Falcons: 5 things we learned from the scrimmage
Jamaal Fudge can deliver the big shot! He sent Jason Snelling to the grass here. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)
THE DOME – In the aftermath of last night’s scrimmage, here are five things that we learned about the Falcons.
1. Backup safety Jamaal Fudge, the former Clemson standout, can deliver the big hit (see above). With William Moore down for two to four weeks perhaps he’ll jump in and battle Thomas DeCoud for the starting strong safety spot.
2. Precision passing attacks never look get early. Too many dropped balls and high passes.
3. Christopher Owens showed that he can play. He made some nice plays on the ball and in run support. The battle for the left cornerback is heating up.
4. Running back Jerious Norwood ran more determined. And, oh yeah, he’s still pretty darn fast.
5. Quarterback Matt Ryan ran very well on the scrimmage’s first play. He ran up the middle for 12 yard gain.
D.J. Shockley and Arthur Blank watch as the game ball was parachuted into Brookwood Community Stadium. (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC)
About to head down to the field for the Mock Game at the “Roam the Dome” event. Will try to learn some more things here.
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87 comments Add your comment
Arthur Blank = Daniel Snyder
August 9th, 2009
9:20 am
Why pay less when you can pay more? I wasn’t paying Roddy enough to fall asleep in meetings and drop game-winning passes. So, I tore up the contract and gave him a new one. I really love the taste of Roddy’s mangravy!
Ken Strickland
August 9th, 2009
9:30 am
We’ve upgraded every position of weakness from last yrs team, especially on DEF. We’ve upgraded DE, DT, OLB, SS and TE positions, as well as added quality depth at every position except FB. Yet, so called experts, and fans that claim to be football literate, project we’ll win no more than 4 to 10 games. If you took this yrs Falcon roster, along with last yrs achievements, and named the team Steelers, Cowboys or Patriots, instead of Falcons, people would consider us Superbowl contenders.
Last yr if we’d lost WR HDouglas, or any one of our top draft picks, we would’ve been in big trouble. This yr, their isn’t a single draft pick that can’t be replaced by a equally talented player. This yrs team is built to last for the duration of the season no matter what. I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!
D-DawgDavis
August 9th, 2009
10:19 am
Good to see Roddy back in fold. I’m a season ticket holder and I really don’t have a problem with the 8.3 million (average per year). That’s about where he should be paid. We have now locked up a top ten offense for at least two years. Now, of course, they have to play a game. Roddy’s holdout just really goes to show that agents, lawyers, “posse”, have no clue what’s going on and they truly have the upperhand.
SickandTired
August 9th, 2009
10:43 am
Please Atlanta Falcons brass: don’t do the scrimmage at Brookwood again. The parking is absolutely awful and the atmosphere was nowhere near as good as it was last year at Mill Creek High School. Last years scrimmage was a real positive. I surely hope you learned from this year and we will see it in similar places such as last year and not the cramped outdated facilities of Brookwood.
Unca' Bob
August 9th, 2009
10:48 am
D-Led,
Thank you for providing a forum for Falcon Fans can visit and opine. Without you and The AJC, none of the above posts would exist. Sometimes, IMHO, people tend to forget and take for granted.
Those of us that are feasting on this free meal, we should not complain, especially with our mouths’ full.
Falcon 228
August 9th, 2009
11:06 am
Now there’s nothing for nit-pickers to cry about. Everybody wants to make a big deal out of nothing. This isn’t the same team from the past. Take a long look at the Steelers and the Patriots. Both teams spent many decades of frustration before they finally plugged in the right pieces. We all know butter makes corn on the cob taste better. But until we learn how to put that butter on the cob it can be somewhat of a challenge. Those of us that have that passion for this team know now that this isn’t the same old team of the past. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rainman
August 9th, 2009
12:30 pm
I don’t hear much concern from anybody about Moore’s surgery. It just came out of the blue and they say he will miss 2-4 weeks (or the bulk of training camp). Did an injury occur in practice? Was it a pre-existing condition? What exactly was the procedure performed? How can a rookie who misses so much time be expected to contribute at this critical position any time soon?
falcon man
August 9th, 2009
1:38 pm
We all know that D.J. is better than Redman… It will show on Saturday.. Some may even question why is Matty Ice Ice Baby starting on D.J…. But, its ok, The day that Matty boy gets crushed and injured, I would much rather have the Talent of D.J. at the helm, than old Redman!!
