Entries Tagged 'Position Breakdown' ↓

By: T. Love

Probably one of the strongest units that the Atlanta Falcons will field this season, the linebacker core is coached by first-year man Brian Van Gorder that left Georgia Southern after one season and ran the team into the ground with a 3-8 record. (Could not of happened to a better university in my opinion, Go Apps!!).

The linebackers return all three starters from last season in Keith Brooking, Michael Boley and Demorrio Williams, while releasing the likes of “prized” free-agent Ed Hartwell and Ike Reese.

Keith Brooking (6-2, 245)
A 10-year veteran and the leader of the Falcons defense, Brooking led the way with 136 total tackles (95 solo), 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery a season ago. He started at middle linebacker to start the season while Hartwell nursed all of his ailments. The unit played strong with Brooking in the middle, but he is more comfortable at weakside where he began his career. Unfortunately, general manager Rich McKay did nothing this offseason to address the MLB position so Brooking will hold it down for another season. It is safe to say that he is a bit on the backside of his career, but Brooking will continue to bring tenacity and intelligence to the football field. Look for #56 to lead the defense once again in tackles and he will have to make a lot of those downfield with not much of a defensive line in front of him. On a side note, he is yet to start a fight in training camp and we are about four days in.

Michael Boley (6-3, 236)
In one word, STUD. If they made a replica jersey, I would own it. (Sorry Mike, I’m not shelling out $200 for a jersey). The third-year man out of Southern Miss. finished fourth in tackles last season, while adding three sacks, three fumble recoveries and a pair of picks to his resume. As strong-side linebacker, Boley is big enough to take on tight ends and pulling guards and does not get gobbled up in space. Due to a lack of pass rush last season, Boley was used as a rush end to generate more pressure. With a healthy John Abraham and the addition of rookie Jammal Anderson, the pass rush should fair well and Boley can concentrate on just making plays at linebacker. Can’t wait to see what he does when he has only one job.

Demorrio Williams (6-0, 232)
A fourth-year player out of Nebraska, Demorrio Williams will get the nod at weakside linebacker due to his speed and agility. Williams signed a one-year tender with the team this offseason and could grab a nice payday if he continues to progress this season. In an effort to put on a little more bulk, he tore a pectoral muscle during the offseason and was scheduled to return between Weeks 2-4. He is currently in practice and wearing a protective sleeve. Williams finished third on the team last season with 90 tackles. Hopefully, Atlanta will pony up the cash to keep this guy around or watch him walk for nothing.

Stephen Nicholas (6-3, 235)
Drafted in fourth-round, rookie Stephen Nicholas selection was probably one of the most strategic moves made by the front office in a long time. First, with the injury to Williams, Nicholas serves as a great insurance policy and can contribute to the team immediately. Second, in the event that Williams does walk away with a hefty pay day, Nicholas would have had one season to prepare for the starter role. Nicholas will earn his stripes on special teams for the time being and will find his way onto the field in situational packages.

Jordan Beck (6-2, 233)
Beck has played incredibly well in the preseason and that is it. Beck is a hard hitter and has a nose for where the play is going, but he has been leapfrogged on the depth chart by free-agent Orlando Huff. He will probably see most of his action on special teams once again.

Orlando Huff (6-3, 236)
Huff came to Falcons this offseason after spending the previous two years with the Arizona Cardinals. The Fresno State product can play all three linebacker positions and will be the first player called when one of the starters can’t go.

Marcus Wilkins (6-2, 231)
Will fill the void left by Reese. Special teamer that probably won’t figure too much into the game plans.

John Leake (6-0, 228)
Special teamer

Tony Taylor (6-0, 237)
An undrafted rookie free agent, Taylor has received plenty of praise during training camp. Despite is small stature, Taylor is a beast when it comes to tackling and has excellent recognition skills. He will benefit greatly by knowing Van Gorder’s system from their days in Athens and could find his way onto the 53-man roster.

Analysis
If the three starters stay healthy this season, the linebacking core will be the cornerstone of the Atlanta Falcons defense. All three will excel in Zimmer’s system which is more aggressive and utilizes blitzing. Speed is one of the key components of the blitz and this unit has plenty of straight-line and sideline-to-sideline go. Brooking will have to be strong in the middle with a lack of solid line in front, but he seems to be up for challenges every season. Williams will make plays left and right and Boley is on the verge of a pro-bowl season.

By: T. Love

The Atlanta Falcon receivers were an underachieving bunch under the Jim Mora regime to say the least. A young and inexperienced group, coupled with GM Rich McKay’s pathetic history of drafting receivers and a former offensive lineman as the coach and you have recipe for disaster. But that is nothing a little coaching and an offensive philosophy can’t cure.

