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Monday, December 1, 2008
The San Diego aftermath
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SAN DIEGO - Just chilling out at the San Diego Airport this morning and not expecting to fly out any time soon.
It’s a little after 5 a.m. and the fog is pretty thick. A couple of planes that were supposed to fly in last night got diverted to Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Was supposed to get out of here at 6:10 a.m. to go to Chicago and get back to the ATL around 5:30 p.m. Now, I’m just hoping to make kickoff for MNF. Don’t really mind doing the hanging out at the Airport thing.
But the Falcons are back - they chartered out last night after the game — and Carroll Rogers will on the beat for us today, checking in with Coach Smitty and a few other things today. So let’s give Carroll (some of you might know her from her Braves coverage with the DOB) a shout out. “Go Carroll! Have some fun on the beat today.”
Just a couple of things from the game:
The Falcons out-hit the Chargers. Chevis Jackson had a big hit on Chris Chambers.
Rookie Kroy Biermann got his first sack too.
Also, when you start winning some of the national writers start to show up at the games and I got to see a couple more of my friends yesterday. They had nice things to say about the Falcons.
John Clayton from ESPN was in the house. I first met John several years ago, before he became a big star. He was working in Tacoma, Washington. He was beast of a beat writer on the Seahawks. He taught me how to cover the combine back in the 90s before the access was great. He had a little spot outside the Hoosier Dome where all of the coaches and execs had to walk and he knew everyone back then. Awesome.
But let me get back on track. John was marveling at quarterback Matt Ryan. He couldn’t believe Ryan’s poise, stature in the pocket and his accurate passing. We could only come with two bad throws in the game. The miss to Jenkins in the endzone and we figured that one pass to Roddy White in the endzone was probably a millisecond early.
John is coming to the ATL of the Tampa Bay game.
My man Bill Williamson, ESPN.com AFC West writer, was in the house, too. We go back to our days covering the Packers in the 1990s when he was at the Appleton (Wis.) Post Crescent.
Bill said “That’s a pretty solid football team you’re covering. It’s got to be fun.”
My fellow Howard alum Jim Trotter was at the game for SI.Com. Michael Silver from Yahoo! Sports was in the house. Met him before, but don’t know him. He’s not a part of the D. Led media posse, but I hear he’s a pretty cool dude.
Just some other stuff while I’m just sitting here.
Fan voting for the Pro Bowl teams continues through Dec. 9. Fan voting counts for one-third of the total, along with voting from players and coaches.
Fans can vote on the internet at NFL.com/probowl.
Was checking ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown show while getting ready for the game yesterday and former Falcon Chuck Smith was featured on a segment on the art of teaching pass-rushing techniques.
Smith, through his company Defensive Line Inc, has been training defensive linemen and pass-rushing outside linebackers since 2000.
Smith, who had 58 1/2 career sacks, has tutored Seattle’s Patrick Kerney, New York Giant Osi Umenyiora and Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth.
Smith said all pass rushers need at least three moves, a setup move, a counter move and a finishing move.
When a team is winning, they also get more than a passing mention on the pre-game shows. And there was a Falcon feature on Michael Turner on Countdown, too. (I used to like FOX’s pre-game show the best, but I can’t stomach Terry Bradshaw’s antics anymore.)
Cris Carter (Middletown Ohio’s finest) talked about the Falcons’ under-rated offensive line and Turner’s cut back runs and his ability to run after contact.
Well, that’s plenty for you all to kick around. Since I’m kind of Airport bound and may have a huge layover in the Windy City, I’ll check back in often today for questions, vents, rants, etc.
I’m going to find the Airport Starbucks. There has to be one in here somewhere. I saw a Nathan’s, but I’m not sure how good the hot dog folks can do breakfast.
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