Clancy Pendergast headed our way?; TV ratings up
UPDATE
TWO QUICK THINGS
1. CLANCY PENDERGAST: We’re checking out this Clancy Pendergast to the ATL note. I know when the Falcons played Arizona in the playoffs last year, Coach Mike Smith had nothing but kind words to say about Pendergast and defense.
Don’t know what happened in Kansas City other than Scott Pioli is trying to put the New England band back together.
2. FALCONS ARE TV DARLINGS: For the second consecutive year the Falcons have seen a significant rise in TV ratings, according to Nielsen TV ratings provided by the NFL Broadcasting Department.
Falcons game TV ratings have increased 57 percent since 2007, the largest increase among any other NFL team. Atlanta is also up seven percent in ratings from last year’s 11-5 campaign.
In 2009, Falcons games were viewed by an average of 498,000 homes each week while Atlanta ’s Sunday Night contest against Chicago at the Georgia Dome reached the highest audience for the team in a single regular season week (642,000 homes).
FALCONS LANDING — Free Safety Thomas DeCoud was a surprise pick as the team’s defensive most valuable
Safety Thomas DeCoud laid a big hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2. The hit led to a touchdown.
player by head coach Mike Smith on Monday.
The battle for the starting strong safety position never materialized when second round pick William Moore struggled with his health.
Secondary coach Alvin Reynolds had to make a decision.
He elected to move last season’s free safety, Erik Coleman, over to Lawyer Milloy’s old strong safety. That created the opening for DeCoud, a third round pick in the 2008 draft from California.
DeCoud entered the final game with 108 tackles, according to the coaches’ film breakdown. He had two sacks, three interceptions, two sacks and one forced fumble.
He impressed with his striking ability. It was his hit that ended Clinton Portis‘ season.
DeCoud was also strong in coverage. His range allowed him to provide help over the top of the zones.
The Falcons don’t really like the old free and strong safety classifications. They like to have the hybrid safeties with range and hitting ability.
The question on DeCoud was if he had the hitting ability. He showed his speed and range on special teams as rookie.
When he started pummeling folks in the run game and stopping receivers in their tracks after the catch, you thought he was a keeper.
Now, he’s the coaches’ MVP.
HOFer EMMITT THOMAS’ CONTRACT NOT RENEWED: Longtime Falcons assistant coach Emmitt Thomas’ contract was not renewed by the team.
“Everyone here in the Falcons organization has the utmost respect for Emmitt, and we deeply appreciate his contributions to our team over the years,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said Tuesday night. “We wish Emmitt the best in his future endeavors.”
Thomas, who served as the assistant head coach/secondary for the past two seasons under Smith, was an assistant under the team’s past four head coaches.
Thomas first joined the Falcons in 2002 under Dan Reeves.
He was responsible for keeping the team together when Bobby Petrino left during the 2007 season and was selected to serve has the interim head coach.
Last season, the defense finished 28th in the league against the pass.
When Smith was named the head coach, one his first decisions was to retain Thomas and promote him to assistant head coach/secondary.
Last season was Thomas’ 42nd in the league. He played for 13 years and has coached for 29 seasons.
Thomas made the Kansas City Chiefs out of tiny Bishop College and went to a stellar career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of 2008.
Q & A EXTRA: Here’s a bonus question from the interviews the AJC conducted with owner Arthur Blank, general manager Thomas Dimitroff and and Smith earlier in the week. (THE BIGGEST NEWS FROM THE Q&A’s WAS THAT THE OWNERS AND THE NFLPA ARE MEETING ONCE A WEEK IN AN ATTEMPT TO SETTLE THEIR LABOR DIFFERENCES, according to Blank.)
Sam Crenshaw and DOL on Sports Extra, Jan. 10, 2010.
How active will the Falcons be in free agency?
Blank: “That will depend in part on whether or not the year is uncapped or capped because obviously the number of players that are free agents would become restricted free agents. So, we’d have to see how that plays out.”
Dimitroff: “We are very, very active in our evaluations of the free agents at this point. We’ve done a lot of work and we’ll continue to compare a lot of the free agents out there at positions of need. Again, we are waiting patiently to find out what will come to fruition on March 5 (start of free agency).”
Smith: “We are going to always try to better our team. Of course at the core, Thomas and I believe that you build through the draft and you supplement through free agency. If this is an uncapped season, the landscape of free agency will be much different than years before.”
A few other items. . .
