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Friday, August 1, 2008
Week 1 training camp observations
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Flowery Branch - As the team prepares for a full-scale scrimmage tonight at Mill Creek High School, here are some observations after a week of training camp:
• QB Matt Ryan might not have the strongest arm, but he is completing passes because of his timing. There will be times he misfires or throws an interception because he can’t zip the ball into a tight window, but he looks a lot better now than he did in mini camp. He seems to recognize the speed of players better and his familiarity of the system has improved. He has improved as much as any player on the team over the past few months.
• That said, veteran QB Chris Redman still looks the most at ease and has done nothing to hurt his chances of opening the season as the starter.
• Upstart RG Harvey Dahl, who was moved into the starting lineup during summer workouts, is not buckling under pressure and could make his competition with incumbent Kynan Forney the most heated on the team. The shift to Dahl appeared to start as a motivational ploy to get Forney, who struggled some last season. going. Forney has played fairly well but Dahl seems to have stepped up to the challenge. It will be interesting to see how Dahl performs against players from opposing teams. If he plays well, he could be the guy.
• Don’t expect the tight ends to catch many passes. The group assigned to replace Alge Crumpler by committee is made up pf blockers. The unit, led by Ben Hartsock and Martrez Milner, hasn’t consistently caught the ball and doesn’t appear to be a huge part of the game plan. They won’t be neglected but they might combine to total the 42 catches made by Crumpler in ’07.
• Rookie WR Harry Douglas could be the real deal. He is a fearless route runner who gets open and makes catches. He should get plenty of catches out of the slot and make up for some of the possible lack of production from the tight end spot.
• WR Brian Finneran, who missed the past two seasons after tearing the ACL in the same knee, is making a strong case to be retained. Not only is he catching the ball but also he’s re-established himself as a reliable special teams player. That is crucial for any non-starting wide receiver trying to make the team.
• The Falcons are still unsure of what’s going to happen with WR Joe Horn. Horn has missed the past few practices with a sore hamstring, which is prompting him to miss more time. Horn, who wants to be traded, skipped summer workouts. The Falcons say they want him to compete for playing time but can’t because he’s hurt. His $2.5 million salary is guaranteed so the team would have to eat the salary if it cut him. There has been little interest in terms of trades. This situation is going to get more interesting over the next few weeks.
• It is hard to get a read on the defensive line, since so many players - Jamaal Anderson, Jonathan Babineaux and John Abraham - have missed practice time with injuries and personal matters. Grady Jackson hasn’t done much since signing earlier this week. Anderson, last season’s first-round draft pick (No. 8 overall), returned a day ago and he has to step up. The Falcons are going to need a pass rush to protect the young secondary and Anderson can’t go much more time without being a threat.
• FS Erik Coleman has been solid in coverage, which has been sorely missed at that position for years. He’s also a big hitter, who has yet to cut loose.
• Rookie CB Chevis Jackson could turn out to be the most physical player on the team at his position and should emerge as the starting nickel back. Jackson loves to get his hands on receivers and annoy them. His long arms also allow him to close gaps and compensate for his lack of ideal speed.
• Though the goal might be for rookie Curtis Lofton to start at middle linebacker, second-year player Tony Taylor could delay Lofton’s entrance. Taylor has shown the physicality and the smarts to play the position and he seems to have good chemistry going with outside ‘backers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley.
• Rookie running back Thomas Brown has been very impressive. If he stays healthy he should make the team as a kickoff returner and third option at tailback. His shiftiness, toughness and different running style from Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood make him a nice complement. Second year tailback Jason Snelling isn’t going to go quietly but Brown’s versatility and running style could be the difference maker.
• Backup DBs David Irons and Daren Stone, who seemed to be headed in the right direction as rookies last season, could be losing ground. Irons, a standout special teams player, is rotating with the third defensive unit along with Stone, who was demoted from No. 2 strong safety with the acquisition of veteran Deke Cooper.
The Falcons’ personnel department likely won’t be idle with this roster as the preseason progresses. It will be tracking receiver-type tight ends and veteran cornerbacks that could give them some security, at least, in nickel packages.
One of those veteran corners won’t be Philadelphia’s Lito Sheppard. Atlanta wants to stay relatively young and build through the draft for the most part, according to some folks with the team.
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