Falcons sign OG Vince Manuwai, formerly of Jacksonville
Vince Manuwai, formerly of Jacksonville, shown here blocking against the Titans. (By Paul Spinelli/Associated Press)
The Falcons signed offensive guard Vince Manuwai on Friday night.
Manuwai, 6-foot-2, 335 pounds, played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2010. He played left guard in 111 games and started in 105.
He was a third round pick (72nd overall) out of Hawaii in 2003.
Manuwai was scheduled to make $3.5 million last season when he was cut by the Jaguars in July. The terms of his deal with the Falcons were undisclosed.
Manuwai was as solid run blocker, who helped to power the Jaguars run game for running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.
He suffered a torn tendon in his ankle during the lockout and wasn’t ready to play when it ended. He reported to camp at 344 pounds.
“I’m not bitter,” Manuwai told the Florida Times-Union after being cut. ”I’m happy for what I did for the team. There were a lot of great things. Running the ball like crazy as we did.”
He remembered his time in Jacksonville fondly.
“My first year, we gave up the fewest franchise sacks (28). Rushing aganst the Colts, 375 yards (2006), last year coming back when people counted me out. Three games in a row, we rushed for over 200 yards. Then Mojo [Jones-Drew] the eight games I played with him, he rushed over a thousand.
“When I played there were a lot of great things. My first year, Fred had the best rushing year out of all the years he’s been playing. Almost 1,600 yards (1,572). My fourth year (2006), we broke the franchise record with 2,500 yards (2,541). All those things come to mind as far as playing for this team. When you get released, you remember all those things.”
Injuries started to mount for Manuwai. In 2008, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the season opener at Tennessee and missed the season.
In 2010, he missed five games with a back injury.
The Falcons plan to have open competitions at all of their offensive line spots. Manuwai would figure to have a shot at winning the starting right guard spot if he’s fully recovered and can reclaim his skill level.
Last season, the Falcons mainly used Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley at right guard. Also, Mike Johnson, who missed most of last season with a foot injury, will compete for the spot.
Manuwai played under current Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter for four seasons from 2007 to 2010 when Koetter served as the Jaguars offensive coordinator. In 2007, the team posted 5,719 yards of total offense and 357.4 yards per game, which were both the second-highest totals in team history.
While under Koetter, Manuwai helped the Jaguars establish one of the league’s most consistent running games averaging 4.5 yards per carry and 134.2 yards per game on the ground.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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112 comments Add your comment
Falcon Fan
March 9th, 2012
9:56 pm
Who is this dude?
Falcon Fan
March 9th, 2012
9:58 pm
Must be a practice squad signing to help with the offense.
[Falcons News] Falcons Sign Ex-Jaguars OG Vince Manuwai - GridironFans.com
March 9th, 2012
10:03 pm
[...] games and started in 105. He was a third round pick (72nd overall) out of Hawaii in 2003. Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
Yet another
March 9th, 2012
10:24 pm
TYBG!!!
jmincey35
March 9th, 2012
10:26 pm
Your an idiot if u dont know vince is a beast !!! Hes waaaaayyyyy better than ANY GUARD WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST excluding dahl but he’s still wayyyyyyy better than reynolds or hawley … or even mclure or clabo !!!! Im a falc til i die … i say lets bring in another jag ( jeremy mincey ) to play de make sure we sign lafa tatupu and persue marcus trufant Nd keep our fingers crossed that janoris jenkins falls in our lap on draftday ….. If we dont atleast make the big dance (superbowl) with that the we need a new coach or qb !!!!! I love the accomplishments and reg season track record but dammit we have more talent than any team out there hands down !!!!! Why dont we win thenbig games ?
JSS
March 9th, 2012
10:26 pm
Nope, they are going fishing like they did in 2008 when picked up Dahl (who was cast off by San Diego). They are hoping that lightning strikes twice… It may also mean that all of you wishing for big name cast-offs from more big name UFAs might be out of luck…
Again I ask if they are going to keep taking risk with injured players?
