AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 01
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
One last blast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s morning practice session ended 10 minutes ago and coach Jim Mora has only now released the team from an extended huddle speech at midfield.
No doubt he’s telling them to be prepared for a racheted up contact practice this evening.
As it turns out, two of the team’s most rugged defenders (Keith Brooking and Lawyer Milloy) didn’t participate in drills this morning either. Both looked well-rested.
But practice ended on a sour note: a busted play in which Mike Vick had to pull a botched shotgun snap out of the dirt and hurl a 50-yard Hail Mary in the vicinity of rookie wideout Adam Jennings as the final buzzer sounded.
An “Oh No!” moment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That giant sucking sound you may have heard all the way from Flowery Branch was the chorus of gasps that followed the sight of Michael Vick being chopped at the knees by a fallen teammate.
The starting offense was working “hurry up” plays against the reserve defense at the time of the mishap. Reserve tight end Dwayne Blakley had fallen off his block and down to all fours as Vick was going through his progression of receivers. In an ugly instant, Vick rolled over Blakley and lay motionless on the ground for a five-count before rising gingerly to his feet.
The shake of Vick’s head smacked of momentary dejection. Drills have resumed with Matt Schaub taking the snaps.
Slap and tickle
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At last, a sign of competitive juices flowing now that the morning haze has burned away guys are starting to work up a serious lather.
A brief, on-field bout broke out between second-year center Toby Cecil and second-year linebacker Martin Patterson after at least one of them apparently forgot that this is a padless practice session. Teammates pulled the two facemask-pullers apart.
With Dunn not practicing, the big backs (T.J. Duckett and Justin Griffith) are carrying the bulk of the load. Duckett’s shooting through interior line holes fairly fast; it’s on the quick pitches to the outside that the traffic catches up to him. Some trick plays unveiled today worked with Griffith involved and they’d probably be even more successful with Dunn toting the rock.
One note on the tailback drafted out of Miss. St., Jerious Norwood: the kid looks downright skinny when he’s not wearing past. You have to wonder how someone with such a slender lower body will hold up to the punishment of the NFL.
Mild, mannered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This Tuesday morning practice got off to a low-key start: shorts and jerseys and helmets. No pads.
Alge Crumpler, Warrick Dunn and Allen Rossum are among the notables idle; riding stationary bikes or milling around.
Coach Jim Mora’s spent the first phase of practice hovering over the DBs and offensive lineman. Receivers are being put through the most intensive workouts so far, and coach George Stewart is riding Roddy White to run crisper routes. White’s also had slight difficulty snagging any ball that’s not right in his breadbasket.
Shoe show update: DeAngelo Hall’s modeling white high-tops with pearl gray streaks courtesy of his Reebok endorsement deal. He looked faster in Monday’s red-and-black version.
Still, theres a healthy contingent of fans lolling in the grassy knolls around the field. Nothing yet to really perk their interest.
