Sports Page Atlanta

Yes, we’re in the NFL’s dead period, between the draft and training camp, but the Falcons still made some moves over the past month that do not include Matt Ryan’s new contract.  Here’s what you might have missed, buried in the back of your sports section:

5/21:  Signed TE Brad Lastorti – Lastorti gives the Falcons 6 tight ends, which means the odds of him making it out of camp aren’t great, but he will be given a chance to fight for a backup spot anyway.

5/22: Waived P Jimmie Kaylor – The undrafted free agent was an unlikely contributor anyway, what with Michael Koenen already on the roster.

5/23: Waived SS D.J. Wolfe – Another undrafted free agent that apparently didn’t have a place with this team.

6/7: Signed TE Keith Zinger to a 4 year contract – Zinger, a blocking TE taken in the 7th round, could fit well with the running game, and might already be the best blocker the team has at the position.  Still, he’s probably the 3rd stringer behind Ben Hartsock and Martrez Milner at this point.

6/10: Waived TE George Cooper – With the Zinger signing, the Falcons had 6 tight ends under contract, and that was an unnecessarily high number.  Cooper got the ax as a result.

6/10: Signed CB Chevis Jackson and S Thomas DeCoud – The two defensive backs taken in the 3rd round figure to factor quickly into Brian VanGorder’s defense.  Jackson could see time in Nickel packages and might challenge Chris Houston for his starting spot.  DeCoud can play either safety position and might be the primary backup at both.

6/17: Signed CB Wilroy Fontenot – The 7th round pick is looking at 3rd string duty, or might wind up on the practice squad.

6/17: Released FS Jimmy Williams – The team’s top pick from the 2006 draft had a short but disappointing tenure in Atlanta.  Williams never took to any position, and had let his weight balloon in recent weeks to more than 230 pounds.  More of an issue than the weight was his poor play at free safety, which had dropped him all the way to 4th string.  He was unlikely to play much this season, so this move is really nothing more than a reminder of how poorly the team drafted during the Jim Mora era.

6/18: Signed RB Thomas Brown – The local hero from UGA could knock Jason Snelling off the roster, as Brown is an ideal 3rd down back, a hard worker in the weight room, and a natural leader on and off the field.  He’ll also challenge for kick return duties.

6/20: Signed S Deke Cooper and WR Harry Douglas – Cooper, a local guy, could make the team as a 3rd string safety.  Douglas, a 3rd round pick this year, made a big splash at mini-camp and could play in the slot earlier than expected.

6/20: Released OT Michael Butterworth, DE Derrick Jones, S Jamal Lewis, and OL Kurt Quarterman – Butterworth and Quarterman were unlikely to factor along the line this year.  The same goes for Derrick Jones at defensive end, one of the deeper positions on the roster.  Jamal Lewis might have played a role on special teams, but he is considered too raw for safety play, and that’s probably what cost him a spot.

6/23: Released C Doug Datish -  Datish was 4th string and wasn’t going to factor into the guard rotation, so the cut was a logical one given roster limitations.

Offense

While Chris Redman took snaps with the first-string offense, all eyes were on the #3 overall draft pick Matt Ryan’s first practice, which went well. Coaches were impressed with his camaraderie with teammates most of all. New RB Michael Turner’s shoulder injury limited him somewhat, but he made it onto the field and drew rave reviews with his performance. At WR, it was comforting to see Brian Finneran hauling in passes, appearing to be fully recovered from two ACL tears. On the starting squad were Roddy White (who suffered a mild hamstring injury) and Laurent Robinson, a decision which Joe Horn was none too happy about. How the team deals with his grumbling will certainly be an issue to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Also, rookie Harry Douglas made quite a splash and could play a role as a slot receiver sooner than expected. At tight end, the Falcons still lack a real playmaker in the passing game, but if Martrez Milner emerges, look for him to challenge Ben Hartsock for that duty while rookie Keith Zinger provides some help in running situations. Along the offensive line, Sam Baker appears to be the favorite to start at left tackle this season. He probably won’t start early, but don’t be surprised if you see him there a few weeks into the season. Until he’s ready, expect Quinn Ojinnaka to start. After some time at right tackle, Justin Blalock moved back to his natural position of left guard. The sooner the second year player from Texas can mesh with Baker, the better the Falcons will be. The rest of the offensive line will look familiar to fans, as they return Todd Weiner at right tackle, Kynan Forney at right guard, and Todd McClure at center. Weiner’s health remains an issue, but he is expected to recover from his knee operation by the beginning of the season.