Head coach Bobby Petrino likes to use four- and five-wide sets in his power spread offense, so of all the individuals on the current roster there has to be at least six that can make a contribution. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson will help mold these receivers similarly to his work with Cincinnati Bengals’ receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmenzadeh.

Joe Horn (6-1, 213)
Probably the biggest acquisition by the Falcons this offseason for three reasons. First, he gives the team a legitimate deep threat that will make the tough catch. Secondly, he will be a mentor for these young receivers that has been desperately needed the past three seasons. And finally, who else of note did we sign this offseason? At age 35, Horn has lost a step and his body is not as tough as it use to be which is evident by his nagging injuries the past two seasons. Despite only playing 10 games in 2006, the four-time pro bowler still nabbed 37 balls for 679 yards which is only two fewer than the Falcons top wideout. He will be the No. 1 receiver through training camp and should hold on to that position all year. Hopefully, one of our young guys will step up under his leadership and take over that No. 1 spot. I know who I have my money on.

Michael Jenkins (6-4, 217)
First-round pick and the Falcons moved up in the 2004 draft to take him. It is time to step up. Jenkins had only 39 receptions for 436 yards, but developed a nose for the endzone as he had seven touchdown receptions. Jenkins’ game is similar to my golf game. I’m a solid putter within 10 feet, but driving, short game and hazard saves are my weakness. Jenks is solid in the redzone, but route running, consistency and separation seem to be where he struggles. Get to work Hue.

Sharod “Roddy” White (6-0, 208)
I’ll try to keep this as pleasant as possible. Get your head out of your ass and make some catches. Drops led to White being benched in favor of Ashley Lelie midway through the season. I was against this pick from the start, but I wanted to give him a chance. He has not done anything to this point to warrant his first-round selection. I’ll admit that he stepped up towards the end of last season to finish the year with 30 receptions and 506 yards. He needs to find that endzone more and he should be peaking over his shoulder for my guy.

Laurent Robinson (6-2, 195)
Pronounced La-RON. This is my guy. When the Falcons first selected him in the third-round of the 2007 draft, I immediately began dropping F-bombs. However, this guy was dominate in the Division I-AA ranks and since I am a graduate of Appalachian State, defending back-to-back national champions, I have to cheer for the guys from the small schools. He owns multiple single-season and career records at Illinois State and also holds Gateway Conference records. Who cares if he came from a small school, football is football. He can learn the speed of the game from the 3rd or 4th receiver position, beating up on sorry defensive backs until he is ready to be a go-to man. Obviously, Hue Jackson had some say in this pick and Bobby Petrino feels like this guy would do well in his offense. Those factors including a veteran to look up to in Horn… watch out for this kid.

Adam Jennings (5-9, 181)
Still trying to figure out how this guy is on an NFL roster. He looked cute on special teams last season, but didn’t contribute much at receiver. Petrino has a way of getting players involved by creating different packages. We’ll see if Jennings has anything to bring to the table in this new offense.

Fred Gibson (6-4, 202)
A UGA grad that has joined his boy D.J. Shockley in Atlanta. Originally drafted by the Steelers in the fourth round and was waived right before the start of the season. He spent two years on the Miami Dolphins practice squad before getting released. All of my UGA buddies say that Gibson dropped a lot of balls while at Georgia, but maybe he has worked on it as Coach Petrino seems to be real impressed. With his tall stature and speed, he could be a deep threat in this offense. I’ll be rooting for him.

Jamin Elliot (5-11, 195)
Played in one contest last season. Will fight for a roster spot.

Noriaki Kinoshita
Someone else want to chime in on this one? For some reason I don’t feel like the research would be worth my time.

Analysis
The Falcons finished dead last in passing offense and that was one of the many factors that led to the team’s second-straight meltdown in the final stretch of the season. The absence of veteran Brian Finneran did not help the situation and not having him again this year will be tough. The addition of Horn will bolster our passing numbers, but don’t look for him to be the solution to our passing woes. It will be Jenkins, White or Robinson that emerges from the pack that will be the No. 1 target for the Falcons’ QB (whomever that will be). Horn and Jenkins are the starters come Game 1 and Robinson and White will battle for that No. 3 spot early on. More competition in practice means more production on the field. I’m looking for Robinson to have a strong rookie campaign and Jenkins to be more consistent between the 20s. If anyone can get the most out of this group it would be OC Jackson and HC Petrino. I see this group finishing in the Top 20 in 2007 and taking full flight in 2008.

Comments, Criticism, Applause?

By: T. Love

The Atlanta Falcons have led the NFL in rushing yards the past three seasons. While Jim Mora was at the helm, the team employed the productive and controversial “zone blocking” system. The philosophy consisted of one cut and go and looked for cutback lanes. The system is controversial because the linemen would dive at the feet of defensive linemen to “cut” block. The running game was effective between the 20s, but the red zone is where the team faltered. The total yards on the ground are also misconstrued when taking into account the amount of yardage gained by quarterback Michael Vick on the ground.

