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Friday, May 11, 2007
Two down, three to go
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Day 1 of the first Falcons mini-camp under head coach Bobby Petrino is finito.
A steady drizzle came as a relief to players over the last 30 minutes of Friday afternoon’s practice. Petrino was a hand-clapping machine to keep everyone upbeat and moving.
Roddy White finally took the scuba fins off his hands and made some decent catches.
Rookie wideout Laurent Robinson continued to outshine him, though, with a string of high-degree-of-difficulty catches over return specialist Allen Rossum.
Joe Horn beat DeAngelo’s coverage for a healthy gain at one point. And WR Fred Gibson made some catches of note as well.
In answer to some of your questions….
It’s hard to tell at this stage what to make of the defensive line. Players are rotating in and out in the absence of Grady Jackson. And the defense mainly drills on a distant section of turf that’s been made off-limits to the media. More will be evident once full-contact drills commece.
The Falcons are without a doubt trying to beef up on the offensive line. They have five linemen who weigh in at 320-plus pounds on the mini-camp roster, and just as many others who are at least 300 pounds.
Former UGA linebacker Tony Taylor looks good in drills and has a good chance of catching on as some sort of hybrid special teams players, if not a backup/substitute for the injured LB Demorrio Williams.
And if anyone’s coddling QB Mike Vick, it’s not Petrino. Petrino was quick to let Vick hear it if he wasn’t getting plays called and launched quick enough. And Vick also got an earful about tucking the ball away on the few times he did run.
Snap judgments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Almost time to dash back out onto the field for the second round of practice today.
I wonder how the semi-sweltering heat out here at the Branch will affect the tempo.
In his press conference between sessions, Petrino mentioned the importance of players going fast, but protecting each other. There’s a fair amount of contact going on and it’d be a shame to see someone go down due to a fluke trip, slip or shove.
One rookie RB prospect was already carted off the field during the morning session. Not allowed to provide any further details, however.
Here’s the question for serious football fans: What are you aching to know about this team now that minicamp’s underway?
I may not have all the answers (thank goodness beat writers Steve Wyche and D. Orlando Ledbetter are here to offer guidance) but at least I’ll have a clue what to focus on.
You all have to hash out the topics addressed previously today on your own. No blogging allowed DURING practice under the Petrino regime. (What, does he have a Blackberry tucked into his sock, or something?)
Anyway, here are some snap judgments I’ve made in this very early stage of minicamp; free association style…
Michael Vick = Cool, collected, somewhat more muscular
Joey Harrington = Deliberate, mechanical
D.J. Shockley = A millisecond off track with his throws
Jerious Norwood = Jack rabbit quick, elusive
Jimmy Williams = A work in progress
Brian Finneran = Not fully recovered
Joe Horn = Fast and furious
Roddy White = Looking expendable
Laurent Robinson = A keeper
John Abraham = Imposing
DeAngelo Hall = Waiting for the spotlight
Chris Houston = Ball hawk
Coach is cornered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino staged his obligatory post-practice press conference a few minutes ago.
He had to field questions from the three dozen or so media members crammed inside the press room; eight camera crews included.
With a forced smile, Petrino deftly deflected questions about a possible suspension or even potential action QB Mike Vick might face.
As far as Vick’s on-the-job performance goes, Petrino had no complaints.
“He’s worked very hard,” Petrino said. What Petrino said he’s looking for from Vick is “consistency”; not building up to one terrific practice as he did in a previous mini-camp, but nailing his tasks in every practice.
To summarize the swirl of speculation around Vick, Petrino said: “It’s motivated him more.”
(I think it bears mentioning here that no one bothered to ask a single question about Joey Harrington, the QB recently acquired to serve as Vick’s backup. It’s as if he doesn’t register on anyone’s radar, yet.)
Petrino also had complimentary things to say about several other players - rookies and veterans alike - after the first practice.
He likes, for instance, the looks of former UGA tight end, Martrez Milner. Petrino mentioned, “the size, the ability to run block…Today he showed no problems with his hands at all.”
Other rookies on Petrino’s early pat-on-the-back list: DE Jamaal Anderson, “the body, the movement”; CB Chris Houston, “speed and quickness”; OG Justin Blalock, “very smart”; and WR Laurent Robinson, “I think he helps us as far as a deep threat goes.”
Veteran wideout Joe Horn continues to impress Petrino as well.