Defense

There is little news along the defensive line, where Jamaal Anderson and John Abraham remain as the starting ends while DT, with Trey Lewis hurt, appears to be set for a rotation among Kindal Moorehead, Jonathan Babineaux, Rashad Moore, and Montavious Stanley. Keith Brookings’ move to weakside linebacker is helped by the addition of rookie Curtis Lofton, who can play anywhere in the LB corps. Lofton saw time inside, which means Brooking may wind up sharing some time with the up-and-coming Stephen Nicholas while Michael Boley remains at strongside linebacker. Boley attended camp amid the news of his recent arrest on battery charges. While any arrest is certainly a black eye to the Falcons organization, it must be noted that Boley appeared very contrite about the incident, and he was charged with a misdemeanor which is yet unresolved. The biggest defensive question this year concerns the cornerbacks, of whom Von Hutchins and Chris Houston appear to be the starters. While David Irons and rookie Chevis Jackson are in the mix, this week’s minicamp gave little insight as to what to expect from that situation in the coming months. Keep an eye on corner Brent Grimes, who wowed the coaching staff with impressive man-to-man coverage skills in the camp. At free safety, veteran addition Erik Coleman has an early edge on the starting job over backups Antoine Harris and the disappointing Jimmy Williams. At strong safety, veteran Lawyer Milloy returns with second year player Daren Stone battling rookie Thomas DeCoud for backup duty.

Special Teams

With Jason Elam and Michael Koenen firmly entrenched at place kicker and punter, respectively, there wasn’t much intrigue about kick specialists in mini-camp, although undrafted free agent rookie Jimmie Kaylor hopes to make at least the practice squad as the backup punter. Due to Adam Jennings’ struggles as a returner last season, Atlanta added several other return options through both free agency and the draft. The team will give former Dolphins WR Chandler Williams as well as the recently drafted local hero Thomas Brown a chance to earn return duties this fall.

With the conclusion of this weekend’s NFL draft and subsequent free agent signing process, many familiar players from the area are headed off to pursue their NFL dreams. Here’s a rundown of who went where and what kind of role they’ll play on their new team.

Curtis Johnson, Indianapolis (Clark Atlanta) - Johnson is a true project player, but with the right coaching, he could really become a star in this league. A future OLB, he is a very physical player who could excel at the next level with enough refinement. I read one NFL scout compare him to a young Joey Porter, who took years to develop but eventually became a star. Johnson really does have that kind of raw talent.

Jayson Foster, Miami (Georgia Southern) - The Walter Payton Award winner as the best player in FCS football, Foster will look to make the team as a return specialist. While he played QB at Georgia Southern, it was an option-based scheme. Foster has experience returning kicks as far back as high school. An intelligent team-driven player, Foster is explosive and elusive with the ball in hand. A few years ago, he wouldn’t have had this chance, but thanks to Devin Hester, he might really catch on somewhere.

With the conclusion of this weekend’s NFL draft and subsequent free agent signing process, many familiar players from the area are headed off to pursue their NFL dreams. Here’s a rundown of who went where and what kind of role they’ll play on their new team.

Philip Wheeler, Indianapolis - This is a good fit for the Colts, and he should play fairly soon on running downs. The Colts like LBs who can go downhill and find a ball carrier, and that’s Wheeler’s strength. I’m not sure if he’s ready for pass coverage at the NFL level, but he’s ready to help out the run defense. He could even fight Tyjuan Hagler for the starting WLB spot.

Tashard Choice, Dallas - With Marion Barber and Felix Jones entrenched as the top two in Dallas, Choice is the favorite to win the #3 job. He has to beat out Alonzo Coleman and Ronnie Cruz, and that should be a manageable task. Dallas sure needs a good teammate like Tashard, what with the bevy of eccentric personalities they’ve got.

