AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 06
Monday, August 6, 2007
Houston ready for debut
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Free safety Chris Crocker and cornerback Chris Houston were back at practice this morning after both missed time this weekend with minor knee injuries. Crocker was with the first team at safety, although Jimmy Williams got plenty of work today, as usual. Lewis Sanders spent most of the time working with the first team at right corner.
Crocker made a nice play on an interception when the offense was working at the goalline. He stepped right in front of a Joey Harrington pass to cause the turnover.
I grabbed Houston after practice to chat about his first preseason game coming up and the competition with Sanders at the corner. Here’s what he had to say:
Houston on making his NFL preseason debut on Friday: “I’m just ready to see what the NFL is about. The practice tempo is faster — I know in the game it’s going to be even faster. I’m just ready to see how I fit in the NFL.”
On practices getting more intense: “There’s a little more focus on our jobs because it’s coming [close] to the game. We’re trying to polish up everything so there aren’t too many mistakes.”
On the battle at right corner with Sanders: “It’s going good. I’m just learning from Lou. I’m watching him and learning from D-Hall. To me it’s not a battle because I’m learning. [Sanders] has been in the league a long time, I can’t take anything away from him. I’m just learning form him. He’s helping me out.”
The best advice he’s gotten from Hall?“Just relax when I’m out there. You’re a corner, they’re going to catch balls, but it’s how you respond.”
There were a few players held out of practice besides the usuals like Warrick Dunn and Rod Coleman. Alge Crumpler didn’t practice (more on him in a minute), neither did Laurent Robinson, Brent Grimes, Jeramie Johnson, Eric Newman and Omare Lowe.
The interesting one to me is Robinson. He was having a great camp, and there’s a lot of anticipation to see how his debut will go on Friday. But according to Bobby Petrino, Robinson tweaked his hamstring during Saturday’s morning practice and the trainer wanted to keep him out for now.
“He doesn’t think it’s anything serious,” Petrino said. “Right now he’d be a day-to-day situation.
As for Crumpler, he got his knee looked at again on Friday and the doctor is recommending that he sit out at least another week. The MRI showed that there was some progress healing, but Petrino said Crumpler was getting frustrated when some of the pain returned.
Petrino admitted that there is some concern with the missed practice time.
“We were hoping it’d go smoother than it did. It’s just a healing process,” Petrino said.
There was a scare towards the end of practice when running backs coach Ollie Wilson went down during a drill. Players and coaches immediately called for the medics nearby and they rushed out to help him. Evidently, he’s been fighting a virus and overheated. Petrino was quick to leave the field after post-practice interviews because he wanted to get an update, but he was told Wilson was doing fine.
Positional battles heat up
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After a light day on Sunday the team is back at it in earnest this morning in Flowery Branch. It’s a big week of practice since that first preseason game is closing in quickly.
By all accounts, the Midtown Touchdown practice was a success on Saturday, but it’s down to business this week. It’s a big time for the battles going on in the secondary. Chris Crocker and Chris Houston both missed practice this weekend because of minor knee issues. Both are expected to be back out there this morning, I’ll let you know how they look.
Meanwhile, Steve Wyche’s story today on Jimmy Williams does a good job breaking down the battle at free safety. At corner, Lewis Sanders had a good practice Saturday morning and will look to build on that this week.
I’ll get my first look today at Tony Franklin, a veteran signed to add some depth to the secondary.
Since Friday’s blog, two offensive linemen were taken out of the picture. Rookie center Doug Datish was put on injured reserve and he’ll be out for the season (broken hand). The team released veteran guard Toniu Fonoti who was battling some injuries. I think that move says a lot about what the team thinks of Justin Blalock, who has done a nice job since missing the first day of training camp during contract negotiations. We’ll see where things settle today as far as the O-line depth chart goes.
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