Blk&red
March 9th, 2012
10:27 pm
This is a good sign. This guy is a great guard as long as he stay healthy, this will help the line stay fresh
Buddy Clutch
March 9th, 2012
10:27 pm
He was a starter at RG for the jags when Fred Taylor and MOJO were dominating! He’s an A great addition as far as depth goes! He’s not Harvey Dahl but the man can run block!
nash
March 9th, 2012
10:28 pm
Got any film on this guy?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
10:33 pm
Nash — About to drop some youtube film on Big Vince.
Rod "straight outta augusta"
March 9th, 2012
10:34 pm
This is a very SOLID sign. The Falcons probably got him rather inexpensive this year. Dahl was 308….Manuawi is 330….thats a lot for a DL to try to get around. I feel bad for the LB’s in the NFC South that will try to run up on him. so far it seems the Falcons are being very strategic as usual. smgdh!
JSS
March 9th, 2012
10:38 pm
“I love the accomplishments and reg season track record but dammit we have more talent than any team out there hands down !!!!! Why dont we win thenbig games?”
Simple, you got beat by better teams…
Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, and Kurt Warner are better than Matt Ryan…
The Giants, Packers, and Cardinals O-Line & D-Line were better than the Falcons…
Larry Fitzgerald is better than Roddy White…
James Jones is better Roddy White…
Everybody is better than Thomas DeCoud…
Michael Boley and Clay Matthews are better than Lofton & Weatherspoon…
and
Tom Coughlin, Mike McCartney, and Ken Whisenhutt are better playoff game day coaches than Mike Smith!
SeminoleWarrior
March 9th, 2012
10:39 pm
Very nice depth move…and a steal if he is healthy once more.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
March 9th, 2012
10:40 pm
Watched the film. Looks like he’s holding his ground, not getting a push. What do y’all see?
Dan
March 9th, 2012
10:45 pm
I just read that he was a great pass protect in college and then he help pave the way for Maurice Drew and Fred Taylor. I am thinking this a sign for all those that wanted Nicks and Grubbs that they just filled their Guard need and give the younger Guards on the team time to develop. With Tatupo and Crowder as possible LB replacements. This should be a definite sign that they plan on going after Mario Williams on Tuesday. Would still like to see the upgrade their LT with Levi Brown or Jared Gaither.
ATLJBO
March 9th, 2012
10:53 pm
D-Led… you know in 1 on 1’s … The Defender always have the advantage… Cant really Judge him off that
But yea… If the guy is healthy and has the weight thing under control… Lets see what he can do… I remember him being a good guard (really good run blocker)
The Grinch
March 9th, 2012
10:54 pm
Where’s the film?
Quint in ATL
March 9th, 2012
10:55 pm
Now…a left tackle. Let’s hope.
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
10:58 pm
JSS, on your previous post, i was with you right up until you said Matthews and Boley were better than Spoon and Lofton. Where Matthews in all probability is better outside than Spoon, Boley sure isnt. Boley is not better than either of the two, but other than that, I completely agree with the post
JSS
March 9th, 2012
11:00 pm
The Grinch
March 9th, 2012
10:54 pm
“Where’s the film?”
Look in the main article!
Falcon Fan
March 9th, 2012
11:01 pm
Ok, maybe I am a bit of an idiot. He doesn’t look too bad.
JSS
March 9th, 2012
11:05 pm
Boley thinks rings around Spoon and Lofton… He proved it in the Super Bowl… He called two of the best games by a combo LB since Dirty Vilma against Warner and Manning in the same playoff…
Is he physical talent of Hi-top 2012 (Weatherspoon)? No, but he got it done upstairs against Ryan, Rodgers, Smith, and Brady… That is lights out work…
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
11:13 pm
He did have a great playoff run, but I just don’t see him as better than Spoon. It takes a team, it took everyone to stop those guys. As far as the Hi-top….no one is gonna beat that except the Fresh Prince in the 90s
Nique
March 9th, 2012
11:16 pm
Godd pick up, proven vet who should solidify the Line, I’d like to see us pick up either Marcus McNiel or Levi Brown at LT 7 restructure Baker’s contract or simply cut him. The go get Langford, Mario Williams, Crowder, lafa tatupu if we don’t bring Lofton back, resign James Sandrs, Hayden, & Harry!
