Well, it remains to be seen if Matt Ryan will play on the field like Peyton Manning. But, off the field Ryan is joining Manning as a spokesman for AirTran.
AirTran has contracts with about 15 NFL players, Hutcheson said, to appear in advertising in local markets. The lineup includes quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles and two other Falcons players, linebacker Keith Brooking and receiver Brian Finneran.
I wanted to direct your attention to a blog called Every Day Should Be Saturday, and in particular, a post today where they talk a bit about UGA football, Matt Stafford, and the road to the SEC Championship. You can read their post here, and I’ll comment on a few of their stances. Their conversation begins on the topic of the pre-season USA Today Top 25 Coaches poll, where Georgia is ranked number 1.
Georgia at number one. The g stands for “Going down a slot to the winner of the Ohio State USC game.” They’ve got a built-in pressure valve right thurr, since they can slide down and therefore avoid the full heat of the bullseye for a bit.
First off, there is a bit of truth to this statement. By the time the USC/Ohio State game is finished on September 13th, USC will have played Virginia and Ohio State, Ohio State will have played Youngstown State, Ohio and USC, and Georgia will have played Georgia Southern, Central Michigan, and South Carolina. USC has the toughest schedule there with Virgina just outside the Top 25 and OSU at #3. So, if USC beats Ohio State you may see them leapfrog Georgia. But to say that UGA will be able to “avoid the full heat of the bullseye” sounds like someone who just doesn’t understand how tough it is to play in the SEC. And I say this knowing that the two guys who write for EDSBS are Florida graduates. Go figure…
No real problems with them [UGA] in the top spot, but I think Florida will have an easier path to Atlanta in December. And I really, really hate Matt Stafford.
Once again, I agree here. Florida plays Mississippi, Arkansas, and LSU from the West this season. Mississippi and Arkansas should be no brainer wins for the Gators. Georgia plays Alabama, LSU, and Auburn. ‘Bama is ranked right outside of the Top 25 and LSU (#6) and Auburn (#11) are firmly entrenched in the Top 25. So, clearly based on pre-season rankings, Florida’s path is easier to Atlanta. Both teams could even be undefeated in the SEC prior to the Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on November 1st. The winner would then own their own destiny, but UGA would still have to travel to Auburn two weeks later. I suppose my only problem with this statement is all the hate for Stafford. Why’s it gotta come to that?
To end Tuesday’s practice, Georgia Tech’s second practice in full pads, coaches started the first team offense on their own two yard line and told everyone to go live. The defense still seems ahead of the offense, but the offense is showing signs of life.
The ball was placed at about an inch from the goal line. Then, the No. 1 offense moved to a first down against the No. 1 defense. In fact, the No. 1 offense was relatively efficient, but the No. 2 and 3 offenses were greatly troubled.
“It’s a lot easier to play third-team defense than it is to play third-team offense,” coach Paul Johnson said. “Sometimes, you can’t judge. In that drill, the second and third defense kicked the second and third offense, but the first team offense made a first down every time.”
In sum, the defense looked more alive than the offense, which was dropped for a safety at least three times. On the first play, as the offense began each series backed up against its 2-yard line, quarterback Josh Nesbitt was smashed and dropped by end Derrick Morgan.
B-back Jonathan Dwyer ran for a first down as A-back Marcus Wright cut down blitzing cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels on the backside.
Also, reserve B-back Anthony Allen, the Louisville transfer who must sit out this season, had an impressive first-down run. Freshman A-back Embry Peeples got outside for a rare 10-yard gain for one of the backup offenses.
Generally, though, reserve defenders had their way.
Chip Caray, TBS baseball play-by-play and Peachtree TV Braves announcer, Georgia class of ‘87.
— (His general reaction:) “Like everybody else, I’m excited about it. To be ranked that highly you know the program is in great shape.
— (On possible banter with fellow Braves announcer Joe Simpson, who played baseball at Oklahoma. The Sooners were ranked fourth in the coaches’ poll): “I’m sure we’ll mention it. No. 4? I didn’t know the Sooners could count that high.”
Erik Coleman is doing just fine in his new role as the starting free safety for the Atlanta Falcons. The fifth year player out of Washington State has come up with a number of key plays in the first six days of training camp and is making the offense work for everything they get through the air.
The free agent addition has a spot on the first team defense opposite Pro Bowler Lawyer Milloy and has made several quality plays against most of the team’s wide receivers and quarterbacks.
Wednesday he got another interception in the middle of the field.
He looks like he’s having fun because, well…
‘I’m excited,” he said. “You come out to practice every day in this heat and everybody is working. No one is complaining. We’re out here working as hard as we can to get better as a team.”
Playing next to Milloy only strengthen’s Coleman’s position.
“Lawyer is a great player,” the safety said. “He’s very aggressive and has played a lot of good years in this league. Right now I’m picking his brain trying to get myself better in the game. He does it right every time.”
So far Coleman has guessed right on multiple occasions. Of course it’s training camp and the Falcons offense has to work through the hiccups, but Coleman’s making it tough for the team to work through the air.
Today, at Atlanta Falcons training camp, was the day to shoot player intro’s. Thanks to Falcon_Al for his commentary and for shooting this video.
Walking through the doors into the barn the first thing that caught my eye was the colossal blue screen and light set up. There were no less than eight of the biggest lights I’ve seen pointed at a blue screen that had to be about fifty feet long…quite impressive. After noticing the blue screen I started looking around for the camera. After a quick scan of the room I was quite surprised at what I found. Given the setup, I fully expected to see a $50,000 VariCam , but this was not Artistic Image’s camera of choice. They were using a “little” HVX200 camera. This really goes to show how far technology has come.
The Falcons signed Von Hutchins in the offseason to sure up the defensive backs this season. The former Houston Texan and Indianapolis Colt was supposed to be starting nickel back, but injured his foot on Saturday. After Monday’s surgery it was announced that he will most likely miss the season.
Hutchins signed a 4-year/$9 million contract with the Falcons. The Ole Miss product had a career-high 93 tackles last season with an interception.
Bart Stevens 
I wanted to direct your attention to a blog called 
Falcons center Todd McClure felt pain in his lower back in Monday morning’s practice and had to be carted off in practice.
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