Bubble could burst for Chevis Jackson in Jacksonville
Chevis Jackson is in a battle to keep his roster spot in the revamped seconday. CURTIS COMPTON / ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH – The bubble is going to burst on some players in Jacksonville in the final exhibition game.
Cornerback is one of the interesting positions. The Falcons want to see some more of Brian Williams. They may have seen enough of Chevis Jackson, who struggled mightily to cover in space against Miami.
Defensive tackle, one of the other more competitive position groups, is starting to come into focus with the release of Thomas Johnson, who started 10 games last season. After Peria Jerry and Jonathan Babineaux, it looks like Trey Lewis has locked down the No. 3 spot and could open the season as a starter next to Jerry. (Babs has to sit with his one game suspension.)
“The guys that we are talking about fighting for roster spots are probably going to play more snaps on Thursday than they will during the regular season,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.”It’s going to give us an opportunity to see how they prepare for significant playing time. Most of the guys that we are talking about will be in backup roles or on special teams. We’ll get a real good evaluation because they are going to play significantly in the game on Thursday. ”
Trey Lewis is making a big push for playing time. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
The evaluation will not be limited to what happens on the field.
“The second thing that I look for, is if the game is too big for them,” Smith said. “You watch them on the sideline and see how they interact with the coaches.”
Other than Jackson, other players on the bubble are projected to include defensive tackle Vance Walker, wide receiver Troy Bergeron, guard Jose Valdez and center Brett Romberg.
Some of the longshots to keep an eye on are Troy linebacker Bear Woods, tight end Michael Palmer, wide receiver Brandyn Harvey wide receiver Ryan Wolfe and cornerback Dominique Daniels and safety Rafael Bush.
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95 comments Add your comment
alanfalcon
September 1st, 2010
3:25 pm
I just placed an order for extra large brown bags so that I can have them sent to New Orleans before ths season starts, I don’t want them to show up and have to show their face. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Falcoholic 4ever
September 1st, 2010
3:33 pm
why in the h*ll are you cheesed*ck saints fans in our blog. Go the he(( on somewhere.
FrontRow
September 1st, 2010
3:34 pm
I counted 24 longshot / on the bubble with 22 cuts to come. I do believe (backed up by the “Mike Smith says….” blog headline earlier this week) that BW should be re-categorized as “on the (trade) block”.
Once upon a time the Saints fans were alot of fun. We’ve had 4 games with them since Katrina here at the Dome and I can say based on years of experience that the Saints fans have gone from first to worst.
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
3:39 pm
good to see the saints fans are the first to respond to any articals. This show one thing, that they are scared. scared of whats coming from ATL. I could care less what is happing on the Saints blog, nor would I ever post anyting on them. Go home Losers
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
sorry GEAUX HOME LOSERS
Rev Blake
September 1st, 2010
3:54 pm
I have tried to explain this to all of you before. This person(s) is(are) not Saints fans. All the Saints fans who are my friends have more class. These posts are made by fans, followers, disciples (whatever you want to call them) of a previous quarterback who is no longer with our fine franchise. They are STILL angry that he was sent packing. They are using whatever ammunition necessary to get you angry.
Leave the children alone and they will eventually go away.
Ryan is everything that this former quarterback will ever hope to be. And Ryan is just getting warmed up. Watch and learn.
Delbert D.
September 1st, 2010
3:56 pm
Let’s get this straight. First it has to be vamped, and then they can think about revamping it.
JMANN612
September 1st, 2010
3:59 pm
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FrontRow
September 1st, 2010
4:00 pm
Amen Rev.
How does one get vamped?
waynester
September 1st, 2010
4:01 pm
Whoever actually wrote the 12:40 post above–that was hilarious….The youngster I’ve heard Mike Smith mention personally in several of his post-practice interviews is Valdez from last year’s practice squad. I don’t believe I’ve heard him mention fan fave “bear” Woods at all, except to comment on his hair and the story that goes along with it…
I actually recommend reading the comments on the Times-Picayune website–it shows clearly why any Saints’ fan with any wit (or even half one) would rather post here. Even with all the verbal crotch-grabbing and self-congratulatory back-patting they post on here the Saint fans know their diatribes can at least be read by the other posters here…..
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
4:04 pm
your right Rev. I was of fan of that previous QB, but he betrayed everyone who believed in him(myself included). Ryan is going to get better and better. I am just sick of the comparisons to Manning(10 years in) and Brees(9 years in). They are on a different level only because they have had the time to get better.
Preseason is preseason. I wish everyone would just relax and wait till opening day to even think about how the season will end.
Blue Fender
September 1st, 2010
4:14 pm
Joe Tess Fish House: Quit being a douche and drop the TO thing. It didn’t and never will happen! Get over it!
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
4:16 pm
i wonder if smitty will be on the bubble after this season or is atl. just so used to mediocraty that they’ll keep him anyway! whats up waynester? bet you wish your fans could feel the same about your team as our fans feel about our tean- win or lose!
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
4:31 pm
hiramsaint…Its Coach Smith to you. show some respect to your superiors
ymmotretsof
September 1st, 2010
4:33 pm
I never saw who the two were that they had to cut this week.
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
4:35 pm
Johnson and Giordona
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
4:39 pm
it’s smitty ’till he wins something-like maybe 1 playoff game… yeah , like thats gonna happen!
