AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2006 > August > 02
Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Not much movement
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The offense has just finished the serious business of running plays with Matt Schaub under center in place of the injured (hamstring) starting QB Michael Vick. Vick looked calm and healthy while sauntering onto the field, flashing a peace sign, to observe.
This is this blogger’s first time seeing tight end Alge Crumpler fully involved in team drills. He is running and cutting well, and catching everything thrown his way.
DeAngelo Hall, after receiving a congratulatory low-five from head coach Jim Mora, returned to working with the starting defense. And once the starting offense and defense started tangling against each other, the D definitely had the upper hand. Aside from some downfield passes Schaub was able to squeeze between double coverage Michael Jenkins and Roddy White, the chains weren’t moving much.
Flashes from Shockley
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Not-so-distant flickers of lightning have caused the rest of practice to be moved indoors. Patchy blue skies above, but perhaps the team’s erring on the side of being overly cautious.
With everyone inside, very few saw Brian Finneran exiting the administrative building gingerly on crutches with a massive brace on his injured knee. He smiled and waved meekly to the security staff and seemed fairly upbeat considering his season-ending circumstances.
Matt Schaub is not have the greatest of days as Michael Vick’s fill-in. Perhaps it’s a timing issue, but he’s not getting the ball to receivers in stride consistently. So they’re often having to make acrobatic catches, if they can get to the ball at all.
D.J. Shockley is getting quite a few snaps and is capitalizing on the opportunities with accurate passes and quick decisions on when to pull it down and run.
During one-on-one drills, rookie cornerback Jimmy Williams seems to be having little difficulty locking down Roddy White, who’s showing signs of frustration with how few receptions he’s making today.
There’s no telling whether he’s heard the rumors — strictly rumors — that surfaced today about his possibly being traded to Denver, but T.J. Duckett is taking quite a few handoffs today and applying some head-down brute force to a starting defensive line that’s acting like the season opener is this weekend, not six weeks away.
Something’s brewing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Within the last few minutes, storm clouds have formed over the Flowery Branch practice field and thunder’s begun rumbling in the distance. But that’s not the most potentially electrifying news at today’s practice.
When the Falcons finished their stretching (more on that later) and broke into position drills, star cornerback DeAngelo Hall ran in the opposite direction of his fellow defensive backs. Instead, Hall ran (in his flashiest shoes to date) to take reps with the receivers. The AJC’s Falcons beat writer will be filing a full report on what’s up with that. At first glance, Hall (wearing white shoes with red floral accents on the sides, heels and soles) looked to be running patterns and snagging passes effortlessly.
Hall returned to defensive drills later in the practice.
Elsewhere on the field: Jerious Norwood, the speedy rookie back from Miss. State, and reserve back DeAndra Cobb both look to be battling for playing time as kick returners if nothing else. Both went full throttle upfield, showing impressive speed and escapability. Still, the incumbent kick returner Allen Rossum displayed some serious zip of his own.
Newly acquired kicker, Carlos Martinez, is consistently left-footing balls inside the five-yard line.