“I like his leadership and his toughness,” Petrino said. “I have to keep my eye on him to make sure he doesn’t take too many reps. He’s that kind of competitor.”
“Action Jackson” ain’t his name
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While he’s on the grounds (somewhere, “rehabbing”, according to Petrino) the big nose tackle Grady Jackson isn’t taking part in today’s practice sessions. Nor will he participate in any of the five practices scheduled for this weekend.
“He’s not ready,” is as much as Petrino had to say in that regard. Attendance here is mandatory for every player on the roster. Actual participation in drills (see: Alge Crumpler, Brian Finneran) is not.
But the big, disruptive defensive end John Abraham did practice this morning and he said he’s “100 percent” recovered from the injuries that curtailed what looked at first like a promising ‘06 season.
Abraham’s having the Falcons’ first-round draft choice, DE Jamaal Anderson, tote his gear on and off the field. But he’s also assumed something of a mentoring role for the pass rusher from Arkansas.
“(Anderson) just needs to adjust to the speed of professional game,” Abraham said.
Can you (not) repeat the question?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s a good thing the Falcons have better things to do than post comments on blogs.
They’re not acting concerned about character issues. Their minds are set on football.
Keith Brooking said it best after a barrage of questions about Mike Vick that he fended off like so many blocking backs: “If y’all want to ask me about playing middle linebacker, I’ll stand here and talk all day long. “
Asked if Vick’s situation was a distraction, Brooking parroted what other teammates are saying: “It’s not. At all.”
The bargain bins at Blockbuster are full of evidence that athletes don’t make very good actors. You sensed the sincerity when players like Brooking, DeAngelo Hall and Joe Horn all gave Vick their vote of confidence.
“I ride or die with my quarterback,” Horn said.
Reflecting on the 10 years of controversy and conflict he’s seen in various NFL locker rooms, Horn said: “You just have to show you can play through turmoil. ‘I’ve been there and done that.”
“We’re behind (Vick) 100 percent,” Hall said succinctly.
Vick sticks to the script
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First practice of Falcons mini-camp is now in the books.
Sorry for the delay between posts, but with the new Petrino regime in place comes new rules. For instance: no blogging during practice. So it goes.
Judging from the sweat pouring off players as they exited the field, they felt fully put through their paces. Not that the workout made all of them especially short-winded; especially not new wideout Joe Horn. More on that later.
What all the news crews came out here for was a chance to confront QB Mike Vick. After practice, he came out contrite and polite, but insistent against answering any questions related to the investigations surrounding him on the advice of his attorney.
With an ridiculous number of microphones and cameras in his face, Vick proclaimed in summary: “Don’t plan on talking about me anymore unless it’s about football.”“
Before that, Vick mentioned that Falcons owner Arthur Blank had been “really bold” in giving his honest feelings about the swirl of controversy. Oh, to have been a fly on a wall in that meeting room.
Petrino’s on his way in to meet the press. More later…
The “Mora” things change…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One difference between a Jim Mora-led practice and a Bobby Petrino practice is already evident.
Pads are popping from the outset and coaches are barking like they own the players’ fates. This is no feel-good scenario brewing.
There’s far more snap in players’ steps than there was in the pre-season sessions I attended last summer.
Another difference: Petrino keeps his distance during calisthenics. No meandering around the talent, slapping backsides with a rolled-up playbook. No smiles. No small talk.
You get the sense that a hungry, collegiate work ethic’s being instilled.
And, unlike the Mora practices I’ve seen, this version of the Falcons does some extensive stretching before practice. Perhaps that will cut down on the nagging sort of injuries that plagued the team last year.
So far, Mike Vick’s moving with the urgency of an underclassman just trying to make the traveling squad.
Maximum exposure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This may only be a mini-camp the Falcons are conducting over the weekend, but there’s no shortage of media interest in it.
With fifteen minutes to go before the first session starts, the pressroom here at Flowery Branch is crammed with camera crewmen (some making snide pitbull remarks) and a couple of comely talking heads. This for a press conference that may or may not take place three hours from now.
Weather’s warm and sunny here at the Branch. Ideal practice conditions you’d think.
Overheard something interesting at the Exxon outside the complex: A raven-haired lass who I wound up trailing here to the facility was speaking incessantly into her cell phone. Her last words before cashing out were in reference to a certain veteran kicker trying to earn a spot on the team. “The way (player to remain nameless) and I see it, if he doesn’t have a great season, then, okay, this Atlanta experiment’s over. Let’s move on.”
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