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Wednesday, January 21, 2009
TE Pettigrew on Falcons radar screen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year at the Senior Bowl down in Mobile, Ala., cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie of Tennessee State was a smash hit.
Now he’s set to play in the Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals.
The big concern about Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco was if he could take a snap from center. He just helped Baltimore reach the AFC title game.
Rodgers-Cromartie and Flacco were a couple of the big names last season who improved their NFL draft stock.
Mobile was a blast last season. The AJC got to talk to Pete Carroll about not wanting to come to Atlanta. Mike Singletary was easy to get after an afternoon practice. Then cornerback DeAngelo Hall showed up at one practice and endorsed the hiring of Mike Smith, who would later trade him.
This season the coaching staffs of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars will coach the game. The building at Flowery Branch is practically empty, with all of the personnel folks, including general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith, down in Mobile, Ala.
The Falcons are no doubt giving the defensive players a good look over, with a focus at linebacker and safety.
However, they apparently are not neglecting the offensive side of the ball.
Our good buddy Steve Wyche is in Mobile, Ala. for the NFL Network and reports that the Falcons, along with a few other teams, were first in line to talk to Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew.
Pettigrew is a stud. He caught 112 passes and is 6-foot-6 and weighs 257 pounds. The question will be can the kid block. The Falcons need a pass-catching tight end to work the middle of the field.
It’s common for teams to cross reference and set up interviews with players coming off the field at the Senior Bowl.
Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi is at the Senior Bowl, but according to Pro Football Weekly, there is some concern about how he’s catching the ball.
A couple of players to keep your eye on in the game are defensive tackle B.J. Raji of Boston College and safety William Moore from Missouri. SI.com is reporting that Moore - a big-hit, no cover safety - is having a tough time down in Mobile.
Another safety, Louis Delmas of Western Michigan, is the best safety at the Senior Bowl, according to SI.Com.
The game will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will be televised on NFL Network.
