AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2006 > July > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThe hit parade has begun
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first Falcons practice in partial pads ended on a bootleg run by D.J. Shockley to the sideline.
“Shock! Shock! Shock!” chimed a Falcons employee on the sidelines.
Shockley said the atmosphere doesn’t feel much different from the spring minicamp, but he does “feel the sense of urgency of getting ready, of being in a competitive enviroment.”
Nobody touched the former Georgia quarterback on that final play, but there were some pretty good hits during a spirited 2-1/2-hour workout that will be followed by full contact drills starting at 6 p.m. today.
Rookie fullback Jerious Norwood got, well, crocked by newly signed safety Chris Crocker and had to be helped off the field. The hit wasn’t why he left practice; apparently he was feeling ill.
Sitting out practice were Alge Crumpler and Ed Hartwell, who were pedalling on exercise bicycles while watching practice. Coach Jim Mora said it’s nothing serious, they just want to keep a limit on the early pounding for players recovering from injuries.
Yes, the coach was pumped to hear some cracking. He even postponed his customary post-practice run to chime in with some crispy talk about the morning proceedings. By now, the cool early breeze has been replaced by searing sun.
“It’s the first time since that shellacking by Carolina [the 2005 season finale]” to get in some licks, Mora said, right off the bat, looking like he wished he could have been in on it. “For a lot of guys, it was good to get the shoulder pads back on. You always want tough conditions for training camp. It’s good to build up for the pain of what’s going to come down the road.”
The King of Pain was clearly chomping at the bit to say that, as well as sprinkling in such appropriate football words like “nastiness” to confirm his mood.
Jimmy Williams’ first practice went fine. He had a pick in 7 vs. 7 drills, but left a lot of pigskin out for the plucking instead of tucking it safely in his chest.
“We preach ball security,” Mora said. “He’s not doing that yet… . He’s a bright-eyed kid who’s eager to listen and learn and he’s a hard worker.”
Then again, DeAngelo Hall does the same thing at times, but Mora was a bit more forgiving.
“D. Hall has some skins on the wall,” Mora said. “I’m going to cut him some more slack than Jimmy.”
Hope that’s enough meat on the bone for your football carnivores out there. I’ll have one more blog in the early afternoon.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By HOTROD
July 28, 2006 10:54 AM | Link to this
When it comes to the quarterback race who do you think will get the 3rd spot will it be D.Shockley or B. Randall i think that Shockley can be the next Vick with the right coaching what do you all think?
By Birdman
July 28, 2006 11:04 AM | Link to this
I think Im tired of reading posts where people are begging for shockley to become the 3rd QB. This is simple people. If he wins the spot, he wins the spot and somewhere down the line he will probably make a decent backup for someone. That is all. GO FALCONS!
By T
July 28, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this
Ok Wendy, now that we know your job is to paint a picture of the environment at training camp, why am I clicking on this update link? I dont really care about how the table looks when its set, all I am looking for is the food, you know what I am saying????
By John
July 28, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this
Shockley doesn’t have Vick’s speed, agility, or athleticism…nor his arm strength. He may have equal (or even slightly superior) accuracy to #7…so, no, he won’t be the next Vick.
UGA homers need to calm down…
By will c
July 28, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
The advantage goes to Randall. He’s been in the system longer and will probably win the 3rd quarterback position. Shockley will be on the practice squad and will be eventually shipped to NFL Europe for more seasoning.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By Stephen
July 28, 2006 11:58 AM | Link to this
Um, “slightly better accuracy” than vick? you kidding me? I think my 13 year old sister would be considered to have “slightly better accuracy.” Shocks ended the year like 5th in the country in passer efficiency. I don’t think Vick would manage that.
That being said, Vick is the better QB right now, no question about it.
By GTJ
July 28, 2006 12:33 PM | Link to this
I’m a UGA guy, but I by no means think that Shock is the next Vick. Just glad the Falcons finally drafted a bulldog. He’s a longshot to make the roster and even much longer shot to ever paly but at least I a semi reason to be interested. Really is weird about the lack of Georgia guys considering that 45+ former DAWGS are currently playing in the league. Plenty of All Pro caliber ones as well. Hopefully the VTech pipeline will someday close and help bring an end to the antics Hokies players seem to invoke, cherish and embody.
