AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 12
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Blank expressions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If he harbours any grave concerns about his team or its star quarterback, Mike Vick, Falcons owner Arthur Blank kept them concealed while visiting the team’s practice Saturday afternoon.
Dressed in sneakers, shorts and a clingy workout shirt, Blank played the role of casual observer over the proceedings that were moved to the stifling indoor practice barn due to inclement weather. He exchanged brief, cordial words with new head coach Bobby Petrino at midfield and monitored progress at the different stations where position players drilled before actual scrimmaging began.
He also devoted time for small talk with his current and prospective defensive standouts: DEs John Abraham, and Jamaal Anderson, and LBs Michael Boley and Keith Brooking. On the sidelines, he engaged GM Rich McKay in casual conversation as well.
With Vick snapping laser-guided passes to his receivers, and spirited bursts by the running back rotation, Blank looked like a man without a care in the world.
With the practice moved indoors, better glimpses were available. Take the on-field distance Petrino tends to keep from his players, and multiply that five-fold to know what it’s like trying to guage what’s going on under his rules. Whatever.
Some observations:
1) Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall returned to practice Saturday afternoon after being helped off the field (looking a bit dazed) during the morning session. But Hall was not his normal, high-spirited self.
2) There must be something more to the disgruntled defensive tackle Grady Jackson _ who’s attending the mandatory mini-camp but not participating in drills or scrimmages _ than just his space-eating girth. Though he filed suit against the team for divulging medical information about him, Jackson hasn’t been cut dealt or released, yet. Someone of his size and run-stopping ability will be needed to keep blockers off of Brooking. Taking snaps in his place Saturday was the brutish Alabama product, Anthony Bryant. At 6-foot-3, 337 pounds, Bryant is just a few biggie-sized meals shy of Jackson’s (6-2, 345) wide body. And Bryant showed dancing bear-like nimbility of feet.
3) Anderson, the first-round draft pick out of Arkansas (6-6, 262) is one heck of a block-shedding corner presence. This, without pads and full contact, mind you.
4) The competition for the role of backup to Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler (who is recovering from corrective surgery and not practicing) will be fierce. Crumpler’s been the model pro, in a supportive sense, it bears mentioning. Meanwhile, the UGA product Martez Milner looks strong and sharp and relatively sure-handed. And onlookers are marveling at the speed, hands and muscle packed on by second-year Cal-Davis product Daniel Fells.
5) At this point, the Falcons are indeed practicing as if Vick will be there for them at the start of the season. He took the lion’s share of scrimmage snaps Saturday afternoon.
Storms brewing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The assembled press _ basicly, me, our two esteemed Falcons beat writers Steve and D.Led and the photographer Ben _ has just been informed that a major weather system’s heading for Flowery Branch and the Saturday afternoon session will move into the unventilated indoor practice. Tempers could flare in there. Hardly the most comfy of confines.
And owner Arthur Blank’s custom SUV just pulled onto the premises. This could get interesting…
Quick reaction to some of your questions:
Chris Redman…the former Louisville quarterback brought into camp as a free agent doesn’t look to be a serious threat to D.J. Shockley’s position as the No. 3 QB. He may know more about how coach Petrino likes things done than the others, but no one is whispering about him being an up-and-comer.
Brian Finneran…was out on the field running 100-yard “sprints” at three-quarters speed Saturday. His recovery from a torn ligament can be summed up this way: His left calf muscle is about twice the size of his right.
Stephen Nicholas…the rookie linebacker from South Florida is being characterized as someone with excellent lateral speed and the ability to chase down the ball from sideline to sideline.
Joe Horn…the former New Orleans wide receiver is being treated as a true Falcons; a longtime Falcon even. Early on in practice Saturday morning, a coach was heard shouting, “Show some leadership out here, Joe Horn! Let’s get everybody going!”
Jamaal Anderson…the DE the Falcons used their first-round draft pick on looms large even though he’s currently running with the second-teamers. In agility drills, his quick feet and head-up running style were marvels to watch.
Jimmy Williams…best he’s being moved into a safety position because the fast and hungry receivers in camp are exposing his limited coverage skills.
Fred Gibson…is fairing well against perhaps the stiffest competition on the field for a roster spot. All the receivers - vets and rookies alike - are playing like their lives are at stake. Gibson’s catching just about everything thrown his way, but will that be enough?
Speed thrills
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Expect to read and hear more about the Falcons’ third-round WR draft pick Laurent Robinson. This kid out of Illinois State has the goods in terms of athleticism, quicks, hands and desire.
On Friday, the first day of mini-camp, Robinson had been matched up against players of lesser coverage skills. And he thoroughly abused them.
On Saturday, before Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall went down with a head injury and had to be helped off the field, Robinson squared off with him and handled himself well.
Coach Bobby Petrino has described Robinson as a legitimate deep threat. And here’s part of the reason why: Robinson’s flashing the skills to quickly get separation and go long but, more importlantly, he goes up and GETS THE BALL. Consistently.
And it’s not a flukey kind of acrobatics that the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder’s displaying.
“He’s very fast,” Petrino said Saturday. “The thing I like is his body’s always under control.”
Speaking of thrillers: Scribes assigned here for mini-camp are killing some time during the three-hour breaks between sessions by watching and commenting on the highlight reel footage of backup running back Jerious Norwood and rookie safety Daren Stone that someone’s posted on the Web.
Norwood’s packed on some serious upper body muscle since last season and it hasn’t diminished his quickness. The key to his elusiveness (about 6 yards per carry last season) may this: It looks as if his feet scarcely leave the ground as he darts and cuts. A slight cause for concern, from this vantage point at least, is that when he does come into contact with defenders, Norwood usually takes the hit up high.
Stone, a chiseled 220-pound specimen out of Maine, has been both on and off the practice field during this camp for some reason. But the Internet footage showing him running and leaping over parked cars speaks to his potential.
D-Hall takes a fall
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
FLOWERY BRANCH - The Falcons haven’t worked out in full pads during this weekend mini-camp, but that hasn’t prevented an elite member of the defensive corps from getting his bell rung.
New head coach Bobby Petrino addressed the media following Saturday morning’s practice session and said he still hasn’t determined the seriousness of the injury to Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall that sent him walking gingerly with assistance to the locker room.
During a scrimmage between the starting offense and defense, Hall went down in a heap after attempting to break up a pass. The initial contact between Hall and the intended receiver appeared minor at first, but the collision caused Hall to fall face forward awkwardly. The scrimmage resumed as Hall lay motionless on the turf. Attendants eventually went to his aid and took about five minutes before lifting him to his feet.
“I think he’s okay,” Petrino said. “He flipped on top of a receiver and landed on his head a little bit. I don’t know if it’s anything serious.”
It remains to be see if Hall will participate in Saturday afternoon’s practice session.