Football Mind
August 9th, 2009
1:50 pm
D.J. doesn’t even make this team. You Georgia fools need to let it go.
Big Ray
August 9th, 2009
1:51 pm
Glad to see Roddy make the right decision, and the Falcons organization reward their star receiver.
I’m not going to jump all over the Falcons brass for a “bad” contract, seeing as how the beat writer says that terms of the contract aren’t disclosed. This is the NFL people. Someone will always claim that a player is “overpaid.” It’s an argument of semantics, really. White made the Pro Bowl, and I hope he improves his game by making more catches and drastically reducing his untimely drops.
These aren’t the Falcons of old. Change is here. I don’t expect the path to be completely rosy and perfect, but I believe we finally have a winning team. Time to prove it.
Ken Strickland ,
I see your stalkers still love ya. You know you’ve affected somebody when they read every single thing you write (they have to, otherwise they wouldn’t know to respond each and every time), and even go so far as to post as your doppleganger. Now THAT’S popularity! Now that I’ve made a comment to that effect, I’m sure somebody will post as me (or some similar name) and say I’m gay or something.
The MO never changes….
Big Ray
August 9th, 2009
1:54 pm
Unca’ Bob ,
Agreed. 100%.
Falcon Man,
Are you serious? I like DJ and hope he becomes our #2 QB, but I have a couple of questions. Why did Ryan get the starting job, and how come no team is clamoring to sign Shockley away from us? I’m just sayin’…
Ken Strickland
August 9th, 2009
1:55 pm
FALCON228-excellent point. The Patriots didn’t become a mini dynasty until Belichick arrived. The Steelers were jokes before CKnoll arrived. It only took a HC with organizational skills, an eye for talent and a solid system for success for both teams to become powerhouses. In both cases they built a solid OL, established a solid rushing attack, secured a franchise QB and got him some quality receivers.
We have that HC(Smitty), and a GM(TD) to boot. They’ve built a solid OL, established a solid rushing attack, secured a franchise QB and got him some solid receivers. We’re going to become the Steelers and Patriots of the NFC.
Gator Hater
August 9th, 2009
1:56 pm
FALCON 57, you can always read another paper. STFU
Unca' Bob
August 9th, 2009
3:25 pm
Big Ray,
And I agree with you 100%. Good posts my friend. Great to see you hangin’ out again.
Atl Resident
August 9th, 2009
3:49 pm
Mmmm, all this good to hear about the scrimmages but reality is how they function playing against their opponents. In other words, bring on preseason to really find out where we are and grade them based on that.
Falcon57
August 9th, 2009
3:50 pm
Gator Hater, YOU STFU!!! There’s nothing wrong with wanting to read someone’s writings that you don’t have to stop and decipher what they mean compared to what they write due to them not being able to write it correctly. A news agency is after all supposed to be well versed in grammar and spelling. Some intelligent blogs is much more desirable.
And by the way, I’ve been a die hard Falcon fan since the late 60’s and read this paper on a daily basis so I’m not going anywhere, thank you!!!
Nookah
August 9th, 2009
4:15 pm
Even though I was not a fan of the holdout, I am happy to see Roddy back in the fold. If I am reading this correctly he got 6 years $50M? That’s the rate I think he would end up around, $8.33M/year. I said between $7-8/year. I think that’s about what he is worth. I did not think we’d go 6 years though. Hopefully he will continue to get better.
Big Ray, great to have you back in the Falcon blog. I know you have been an avid Hawk “poster”…lol. Welcome back my friend.
D Led, thanks for the info. I think we’ll be fine for this season.
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect everytime!!!!
Ken Strickland
August 9th, 2009
4:52 pm
BIG RAY-I’ve had my share of distractors. When they use your name to launch their attack, it shows they’re likely adolescent minded. The mentality behind their comments certainly suggests as much.