By Brian Hunt
July 28, 2006 1:40 PM | Link to this
I don’t care who wins the 3rd QB spot because I know that the best man will have the job. I just want to see the best TEAM on Sundays. I don’t care who wins a individual position battle because the competition itself should up-grade the position. May the best man win.
By honest abe
July 28, 2006 1:43 PM | Link to this
wendy your constant jabs at the “stews” is music to my ears. those clowns know absolutely nothing about sports. always mispronouncing names, not keeping up with the most up to date sports news, and the most stupid game i have ever heard of in my life “yay or nay”… how these bozo’s have a national radio show and a following is beyond me. call me a hater, but getting on the radio and barking like a dog while incessantly bantering back and forth some incoherent blabber is not sports talk radio, IT’S A CIRCUS ACT!
By Charles
July 28, 2006 2:43 PM | Link to this
Keep the information coming. It does not matter. Battles 4 Position or not. GO DIRTYBIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Brian
July 28, 2006 2:47 PM | Link to this
Stephen you idiot look at Vick’s efficiency rating in college.
By ATLien4Life!
July 28, 2006 2:56 PM | Link to this
@honest abe, you sure seem to know a lot about their show for someone who hates it. If the show was two rednecks giving their inbred approach to sports radio you’d probably say it was a “hoot”.
By ILL-logical
July 28, 2006 3:33 PM | Link to this
The big 4 questions for the Falcons:
Who will be the BIG(320+) run stopper to keep the 300+ guards off of the $muti-million linebackers?
Who is the deep threat that will stretch the field for the ball control offense?
3.Will JW learn man to man coverge soon enough to help at corner THIS year?
By XD
July 28, 2006 3:51 PM | Link to this
GTJ, can you remind me of the ‘antics’ that Hokie players seem to invoke???
I’ll give you Marcus Vick…and then????
By honest abe
July 28, 2006 5:02 PM | Link to this
atlien4life: see you probably assume i’m white. which i’m not! i’m just a korean guy that likes sports and that show is probably the one of the worst that i’ve ever heard. i listen to it sometimes because my only other option is the buck and kincade show and i just absolutely can’t stand kincade…..just because i dont’ like a black radio show doesn’t make me a redneck or a nedneck lover. expand your brain…everything in this world isn’t black and white like so many of you ignorant fools choose to make it. asians get ragged on all day by the stews, in fact they make fun of latino’s and white’s as well. they use that platform to talk about all the injustices done to black people but they also use it to make fun of other. it doesnt’ make much sense to me. the thing is i can deal with all the jokes and stuff as i don’t take things too seriously. but their lack of knowledge about sports is sad! and i’m gone!
By e-roll
July 28, 2006 5:04 PM | Link to this
Not so honest Abe, if you ever took the time to actually listen to The 2 Live Stews show you would know that the brothers both have said that they are not on the airwaves to give stats or make it seem like they know everything about everything but to give a version of sports talk that we all have in our basements or dens. Now if you want the type of show that you seem to be mentioning, just go to ANY sports talk show and you will receive it but if you want something new, funny and exciting listen to the guys and give them a chance.
By e-roll
July 28, 2006 5:09 PM | Link to this
By the way Abe, Jim Rome doesn’t know a stat from a hat and he has a national radio show and a show on ESPN because he is ENTERTAINING, and I’m gone. Alright, alright, alright.
By honest abe
July 28, 2006 5:18 PM | Link to this
eroll cmon dude….seriously..just like i mentioned i’ve been listening to them due to limited listening options….if a version of sports talk in our dens means sports talk for illiterate, unemployed bums, who can’t even speak properly. well then i guess the stews just got lucky and hit it big with a certain niche. god knows there’s more than a fair share of stupid people in this country. as for jim rome i can’t stand him either. but he know’s waaaaaaaay more sports than the stews. they have a decent handle on football and that’s it! like i said entertainment is one thing. to use a platform to always ask questions like “why isn’t a brother on there” is beyond asinine. if you are trying to further the “cause” for your people do it in a way that demands respect from other cultures and ethnicities. don’t act like a freakin clown!