Durant Brooks, Washington - This pick certainly made sense considering Washington had no punter entering the draft. Brooks at this point has to be the favorite to win the job, though they’ll probably bring someone in to challenge him for the job. Brooks already has possibly the best hang-time in the NFL, so this pick should work out wonderfully for the Redskins.

Mike Cox, Kansas City - Herm Edwards loves to grind it out on the ground, so he’ll always have a need for run blockers like Cox, who aren’t threats out of the backfield but can lock in on someone and clear space for Larry Johnson to run through.

Gary Guyton, San Francisco - Guyton is likely playing for a special teams role or a practice squad spot until he can learn how to better himself as a linebacker. If he ever does, he certainly possesses the athleticism and raw talent necessary to be a star.

Darrell Robertson, Dallas - Dallas loves hybrid rushers, and that’s exactly what Robertson is. I had him going to a 3-4 defense, just not this one. The only real surprise here is that he wasn’t drafted. I really expect him to make the team out of camp.

Nate McManus, New Orleans - This was a surprise, as I was unaware McManus was even pursuing a pro career, but the Saints are pretty thin along the O-Line and need some depth, so even though he’s a longshot to survive cuts, the situation isn’t all that bad for him.

With the conclusion of this weekend’s NFL draft and subsequent free agent signing process, many familiar players from the area are headed off to pursue their NFL dreams. Here’s a rundown of who went where and what kind of role they’ll play on their new team.

Marcus Howard, Indianapolis - Faithful readers will know this is where I had Howard going (albeit in another round), and it makes plenty of sense. He’s a small edge rusher, and the Colts have shown they can have success with small, speedy linemen like Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Howard won’t start any time soon, but he could be utilized as a situational rush specialist this year.

Thomas Brown, Atlanta - This is a great fit for Brown, and the new regime in Atlanta will value a hardworking athletic back who can block. He should beat out Jason Snelling, who is more of a fullback anyway, for the #3 spot in Atlanta. He won’t carry a full workload, but he should be a valuable 3rd down back somewhere along the line.

Chester Adams, Chicago - My guess is that Adams is in Chicago to provide bulk and versatility to a fairly shallow line. If Adams is starting or playing much this year, it means something has gone wrong for the Bears, but he should be a 3rd string player while they work on this project.

Brandon Coutu, Seattle - If Coutu can beat out Olindo Mare in camp this year, he will handle field goals. If not, he’ll probably be cut and find another team to kick for. He definitely has an NFL career ahead of him, with or without Seattle.

Kregg Lumpkin, Green Bay - With Green Bay loaded with running backs, Lumpkin’s a longshot to make it out of camp, but don’t be shocked if he does. With Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson, Vernand Morency, and DeShawn Wynn all also present, Lumpkin will be hard-pressed to make the team as a halfback. As a receiving fullback, though, he has a shot.

Kelin Johnson, Seattle - Kelin has a great chance to stick in Seattle as a special teams player and it won’t surprise me at all if he makes the team out of camp. Don’t expect to see him playing safety very much this season.

Brandon Miller, Atlanta - I didn’t even include Miller in my preview because I thought it was such a longshot he’d get drafted, and while that was true, Atlanta signed him, presumably to be a defensive end. Miller is blessed with exceptional athleticism, and while he played linebacker somewhat poorly in college, he could become a real sleeper at defensive end. He’s very raw, but with players this athletic, you can’t rule anything out.

Fernando Velasco, Tennessee - The Titans just got a lineman that will make them proud. He’s a hard working player who will adapt to anything the team asks of him. Considering Tennessee doesn’t really have any reliable backup guards, Velasco has a really good chance of sticking with the team.

Sean Bailey, Kansas City - It always surprised me when Bailey wasn’t considered a pro prospect, and now I’m really happy to see him sign somewhere. He has the NFL pedigree, he has the skills, and he just needs to add some bulk and work on some technical things. There’s no telling if he’ll make the team, or even be on the practice squad, but it’s nice to know there’s some interest out there for him.

This weekend, while most Atlanta eyes will be closely watching the Falcons, plenty of other local fans will be watching to see where their favorite college players wind up going. Here’s your guide to the former Georgia Bulldogs for this weekend.

