AJC > Sports > Falcons > Training Camp Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHouston 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.
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By ATLplayer
August 6, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Joey Harrington is NOT the right choice. He was only signed to fill-in for a game or two if Vick went down. You don’t get cut by two teams for nothing!!! I’d rather see DJ get a real shot.
By dirty byrd
August 6, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
well this week will tell the tale of whats to come by the end of this week we will have better idea of who we can count on during preseason pray for our hurts to get healed as long as they are ready for opening game we will be ok, think it will be slow start for falcons this yr with people being held out getting used to new schemes several vets wont play in games till about 3rd or 4th game then we can crank it up GO U DIRTY BIRDS!!!!!!!
By j-rock
August 6, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Throwing interceptions on the goal line….sounds like Kurt Kittner!!!!Go DJ and GO Falcons!!!!!!
By CQ
August 6, 2007 1:27 PM | Link to this
Im with you, Harrington could not even make the Lions or Dolphins. He had the starting job with the Dolphins and could not cut it. There should have been a QB battle for that spot.
I at least hope the coach lets Harrington play a quarter in this pre season game to see if he can run an offense.
By BarbJoyner
August 6, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
This hockey writer is a heckuva lot better football writer than Wyche. Maybe the AJC got wise and moved Steve-O on to covering Class A preps.
By morris
August 6, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
cant wait until vick is back…keep ya head up mike!!!
By Jim
August 6, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
morris, Vick ain’t coming back brother…wish he was, but it’s not gonna happen. We have to “run what we brung” and hope for the best.
By Theedge
August 6, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
When are all you UGA fans gonna drop the DJ thing? He is not ready!
By Clay
August 6, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
I didn’t know this article had anything to do with Harrington or Shockley…..I thought it was about our new CORNERBACK, not quarterback.
UGA Fans - DJ will get his shot. Just be patient. Falcons Fans - this is your team. It will be without MV7. Support it as it is, or find something else to do.
By Maurice
August 6, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
Vick is still a Falcon until the Falcons or the League says otherwise. They are supporting the Falcons by supporting Vick. I support Vick, even if he is guilty. I’m embarassed that he put us fans and the Falcons in this predicament. But he is still one of my favorite Falcons. We won’t give up on him because everyone else has.
By CQ
August 6, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
yeah the blog is not about Harrington, but its going to come down to him making big plays and he is not a big play QB.
Blogs in the past were not about Vick but somehow they turned into Vick bashing events
By ag
August 6, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Maurice, you support vick even if he is guilty! i don’t see the sense in that, but i guess i dont have to. if he is guilty you will be supporting him as prisoner 109493 of the san quentin shower boys.
as far as houston, i think he will be better off if he sits and watches with some spot duty. unless lewis sanders is just retched.
By Mike Smith
August 6, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
I am praying that Jimmy gets to start at safety over crocker because to me that is the weakest spot in our D besides right corner but we drafted a good young player at that position. I also believe that if Joey Harrington have a decent/average season we could surprise everyone and make the playoffs. Reason being is that if our defense stays healthy, a new defensive strategy, D-Hall being D-Hall, and hopefully a break out (pro-bowl) year for my boy Michael Boley we should have one of the to ranked defenses. Remember last season we started off great on D then folks got hurt and if im not mistaken we went the first 4 games not given up a passing touchdown. So hopefully we can improve on that and focus on stripping the ball like Chicago we wont have to worry to much about Joey and the offense be great but decent.
Oh and if Rex Grossman and other sub par qb’s like Trent Dilfer can make it to the super bowl than hey maybe Joey can luck up too. Well you cant blame me for trying to be excited about this season without Vick.
By Big Green
August 7, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this
What is happening with the free agent qb, Lang Campbell, the Falcons signed out of the Arena League about ten days ago?
Campbell has had three solid years playing qb in both the Arena and NFL Europe leagues and is a very intriguing free agent sign.
He is a former Payton Award winner at William & Mary, given to the best 1AA Player of the Year. How is he doing?
By Casey
August 7, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
When is training camp officially over? And when do the Falcons have to decide if they are going to suspend him for 4 games or not? Anybody know?
By DJISTHEGREATESTFOOTBALLPLAYERINTHEHISTORYOFFOOTBALL
August 7, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
Why DJ? He can’t throw the ball in the ocean from the end of a pier.
By TOM
August 7, 2007 4:23 PM | Link to this
Whats with abraham? i haven’t heard anything about him!!!
By j-man
August 7, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
All of this mental masterbation is premature! Preseason will answer all the questions! I believe Petrino will make the right decisions in time for the regular season.
By Rico
August 8, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this
Maurice Stated “They are supporting the Falcons by supporting Vick. I support Vick, even if he is guilty.”
My God, how do you respond to such a statement? Vick’s entire family is a casebook study of social dysfunction as our his “fans”.
By White Knight
August 8, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this
When are you blacks going to internalize - sorry, too big a word - UNDERSTAND the moronic thug Vick is gone? I suggest you concentrate on the players with the team or count down the days until the sorry-a$$ Hawks open camp.
By Grand Dragon
August 9, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this
Vick is gone, good riddance. I wish the other half of this city would follow him back to Africa. Atlanta was a nice place till all the Rap thugs moved here and now it’s just a big BET Video. People living in projects yet spending thousands on big SUV’s with big flashy wheels blarring that rap crap. This city has gone to hell in a handbasket. Wish for the Discipline that was here in the 1840’s. Puts these blacks in check. Why else do you think Mike Vick got out of line..He was given too much power and thus thought he was a God. Killing those dogs. if I had my way, me and my boys would string him up by the neck and electrocute him!! But what do you expect. You can take the N**** out the ghetto but you can’t take the Ghetto out of the N****. White Power!!!
By black dragon
August 21, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
My comment is directed to the ignorant individual who wished that the other half of the city moved back to Africa. Wakeup sir! Remember Africans were doing fine before we snatched from our homeland raped, separated from our love ones and yes tortured and hung like those innocent animals that are in question. Mike Vick’s situation is not indicative of how Black’s/African-American in this city behave. Contrary to what you may think, I am appalled and somewhat embarrassed for MV actions or behavior if the allegations are true. He should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. However, this is AMERICA and everyone can speak there own mind. As a race, we as Black/African-Americans need to really see how we are perceived by other groups. If this person (white dragon) feels this way about us, it is a possibility that there are thousands, if not millions more that echo this individuals (white dragon) sentiments. This could be your boss, manager or co-worker, who knows?
WAKE UP ATLANTA, THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE LOOKING AT US!!! Oh by way, White Dragon, I’ll continue to pray for you and MV!!!
By Hope
August 23, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Some people are just so ignorant (white knight, Grand Dragon) and need some common sense!! Slavery days are over if you two haven’t realized by now.It’s so good to know how some of you all feel meaning Crers, but I guess Terence Moore is right along with you all because he is an Uncle Tom. Leave Michael Vick alone, everyone was behind him when he was winning and soon as something doesn’t go the Crers way the name calling starts and you’re ready to push people under the bus. They were dogs not human beings, and lets not forget that Patrick Kerney had a rape take place in his house and even though he did not commit the rape it was still on his property, oh but I forget Cr*ers don’t worry about that just the dogs. GET A LIFE. AJC needs to learn what to post and what not to post.