They’re either angry at me for coming up with an idea that makes theirs look really stupid, which seems to happen often, or they really like my idea, and are angry that it never crossed their minds, for obvious intellectual reasons. At any rate, I won’t respond to these clowns because it would be a complete waste of my time.
long time falcon
August 9th, 2009
5:56 pm
Big ray, teams aren’t clamoring to sign shockley away from us because he is still under contract with the falcons. Any team who tried to contact shockley would be in violation of league rules and subject to losing draft picks as a penalty. Shockley can be contacted after this season because he will be a restricted free agent and since he was a 7th round pick the compensation would’nt be that severe to sign him away from us.
Bill
August 9th, 2009
6:11 pm
I think most people that like Shockley like myself just want him to progress as an NFL player and would like to see him win the job to backup Ryan. Ryan is and will always be the starter but we like SHockley as the backup and next year he can stay here as the #2 or he can sign with a team that may want him. He has all the tools to be a starter, the only concern has been his accuracy but word is coming out of training camp is he is an accurate passer now.
Atl Resident
August 9th, 2009
6:35 pm
To Roddy White,
You can start dropping the balls all you want, but if you think Blank will keep paying you just to do that, you out your damn mind cause you will definitely get hated on long as you on any sports payroll in Atlanta.
Atl Resident
August 9th, 2009
6:37 pm
To Roddy White,
You can start dropping the balls all you want, but if you think Blank will keep paying you just to do that, you got to really be naive cause you will definitely get hated on long as you on any sports payroll in Atlanta.
Nite Owl
August 9th, 2009
7:04 pm
Hey Joel, another cool website is the online Webster’s dictionary, which can show you how to spell the word nickel. Isn’t that awesome?
Maybe you should “bite” on something else, troll. Move along.
Nite Owl
August 9th, 2009
8:12 pm
One more thing, Joel. Your mom called me from a payphone and wanted me to tell you to get off the computer. Your dial-up modem is hogging the landline.
She would tell you herself, but when she calls down to the basement, your Jonas Brothers CD is drowning her out.
Ahhh, that was fun.
Now who’s ready for Saturday?! I want to see Turner run over some folks, and I want to see Lofton (or Peterson—I’m not picky) knock somebody out.
Can’t wait.
Nite Owl
August 9th, 2009
8:18 pm
BTW I’m enjoying the random but much-deserved attacks on Perry L. and Rush.
JASon
August 9th, 2009
10:14 pm
I know it wouldn’t have made sense to tell Roddy White to go f himself, but I mean, that is an absurd contract I just don’t think he’s worth it!
REALITY
August 9th, 2009
10:30 pm
JASon,
I have “set in” on you and the Falcons salary cap. The Falcons had ALL
the leverage and STILL paid Roddy White FOUR TIMES what he was already under contract for this year. If there is no drop clause or slacker clause it was WAY too much a hit on the Falcons salary cap.
Roddy White has YET to show up in a big game or in big moments.
He BETTER step up his game to EARN what he was stealing all along!
Nite Owl
August 9th, 2009
11:02 pm
@Reality:
I agree we could have played hardball with Roddy and saved some cash. But why?
It was more important to get this done quickly and smoothly, with as little disruption as possible.
After Larry Fitzgerald and Randy Moss, Roddy’s the next best receiver in the league, and he’s just now entering his prime.
This shows that TD and Coach Smith are building something special long-term. They get it.
The true “reality” is we’re so used to the Falcons screwing up, we don’t see a good thing when it hits us over the head, like it has for the past 18 months now.
Nite Owl
August 9th, 2009
11:09 pm
And to clarify, I do think Roddy’s better than, say, Steve Smith and Hines Ward, especially when you factor in that those guys are nearly done, while Roddy and Matty Ice are just getting started.
Plaxico, maybe, if he hadn’t shot himself.
Paddy
August 10th, 2009
8:32 am
Big Ray… the reason you never hear about teams wanting to tade for other players is simple. It is privleged communications between GM’s. Who is going to know if TD got a call 2 weeks ago on a Sunday night at his home at 22:00 about DJ? Front office types are very careful about that kind of information.
