Falcons start offseason workouts

Falcons defensive tackle #97 Trey Lewis goes down with a season ending injury against the Buccaneers during 1st half action at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. CURTIS COMPTON / Staff

Falcons defensive tackle #97 Trey Lewis goes down with a season ending injury against the Buccaneers during 1st half action at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. CURTIS COMPTON / AJC

Dana Point, Calif. — Falcons head coach Mike Smith was beaming ear to ear.

He said he’d receive a “good report” from the first day of offseason workouts.

He told the AJC that defensive tackle Trey Lewis, linebacker Robert James and running back Thomas Brown were all medically cleared to participate.

The Falcons let defensive tackle Grady Jackson leave via free agency and have not replaced him with a veteran. So the news about Lewis, who is coming off of two knee surgeries, was important.

Lewis was off to a promising rookie season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2007. He missed all of last season after re-injuring the repaired knee while walking down the stairs. Lewis might be able to help offset the loss of Jackson.

Robert "The Beast" James led Arizona State with 106 tackles. He was a fifth round pick, 138th overall in 2008.

Robert James was nicknamed "The Beast" at Arizona State.

James, who was nicknamed “The Beast” in college, was a fifth round pick last season. He missed the season with a head injury. The Falcons are in the midst of re-vamping the linebacking unit. James was called a “run and hit” linebacker and might be able to help next season.

Brown, a seventh round pick from Georgia last season, appeared to have the team made as a kickoff returner before a horse-collar tackle took him out with a groin injury.

Smitty wasn’t as forthcoming about the secondary. We told him we were having trouble figuring out what they were doing at safety. We told him about a “no-cover, no-hit” 46-year-old safety they might be over looking. He said “you can find plenty of those.”

Falcons running back #27 Thomas Brown returns the opening kickoff for a long gain during 1st quarter action against the Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Saturday, August 9, 2008. Curtis Compton/ AJC

Falcons running back #27 Thomas Brown returns the opening kickoff for a long gain during 1st quarter action against the Jaguars at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Saturday, August 9, 2008. CURTIS COMPTON/ AJC

Georgia safety Reshad Jones #9 gets his hand on a pass caught by South Carolina tight end Jared Cook #84 in Georgia's first SEC game (a win 14-7) last season.  RICHADDICKS@AJC.COM

Georgia safety Reshad Jones #9 gets his hand on a pass caught by South Carolina tight end Jared Cook #84 Iast season in Athens. RICH ADDICKS/AJC

Also, tight end Jared Cook is coming in for a visit. He’s a local player from North Gwinnett High and South Carolina and will not count against the limit of pre-draft players the Falcons can bring in. The Falcons flirted with signing free agent L.J. Smith and may be looking for a receiving tight end in the draft. The draft is considered to be deep at that position.

Those were the Falcon highlights of the AJC’s first day at the Owner’s meeting.

The overall highlight was running into Condoleezza Rice in the hall way of the hotel. The former Secretary of State and super football fan spoke to the Owners on Sunday night.

Team Prez Rich McKay and Tennesse head coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairs of the competition committee, went over the rule changes and points of emphasis for next season. Nothing major, other than banning low hits (Tom Brady rule) on the quarterback. They stopped short of saying they’d just let the QB’s wear skirts or kilts.

If they are out there with the ball, set to do damage to the defense then they should be able get hit anywhere. But in the name of player safety, they can’t be hit in their lower extremities. Players can reach out with their arms and take the legs out, but not lead with the pads.

The theme of the rule changes was player safety. The wedge on kickoff returns will become a thing of the past. Only two-man wedges will be allowed. Call that one the Kevin Everett rule. No more busting up the wedge and ending up with a devastating neck injury.

The AFC coaches speak Tuesday morning. The NFC coaches speak on Wednesday.

Excited about Lewis, James and Brown being back? What about the rule changes?

113 comments Add your comment

oldbrave

March 24th, 2009
3:33 pm

both great defenses

Terrell

March 24th, 2009
3:52 pm

SeminoleWarrior, the one thing we agree on is having the arsenal weapons, if Robinson is 100%, but I don’t agree with you in how we use HD. We’ve seen him on KR, and that’s not his strength, but he does excel at PR, and also I don’t think regulating him to just being a PR would help us nor do I think he would care too much for just being a PR when he was a exceptional WR for us last year. I would take him over Robinson at WR anyday.

uga_b

March 24th, 2009
4:12 pm

Laurent can compete for the number 2 spot or would be the number 4. However, Finneran would get more redzone and third down looks. He’s a talent, but pretty much the forgotten man.

