DEL.ICIO.USFalcons coaches start process of trimming roster
Georgia star Shockley could be odd man out in QB rotation
The Atlanta Journal-Consitution
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Flowery Branch — It’s that time of the year.
Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
If D.J. Shockley clears the 75-man hurdle, he could get his best shot to show what he can do in the preseason finale at Baltimore.
With NFL rosters needing to be at a maximum of 75 players by early next week, the team’s personnel official — commonly known as The Turk — will make his rounds. His job: to inform players their services are no longer needed and to turn in their playbooks.
“We have a process in place right now,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve had to release some players right now, so we’ve had that process in place. No, we’re not going to bring a secret Turk in when we move down to putting this football team together.”
NFL rosters must be trimmed to 75 players by Tuesday. The Falcons are down to 78 players after releasing wide receiver Joe Horn and linebacker Isaac Brown Tuesday.
One of the more intriguing positions is quarterback. Matt Ryan will start against Tennessee in Friday’s preseason game. Chris Redman started against Jacksonville and Joey Harrington started against Indianapolis.
D.J. Shockley, of College Park and the University of Georgia, has seen mop up duty playing behind reserve lineman. He appears to be the fourth quarterback in a three-horse race.
“Right now, you have to say I’m a three quarterback guy in terms of how we want to put this roster together,” Smith said. “You want to have the security of having a third quarterback on game day.”
Ryan, the team’s quarterback of the future, has taken the bulk of the preseason snaps. The plan is to play him with the starters into the third quarter against the Titans.
If Shockley clears the 75-man hurdle, he could get his best shot to show what he can do in the preseason finale at Baltimore next Thursday.
“We certainly hope to give him an opportunity to play a little bit more extensively earlier in the games as we go through these last two preseason games and give him an opportunity to compete,” Smith said.
Shockley plans to be ready when he gets his major opportunity.
“I’m getting a lot better, day to day,” Shockley said. “The biggest thing is trying to stay consistent throwing the ball and with everything mentally.”
Playing with reserve linemen, Shockley was under extreme duress against Jacksonville and Indianapolis.
“I think he’s done a nice job of picking up the offense,” Smith said. “He didn’t get an opportunity to go through all of the [offseason workouts] because of the recovery from his knee operation. He’s a little bit behind because I think in terms of that he just hasn’t had the reps that the other guys have had.”
While Shockley, who still has some practice squad eligibility, might not be able to move past Redman or Harrington, other players fighting for roster spots are hoping to shine on special teams.
Brandon Miller, another former UGA standout, is trying to make the conversion from linebacker to defensive end.
“I’m just in practice trying to dominate on drills,” Miller said. “As far as the games go, I’m just trying to dominate on special teams. That’s my chance right now as far as making the team.”
Cornerback Wilrey Fontenot, a seventh-round pick from Arizona, is fighting for a spot in a crowded secondary.
“I believe that I’ve shown that I can do whatever it takes to be on this team,” Fontenot said. “It’s not necessary if it’s being a DB, or if it’s being a gunner on kickoffs. Whatever it takes.”
After the Tennessee game, Falcons coaches will review film on Sunday and if they reach “clarity” they won’t likely wait until the Tuesday deadline to get down to 75 players.
The more difficult job will be the following week when they must reach the roster maximum of 53 before the season opener.
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