By john wilkes booth
July 28, 2006 5:26 PM | Link to this
Honest abe, you are the clown! I’ll see you at the theater tonight…you’re seated in the balcony, right?
By e-roll
July 28, 2006 5:30 PM | Link to this
Sorry Abe just can agree with you on this one. All any show on radio is attempting to do is entertain you. On the same station, you have Mike Bell who doesn’t know stats but is there to make jokes and do impressions. You have Chuck Oliver, who knows football up and down but outside of that does know too much more. Now if you can’t find comedy in some of the things that the Stews do, just buy a Sirius receiver and leave them and their national audience behind.
By e-roll
July 28, 2006 5:35 PM | Link to this
Also, Jim Rome DOES NOT know stats, he has a good research team to provide his info. Now back to the subject at hand, everyone please prepare yourselves for all the hits that Crocker and Millory are going to bring from the deep secondary all year. Teams are going to string out their wide receivers because they are going to try to get rid of the ball sooner because of our pass rush and the ATL will have a rebirth of hard hitting safeties that had it’s finest moments in the days of Scott Case.
By honest abe
July 28, 2006 6:28 PM | Link to this
john wilkes booth? hmmm strange selection for an id…i guess enough said with that one..
eroll: you sound like a fairly intelligent person. i don’t see how you would find incoherent blabber entertaining. but i guess everyone has their own personal preference. mike bell is funny unlike the stews and yet he still manages to sound like he knows what he’s talking about. chuck oliver does a good job stayin abreast of whats going on in the world of sports. all the stews have to do is read a newspaper (one) to at least sound somewhat knowledgeable but i digress. i’ve been listening to 790 since i was 15. that’s 11 years so you dont have to break down any radio personalities for me. thanks anyways though. and jim rome has statisticians helping him out? boo hoo… the stews are national tell them to hire one too!
anywho back to football. there’s just not enough attention being paid to our kicking game. i have to believe that there will be at least six games that will come down to a field goal if not more and we have two nobodies doing the placekicking. i realize that rich mckay knows what he is doing but placekicking could be the difference between a playoff berth and sitting at home.
eroll no hard feelings we just agree to disagree on the stews…
By Nikki
July 28, 2006 6:41 PM | Link to this
Crocker and Milloy are looking good. I can’t wait for them to lay the hit on someone coming across the middle. It’d be like an old Batman show. Bam!Pow!Splat!
By john wilkes booth
July 28, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this
Dude (honest abe), you are ignorant as hell if you don’t know who john wilkes booth is…especially if you are calling yourself honest abe.
And who cares how long you’ve listened to 790? You’re still an idiot.
By e-roll
July 29, 2006 6:23 AM | Link to this
Honest Abe, I do agree that we will just disagree on the Stews because the blabber is coherent to me because I understand all people from the low country of S.C., where the Stews are from to Dunwoody where Matt Cherinoff is from. Now back to football, I DO agree with you that we are not investing enough time nor money into our kicker position and this has to be addressed. The one thing that makes me feel good as a long suffering Falcon fan is that the only things that worry me going into the season is a kicker and another BIG defensive tackle for our line. My, how times have changed Buddy Curry and John Rade has to be laughing at our little concerns, lol.
By Carte Blank
July 29, 2006 9:48 AM | Link to this
The “crowd” at camp demonstrates why this team’s fan base is pathetic. And, you pimps will have an arsenal of excuses why a few stragglers is an aceptable “crowd.” In fact, there are no legitimate explanations except: Falcons fans suck.
Go to Latrobe, PA in late July: throngs, jammed roads etc.
Of course, the Steelers are a real football team.
By john wilkes booth
July 29, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this
Carte Blank,
Here’s why there was not a huge crowd. Atlanta is a REAL city with REAL money and REAL jobs. I guess you laid-off blue-collar working union types have boat-loads of free time on your hands.