• Marcus Howard, Rush Specialist - Much of the nation had not heard of Marcus Howard until he turned Colt Brennan into his own personal tackling dummy during the 2008 Sugar Bowl. While it’s true that 2007 was Howard’s first year as a starter, and that lack of experience is a concern to NFL scouts, Howard still turned in an impressive performance, piling up 10.5 sacks on the year. Yes, he’s still too small to be an every down lineman, but he has added bulk since leaving college, and he weighed in at 237 pounds at the combine. That’s still certainly blockable, but that comes with the assumption the lineman can get his hands on Howard. After turning in the fastest 40 time among all defensive linemen and linebackers at the combine, and one of the top 4 verticals, Howard is proving himself agile and elusive when going after the QB. Howard will best be used as a rush specialist, either as a defensive end in a 4-3 or an outside linebacker in a 3-4. He can probably learn how to cover tight ends as well, considering he was a full tenth of a second faster than any tight end in this year’s draft in the 40. All in all, he’s an attractive prospect who can immediately help in blitz packages and with some weight room time and some coaching, might turn into a real asset as an outside linebacker.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 3 (93rd overall) - Indianapolis Colts, who have a system that allows rush specialists to thrive.
• Thomas Brown, Running Back - Brown has a lengthy list of superlatives, but his negatives will force him into the second day of the draft this weekend. Getting those out of the way first, he just isn’t very big. While many NFL RBs lack height, they also don’t lack bulk, and Brown is short on both inches and pounds. Then there’s the reason teams worry about that size: injuries. Brown piled up injuries at Georgia, missing 11 games in 4 years, and that was after missing 5 his senior year at Tucker High. His fragility means he cannot be depended on by an NFL team, but he will still be drafted, for several huge reasons. First off, the dude’s a warrior. He’s tough as both a runner and a blocker, and he plays much bigger than his size, if that makes sense. He’s also a warrior in the weight room, as he was pound for pound the strongest player on UGA’s roster. He’s a shifty runner who can fight for extra yards here and there up the middle or cut to the outside. He’s not so much fast as he is quick. He has great vision and is better at making defenders miss than simply outrunning them. Another very important aspect of becoming an NFL running back is blocking, and Brown is, for his size, an excellent blocker. Finally, he’s coachable and will do whatever he can to help the team. A high-character guy that will be a clubhouse and field leader is hard to find in the 4th or 5th round, so some NFL team will walk away very pleased with this pick.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 4 (128th overall) - Green Bay Packers, who could use a slash and cut runner to balance out their power running game.
• Fernando Velasco, Offensive Guard - Velasco played Guard and Center in college, a sign that he is both versatile and team-oriented. His footwork is a little slow, though, and everything he does seems to be overachieving. While that seems like a backhanded compliment, it also implies that Velasco is a hard worker and a coachable player. As a run blocker he has great punch and can clear holes. His inability to pass block against top competition, though, makes him a project for now. He’ll benefit, however, from an incredibly weak crop of guards this year, and will probably get drafted as a result.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 7 (225th overall) - Arizona Cardinals, who are trying to become a run-first team.
• Brandon Coutu, Kicker - When healthy, there probably isn’t a better field goal kicker in this draft. Coutu has been known to boom them from well beyond 50 yards during his time at Georgia. However, “when healthy” is key here, as Coutu has had hamstring issues throughout his career at Georgia, and it could prevent him from being drafted. Also, as evidenced at the Cocktail Party a few years ago, the wind has its way with him at times. Still, if you put this guy indoors and give him a chance to kick the game winner, he can make it. Also, he gets the ball up high and will rarely be blocked. Unfortunately, NFL scouts don’t see him as someone who will kick off for the team, and if you’re going to be one of the two or three kickers drafted, you have to be a kickoff threat. Whether he’s a late round pick or a free agent, someone is going to wind up with a nifty field goal specialist.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 7 (227th overall) - Denver Broncos, who have had success with kickers from Gwinnett County before. See: Jason Elam.
• Kregg Lumpkin, Running Back - It’s still unknown whether Lumpkin’s future lies at halfback or fullback, but most teams certainly feel he has a future in some respect. If a team converts him to fullback, he’ll only be useful as a receiver immediately. His blocking was almost non-existent during his tenure at Georgia. I like him more as a halfback prospect, and with another 15 pounds he could become a fine NFL power runner. When he runs between the tackles, he’s a force up the middle, powering through tackles and usually gaining extra yards. From a technical standpoint, he’s a very sound runner. He has plenty of talent and was one of the top RB recruits in the nation as a prep star. Injuries have plagued him his entire career but as a short-yardage back, he definitely has potential. Watch out for this guy. He had only 44 rushing yards last year, but might wind up being the Terrell Davis of this decade - a better NFL player than a college player.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted, signed by Pittsburgh Steelers, who value hard running up the middle more than outside speed.
• Kelin Johnson, Free Safety - Using Free Safety here isn’t really accurate, because it’s likely his days at FS are over. Most NFL scouts see him as too weak in coverage to play DB at the next level and too thin to play LB. Still, he’s a sure tackler and is tough to block, which means he may find himself on some special teams unit, and I think he could really thrive in that role. He’s a high character guy who should be signed next week.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted, signed by Atlanta Falcons, who could use someone involved in the community now that Warrick Dunn has moved on. Plus, the Falcons could use anyone who can tackle right now.
• Chester Adams, Offensive Guard - Adams is off many radars, and he’s not at all ready to play in the NFL, but he is athletic, big, and charismatic, so it’s hard to imagine he won’t catch on somewhere. He was a bit frustrating at times in college (some Georgia fans called him Swiss Cheese, what with all the holes in his blocking), but if he can correct some mechanical flaws, he might wind up being an undrafted steal. There’s potential here.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted, signed by Detroit Lions, who value athleticism and size more than football ability.

