Countdown to Training Camp: Day 4 — Wide Receivers
Roddy White will try to put together his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season.
Birdland – Just four days left to the players report!!!!
This is the seventh of 10 installments in the “COUNTDOWN TO TRAINING CAMP 2010.”
Each morning until Training Camp starts, we’ll take a quick look at a position group before the players report for camp on Thursday. They will hit the field for their first practice next Friday.
We’ve already looked at the defensive line, linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, offensive line and tight ends.
The wide receivers are up today.
THE REALLY BIG QUESTION: Can Harry Douglas make a comeback after knee surgery and become a threat out of the slot?
Roddy White came up 47 yards short from posting his third consecutive 1,200 yard season. He did amass a career-high 11 touchdowns and went to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
He will remain the main prong in the passing attack from the wide receiver position.
The under-appreciated Michael Jenkins caught 50 passes last season, but averaged only 2.5 yards after the catch.
Loading ...Veteran Brian Finneran could provide some depth and veteran leadership to the unit.
The team drafted Kerry Meier in the fifth round and then added some rather intriguing undrafted free agents in Brandyn Harvey and Ryan Wolfe.
FIVE GOALS FOR THE WIDE RECEIVERS
Wide receiver Harry Douglas is on schedule to return to the field soon. (Curtis Compton/Ccompton@ajc.com)
1. The entire unit needs to improve on yards after the catch.
2. Someone needs to step forward and become more of a threat in the slot.
3. With all of the attention on White and tight end Tony Gonzalez, there should be room for another receiver to step up and make some big plays.
4. Continue to block well downfield in the run game.
5. Make sure they have their assignments down when the team shifts into its no-huddle attack.
Here’s a look at the wide receivers:
Roddy White: His 11 touchdowns was tied for fourth in the NFL last season.
Harry Douglas: Had a strong rookie season and appeared ready to challenge for a starting spot before suffering a knee injury on the sixth day of training camp last season.
Kerry Meier: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Meier had a school-record 226 career catches at Kansas.
Michael Jenkins: Had a solid 50-catch season for 635 yards, but only had one touchdown.
Brian Finneran: Veteran route runner, who can also contribute on special teams.
Eric Weems: Served as the punt and kickoff returner last season.
Ryan Wolfe: Keep an eye on him. He’s the Mountain West Conference’s leader in career receptions with 283. He will be competing for the fourth or fifth spots.
Troy Bergeron: He bounced back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster last season.
Tim Buckley: Played quarterback at Alcorn State.
Brandyn Harvey: He’s another player to keep an eye on in training camp. The 6-foot-4 receiver caught 131 passes for 1,835 yards and 11 touchdowns at Villanova.
Andy Strickland: Spent the last two weeks of the season on the practice squad. Starred at Wofford. Was in camp with Jacksonville last year.
Date, Practice Times (public availability)
Friday, July 30 — Practice 8:30 – 10:10 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:25 p.m. (open to the public).
Saturday, July 31 — Practice 8:30 – 10:10 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public).
Sunday, August 1 — Practice 9:35 – 10:30 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:55 p.m. (open to the public).
Monday, August 2 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:25 p.m. (closed to the public).
Tuesday, August 3 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (closed to the public).
Wednesday, August 4 — Practice 1:30 – 3:40 p.m. (open to the public).
Thursday, August 5 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:25 p.m. (closed to the public).
Friday, August 6 — Practice 10:15 – 11:55 a.m. (open to the public)
Falcons Allstate All-Access “Friday Night Lights”
Team Scrimmage at North Gwinnett High School – 7:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 7 — Mock Game at Flowery Branch – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 8 — No Practice.
Monday, August 9 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (open to the public). COMBINED PRACTICES WITH JACKSONVILLE.
Tuesday, August 10 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public). COMBINED PRACTICES WITH JACKSONVILLE.
Wednesday, August 11 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (closed to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (closed to the public).
Thursday, August 12 — Practice 8:50 – 10:55 a.m. (closed to the public); practice 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. (closed to the public).
Friday, August 13 — Preseason Week 1 vs. Kansas City 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 14 –No Practice.
Sunday, August 15 — Practice 9:30 – 11:35 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:25 p.m. (open to the public).
