One of the storylines of training camp has been how Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan plans to use defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who’s been standing up in some situations.
Against the Bengals on Friday night in the exhibition opener, Umenyiora stood up in a two-point stance at right end on third-and-3 from Cincinnati’s 17 during the Bengals’ third possession.
“The read-option has created that,” Nolan said recently.
Umenyiora said he’s never had to stand up before over 10 seasons in the NFL.
“It’s not like it’s a scheme we invented where he has to stand up, but when you play the read-option, you have to have some vision of some things,” Nolan said. “It’s part of the NFL now, so because of that you will see a lot of guys do that.”
The Falcons have planned for the read-option and pistol offenses for much of the offseason, but Cincinnati is a more conventional team.
In the regular season, the Falcons will see read-option teams Carolina (twice), Seattle and Washington. They also will play San Francisco’s pistol offense.
“It’s very difficult to have your hand in the dirt and play certain things from that stance because on your first step it puts you in a bad position for what can happen next sometimes,” Nolan said. “If you are blitzing or something like that, it doesn’t.
“Osi and every other defensive end in the league, there are going to be times where they will wise-up to it real fast, and they will need to. They are going to need to do more than one thing out of it or they are telegraphed on that play.”
Worrilow a force: Reserve linebacker Paul Worrilow, an undrafted rookie free agent from Delaware, came in with the second unit and left his mark on the game.
He had nine tackles in three series in the second quarter. Then, after halftime, he made the tackle on the kickoff to start the third quarter.
On the fast track: Secondary coach Tim Lewis was rather frank about the future of cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, the team's first- and second-round draft picks.
Barring a natural disaster, both will be in the lineup this season. Trufant started at right corner, and Alford came in at left corner for Asante Samuel on the unit’s second series of the game.
Trufant and Alford each made three tackles in the first half. Alford also looked good in coverage as he ran step-for-step with Cincinnati wide receiver Mohamed Sanu on a third-down incompletion.
“They are going to play,” Lewis said recently. “We are going to need them to play. We are going to need them to play and play a lot.
“It’s no secret. Everybody in the league knows that we lost three guys to free agency. We acquired four (defensive backs) in the draft. So, we’ll be relying on those guys to get up to speed early, and they’ll hopefully contribute a great deal to our success.”
Money ball: Running back Steven Jackson, who opted out of a $7 million contract to leave the St. Louis Rams, is happy with his decision. He finished with 8 yards on five carries behind the rebuilt offensive line.
“Football is the ultimate team sport, and after being there so long and not being able to even compete in the postseason, it takes a toll on you,” Jackson said. “The way the game has evolved, going to more of a passing league, I know realistically my chances to win the Super Bowl are numbered. Atlanta presented a great opportunity.”
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