Now that Bobby Petrino has come in, the team has moved away from the previous system and has gone to a power running game. The offense calls for a big running back that can push the piles and unfortunately, the Falcons have running backs that are more suited for the zone blocking system. For the upcoming season, the Falcons will work with what we have as the team moves more to Petrino’s philosophy.

Warrick Dunn (5-9, 180)
Warrick Dunn begins his sixth season with the Atlanta Falcons and is currently listed as No. 1 on the depth chart. He flourished in the zone blocking scheme and earned himself a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2005 (3rd overall appearance, 1st with Falcons). Dunn has started the past two seasons very strong, but tends to tire as it goes on. He is not well suited for Petrino’s power style of football and will have to work extremely hard to keep carries away from the emerging Jerious Norwood. Petrino’s backs must know how to catch out of the backfield and this aspect will keep Dunn highly active in the offense. His blocking is also an under appreciated talent that will help the team through the 2007-08 season.

Jerious Norwood (5-11, 204)
Norwood is an explosive runner that has the ability to hit the homerun anytime he touches the football. (Watch Jerious Noorwood) The second-year player out of Mississippi State has put on five pounds (up to 210) this off season to help him be more effective for the duration of the season. His pass catching ability out of the backfield will also make him more effective this season. If he plays to his level of talent week in and week out, he could supplant Dunn as the starter by mid-season.

Jamal Robertson (5-11, 215)
Career journeyman. Will battle for a roster spot, but could make it on special teams.

Jason Snelling (5-11, 232)
Drafted in the seventh round by the Falcons out of Virginia, but could be the teams answer in short-yardage situations. Snelling is faster and more shifty than his size would suggest, but he will probably only be asked to push the pile. He could also serve as a valuable backup to starting fullback Ovie Mughelli.

Analysis
Completed by the acquisition of rookie FA Justin Vincent of LSU, the Atlanta Falcons go into training with four running backs on the roster. Dunn and Norwood will battle for the majority of the carries while, Robertson, Snelling and Vincent will compete for the third spot. Norwood’s explosiveness and youth suggest that he would be the feature back in the offense; however, as Dunn continues to age, he continues to impress and will not give away the starting job without a fight.

By T. Love

The quarterback position is the biggest uncertainty for the Atlanta Falcons heading into the 2007-08 season. That is a bit hard to believe as there is a $130 million quarterback on the roster. With the allegations surrounding Michael Vick, his season and future with Atlanta is unknown. Assuming Vick is not suspended or takes a “volunteer” leave of absence, here is a breakdown of the quarterback situation heading into training camp.

Michael Vick (6-0, 215)

Last season, Vick established a career-high with 20 touchdown tosses but tied his season-high in interceptions with 13. Despite all of his freakish talent, Vick has yet to become an accurate passer and struggled tremendously in the hybrid west coast offense that was incorporated by Jim Mora. Bobby Petrino employs a vertical attack that works better to Vick’s strength and he could flourish in this offense. By all accounts, Vick has been putting in the extra time in the classroom and on the field this off-season. The QB will be able to audible for the first time in his career. BP requires his QBs to be around a 65% completion rate to be successful in the offense. Vick’s career percentage sits at 53.8. There is a lot of business Mr. Vick needs to take care of on and off the field.

Joey Harrington (6-4, 220)

Harrington signed with the Falcons in the offseason after a short stint with the Miami Dolphins. Originally drafted 3rd overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2002, Harrington has yet to live up to his billing. Last season, he passed for 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He was brought in to Atlanta after the Matt Schaub trade to provide a veteran backup. Now with the legal troubles of Vick, Harrington might have the opportunity to resurrect his career.

D.J. Shockley (6-0, 214)

D.J. Shockley is a local product growing up in College Park, Ga., and attending North Clayton high school. Shockley attended the University of Georgia and sat patiently behind David Greene for his opportunity to lead the Bulldog Nation. With his first opportunity as a full-time starter his senior season, he led Georgia to a 10-3 record and an SEC Championship. He has received minimal experience on the professional level, but does have the arm strength and accuracy to be successful in Petrino’s offense. He will push Harrington for the starting job, but will also have to work hard to keep Chris Redman buried on the depth chart.

Chris Redman (6-3, 223)
Chris Redman has six career starts in the NFL, but played under Bobby Petrino at Louisville. Redman probably will not see the field much this season, but could be helpful with his knowledge of the offense.

Analysis
It is beyond belief that there is any debate about who the starting quarterback will be for this football team. If Vick does not go this season, one of the three will have an opportunity to shine and win the spotlight. Harrington has the best chance to take over the position, but Shockley is young, athletic and intelligent enough to succeed as well.

Position battles begin on July 26.