Nice bow-tie!!!
DIMITROFF ON THE POTENTIAL OF AN UNCAPPED YEAR: “We are not going to be driven by the uncapped year. We will be very mindful of it. . . I know that we will be very fiscally responsible here.”
BLANK ON CONTINUITY OF THE COACHING STAFF: (He answered this before Thomas’ contract was not renewed.) “I think if you look at the great teams in the NFL, one of the things that’s pretty consistent is their positions at the top of their organizations. The general manager, the personnel departments, their head coach, their
Mark Gastinaeu, Joe Klecko (73), Marty Lyons, and Abdul Salaam New York Jets. Klecko and Gastineau who lead the NFL in sacks with 20.5, and 20 respectfully led the Sack Exchange in 1981.
coordinators and their position coaches. They tend to stay together. So we are going to do whatever we can to make sure that this organization has that kind of stability.”
MORE ON KLECKO: Defensive lineman Dan Klecko was signed to a reserve/future contract.
Klecko, 5-11, 275 pounds, was selected by New England in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.
He has also been used as fullback. He’s played in 63 career games with six starts. He’s recorded five sacks for 33 yards, one fumble recovery, two rushes for five yards and 10 receptions for 56 yards with one touchdown.
Yes, he is the son of former New York Jets’ Sack Exchange member Joe Klecko.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
75 comments Add your comment
J-MAN
January 13th, 2010
3:16 pm
Enter your coI wonder if theres no cap would it be a “Free-for-all” I’m sayin that with sarcasim. Between Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, Paul Allen- He is the richest owner afterall. Plus will Blank compete for premier free agents. Will he go after Leigh Bodden, Richard Seymore, Karlos Dansby, Casey Hampton, I doubt Wilfolk will be available with that potential Franchise tag, Ryan Clark, Dunta Robinson, Adewale Ogunleye, Kyle VandenBosch, Julius Peppers, I personally think we will be in play for many of these free agents and if we can sign some of these guys the off-season will be a sucess if you count the draft picks and the returns of Harry Douglas Peria Jerry and William Moore. What is your opinion some of these potentail moves Mr. Ledbetter? Baseball shouldn’t have the only hotstove league.
J-MAN
January 13th, 2010
3:17 pm
II posted this last night and I wonder if theres no cap would it be a “Free-for-all” I’m sayin that with sarcasim. Between Jerry Jones, Daniel Snyder, Paul Allen- He is the richest owner afterall. Plus will Blank compete for premier free agents. Will he go after Leigh Bodden, Richard Seymore, Karlos Dansby, Casey Hampton, I doubt Wilfolk will be available with that potential Franchise tag, Ryan Clark, Dunta Robinson, Adewale Ogunleye, Kyle VandenBosch, Julius Peppers, I personally think we will be in play for many of these free agents and if we can sign some of these guys the off-season will be a sucess if you count the draft picks and the returns of Harry Douglas Peria Jerry and William Moore. What is your opinion some of these potentail moves Mr. Ledbetter? Baseball shouldn’t have the only hotstove league.
Hamp
January 13th, 2010
3:58 pm
I say get a FA CB like Dunta Robinson. Then you Draft a Head busting LB some one mentioned the learning curve on CBs and that is very valid. We are set at Saftey because coleman plays well enough until moore is healthy think about this if moore and Decoud mature we are gonna have a awewome pair of safties. Nichols is good but we need that head buster to play behind the other OLBs this year to be ready when the gator leaves I love that guy and the way he came in and pushed the younger LBs.
F Troop
January 13th, 2010
4:12 pm
DeCoud was alright, but no star. To me, he managed to come to work everyday, stay healthy, and not get egregiously burned. Everybody else in the secondary falls under the former categories, but that doesn’t make DeCoud great. Never saw him pick off a deep one from a Cover 2 for example. But if he were to put on about 15 more pounds of muscle, for a “hitting” safety, he might be something.
F Troop
January 13th, 2010
4:25 pm
One question, Orlando: What’s your take on ACL injuries from speed position players? I was telling a friend that the player who suffers this type of injury is never the same – and where it counts most (WR, CB) are positions where you can least have diminished speed. That said, Harry Douglas and Brian Williams are gone if I’m a GM.
Also, why isn’t anyone talking about the Falcons getting a strict possession receiver, like a Wes Welker? Jenkins is way overpaid for what he brings to the game.