JSS
March 9th, 2012
11:24 pm
You’ve obviously never seen ‘Eraserhead’ or ‘House Party’?
JSS
March 9th, 2012
11:25 pm
Boley is a vet and played like one…
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
Good call
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
Good call
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
Good call
ohhhhYEAH
March 9th, 2012
11:31 pm
whoa, no clue why they felt the need to duplicate my post that many times
Whopper Dawg
March 9th, 2012
11:39 pm
Injured, out of shape, and out of football – TD strikes again.
SirReal
March 9th, 2012
11:52 pm
Great!!! (Insert sarcasm here________________)
Who Me?
March 10th, 2012
12:02 am
Are you kidding? Really??? When is TD and MS going to stop using Jacksonville cast-offs for our starters?? This is freakin’ sad….. Who CARES about the film on this guy. He’s been in the league 8 years, he’s busted down and rebounding and now we got to nurse another castoff back to health so he can play in our D??? What the???
Who Me?
March 10th, 2012
12:02 am
Sorry – play in our O….but then you knew what I meant didn’t you?
JSS
March 10th, 2012
12:21 am
Whoa, the Redskins just got serious!!! Moving up to No. 2 to get Griffin III! I hope Shananan doesn’t mess with his mind!!!
JSS
March 10th, 2012
12:23 am
Dimitroff’s ex is stocking picks!!!
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7668243/source-washington-redskins-acquire-no-2-overall-pick-st-louis-rams
?
March 10th, 2012
12:24 am
I Guess now we can go ahead and sign the rest of the Jacksonville players since we already have their coaching staff.
ohhhhYEAH
March 10th, 2012
1:14 am
Hooooooly ishhh. And I thought Cleveland cleaned up last year after our trade. WOW! Really hope RGIII doesnt turn out to be a bust.
GHunt
March 10th, 2012
2:09 am
Carl Nicks and Mario Williams = Super Bowl. Moving Jacksonville to Atlanta = SOS.
cwltank
March 10th, 2012
4:12 am
I think he’s a plus, after all he is 335 plus and that is what we need beef up front.
cwltank
March 10th, 2012
4:14 am
Giving up this year 1st rd pick does not look so bad now. Julio is by far better than any WR picked this year.
Falcons4Eva
March 10th, 2012
5:46 am
And here we go again…signing another . Jag player. why not call the team Atlanta Jaguars. Whats with MIke Smith and his love of the Jax Jags?
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 10th, 2012
6:02 am
How can the Colts release their entire team and it not show up on the AJC site?
FalconFreak
March 10th, 2012
7:27 am
If he’s healthy and in shape, he’s a great pickup!
AlanFalcon
March 10th, 2012
7:47 am
Whatever happend to Channing Crowder and his interest in becoming a Falcon?
Nativebird
March 10th, 2012
7:52 am
Like it….can never have enough experienced fat boys up front competing for jobs. O line is ThE key to getting beyond the early playoff exits. At least we know that TD knows where our weakness is. Enuff about Defense….”it’s the O line stupid”. Always has been.
Brad
March 10th, 2012
8:04 am
I can’t believe how many DUMB posts I see here. They signed him because he was cheap. THey are singing BODIES to compete for OG. Every coach in the league signs players of his past teams. They are going to sign areal free agent, this guy, if healthy is a HUGE upgrade at depth.
Paddy
March 10th, 2012
8:05 am
I like the sign. Lets see what he can do in camp before we go off the deep end.
jay
March 10th, 2012
8:07 am
Sounds like a good pick up. I’m sure he was dirt cheap. Now we need that left tackle. With that said we’re real close to Tuesday and there’s been zero news on Baker.
Mike Jay
March 10th, 2012
8:14 am
Good signing. The Falcons are hoping one of the young guys will seize the RG postion but this moves provides a nice backup plan from a solid veteran who has good upside if the knee is healthy. Bonus points because he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove after missing last season. This could be a shrewd move if that proves out and came at a cheap price. I really think they are going after Mario hard and this move is working towards that imo.