I like that despite having needs, we are adequately positioned so we still have 5 number one options increasing our likelihood of drafting the best player available. Meaning we don’t have to have one of the first tackles, DE, TE or corners, which appear to be deep. These Safeties won’t go all that early.

Brian Hunt

March 24th, 2009
4:16 pm

Why does everyone keep forgetting about Chevis Jackson at CB? He’s going to get an opportunity to win the starting job opposite Houston. Improving the range at SS and getting a better pass rush will be the defensive key to improving the pass defense. More athletic linebackers should improve the run defense.

The Robot Nesbitt

March 24th, 2009
4:27 pm

The Robot Nesbitt conducted a search of Chevis Jackson (match case, find whole words only). Chevis was selected to fit the pass defense scheme proposed by the coaching staff. The Robot Nesbitt offers kudos to Brian Hunt for his observation on this internet website blog posting. This Robot expects a 74% increase in the effectiveness of Chevis Jackson in his version 2.0.

Robot still requires pass rush.

MARK IT DOWN!

March 24th, 2009
4:43 pm

The falcons defense will be in the top 15 by mid season and in the top 10 before the playoffs!! Smith will build this defense.

Northern Falcon

March 24th, 2009
4:51 pm

Just put your trust in the Brain Trust everyone! You just gotta believe that T.D. and Smitty along with the scouts know what they are doing. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

By the way very good article Mr. Ledbetter

cutter

March 24th, 2009
4:54 pm

Chevis Jackson, Stephen Nicholas and Thomas Decoud will get a chances to start on defense. Robert James and Thomas Brown are purely special teams guys. James will be lucky to make active roster.

angry banker

March 24th, 2009
4:56 pm

All this talk about peele – its to my understanding we still have Ben Hartsock on the depth chart. Didn’t we bring him in to be a run blocking TE? Isn’t that what we are? A run first offense? We added depth to our o-line in FA – I think our offense is set.

row3

March 24th, 2009
5:26 pm

I thought we had our safety of the future in Darren Stone. I’m not a coach, but I thought he had what it takes…Maybe DeCoud is the Man!

falcon21

March 24th, 2009
5:33 pm

I think 77 was the record year for the D, least points allowed for a 14 game season and I think Jerry Glanville was DC.

D. Orlando Ledbetter

March 24th, 2009
6:16 pm

ROW3: I liked Stone, too. But he was explained to me that he was straight-line guy, without the range to cover the field. Everybody wants this hybrid range rover type striker.

QB UPDATE: Mike Pereira, the NFL Supervisor of Officials, did a very good job of explaining the rule changes, the additional three proposals, clarifications and points of emphasis for next season.

The QB does have a strike zone as uga_b wrote: shoulders to knees. However, you can grab or wrap the QB below the knees. You just can’t lunge into the lower leg with your pads. Makes sense? They had highlights to show us.

BIG POINT OF EMPHASIS: The Horse Collar tackle. They doubled last season from 12 to 24 and 47 players were fined for the drag down tackle. Got a really simple suggestion for all of the coaches out there, youth all the way up, teach the players how to tackle properly and stop going for kill shots. HIT, WRAP and LIFT!!!

SeminoleWarrior

March 24th, 2009
6:40 pm

Nique/Terrell…so you are seeing HD as a “Wes Welker” type guy? I can see that in your analysis but without the number of catches. Robot, I still think that a healthy LR adds depth to the receiver corps.

Falcon 8211

March 24th, 2009
7:09 pm

hey fans, i think the safety is rodney harrison. TD come from new england. hrodney would provide leadership for the secondary. we can draft a safety in the mid rounds and let him learn a year or 2. what do you guys think.

falcon fan

March 24th, 2009
8:04 pm

The brady rule is bulls@#%. He clearly steps into that hit if you watch the film. That was the choice he made on that play. deliver the football, but take a hit in order to make the gain, nothing different than any of the other 31 starting QB`s do in this league every sunday except that it just happened to involve tom brady. I did`nt know their was a polite way to tackle someone. What a crock.

Shamus Thacker

March 24th, 2009
8:38 pm

Just draft a Ted Hendricks, a Ronnie Lott, and a Kellen Winslow Sr., and we’re good to go… Be nice to get a John Hannah in the later rounds too! I’d settle for a Keenan Forney…

D3

March 24th, 2009
9:13 pm

DOL – you’re on fire lately, man. Getting a new blog up every other day or so. Good work! Feel the draft coming……31 Days and counting!