Monday, August 16 — Practice 8:30 – 10:40 a.m. (closed to the public); practice 3:45 – 4:40 p.m. (closed to the public).
Tuesday, August 17 — Practice 8:30 – 10:55 a.m. (open to the public); practice 3:45 – 5:35 p.m. (open to the public). COMBINED PRACTICES WITH NEW ENGLAND.
Wednesday, August 18 — Practice 10:15 – 11:35 a.m. (closed to public).
Thursday, August 19 — Preseason Week 2 vs. New England 8 p.m.
Friday, August 20 — No Practice.
Saturday, August 21 — 9:30 a.m. – 11:35 a.m. (closed to the public); 3:45 p.m. – 5:25 p.m. (closed to the public).
Sunday, August 22 — 9:35 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (closed to the public)
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161 comments Add your comment
SirReal
July 26th, 2010
3:29 pm
Yes D Led. Dez Bryant is wrong for that. EVERYone has to pay their dues. Its all about the fraternity of the game. Seems to me like someone may have just a hint of being a malcontent in him…..just a bit. Then again, maybe he just doesnt wanna carry ROY WILLIAMS’ pads!!!lol After all, he’ll probably unseat him before its all said and done….
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
3:31 pm
Hiramsaint: That was the Super Bowl. And it was Eight receivers if you count the two point conversion.
truth
July 26th, 2010
3:32 pm
How was summer school today Hiram?
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
3:38 pm
SirReal: Dez Bryant was wrong. I betcha that 3 or 4 years from now, Dez Bryant is going to be trying to make a rookie carry his pads and this will come back to bite him.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, Bryant will be making headlines for all the wrong reasons, just give him a little time.
The falcants definitely made the right call in picking up Weatherspoon instead of Bryant. And I don’t know why any falcant fan would even imagine the scenario of trying to sign TO. How can you hate your own team with such a disdain that you could wish such discord on it?
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:42 pm
ahhh yes –the superbowl. yes –it’s all coming back now. wasn’t there a t.e. that caught a touch down pass in that game from a qb that had a 114.5 rating in that game
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:43 pm
i don’t know truth- i skipped again
truth
July 26th, 2010
3:44 pm
True SeenThisB4….we too have some weird ideas coming from the fan base. Funny thing is, that’s most likely what an aints blog says about you and Hiram. Maybe ya’ll should vist that site every now and then and see.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:46 pm
no – i kinda like you and the other girls here
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
3:50 pm
Hiram…….I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All that I do for you and you treat me this way?!?
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
3:52 pm
truth: Come on man, find something new.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:54 pm
really man – you always say it’s not you but it only happens when you’re actively blogging
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:55 pm
i think truth is really the undercover saints fan!
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
3:55 pm
Well, the Saints just signed Charles Brown, 4 down, 2 to go. Boy, I sure hope this guy’s girlfriend isn’t named Lucy. LOL.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
3:59 pm
B4- what do you think about the re-signing of mccray?
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
I think McCray will be hard pressed to make the final 53. I think Sharper’s on the bubble too, I hadn’t given that much thought until today, but with Macolm Jenkins moving to SS and Patrick Robinson in the fold, it gives them a little more flexibility and makes Sharper’s spot on the team, a little precarious, IMHO, especially so coming back from microsurgery on his knee. Darren’s gonna have to earn his spot this year, I really believe that. His edge is his experience and leadership skills, but is that enough this year? Going to be interesting to see.
O G Falcon Fan
July 26th, 2010
4:10 pm
All this taLK is bulls#$T. Bottom line is we play 2 times during the year. lets continue this conversation after the 2nd game.
Ken Strickland
July 26th, 2010
4:15 pm
Let me show you the state of the AINTS. As we all know, a chain is no stronger than it’s weakest link. Well, while the AINTS starting DEF is extremely weak, their backups are atrocious. Here are just a few examples.
1-They were forced to resign 34yr old 14yr safety DSharper for his 15th yr, because they couldn’t sign a FA replacement and don’t have anyone on their roster worthy of starting. This is the same DSharper who they originally didn’t offer a contract, because they originally didn’t want back.
2-They were forced to replace 31yr old 9yr vet DE CGrant with 31yr old 9yr vet FA DE ABrown. WOW, WHAT AN UPGRADE!
