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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 02
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Falcons miss playmaker at receiver
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This wide receiver thing could have been so much easier for the Falcons. I mean, guess who’s coming to town Sunday with his speed, size and sizzle?
Yep, that guy.
Ever hear of Calvin Johnson?
We’re talking about somebody who was an all-everything player at Georgia Tech via Sandy Creek High School. We’re talking about somebody who has the reputation of ranking as the perfect son.
We’re also talking about somebody who the Falcons foolishly didn’t trade up and grab in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. They had a slew of nice picks and a huge incentive (nothing close to a Calvin Johnson) to do so. Instead, Lions general manager Matt Millen sat in his war room waiting for a call from somebody from Flowery Branch, but it never happened.
This isn’t to say the Lions are displeased with their young Randy Moss — you know, without the Randy Moss personality or baggage. While the famously humble Johnson will sprint even faster toward stardom after spending last year producing flashy plays despite a creaky back, the Falcons are left with a bunch of maybes at receiver.
Maybe Roddy White will continue to improve after a productive 2007 season following two years of mediocrity. Maybe Michael Jenkins can leave four years of obscurity by evolving into a blocker instead of a receiver. Maybe Brian Finneran can contribute after missing two years with two major knee surgeries. Maybe young receivers Laurent Robinson and Harry Douglas will mature in a hurry. Maybe Ben Hartsock and Martrez Milner can become Alge Crumpler at tight end.
Maybe the Falcons are fooling themselves, but probably not, suggested Terry Robiskie, in his first year as the team’s wide receivers coach. “I like the quality and depth of this unit,” Robiskie said during training camp, and Robiskie has been an NFL coach for nearly three decades.
With apologies to Robiskie, the Falcons’ “quality and depth” would be better with You Know Who.
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