JJ & Mountain Jim – Men, you couldn’t be more right on. This is the dead-zone for sports. The end of the Super Bowl brings a dark cloud over my sports interest. Baseball and The Masters not quite here yet, bball and hockey are definitely no fun to watch on tv, and FA sucked for us Falcons fans because nothing happened. Things are starting to heat up though, especially with the Braves looking strong and The Masters right around the corner. I was half-way interested in March Madness until my bracket got busted b/c of dumb@ss picks.

Seminole – good to see you back on the blog. It’s a fairly big IF, but if James, Nicholas turn out to be what the coaches think they will then we’ll be in good shape with them competing against Coy Wire for one spot, while Peterson holds down the other. My only concern with Nicholas is that he had his chance to win the job after Boley started tanking, and they went with Wire.

gdg73 – good point on Lewis. He has potential, but he is hardly close to a safe bet after getting injuried twice in a year. We definitely need a pick. Raji will be gone, period. I say that Jerry would probably be a safe pick at DT @ #24, but I’m still not sure about Hood. I think he has a chance to be good, but Missouri’s D definitely didn’t stand out to me. But hey, what do I know. I see your point on Matthews being a potential risk, but if Cushing falls to us(which I don’t think will happen), it will dang tough to pass on him. He’s a proven stud on the highest level of college.

clthurman – I’ll concede that our secondary is definitely weak as of now, potentially. But, Hutchins was a full-time starter the majority of his career and he has the potential to be a nickel and Chevis Jackson started his entire career at LSU, which ain’t too shabby and had a solid rookie season. Grimes did pretty average last year, but not just absolutely terrible. Irons has to prove himself as a dime or quarter back. If DeCoud doesn’t win the spot against a drafted SS (Chung, Sean Smith), he and Fudge could possibly play elsewhere in the secondary.

D. Orlando Ledbetter

March 24th, 2009
9:44 pm

D3: Thanks. We’ve got Coach Smith speaking in the morning. Got his overall take on the offseason moves.

Get your Cold Beer!

March 24th, 2009
9:48 pm

Okay,
Since defense is so unsettled this is what we’ll do. The best defense is a good offense! If we can keep the ball all day we don’t care what’s on the other side of the field. We’ll trade the rights for Mike Vick to Detroit. Tell em we want Calvin Johnson and we won’t worry about anything else except some real “O” lineman. We want to bounce people around at the snap! They can’t double cover both our receivers and between punishing them between the tackles and running Norwood or Brown on the reverse. They’ll be happy to just get off the field after the T.D. (don’t take this too seriously)

D3

March 24th, 2009
9:48 pm

Nique – nice draft, assuming we could trade back. Don’t agree with Moore; anytime a player just totally disappears from one year to the next, just can’t pull the trigger. Would love Chung, Smith, or R.Johnson(in that order). We gave up two second round picks & a fourth round pick for #21 to get Sam Baker and got two 3rd rounders, and I sure hope we get more than an extra fourth round pick. I like Jared Cook, Shawn Nelson, & maybe Chase Coffman as solid TE’s to pick up in rds. 3 or 4.

Robot – definitely original style.

Cutter – usually right with you, but I gotta disagree on the players you listed. Robert James shows all signs of being able to compete, and possibly win, a spot in the starting rotation. Thomas Brown, had all but locked up the KR/PR position before he got hurt and I definitely could see him getting some snaps rotating with Norwood at 3rd down back.

Falcon4Life

March 24th, 2009
9:49 pm

What # will LB Robert James have? He had 51, but LB Gilbert had it last year. And will LB Nicholas give up his #54 to Peterson?

falcon21

March 24th, 2009
10:09 pm

Heck no, Nicholas will keep 54 and will still have it when Peterson is long gone.

SeminoleWarrior

March 24th, 2009
10:56 pm

What’s up D3!! I personally would like to see James on special teams where he could possible replace DeCoud and Nicholas as the gunner. If we take Marcus Freeman in the third like I would suggest, then that would give us a nice trio with Lofton, Nicholas, and Freeman. Zach Follett of Cal is a fine SLB prospect as well. I definately want to draft Chung and Nelson will turn out to be the best TE in this draft when all is said and done.

Ball 4, Take Your Base

March 24th, 2009
11:12 pm

The QB has a “stike” zone now? Does this mean if Tommy Hanson doesn’t make the big league club he can be our starting DE?

