I noticed Chris Houston was hurt on Saturday. Is it serious and how does this change things for the cornerbacks? Any free agents out there? -Ray, Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: The Falcons haven't said anything about the injury, yet. We'll know more after practice today when Coach Smith speaks. It didn't seem to be something that was real serious. At worst, he may miss some time in the preseason. He's a veteran so that won't hurt him a whole lot and will, instead, get some guys like Chris Owens more looks. I think scanning the free-agent market is premature. There's a name or two out there, but I'm not so sure just bringing in a guy would help the cause and it may stunt the growth of guys like Owens and William Middleton.
Is Thomas Johnson in the driver's seat to be the starter at D tackle? Over Jerry?? -Walter, Suwanee, GA
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: It's one preseason game, so don't read too much into it. Jerry is the first-round pick so that means he automatically gets a lot of playing time. Johnson is a guy that Coach Smith was high on through the first two weeks of camp. He mentioned him a few times. There could be any number of reasons why he got the start and I wouldn't try to decipher them. Just know that Smith likes his defensive lines deep and with a good rotation. That bodes well for Johnson and a number of other guys.
Out of the practices you have seen, who would you say has surprised you the most? -lazmorph, via Twitter
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: I'd have to say Brent Grimes. I wasn't a big believer of his before this season, but watching him in person almost every day, I'm sold. Real games are rather different from practices, but the guy has been fantastic so far. I've lost track of the number of interceptions he's gotten. I think it's around six, though probably more. He's athletic, he's tough. I'd take him on my team.
The wide receiver battle after White and Jenkins is a good one. How are things shaping up? Will Finneran make the team? I like that Booker made the Pro Bowl in 2002. I liked the signing of Aaron Kelly out of Clemson. I watched him a lot there and think he's good. -Pat, Augusta, GA
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: It's definitely a different look than the one the Falcons began training camp with. I think Finneran makes the team. He's a good back up return man in an emergency (he has some experience there), he's got sure hands, he's a smart veteran, he's willing to play special teams, and he's got good chemistry with Matt Ryan. Harry Douglas' injury makes it almost a lock. Things drop off a little after Finneran. Robert Ferguson has done some good things and I think he wins the job between him and Booker. I also think Eric Weems wins the punt returners job and gets one of the wide receiver positions. So that's five. I don't know if they'd go beyond that. Kelly has shown some good things at moments. There could be potential there and I wouldn't be surprised if the Falcons put him on the practice squad.
I was shocked by the loss to Detroit this weekend. I know that the Falcons are rebuilding their defense but losing by one point in a game that they were up by a couple of touchdowns in the 3rd quarter makes me nervous. What tweaks do you think will be needed before the regular season to fix this potential shortcoming? -Will, New York City, NY
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: It's one preseason game. The Falcons didn't study any film on the Lions. To the Lions credit, they're a dramatically different team than the one that went 0-16 last season. Smith himself said they got sloppy in the second half, when many of the second- and third-teamers were playing. There were mistakes and rust aplenty. This is also only the second time they'd tackled. I wouldn't be surprised if Smith has them tackling a little more this week. I think game planning for a team will help as well. The first-team defense played well and I think that's the No. 1 thing to take away from Saturday.
Last season, Matt Ryan had a really stellar rookie year. How's he looked so far this preseason since getting named a co-offensive captain at the end of last year? Do you think he'll be able to rise to the high expectations that the Falcons have put on him? Jan, Raleigh, NC
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: Well, I don't know that the Falcons have put a lot of expectations on him. They expect him to play well, but they're not telling him to go out and be a Pro Bowl quarterback. I think they expect him to progress from last year. One of the things he's said he's worked on is accuracy, which will in turn help his completion percentage. He's looked great so far. Falcons fans should be relieved. He's as legit as they come. He can handle anything that comes his way, including high expectations.
We all know we can't work Turner like last season again. How's Norwood looking, and is he being incorporated more into the offense? -Will, Duluth, GA
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: If the Falcons can help it, they'd like to not have Turner run the ball 370 times again. Though, he'll tell you he doesn't care. Norwood has looked very good. His speed is obvious. And since they're not tackling in practice, it's hard to say exactly how well he's looked, but from the looks of things he's looking elusive and is showing an ability to run between the tackles. Once he breaks free, his speed is unmatched on the field. He's lined up in a variety of different ways as well and I look for the Falcons to incorporate him more into the offense, not just in the running game.
While I'm glad Vick is back in the NFL, I'm a bit jealous he's with somebody else. Don't get me wrong, we are a lot better off with Matt. We will always remember, with great fondness, the days of Vick. So, with great sadness, I close the book on Michael Vick and his final chapter with the Atlanta Falcons.
--Brett
Atlanta Falcons Examiner: Well said, Brett. Vick did a lot of great things in Atlanta. He also did some dumb things, dog fighting aside. He was at times electric and at others frustrating. His comments on 60 Minutes on Sunday night were very telling about his performance during his time in Atlanta. He was the last in the building and the first to leave. He also said he was lazy. It sounds about right. That part is disappointing, because it sounds like wasted talent. Regardless, as you said the, book on Vick in Atlanta is closed.
I always love to hear what you've got to say. Leave a comment or email me for the Weekly Mailbag: jdanielcox@gmail.com. Click "subscribe" to receive emails whenever a new article is posted. Follow me on Twitter.
Comments
I think it's terrible that anyone would look fondly at Vick's time given what he has done, not only to the dogs but to the Falcons. He is the reason you did so badly in 2007, and he cost Blank a small fortune (good thing he has a large fortune from which to lose it). He also won you, what, one playoff game? Check out my articles on SF-Christian Examiner and Bleacher Report for some perspective, Brett!
Hey Daniel. Love reading your stuff everyday. It's always well done.
"The first-team defense played well and I think that's the No. 1 thing to take away from Saturday." I gotta disagree with you there. Thankfully it is just the first preseason game, and we didn't game plan. But to say that the first team D played well... I saw a pass rush that got out of its lanes and had Culpepper looking like a speedster out there. And I saw a porous D all around as the Lions easily drove down to the one before Johnson made a great individual play for the sack on the bootleg attempt.
I still look for them to improve with time and experience. But to say that they played well Sat. nite? Well, we'll just have to disagree on that one. ;-)
Thanks for all your articles!
MJ Kasprzak, if I'm not mistaken, I already have a perspective. What you really want is, everyone to view the world like you. The football player, Michael Vick, was, arguably, the most electrifying player ever. Step down from your moral pedestal, don't defend people that don't need it, i.e. Author Blank, and read your shameless plugs for yourself, then you will have 1 reader, awesome.
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