters in Flowery Branch.
I’m going to kick things off with a little bit of news that popped up this morning.
Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jackson met with top Falcons’ officials this morning and they are working on contract terms to bring the massive D-lineman back to Atlanta. A deal could be done in time for Jackson to participate in Saturday morning’s workouts. Jackson also has been speaking with New England and Oakland.
Jackson, who was unexpectedly and controversially waived by the Falcons during the 2007 season, would come back to the team where he was the most productive interior defensive lineman before he was cut. Jackson also would re-join head coach Mike Smith and defensive line coach Ray Hamilton, who coached him in Jacksonville, where Jackson signed after being let go by the Falcons.
Bringing Jackson back also could be a signal that Trey Lewis, the rookie who replaced Jackson, isn’t healing from two knee operations in time for preseason.
Now that that’s out of the way, I’m open for all questions. I will do my best to get to as many questions as I can. This should be good. You guys are always insightful and I look forward to helping out as much as possible.
Steve
Baker, Lofton entering “Holdout Zone”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With less than 30 hours before the Falcons open training camp, the team has officially entered the ‘Holdout Zone’.
After turning the first round upside down with the $72 million signing of quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons appear to be waiting for the market to settle around left tackle Sam Baker (21st overall) and second round middle linebacker Curtis Lofton.
It’s not big deal if they don’t report with the rest of the squad between 2-5 p.m. on Friday, but it’s absolutely imperative that both of the rookies are on the field at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the first practice.
Both could land starting spots, but need the action so they can earn their spots and win the respect of the veterans and the coaching staff.
Signings in the middle of the first round have been slow. Detroit signed Gosder Cherilus, the 17th pick, to a five-year deal. Baltimore signed quarterback Joe Flacco, to a five-year, $30 million deal.
Last season’s 21st pick, safety Reggie Nelson, signed a five-year deal worth $9.55 million with Jacksonville.
Baker’s agent and the Falcons have been mum all week, but Ben Dogra’s firm, Creative Arts Agency, worked well with the Falcons on the Ryan deal and know the importance of Baker being in camp on time.
The end of the first round is settled with tight end Dustin Keller, the 30th pick, signing a 5-year, $12 million deal with the New York Jets.
Safety Kenny Phillips, the 31st pick, signed a five-year deal worth $11.15 with the New York Giants.
Lofton is represented by local super agent Todd France of F.A.M.E (France Athlete Management Enterprises), who also has a good working relationship with the Falcons.
Last season’s 37th pick, safety Eric Weddle, signed a four-year contract with San Deigo that included $2.5 million in guarantees.
Expect the signings to pick up over the next 30 hours as the Falcons can not afford to left Baker and Lofton slip into the ‘Holdout Zone.’
Can the Falcons afford to let the market settle or must they be proactive and get these rookie deals done?
(Join Falcons beat writer Steve Wyche for a live two-hour blog as the team prepares to open its 2008 training camp. Wyche will be online Friday from noon-2 p.m. to answer your questions about this year’s team.
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Why this preseason is important
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A lot more importance will be placed on preseason games - not necessarily the final scores - for the Falcons than in recent memory. An abundance of inexperienced players are going to have the opportunity to be starters or in rotations and the coaching staff wants to see what players can deal with the pressure.
To test players, Smith said a lot of rookies and upstarts will be put in situations against opponents’ first and second units. Atlanta’s quarterbacks, in particular, will ideally be put in some uncomfortable situations, head coach Mike Smith said.
That way, the staff will be able to determine how certain players work their way through adversity - if they do. Rookie Matt Ryan is really going to be challenged by coaches in the preseason, since he has been tabbed “the franchise quarterback.” If he’s up to the task, he could very well be the Day One starter.
The preseason won’t be just about the players’ ability to deal with pressure.
This is a new coaching staff and a lot of the coaches haven’t worked together before. So the coaches have to learn how some of their colleagues respond to pressure situations or how they handle themselves in red-zone, time-sensitive situations and the like.
“There is going to be a sense of urgency for the coaching staff as well,” Smith said. “How are we going to handle the two-minute situations and sudden changes? We have to see how all those things are going to occur. It’s going to be a good learning experience not just for the players, but the staff.”
Smith is going to let offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey call the plays and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder set the defense. As for VanGorder, the preseason will carry even more importance since this is his time as an NFL defensive coordinator.
In addition, it’s the first time the league is allowing a sideline coach (VanGorder) to communicate with a defensive player (most likely LB Keith Brooking) via headset. Although subtle, that is something coaches and players must become familiar with before the regular season starts against Detroit Sept. 7 at the Georgia Dome.
Smith said it’s his duty to manage the game, not make the calls, which can distract a coach (remember last season when play-calling Bobby Petrino was late throwing a challenge flag because he got caught up with managing the situation and choosing his plays?).
(Join Falcons beat writer Steve Wyche for a live two-hour blog as the team prepares to open its 2008 training camp. Wyche will be online Friday from noon-2 p.m. to answer your questions about this year’s team.
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The course of action: Compete
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Okay, okay, I left you hanging for a minute but I had to shut it down for a few so I can re-fuel for the season. So, I apologize for the hiatus but I’m back.
In fact, on Friday, I’ll be on live to answer any questions you guys have regarding training camp, the season, whatever. I’ll keep it real and hopefully offer some perspective about what’s to come. Once training camp arrives, my partner on the beat, D. Orlando Ledbetter (D-Led) and I will blog every day with the latest.
To more important matters, I spoke to head coach Mike Smith today after a staff meeting and he laid some things out as to how they will approach training camp. The first 26 practices are scripted, with much of it being a review of things they went over in offseason workouts.
I gathered it’s going to be pretty intense, but that they will not wear players out for the sake of proving this new coaching staff is unyielding.
He re-iterated that few positions are settled - including quarterback - and he emphasized the importance of preseason games. Smith said players throughout the roster would be put in high-pressure situations in practices and the exhibition games so coaches can see who cracks and who they can trust. There are no concerns about playing rookies if they are the best players at their positions, he said.
Smith was not definitive about the health of some players, but he did say that some players returning from injury, such as veteran right tackle Todd Weiner (knee surgery), would be brought along cautiously. Whether that means Weiner be set for the regular season remains unknown.
Smith also addressed the return game and said that Adam Jennings is still in play for punt returns. That means that Jennings, at worst, would be the No. 5 wide receiver, meaning the competition for rosters spots at wide out will be one of the most heated.
Jerious Norwood and rookies Thomas Brown and Harry Douglas will join Jennings as possible kickoff returners.
Offensive tackle Sam Baker, the first-round draft picks penciled to start at left tackle, and middle linebacker Curtis Lofton (2nd round) remain unsigned but Smith said the staff is hopeful they’ll be under contract when camp opens Saturday.
(Join Falcons beat writer Steve Wyche for a live two-hour blog Friday as the team prepares to open its 2008 training camp. Wyche will be online from noon-2 p.m. to answer your questions about this year’s team.)
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