Ball 4, Take Your Base

March 24th, 2009
11:12 pm

Enter your comments here

You're Not The GM

March 25th, 2009
4:11 am

clthurman is a raving idiot. Somebody please just shut him up. All he does is come to this blog and then complain that everything about the team, about the people blogging here, and about the beat writer just sucks. Well clthurman sucks. A big fat one.

So f’in go somewhere else, a-hole! You’re not needed here! Sorry nobody offered you the GM job, but I can see why. Maybe, just maybe, Smith doesn’t have much to say about the secondary because they have some plans they don’t want to tip anyone off to. Moron! And by the way, why aren’t you the super duper combine analyst? Because you’re a raving idiot who knows nothing about football!

You're Not The GM

March 25th, 2009
4:12 am

I nominate robot to go find clthurman’s sorry arse and kick it like Van Damme. Of course, you might have a rough time finding him, since he lives in his gramma’s basement.

Zoomie

March 25th, 2009
9:03 am

Add another voice of appreciation for DOL keeping us up-to-date on the movement, posturing, and minutiae of the off-season. It really helps to calm the withdrawals. I’ll be excited to see Thomas Brown back in play this season. He showed a bit of promise in the few seconds we got to see him play last year!

crabapplejoe

March 25th, 2009
9:04 am

Mitch wrote: “Milloy is still out there. Does anyone think there is a chance he could come back? Why is he still unsigned?”

You’re joking,right? Did you not watch the game we played against Arizona in the playoffs. There is a reason Milloy has not been signed in FA…he can’t cover anymore.

marko

March 25th, 2009
9:29 am

Orlando, ask these guys all the questions all you want. Just don’t expect much in way of a straight answer. coaches have elevated covering their mouths to an art to avoid having plays stolen. Imagine the lengths they must go to keeping their draft plans under wraps. I don’t have any idea where Thomas is going with this years draft. When he hired the two Mikes, Smith and Mularkey, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. In Mularkeys case I was pretty much right.

Supes

March 25th, 2009
9:33 am

D3,

Not sure if this is a likely scenario, but as far as filling the LB need, Matthews Jr. could fall into the early 2nd round, where the Falcons can grab him, therefore leaving the 24th pick for trying to fill another need. Maybe TE with Pettigrew, maybe the DL-DE position (depending on who’s there), maybe even go for a SS?

I think several projections have Clay Matthews Jr. going in round 2, and I heard him on Buck/Kincade a few days ago, sounds like a winner, someone who’s never had it handed out to him, had to work where he is, from a walk on, to special teams, to starting defense. I can definitely see him in the OLB position. He also had good things to say about Atlanta (and yeah, take that for what it is:) )

However, if, and it is a big “if” Cushing is there at 24, I just don’t know how you pass on him (drug use aside, hey any LB in the NFL is doing something…look at Shawn M. from the Chargers, so as long as he’s on my team and playing well, drug use aside).

Shane

March 25th, 2009
9:39 am

I am definitely in favor of the infamous hitting style, ‘catch and tickle’!!!

Ken Strickland

March 25th, 2009
9:40 am

I must say I may have made a mistake thinking Dimitroff and Smith wouldn’t consider drafting TE’s that aren’t good inline blockers. I don’t remember who it was, but a fan commented about drafting a TE and coaching him up, and the fact Dimitroff and Smith considered signing FA TSmith, a TE not known for his blocking, made me rethink my position.
Maybe they’re not looking for the finished product, but someone they feel can be developed into a finished product with the right attitude and good coaching.

I also have to agree with the assessment of CLTHURMAN. He appears to be someone with a very negative minded approach to everything who always seems to see the glass as half empty. He also seems to be extremely lazy because he chastises Ledbetter for not keeping him informed and providing him with info he’s too lazy to search the internet and find for himself.

marko

March 25th, 2009
9:40 am

Sorry about that, seems I hit the enter button by mistake. Anyway Mularkey’s a run first throw later kind of guy his Atlanta offense was’nt much different than the others he’s coached. Dimitroff and Smith on the otherhand are a puzzle. New England and Jacksonville feature two of the largest defensive lines in football. that’s the direction I thought that they’d take here. That’s not what I’m seeing. Given the chance to do it their way, they seem to prefer small and quick to big and strong.