3-They were unable to acquire a FA to replace play making OLB SFujita, so they’ll have to resort to promoting one of their 5 UFA backup OLB’s. WOW, WHAT DEPTH!
The AINTS DEF is so weak, they don’t have any backups that are actually considered talented enough to be potential starters.
We saw an example of their DEF’s inability to stop our OFF last yr, when they struggled to stop a Falcon OFF that was using a 2nd or 3rd string QB, RB, LT & RG. We also saw their OFF struggle against a Falcon DEF that was using a 2nd or 3rd string DE, DT & 2 CB’s.
What are the AINTS going to do when their SORRY DEF has to face the rebirth of the #2 ranked 08 rushing OFF, along with a passing OFF that now features, along with 2 time Pro Bowl WR RWhite, MJenkins, and returning speedster HDouglas, Pro Bowl and HOF TE TGonzalez?
CONTINUE TALKING TRASH AINT FANS, BECAUSE DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW THAT’S HOW YOUR BELOVED AINTS WILL END UP, IN THE NFC SOUTH TRASH BIN.
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
4:15 pm
You got your wish for today OG Falcon Fan, I’m out. Hiramsaint: You got the ship, keep her steady as she goes. See ya’ll later!
truth
July 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
Guys….how many times can I say this IT’S NOT ME! Man ya’ll breed’em dumb in Naw Leans.
GEAUX FALCONS!
Ken’s throwing some truth at ya’ll two lovers, we are waiting for ya’lls idiotic response.
SeenThisB4
July 26th, 2010
4:26 pm
truth: I almost missed Kenneth’s rant, but I am still waiting on Kenneth to tell me why his run oriented offense was outproduced by the Saints rushing offense last year? Once he gives me a credible response for that, then I’ll give his mindless rant a review, but from my quick scan, it doesn’t merit a response.
truth
July 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
So in other words, you have no response. You have an I.D.10T problem.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
4:32 pm
ken- do you type from a soapbox LOL–jabber jabber jabber. who had the W’s and who stayed home . i really hope your coaches think as you do but even though it’s smitty i’ m sure he’s slightly more intelligent than to think as you. m jenkins- are you serious or is it because thats all you’ve got? h. douglas? oh – the blown out knee guy- yeah ken, that DEPTH is really awe inspiring. gonzo got inducted? he’s old enough to have been. ken -gonzo is gonna do his best to go out healthy which means no heroics , he has a health food business to promote after this year. the rebirth-wow- now thats a dramatic statement and you bettr hope it’s true ’cause that recieving corps is half of what a real team should have. and then theres the fact that MATTY ICE sais he prefers the short game which renders white and “sticky fingers” jenkins almost useless. thanks for the info ken- you’re a constant re-assurance about who the better team is again this year
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
4:33 pm
truth – you’re no problem at all
truth
July 26th, 2010
4:39 pm
He-rams, do you understand what it means for a WR to have sticky fingers?
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
4:40 pm
yes – maybe you tell jenkinsLOL
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
that dude couldn’t catch a cold if it had a handle on it LOL
truth
July 26th, 2010
5:11 pm
You couldn’t catch a woman with 100.00 bill Hiram.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
5:33 pm
thank goodness your ole lady doesn’t charge
Ken Strickland
July 26th, 2010
7:34 pm
TO ALL FALCON FANS-the responses you are NOW reading from our AINT fans is what you would call DEFLECTION. They can’t deal with the truth of what I’m saying, so they try to DEFLECT everything with sarcasm and faked disbelief. They even try to DEFLECT what is being thrown at them by posing questions, rather than dealing with the truth of what’s being said.
SEENTHISB4-Based on some of your ill advised attempts to poke fun at certain aspects of our team, without stopping to consider the sorry state of your own, I’m not convinced you’d be able to recognize a CREDIBLE ANSWER. However, I won’t deny you an opportunity to as least try.
How can you ask that question of any team that loses the NFL’s 2nd leading rusher, Pro Bowl RB MTurner, ROY and Pro Bowl QB MRyan, #2 backup RB, JNorwood, and 3 starting OLinemen(LT SBaker, RT TClabo & RG HDahl), and at the same time feel justified in questioning someone else’s credibility or lack of understanding?
