FLOWERY BRANCH – During the lockout, Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry spent time working out at the University of Mississippi with Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher, whose life was once loosely depicted in the movie "The Blind Side."
Jerry and Oher, former college teammates, shared some football insights while working to stay in shape.
“We were just working on fundamentals and techniques,” Jerry said. “It was just us working on what we need to do to get better.”
Unlike his friend, Jerry, a former first-round draft pick, fell out of the limelight, though he'll draw a start against Jacksonville at 8 p.m. Friday at EverBank Field.
After suffering a gruesome knee injury in the second game of his NFL career in 2009, Jerry has been in recovery and working his way back into form.
“I’m just getting the feel of the game back,” Jerry said. “I’m just going to keep working. I feel real good about myself.”
Last season, Jerry played on passing downs only. A knee injury to Corey Peters has pushed Jerry into the starting lineup for the upcoming game against the Jaguars.
Jerry was the 24th player taken overall out of Mississippi in 2009. He opened the season as a starter against Miami before getting injured in the fourth quarter of a 28-20 win over Carolina.
Peters, a third-round pick in last year's draft, won the starting job last season. He started 15 games and finished with 40 tackles, two tackles for losses and a sack.
Peters started in the exhibition opener against Miami and Jerry came in with the nickel defense.
“Peria got a lot of snaps in the ballgame,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We saw some explosiveness running to the football, so it’s good to see him back almost to 100 percent.”
Peters suffered a left knee injury in practice Sunday, and is considered day-to-day.
“Right now the doctors and the trainers are saying all we need to do is rest it and see how it responds to treatment over the next three or four days,” Smith said.
The Falcons did not want to entertain the notion just yet that Jerry might open the season as the starter if Peters can’t recover quickly.
“Right now, he’s definitely out for this week and we’ll see where he is for next week,” Smith said.
The Falcons still believe that Jerry can become a force.
“He’s been a successful football player at all levels,” Smith said. “It’s unfortunate that he had the injury. Last year, he never got back to 100 percent with that injury. This year, he looks very good.”
Jerry made plays in opposing backfields last season, collecting 14 tackles, four tackles for losses, two sacks and three quarterback hurries.
Smith, a former Baltimore assistant and Jacksonville defensive coordinator, is encouraged by what he's seen of Jerry.
“If you take the average number of snaps and his production, he was a very productive player last year,” Smith said. “We are hoping that he’ll continue to progress and keep working toward getting back to where he was. The trait that he has, that a lot of guys don’t have, is that he’s very explosive.”
The Falcons are hoping that as Jerry gets more comfortable with his knee that he'll become even more disruptive.
“We just told him from the beginning, do what you’ve always done,” Smith said. “You don’t have to change your game. I think Peria is coming along and progressing well.”
With constant prodding from defensive line coach Ray Hamilton, Jerry appears to have taken the message to heart.
“Coach Ray is going to be coach Ray; he’s hard every day,” Jerry said.
Jerry’s defensive-line mates can see his confidence growing, almost with each snap of the football.
“For the most part, he’s like my little brother,” defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said. “I try to keep him under my wing. I try to make sure that he’s doing the things to develop his game.”
As far as Jerry’s concerned, the knee injury is behind him.
“I feel real good about myself,” Jerry said. “I have more knowledge about the game and that should help me play faster. I really feel good about the upcoming season.”
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