Third, when will the “draft a DB” talk settle down? A rookie DB cannot help you until game 10 at the earliest. Id even say that if we have a rookie DB starting for us the first 10 games either he’s the 2nd coming of Champ Bailey or Deion, or we’re out of the playoffs by then.
tyger
January 13th, 2010
5:47 pm
Notes….
Jamaal Anderson signed 5yr./$31M contract/ $15M guaranteed – has 2.5 sacks in 3 yrs., although plays run well, how do you justify it and/or how do you get out of it? i.e. what’s the hit to the cap, even if there’s no cap, there’s still a budget, so do you just let him walk, trade him or keep him?
Dan – I luv Dez Bryant too. But he will be long gone by the 19/20th pick. I agree with your freak analogy too. You want a 10 yr. stud.
Terrance Cody is still my guy. I watched most of the bowl games and know most of the names thrown about and was left un-impressed. Arenas too small, McClain ditto, looks like SS, Morgan, Robinson, etc. all good, but didn’t wow me.
T. Cody wows me, he’s the only guy I saw that other players didn’t want to block. Other teams always had to double/triple team. Fills a need and can plug-in immediately.
With question marks Babineaux, Anderson and Jerry – Cody makes alot of sense. And what if for Gods sake, we have one beast too many or wind up with one the most dominant Dlines in the NFL.
When’s the last time ATLs D-line was feared? The Gritz Blitz? Claude Humphrey? Biscuit Cornelius?
Abraham, Babineaux, Cody, Jerry
Davis, Sidbury, Biermann, Johnson
I bet the secondary and entire defense looks a helluva lot better. That’s strength up the middle.
Lil Larry
January 13th, 2010
6:59 pm
Best of luck Emmitt…enjoy yourself. Now, we need a DB coach that can really coach sound fundamental technique–and no NOT watching the damn receiver and hope you can guess when the ball is coming. First and foremost you have to have speed to run in stride with the receiver, look back for the ball, use your body to work the receiver to the sidelines (without using your hands), and finally make a play on the ball. Now that was easy wasn’t it? I would like a running back in the mold of Emmitt Smith (around 5′10″ , 220-230, with speed and power). Snelling did a decent job and got better as the year went on; but we need someone capable of keeping the level of play the same as Turner with no drop off. We need a 6′4/5″ receiver who is aggressive, attacks the ball, and runs sharp routes. A fast OLB who can blast the QB, cover RBs and TEs out of the backfield. Get a NT/DT who can push the middle and take on at least two blockers…this would free up our DEs to get after the QB. Move Baker to RT and get a monster blocking LT. And finally, use Norwood on the move or trade bait–but he cannot run the ball between the tackles (runs into his own players and drops his head too much). I’m glad I’m not the only person that sees him doing this.
gdg73@yahoo.com
January 13th, 2010
7:14 pm
1. Say no to Patrick Robinson in the first round.
2. Spend some real $$$ on a CB in free agency
3. Josh Cribbs is the stud. We could use him.
4. I would love Suh, McClain, or Eric Berry at our pick.
5. Since all three will be gone by then, Pick CJ Spiller (true game breaker)
RICHIE RICH
January 13th, 2010
7:31 pm
Nickz, i agree about Eric Weems, but i wouldn’t mind having Jordan Shipley in the 3rd rd if somebody doesn’t take him in the 2nd. He could replace michael jenkins as our #2 receiver and Weems as our kick returner.
Lil Larry
January 13th, 2010
7:37 pm
Also, when are we going to bring some defensive and offensive linemen in here with some size and power? When Smith came here he said he wanted to design this team in the mold of the Steelers lines that are designed to play in cold weather and have an unstoppable power running game. You don’t have to go small to have fast players. Look at the Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, etc. We need to bring some grade A beef on these lines what can push the OLs and vice versa on our oline.
J-MAN
January 13th, 2010
8:38 pm
Hey have you seen Justin Blaylock he is a hass lil larry. This team needs NFL players not “potential” case in point Jamaal Anderson. We could have had Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis, Jon Beason, Joe Staley all were picked AFTER Jamaal Anderson in 2007. So I know what everybody is thinking who are “The Football Players” in this draft.