Tell me STB4. Do you think your beloved AINTS would be able to finish 9-7 if they lost their 2 top RB’s, 3 OLinemen and QB DBrees? Heck, you all know the AINTS would have totally collapsed if they lost DBrees alone? In fact, you finished last in the division with an 8-8 record in 08 with DBrees. If you can get over your delusions long enough to think rationally, you’d remember just how the AINTS totally collapsed after losing RB DMcAlister a few yrs back.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
i’ll answer quickly for B4 ken – we don’t have fat out of shape rb’s and we don’t have a qb who fakes an injury when the hometown fav. is coming back to hand you your bottms ina bag
FalconsFan284
July 26th, 2010
8:17 pm
Seen—-You honestly do make me laugh. I asked you to explain why your Saints defense is going to stop our offense and you come back with something someone else said. Is it a lack of ability or intelligence?
Here’s one of the problems you face, if you could every understand that I was setting you up by asking you the original question. First, the Falcons have acquired players that are better able to stop the Saints offense. They drafted Sean Weatherspoon, who played the pass very well at Missouri, and Dunta Robinson, who happened to be the best available corner on the free agent market. You couple that with Brian Williams return and the Falcons have a defense that matches up favorably to the New Orleans Saints. Granted, I don’t believe that any defense can totally stop Brees and company but the Falcons are now better equipped then most.
Secondly, when the Falcons are on offense the matchup is even more favorable for Atlanta. As we all know, the Saints defensive tackles give up ground in the run game. Evidence for this is the league leading statistic that the Saints gave up 5 or more rushing yards on an astonishing 35% of all rushing plays. They have made no significant improvement at defensive tackle in the off season. However, they did release the biggest tackle on their team, last season, in Kendrick Clancy. All of the Saints linebackers are undersized and can be swallowed up. Evidence for this lies in the fact that four diferent teams topped 150 yards against them. Point of fact, Greg Williams believed this was such a big problem that he started using Roman Harper as an extra linebacker in a 4-4 front. That means they were playing more zero or one coverage, which opens up the long pass.
I know what you’re going to say, because you are easily predictable, “Why did the Saints out rush the Falcons?” LOL! That’s easy. Micheal Turner pounded the Saints for 151 yards in the Monday night game! The entire Saints team didn’t rush for as many yards as Turner alone! Yes, the Saints won the game because Drew Brees passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns but I believe I already addressed why that will not be the case in the coming season.
To sum it all up for you, The Falcons defense has improved against the pass, while the Saints defense has actually gotten worse against the best part of Atlanta’s offense! Since both games were very competitive you must look at what both teams have done; that is if you are able to do so. I don’t think you can which is why you have to rely on what others have said.
O G Falcon Fan
July 26th, 2010
8:17 pm
I reiterate. Lets play our 2 games and revisit this. All this talk is Bulls&%t.
Ken Strickland
July 26th, 2010
8:32 pm
HIRAMSAINT-Do you really consider that weak response an attempt to answer the question I asked? Sounds like another attempt at DEFLECTION to me. Go back and reread my comments, and then make a legitimate attempt to answer the actual question that I asked.
Ken Strickland
July 26th, 2010
8:35 pm
HIRAMSAINT-you said your hometown favorites were coming to hand me my bottom in a bag. wELL, IS THAT THE SAME BAG YOU WORE OVER YOU HEAD ALL THOSE YRS?
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:36 pm
284 you are basing you D argument on a rookie and an injury prone cb. why didn’t the texans meet or match the offer…hmmmmm! dt – al woods should bolster sedrick ellis’ ability to plug the holes but when your down by 14 or 21 the run d doesn’t come into play as much but simple reseasrch, since you seemed concerned ,will ansewr you questions. vilma didn’t seemed undersized to me on 4th and 3 last year did he ? gain simple research will also answer many lb questions. i’m not putting you off but you won’t here anything positive we have to say about the saints so find it out from other non- biased sources. dunta is gonna shut down brees–sorry man , i;m still crackin’up over that one
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:38 pm
i was talking mike vick- you don’t even know when your own qb got “injured” . you gotta be jokin’ man
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:39 pm
ken i believe you just won the award for weak [ and stupid } respones
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:39 pm
responses- my bad
truth
July 26th, 2010
8:41 pm
Yes Ken, It is the same bag. You will only get spin instead of an answer fron these two. They don’t know how to give an answer, that’s why they travel from blog to blog begging for attention. It’s sad and pathitic to know that the only attention they get is from their right hand and football blogs.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:43 pm
to all: sorry about my spelling errors, but with {mainly}k.s. and 284{somewhat} i’m laughing to hard and missing keys.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:44 pm
truth- i type with both hands
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
8:46 pm
your ole lady takes care of the latter- now, you wanna pick , we can do that. you want to get personal- i can go there too.
