AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2007 > May > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USStorms 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?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By iloxygenil
May 12, 2007 3:38 PM | Link to this
Oh c’mon…LIMITED cover skills from the Nation’s top corner 2 years ago? PLEASE…lets be real here. He may be adjusting and not fairing well at this point, but to say he has LIMITED cover skills is like saying that Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu have LIMITED cover skills.
How about any news on Deangelo?
By Jimmy
May 12, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this
Scott..have you heard/seen anything from a rookie FA WR named Vincent Marshall?? He’s a fellow University of Houston alum and I was just wondering how he’s doing(if he’s even there-I heard he was signed as an undrafted FA). He’s got unbelievable speed, but is a tad on the small side.
By SC
May 12, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this
Great stuff, A. Scott. Please keep it coming! Sounds like we have a championship-quality coaching staff up there at Flowery Branch. What did you mean by the ‘scuba-fins’ comment regarding Roddy White? Was that a comment about his footwork or his hands? Are you saying that if Laurent makes the team, then Roddy is out?
By don
May 12, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this
Scott, hat about Grady.
By E.Hill
May 12, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
Here is a question that us sports fans is pondering… When a player gets cut, how much of their contractual money is due to that player?
By mike
May 12, 2007 7:16 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update A. Scott. It sounds like things are going well even if it is early.
E. HIll I’ll try to answer you question. If a player is cut, they usually don’t get paid. Most NFL contracts don’t have guaranteed money other then the signing bonus. I believe the exception is if a veteran (not sure the exact lenght of league tenure) is on the roster the first week of the season, then their entire salary for that year is to be paid. That’s why some teams wait to sign veteran help after the first game. I might be wrong but I think that’s how it goes.
By RONNIE
May 12, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this
Fred Gibson is good player, and the term is good if they give him a chance.
By RONNIE
May 12, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
Fred can be an impact player if he get a chance on the playing field not on the practice squad..That’s the only way he can show what he got!!!!
By jaa
May 12, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this
I’d agree with Walton, I saw Williams last year in camp and was unimpressed by his coverage skills which is obviously why he was not in many games last year. Outside of hooking up with the receivers at the line he was very unimpressive. I hope he works at Free Safety. I still do not see why teams considered him a first round pick last year eventhough he was drafted at the top of the second round. Roddy White sounds like he could be trade bait. I’m sure a lot of teams would like to have him eventhough he has not done much here. My money is on Joe Horn, he may be old but guys like him and Malloy know what it takes to get the job done at the most critical moments of a game. Something many of the other players need to learn. They need to start the tradition of Falcon Pride.
By Najeh Davenpoop
May 12, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
I think when he calls Jimmy W.’s coverage skills “limited” he means as a corner. If JW has any problems covering at the safety position, it will be because he hasn’t played safety in the NFL before, not because he’s physically incapable of playing free safety. Also, I am loving these daily updates from mini-camp. Keep bringing the heat A. Scott.
By Nunna Yo Biznezz
May 12, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this
I wanted to know how TJ Jackson,the 2nd year man outta Auburn is doing..
Also,does Chauncey Davis,Mallard,Carrington,Turnbull,and Beck look any better than last year???
By SC
May 12, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Another question for A. Scott: Would you say that the Petrino coaching staff is a little more ‘open’ than the Mora coaching staff with respect to letting you report your impressions regarding the progress - or lack thereof - of certain players? You mentioned that you couldn’t talk about a certain rookie RB whom was carted off, but on the other had you can describe tangible measures of Finn’s physical state (i.e. calf), JWilliams coverage versus some of the WRs, etc. Last year, it seemed that Steve Wyche had to tiptoe around some of the same kinds of issues last year. This is no dig at Steve. I’m sure that those were the ground rules at the time. Rich McKay might set some limits, but I’m sure that the coaches ultimately set the limits. From the press conferences, Bobby Petrino seems relatively more candid than Jim Mora. No need to throw the past regime under the bus, but any comment?
I have to second Najeh on these reports. They are great. What about special teams? Who is getting a shot a KR/PR? Is Rossum healthy?
By Jimmy1
May 12, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
I checked out vincent marshall. good speed at 4.37. Unbelievable is down in the 4.2 range. You’d be a good announcer, though. oversell, oversell.
By This Gets Old
May 12, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Honestly I’m not trying to beat my dead horse but where is the plan? I’m just not sold yet on McKay. It’s a fact that every draft run by McKay has looked full of promise the day after the draft.
People do get Pro Bowl players out of the draft. Baltimore is 8/8 from their last 8 first rounders. Year ago we were writing about JWill being a steal in the second round.
Now not only can he can’t start at corner but he’s been moved to a different position.
We went into the draft two seasons ago needing help at S, DT, OL and we needed a K.
This year? Same needs.
“Where’s the plan?”
By jeanE
May 13, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Love the daily reports from the minicamp, really enjoying reading them! As for Finn, it takes a yr to recover from that type of injury, he did it last August so he should be fine by this August - he’s still recovering & regaining strength…I love these draft picks so far!! So glad Webster was cut, what a waste of money. I don’t think the league will dare suspend Vick, he’s too high profile but he probably deserves to be suspended, the moron.