I MUS.WRITE

March 25th, 2009
10:15 am

Enter your comments here

clthurman

March 25th, 2009
10:23 am

Sorry to hurt you ladies feelings with my negativity….hey I like to win what can I say. Of course I don’t expect to get the top secret actions planned by our hired braintrust. But I root for the Falcons win or lose and don’t mind hearing other people’s comments or viewpoints even if some and there are many on this blog which are borderline racially offensive or in poor taste. I don’t call them out because we know what they are here for…to get a rise out of people. Thank you D3 for your response and I have to say it illuminated some areas I was not really sure on. No I’m not a GM just a season ticket holder who likes a strong D…because that is what wins championships. I am not going to hunt on the internet for the cute Kyperisms that some of you blog incessantly about. I do know this for sure….you cannot in the NFL count on injured returnees until they are in uniform and playing. Remember Finneran and his 2 year odyssey. And Ken if you want to tell me about who in this years or hell even next years draft mister fact and combine queen who is a better player than Foxworth is…then I’m all ears. See guys I don’t like fantasy scenarios and what if’s….I just want to continue a winning streak past 1 season for a change. Abraham is getting older and if something happens to Ryan ….yikes!!!! You need a strong D to compensate for that. I refuse to play suck up to the writers of the AJC simply because in the past they have ….sucked. Johnny after the facts. Don’t like my tone fine, don’t like Robot’s fine. But you can’t argue with the facts that as of now our defense ranks as the worst in our division….yes even the Saints have done more recently. Sorry I won’t suck on the sweet grapes that were last year….I want the wine from hopefully next years winning season and playoff visit…and who knows a Super Bowl trip(without Eugene this time). A fan never has to apologize unless he gives up on his team….I never have. Nor will I try to rally the troops to villify someone I disagree with. I love Coach Smith and TD so far is a slam dunk…but we got cheap at the wrong time and did not lock down a good young DB which we got for peanuts…now we gotta hope that people are healthy and Grimes and Irons grow 7 inches. Not likely.

JJ

March 25th, 2009
10:25 am

Ken, I’m worried about Lewis(DT) and his knees. In your research of returning IR players (good blog), did you find out/know what type of knee injury? A 300lb tackle is going to get chopped and if he goes out again, would you think differently about the draft? Maybee Ron Brace of BC, I know Raji will be gone.
During last year pre-season, I was extremely impressed with Jason Snelling. He reminds me of a andrews/riggs type runner. Would love to see him and turner in the backfield with norwood split out. Anyway, great blog everybody, go falcons!!!

Barry

March 25th, 2009
10:32 am

Hey Y’all:

Oh the smell of offseason workouts just give me “chills” because I know the Falcon football season is near. Our FALCONS are getting things together with new players who are bonding with the old and studying their playbooks. I anticipate this season being more exciting than last season and I can’t wait for things to get started. The draft is coming soon and I know all the current players and fans are waiting for the reinforcements they will be getting to continue the “PROCESS” of getting our Falcons to the Supper Bowl. The “PROCESS” of our players getting back together for the offseason workout I know is exciting at Flowery Branch. I can feel the “HEARTBBEATS” of the players and the fans waiting to reintroduce themselves each other to become “ONE” again. I can’t wait, y’all. This will be a “GREAT” season. I can feel it! So join me as we do this in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”.
THE FALCONS AND THE FANS ARE BACK!!!!

NOW, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!

“ONE HEARTBEAT,BABY!!!”

FalconFan57

March 25th, 2009
11:02 am

Enter your comments here

FalconFan57

March 25th, 2009
11:06 am

Marko, I think you were right to start off with. I do believe Smitty and Thomas prefer the larger d-linemen but chose to address the offense in last years FA and draft. Doing so they had to work with what they had on defense. Also, I think Thomas’ background as a college scout had him aware early last year that this year would be a deep draft for several defensive positions and enable them to hopefully make the kind of selections this year like they did for the offense last year. Just give them this draft and I think you’ll see some meat added to the line.

marko

March 25th, 2009
11:47 am

Perhaps the Falcons are looking for a pass rusher like English or Johnson . I ‘m inclined to think not. I’m of the opinion that they filled the position last year when they selected Biermann. Kroy’s a small player from a small school. In limited playing time he recorded two sacks and twenty-one tackles. Mostly he got knocked on his butt a lot . That’s what I really like about Biermann ,when most guys get knocked down they take the rest of the play off. Not our Beer Man, gotta love that name, he gets back up faster than any player I can remember. I swear I remember one play where he was knocked down twice by a mean ugly offensive lineman and still participated in the tackle. So what if it was five yards down the field. The point is that the kid doesn’t quit. Many admired Larry English’s bulging biceps. They should bulge he bench pressed 225 lbs. 24 times. Poor little Kroy, who was ten pounds lighter could only manage 29. The question is why would we draft a player in the first round, and pay out first round bucks, that has a set of skills so close to Biermann’s who only cost us a fifth round pick. Five B at that. If I were to guess I’d suggest that the Falcon’s are asking Santa for a cornerback, if the old guys outta corners a linebacker will do. Any way now that Kroy knows he’s an end and not an outside linebacker, I suspect he’s spent the winter lifting weights. He seems to actually enjoy that sort of thing. Next year all those big mean bullies that picked on poor little Kroy are going to meet the new and improved Beer Man.