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
9:09 pm
well girls , i gotta go – more people to inform and irritate. see ya tommorow . maybe you can try to answer back then
KCMO
July 26th, 2010
9:19 pm
What? No Michael Vick Articles? You gotta be kidding me right? A hint of negative news and the reporters find all kinds of stories no matter how trivial. Some positive News comes out and nothing!! Not one article!!! And they call the media liberal. Sounds more like a modern day lynch mob to me. Lead by the likes of bill20,sackvicknow,jwatson,Coskier,& kd45music who go from post to post spewing their hate fill garbage.Get over it already dudes!! Sell your season tickets, stop watching the game, move out of the city or country if you have to or even die, but STFU already one way or another. Vick is an Eagles QB and soon to be the Eagles starting QB. Mark my words and say it with me. MICHAEL VICK IS A PHILADELPHIA EAGLES QB AND SOON TO BE THE EAGLES STARTING QB!! Hey Sacklessvicknow, don’t let the door hit you in the backside!! McNabb hater’s won’t give a future Hall Of Fame QB his dues and can’t wait to get their great whype Hope korn Kolb as their starter. Man are they gonna hate when Vick starts by week 4 – 5 !!! Bye Bye SacklessVicknow !!
truth
July 26th, 2010
9:22 pm
KCMO………you freak. Who let this trash in?
truth
July 26th, 2010
9:23 pm
I can’t believe there is still people ot there who thik Vick will be a starter in the NFL. WOW! It must be Hiram.
FalconsFan284
July 26th, 2010
9:30 pm
Well look at that, Seen goes to the bathroom, drops his drawers and out comes hiram. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.
Al Woods, a 4th round rookie, is your answer? You criticize me for saying a rookie would help the Atlanta defense match up against the Saints and then you throw out a rookie yourself? LMFAO!!!!!!! OMG! Now, that is funny! I must have missed where only Saint rookies are the only ones that can help. Sure, Woods didn’t do much in collage but now he’s a Saint and will part the waters and cure the oceans! LOL!!!!! I am actually laughing at you and can still type!
Also, I never said that Dunta alone could stop Drew Brees. Man, everything I’ve heard about the educational system in Louisiana is true! They can barely read and what they do read, they don’t understand. What was actually said was that I didn’t believe any team could stop Drew Brees and company but that the Falcons are better equipped then most teams. Yes, I said Dunta Robinson and Brian Williams were part of the reason, along with Sean Weatherspoon (a rookie that despite not being a Saint should still be very good).
I did notice that you have never tried to refute anything I say. All you seem capable of is trying to trade personal insults. Do you want me to analyze your team so you don’t have to wait for Seen? Between the two of you I have been very amused. More by your combined lack of ability then by anything else! I’m just happy that not all Saints fans show the same level of ignorance as the two of you!
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
9:36 pm
answer the questions if you can
hiramsaint
July 26th, 2010
9:38 pm
dude -you just admitted that you watch B4 in the bathroom- thats gross , later on
FalconsFan284
July 26th, 2010
9:40 pm
Hiram—-Just so you don’t think I won’t answer your questions. No, Vilma looked very good on Fourth and Three. But is he also one of the linebackers that allowed the Saints to give up 35% of all rushing plays to go over 5 yards? He was on the field last year, right?
Also, because Dunta was an unrestricted free agent, he was allowed to sign with the team of his choosing. If you ust wonder over to a Texans posting you will see that they did try to resign Dunta.
I know you’re really upset because no team wanted to sign Darren Sharper but maybe, if you did some of that research you were talking about, you would know that!