FLOWERY BRANCH – When the frenzied free-agency period started last week, the Falcons faced losing three starters along the offensive line.
When left guard Justin Blalock agreed to terms on a six-year contract worth $38 million with $16 million guaranteed on Sunday, coach Mike Smith knew his line was staying mostly in place.
Right tackle Tyson Clabo signed his five-year contract worth $25 million with $11.5 million guaranteed on Friday. The team lost starting right guard Harvey Dahl, who signed a four-year contract with the St. Louis Rams.
“I’m really excited about the moves that we’ve made in this free-agency period,” Smith said. “(Getting) Justin Blalock back is good news for our football team.”
Blalock, a 6-foot-4, 329-pounder, was drafted in the second round (39th overall) of the 2007 draft. He has been a starter since his rookie season.
He struggled his rookie season, but things started to come together for him under veteran NFL line coach Paul Boudreau.
He’s extremely durable and has started 62 of a possible 64 regular-season games.
“He’s never missed a practice since we’ve been here and he’s never missed a game,” Smith said. “He’s been very healthy.”
Also, Blalockscored a 41 on the Wonderlic test and is a smart and heady player.
Blalock can not practice with the team until Thursday when the league calendar year starts or if the new collective bargaining agreement is ratified and the year starts sooner.
The Falcons now have to clear up contract situations with running back Jason Snelling, an unrestricted free agent, and cornerback Brent Grimes, a restricted free agent who has a first-round tender offer.
But Smith couldn’t hide his happiness about the securing Blalock.
“For us, the way our free-agency period opened it could have turned out differently,” Smith said. “General manager Thomas (Dimitroff) and his staff have done a great job of addressing the areas of concern and the game plan that we put in place.”
Biermann ready to compete
Defensive end Kroy Biermann was not perturbed by the free-agent signing of Ray Edwards, who expected to take over his starting spot.
“They brought him in to help this team win,” said Biermann, who started 15 games last season. “I’m sure he’s going to do that. We’ll see how things play out.”
Biermann was asked if he was still competing for the starting spot with the prized free agent.
“I’m here to play,” Biermann said. “Titles are titles.”
Biermann finished with three sacks and seven quarterback hurries last season. He’s working on his finishing moves.
“I was getting tons of pressures, it was just unfortunate that they were not ending up in sacks,” Biermann said.
Nickel back competition
Cornerbacks Christopher Owens and Dominique Franksare playing at Grimes' left cornerback spot, but will battle for the nickel back position.
“It will be a good battle all the way through training camp,” Smith said.
Rookie update
Wide receiver Julio Jones, the Falcons' first-round draft choice, made a couple of spectacular catches during Sunday's afternoon practice.
“You got to see his athleticism and his ability to run off the ball,” Smith said. “All of our draft picks, in the first three days, have shown things that we saw when we were going through our draft analysis.”
Here’s Smith analysis of the draft picks:
On running back Jacquizz Rodgers: "He has picked up some things. We got a chance to see him do some things with the ball in his hands today."
On linebacker Akeem Dent: "He's not only playing in our base package, but in our (nickel) package as well."
On punter Matt Bosher: "I thought that our rookie punter, for the pressure that he's under right now, in terms of performing, I thought that he's done very well over the first three days."
On defensive end Cliff Matthews: "The big defensive end from South Carolina has shown some spurts as well."
On offensive linemen Andrew Jackson: "We like him."
Smith is getting up to speed on the 22 undrafted college free agents the Falcons signed after the lockout was lifted.
“We have to watch and see who rises to the top,” Smith said. “There will be somebody, there always is, who will step up and turn some heads here in our training camp.”
Cornerback Kamaal McIlwain, an undrafted rookie from Newberry, had an interception and flashed some speed on the return on Sunday.
Etc.
The Falcons worked on their no-huddle offense during parts of the afternoon practice. . . Smith sent the entire team over to sign autographs for the fans after practice. Normally, just a position group is sent over after the practices that are open to the public. . . The Falcons will put on the pads for the first time for their Monday morning practice.
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