SeminoleWarrior

March 25th, 2009
11:50 am

Marko, I am reminded once more of the comment of “Sugar Bear” Hamilton when he accepted the ATL DL coaching position last year. He noted two key points that HE wanted in his interior DL. “Bear” wanted great hands and active feet to mix things up in the middle against the run so that the linebackers could be more active. One part of that equation is Babs hat as the undertackle. A clogger may be added later but the clogger is purely a two-down player. So with that, we may see a late selection like Terrance Taylor, Roy Miller, or Terrance Knighton…big, run-tested cloggers who could give away on third down to another quick, penetrating tackle. Ken Strick, as far as the TE goes, I think the pick will be in the third and it will be USM’s Shawn Nelson. GO FALCONS!!

SeminoleWarrior

March 25th, 2009
11:53 am

Marko, again we agree. The English pick would be a waste in that we have a similiar play in Biermann who already has a year in the system.

marko

March 25th, 2009
11:54 am

FalconFan57, Assuming they’re not putting all their eggs in Trey’s basket, who’s Gradys replacement?

D3

March 25th, 2009
11:54 am

Afternoon guys. Hump day baby, and exactly 30 days ’till Draft Time!

Supes – I’m right in your mindset. If Cushing falls to us(which I don’t think will happen), we gotta take him, period. He’s too talented to pass up. I could see passing on Clay Matthews, but I love his grit and toughness and he ran faster than Cushing and has similar measurables, BTW. I don’t think he slips into the second round, personally, particularly not back to our spot in Rd.2.

Ken – I may not have been the first or only, but I definitely think we should get one of the following at TE in the 3rd round: Cook, Nelson, or Coffman. They all have similar measurables: tall, fast, big, and can catch. One of our stud coaches can teach them to block.

clthurman – I can understand your point. Whatever it takes, we MUST put this back-to-back season winning thing away, once and for all. I get sick of hearing that about our franchise. I personally think we should’ve re-signed Foxworth too. He may not be Asante Samuel, but I don’t think the Ravens overpaid that much for him. And its not like we spent money on anyone else besides Peterson. I just think TD knows what he’s doing and they must feel they have more than advertised with we have currently.

Zoomie – definitely agreed on Thomas Brown. Watched him up close all 4 years at Georgia, and up until recently he held the highest strength total, pound for pound of any other Bulldogs. He’s a stud and great leader to have in the locker room. He’s an excellent KR and 3rd down back option.

SeminoleWarrior

March 25th, 2009
11:57 am

Barry, love your spirit my brother but this is going to be a tough “09 season. The schedule is a beast and while I’m confident Smitty and the team will represent each weekend, there is still a lot of work to be done. Back to back winning season is FINALLY within reach but a playoff berth, given our youth and this gruling schedule, would truly be divine intervention at its finest. But as Jesse would say, we can keep hope alive!! GO FALCONS!!

marko

March 25th, 2009
12:00 pm

Sorry Falconfan57, I think SeminoleWarrior answered my question.

JJ

March 25th, 2009
12:32 pm

cutter

March 25th, 2009
12:34 pm

D3- What are these signs that lead you to believe 5′10 219 lb Robert James could land a starting spot at OLB. He was a waive/injury IR last year from a concussion in training camp. Is there some coaches quote that gives you some clue or is it his stats last year (none), I can go along with the guy maybe making the team and maybe even being a special teams leader but there is absolutely nothing that tells me he can take a starting OLB posiition from Nicholas, Peterson or Wire. The Falcons will draft an OLB this year so that will be 7 linebackers I think the magic number in 6. PR/KR is special teams and dont forget about Jason Snelling. If Thomas Brown stays healthy, which has been tough for him to do in his career, he could replace Snelling as the 3rd back.

SeminoleWarrior

March 25th, 2009
12:35 pm

My mock draft: 1)SS Patrick Chung 2) CB Jairus Byrd 3) OLB Marcus Freeman 4)DT Terrance Taylor 5a) TE Brian Mandeville 5b) Roy Miller