In no particular order the guys that will show up on Sundays- They might not be hall-of -famers but they give you effort and production. REMEBER THESE PLAYERS ARE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
1.Ndamukong Suh
2. Eric Berry
3. Gerald McCoy
4. Terrence Cody
5. C.J. Spiller
6. Joe Haden
7. Rolando McCLain
8. Dan Williams
9. Dez Bryant
10. Derrick Morgan
11. Jahvid Best if recovered from concussion
12. Tim Teabow- he might not be a superstar but will not be a bust
13. Mike Iupati
14. Russell Okung
15. Jermain Gresham if recovered from injury
16. Taylor Mays
17. Javier Arenas
18. Donovan Warren
19. Brandon Ghee
20. Perrish Cox
21. Travis Lewis
22. Sean Weatherspoon
23. Carlos Dunlap
24. Everson Griffen
25. Arrelious Benn
If any of these players are taken I will fell good about this years draft but if we come down with 2 or 3 I think I will cry tears of joy.
Lil Larry
January 13th, 2010
10:07 pm
J-Man, that goes to show you the idiots Arthur had running his team and drafting these busts. Guy played DE all on a couple of months his senior year, does nothing special, and you still draft him? Arthur ought to run McKay’s ass outta town for being so stupid. A coach’s son does not make one a draft guru. That’s water under the bridge now…but we’re still stuck with some of these clowns. Anyway, there are a lot of excellent choices in the list you provided.
geno
January 14th, 2010
6:26 am
good writing there lil larry, finally someone besides me can see that this falcon team is in trouble…..too many bad drafts, not enough wide recievers, still running antiqated 4-3 defense, throwing too much to the TE, who and why is ovie mahaley on this team, inability to coach-up players, conservative offence, not enough speed and playmakers……bottom line 2010 falcons 6-10 or 7-9…..coach smith was right this is a “process” because its certainly not progress.
Andy
January 14th, 2010
9:06 am
I would really like to see attention to fixing the “Pass Rush” and acquiring a “Shut Down” Corner next season and using Brian Williams as depth and third down packages. Owens and Grimes played well down the stretch but they have to improve even more if the Falcons are to succeed in 2010.. Those are to two BIG troubled spots on the defense.
cutter
January 14th, 2010
10:46 am
F Troop- Keep in mind this was Decoud’s FIRST year starting and second year in the league.. Players due tend to get better with experience.
cutter
January 14th, 2010
10:46 am
do
truth
January 14th, 2010
10:52 am
Dang the NFL teams are missing the mark…..lil larry and geno are the answer to the NFL. Someone give them a call!!!! Hurry!!! They know how to be a GM, coach, own and play in the NFL!!! Bo aint got nuttn on these guys!!
cutter
January 14th, 2010
10:52 am
Brian Williams would have to be resigned. He’s a 30 year old coming off of total knee reconstruction and probably will not be ready for OTA’s or Preseason. We might not see Brian Williams again in a Falcon uniform.
J.FALCON
January 14th, 2010
11:36 am
I WOULD LIKE CLANCY BUT ONLY IF HE IMPLEMENTS THE 4-3/3-4 HYBRID D FROM ARIZONA. I DONT WANT A BASE 3-4 DEFENSE WE DONT HAVE THE PERSONAL FOR THAT. BUT I CAN SEE US SWITCH JA55 BACK N FORTH FROM DOWN LINEMAN TO OUTSIDE BACKER TO CREATE BETTER PASS RUSH OPPURTUNITIES.
what about Harry...
January 14th, 2010
12:06 pm
sorry, got too bored to read all of the posts. Weems was okay, definitely not great. Drafting a backup running back/return man so high doesn’t seem to make sense. We definitely need to see the health of Turner and Harry Douglass (2008 returner). Seems Norwood is too oft injured but Snelling is a nice “legs always moving” backup.
Go Falcons!!!
Jimbo
January 14th, 2010
7:17 pm
what about Jonathon Dwyer? I haven’t seen his name mentioned
Jimbo
January 14th, 2010
7:18 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawson Devitt (D3)
January 14th, 2010
7:56 pm
DOL – Great blog as usual and you looked migh-T-sharp rockin’ the bow-tie!
Should the Atlanta Falcons Keep Tyson Clabo? | The Bird Cage
January 14th, 2010
10:14 pm
[...] Check out DOL’s superb new post on Emmit Thomas’ contract non-renewal [...]
Atlanta Boat Show | AXI
January 16th, 2010
11:11 am
[...] Clancy Pendergast Headed Our Way?; TV Ratings Up | Atlanta Falcons Dt Ryan Kerrigan.. and Please get a defensive back that is a playmaker without the show bo… [...]