By will c
July 29, 2006 12:03 PM | Link to this
No updates from Wendy last night…that sucks.
@honest abe. I enjoy the Stews and their brand of sports talk. They try to bring the barbershop approach to sports radio that’s played out everyday across America. I suggest you take $10 and go get a haircut at a Black-owned barbershop and you will get a better understanding of what I’m talking about. In the barbershop, we discuss politics, sports, race, music, potty humor, and more. The Stews are just an extention of the barbershop. If you want to know what black people are thinking, visit the barbershop.
Second, The Stews are not meant for everyone. To succeed in radio or any business, you must identify your core audience or target market and dominate it thoroughly. The core audience for the Stews are African-American men aged 25-50. The advertisers that support this show buy radio ads to target this market. I suggest you find a sports show that appeals to your intellect. Try Dan Patrick. He’s boring and very sterile. Better yet, why don’t you start a sports show that appeals to Asian men aged 25-50. Advertisers would pay dearly to reach that target market and chances are you will make a lot of money in the process. (Send me a commission for that idea). And just like the Stews, I’m gone.
http://www.williamcoit.com
By Spade Cooley
July 29, 2006 4:57 PM | Link to this
Hey, Person who Names Himself After a Racist Drunk ASSassin: I’m not from Pittsburgh, so insulting that city doesn’t even begin to wound me like the bakc-shooter you apparently idolize.
Also, your other guess are equally as off-target as they are irrelevant.
As I predicted, some offended idiot would rationalize why only a few show up for Falcons training camp. You see, the Steelers have a =national= fan base, and when you look at license plates at St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, PA, you see them from Maine, California —and, yes, Georgia.
Now, go hide in a barn, alky.
By honest abe
July 31, 2006 3:48 PM | Link to this
john wilkes booth: i never said anything about not knowing who he was. all i was trying to point out was that by you choosing his name as your id, already says everything, everyone needs to know about you. you’re an ignorant fool that nobody not even your southern brethren care to talk to.
will, i appreciate your view on the stews. but i’ve listened to them for some time now and i’m just not impressed. when african americans are working to hard to get rid of all the negative stereotypes used to portray americans. why use a radio show to play to all those stereotypes. i just think the stews hurting the image of those that they are trying to help.
By john wilkes booth's AA sponsor
July 31, 2006 3:48 PM | Link to this
I guess 5 superbowl championships in 6 appearances might lend itself to a national bandwagon, but to judge a team’s fan base by analyzing the crowd at a training camp practice is absurd.
Why would you expect the falcons to have a national following? What do all the teams with national followings (i.e., Yankees, Lakers, Cowboys, Steelers) have in common? Are there any 30-somethings who grew up in Maine rooting for the falcons? Of course not! You basically answered your own question.
Now go back to your room. Your dad and his “buddies” are waiting.
By Tee
July 31, 2006 3:50 PM | Link to this
Abe…go and pick up your white hood and cape from the cleaners…peckerwood!!
Who cares if you like the Stews or not. They are STILL going to be the #1 sports talk show in America and they are laughing all the way to the BANK!!
I bet you listen everyday…lololol
By honest abe
July 31, 2006 3:58 PM | Link to this
tee go back to school! you might actually be able to earn YOUR own paycheck!
By honest abe
July 31, 2006 4:10 PM | Link to this
oh yes one other thing..i find it extremely amusing how offended some of these people get when i just say i don’t like a radio show. it just so happens that the personalities are black. it’s not the other way around. stop thinking so narrowly and assuming i dislike the show for racial reasons. i swear, people always view things in black and white and that’s truly sad. it’s 2006 people, does inequality still exist? of course it does. but always pitying your situation and an us against them attitude isn’t helping matters.
By L.J.
July 31, 2006 4:10 PM | Link to this
Carte,
Are you serious? In the words of Allen Iverson, you’re talking about attnedance at “Practice”? Not the game, the “actual game”?
How ridiculous is that?