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
4:43 pm
pretty sure Coach Payton had the same situation. Playoffs first year, no playoffs the second
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
4:47 pm
yeah but he actually won – a pleasure smitty has not tated yet
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
4:48 pm
ooops –tasted
dbird1
September 1st, 2010
4:49 pm
well…..Smitty has a SB ring
GT GRAD
September 1st, 2010
4:51 pm
Vance Walker will get picked up by another team if we cut him loose…….I personally think he is a player we will wish we had kept on the team in 2-3 years (IF we decide to cut him now).
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
5:05 pm
as a linebacker coach[scrub] not as a head coach- which he isn’t
Waynester
September 1st, 2010
5:09 pm
hiramsaint: i’ve run the ain’ts/falcons game on Madden 11 a bunch of times now at the GL&B bar I go to, and even though the ain’ts have won each simulation, each game has been real close, most of the time the ain’ts win by 14 pts or less. Just more proof that your team is not that much better than the Falcons, so you wait, if your team gets some key injuries, like we did all last year, the Falcons are going to steal one from them. I gotta go, my mother is calling me down for dinner.
tell it like it is.
September 1st, 2010
5:16 pm
Jackson should have been cut last year.
This Gets Old
September 1st, 2010
5:21 pm
Again..let’s not respond to Saints fans. They’ll be here all season. They’re dead meat on their blogs and come here for attention.
Nique
September 1st, 2010
5:35 pm
Williams should be a lock to make the roster if healthy. Franks is a lock, so if that means Jackson has to go, y not trade him for a late round pick? someone would take that (B-more). I believe the same is true for Walker if we decide not to keep him as well.
D thx 4 the kicker update!
& here’s an update i just saw on those two kickers: It’s coming down to the wire for Texans kickers Neil Rackers and Kris Brown, both of whom are battling for the right to boot the ball for Houston. Brown has been the franchise’s kicker since they entered the league in 2002 but has received firm competition from Rackers. Both have been perfect through the preseason: Brown is 4 of 4 in field goals, hitting from 31, 26, 43 and 22 yards out along with three extra points, Rackers has hit four field goal attempts from 24, 52, 23 and 23 yards out with two extra points.
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
5:44 pm
@ this gets old- yes we will and thanks for your support. this message has been approved by the new orleans saints
jerry
September 1st, 2010
5:49 pm
Don’t play the starters, please.
hiramsaint
September 1st, 2010
6:06 pm
you better play the starters- they’ve not done a thing this whole preseason and need to get some positive reps. i say this as a football fan and not a saints fan. the titans will be playing their starters because they know the starters need it
Dilla
September 1st, 2010
6:29 pm
They should go ahead and cut Chevis Jackson so the other players on the bubble and fighting for a position can get more time to show what they have to bring to the team.
marcus
September 1st, 2010
6:29 pm
i rather that the kick that didn’t get the job over a kicker that didn’t got a interview
Buck
September 1st, 2010
6:36 pm
When will Jamaal Anderson fall off the bubble?????? I’d rather bring back Kuykendall, Curry, Woods, Pennywell or anyone else from yesteryear and we’d get the same production!
ryan
September 1st, 2010
7:02 pm
I hope the Falcons do something at WR that offense scares me but the defence looks sharp just some minor tweaks .
charles
September 1st, 2010
7:45 pm
STILL NEEDED T.O. IS ANYONE LEFT
Saints fans must not have blogs
September 1st, 2010
8:50 pm
what a pile of losers. sad, sad, sad.
Rod "Straight Outta Augusta" Johnson
September 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
Definitely think that it is past time for the Falcons to cut their loses with Jamaal Anderson. We have a nice defensive line forming and would rather see another project fill that spot or use it to keep a player like Bear Woods and/or Rafael Bush. Both of these guys are thumpers that could really light up Special Teams. Is it just me…..or does anyone else think that Finneran & Coy should be sent packing as well. Why are we holding on to these guys? Please someone tell me something.
Savannah Fan
September 1st, 2010
9:36 pm
Keep the Bear in the Bird cage!!!!!!
ryan
September 1st, 2010
9:44 pm
V Jack city the guy is a play maker who cares if he misses a few games i want him .
drmondo
September 1st, 2010
11:18 pm
Don’t feed the troll(s)…
DOL, are the Falcons looking to pick up a WR off the waiver wire? I’m not a big fan of Mularkey, having seen too much of him up here in WNY. Still, I worry that they could use more talent at the position. I love Fin for his willingness to do anything the team needs (and he’s a tall stroke in the endzone), but he’s not a #2 any longer. Jenkins still has to prove he fits the bill too.
drmondo
September 1st, 2010
11:19 pm
Sorry. The Mularkey mention was in relation to the scheme vs talent argument about the passing game…
tjhook
September 2nd, 2010
12:47 am
Finneran is worth keeping and we should trade chevis Jackson, Jamal Anderson and OL Blaylock to a team playing a 3-4 defense or Tampa 2 so we could get a standout offensive lineman.
Bluto
September 2nd, 2010
11:23 am
Watch it Blue Fender , Fish house is going to challenge you to a fight! Because he is a internet tough guy.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 2nd, 2010
1:31 pm
Drmondo — I don’t think so. I think they like their wide receivers and think Harry Douglas will help out a lot.
real falcon fan
September 3rd, 2010
12:38 am
HEY HIRAM SAINT YOU TRULY ARE AN @SS, GO TO YOUR WHO SHAT DISH AN GET OFF THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AND TAKE YOUR BAG WITH YOU.