Mike
August 10th, 2009
9:01 am
You need to proofread your articles before you post them…
“2. Precision passing attacks never look get early. Too many dropped balls and high passes.”
Traceman
August 10th, 2009
10:16 am
What do TO, Brandon Marshall, Calvin Johnson, Dwayne Bowe and Braylon Edwards all have in common? They are all top 10 receivers in the NFL? The all made the Pro Bowl? The correct answer is that they all had as many or MORE drops than Roddy did last year. Roddy has CLEARLY proven that he is a top 10 receiver in this league and he can make a STRONG case for being a top 5 receiver. He is worth every penny of his contract.
The reality is that “only” $18M of the $50M is guaranteed and it is highly unlikely that he will play out all six years of the contract. He will likely either be asked to restructure his deal toward the end of the contract or the team will release him. For those who say he was already under contract, so was Keith Brooking but that didn’t stop the team from releasing him did it?
The bottom line is that Roddy was right to ask for a new deal based on his production and that is why the team agreed to pay him. They knew that he was being DRASTICALLY underpaid for the type of production that he has provided for the last two seasons, it was just a matter of coming up with a number that was fair to both sides and the team did that. Kudos to Dimitroff for getting it done.
REALITY
August 10th, 2009
10:16 am
Nite Owl…let’s not get carried away there…Roddy White will never be confused with Steve Smith OR Hines Ward. Both have been to Super Bowls….Hines Ward won 2 Super Bowls…one in which he was Super Bowl MVP. Roddy White IS NOT WORTHY of being mentioned in the same breath.
MAYBE, one day, if Roddy learns to CATCH THE BIG ONE- Hines Ward would not have dropped a game-winner.
Hollywould
August 10th, 2009
2:43 pm
I believe a lot of that contract is to lock him up. As most of you know there is a possibility
of an uncapped year next year. As a sth I agree. The guy might have dropped a big pass here and there but what receiver doesn’t? Even all of you who have a man-crush on T.O. have to realize he has some of the worst hands in football.
Barry
August 10th, 2009
3:47 pm
Hey Y’all:
RODDY’S BACK!!! Now get ready for some stellar action from the offense with all the pieces in place, especially on the throwing and receiving end. Roddy, Jenkins, and Gonzalez are truly going to burn up the real estate with their catches and run after catches (RAC). Matt Ryan is going to look like a “SUPER STAR”, moreson than last year, with these guys on the receiving end of his throws. Once the timing get down in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!”, it is going to crazy on Sundays here in Atlanta. One day, one week, onth month at a time to get our FALCONS in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” mode. It’s coming together, baby. It’s coming together in
“ONE HEARTBEAT!!!!!”. With Roddy back, the tempo of the game has just increased. SO LET”S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!!!
I JUST CAN’T WAIT TO GET THIS SEASON STARTED!!!!!!!!!!
GO FALCONS!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………’ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!………………….
Ken Strickland
August 10th, 2009
7:17 pm
I certainly hope we’re through with the injury bug. So far, we haven’t suffered any injuries to our starters, just secondary players. Look at our schedule and pick out what you feel are the top 4 teams. You should come up with the Dolphins, Patriots, Giants and Eagles. Then look at the remaining teams an see which ones you think are really better than we are.
Remember, the Eagles defeated us early last yr because of a bsd call and/or decision on an AJennings punt return, while the Bucs, Panthers and Saints couldn’t handle us the 2nd half of last yr. We also defeated The Bears on a last second play. Of those 4 top teams on our schedule, and the 5 teams we played last season, I just don’t see the remaining clubs on our schedule, the Jets, 49er’, Cowboys, Redskins and Bills as being in our league. I just don’t see us losing more than 5 gms, worst case scenario.
im4ball
August 10th, 2009
8:42 pm
I was at Brookwood. Things I have learned: Ryan is much, much better than any other QB on the staff. Bigger, more acurate and well, just better. Redmond is not better than Schockly or Wilson but has more experience so he will probably be there…in case.
The line is behind the rest of the offense, especially on running plays. Not much there. Defense looks pretty good, especially on running plays.
Who knows how things will shape up for the season.
This is, after all, pre-season