This weekend, while most Atlanta eyes will be closely watching the Falcons, plenty of other local fans will be watching to see where their favorite college players wind up going. Here’s your guide to Georgia Tech players for this weekend.

• Darrell Robertson, Defensive End / Linebacker - Robertson is an athletic end who could be a great fit for a 3-4 scheme as a rush linebacker and could be a real steal in this draft. What will probably push him to Sunday is his lack of ideal size, but he found his way around it in college, giving up only 1 first down on running plays toward him last year. In 2007, he picked up 16 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks as a very important part of Tech’s strong defensive unit. He’s not seen as a true down lineman, probably because he gets pushed around by big tackles, but as a 3-4 linebacker, he can utilize his speed as a rusher or when covering the TE. There’s always the chance he could become an every down lineman much in the mold of other thin players like Jason Taylor, but the 3-4 OLB is most likely his immediate destination. Expect him to hear his name called early on Sunday. Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 3rd pick (102nd overall) - New York Jets, who could use some explosiveness from the outside and some DE/OLB depth in their 3-4.
• Durant Brooks, Punter - The winner of the Ray Guy Award is easily the best punter available in this draft. While he doesn’t have the ideal size or accuracy, his booming leg forced 21 fair catches last year alone, and his hang time would already possibly be the best in the NFL. There are no questions about his leg strength; Brooks set an NCAA record with 57 50+ yard kicks over the last two years of his career. As great of a pro prospect as he is, punters simply don’t get chosen early in the draft, so Brooks will assuredly have to wait until Sunday to hear his name. Still, the 3rd or 4th round isn’t out of the question, and he should definitely be gone by the end of the 5th. As a punter who can kick for distance in any type of weather, he’ll be attractive to plenty of teams.
  Just for fun prediciton: Round 4 - 17th pick (116th overall) - Arizona Cardinals, who had the worst punt game in the NFL last year.
• Tashard Choice, Running Back - Choice gets high marks for his leadership qualities and work ethic, as he will improve any locker room he sets foot into. He has great vision when it comes to seeing holes opening up. However, Choice doesn’t have top-back speed, and he can’t break tackles easily. He runs like a power back but lacks the power to really pull it off at the NFL level. This, along with his injury issues, will cause him to slip a bit. Still, his production was solid in college, racking up 1473 yards and 12 TDs as a Junior and 1379 yards and 10 TDs as a Senior. Expect to hear Choice’s name called early on Sunday.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 21st pick (120th overall) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are looking for some depth and love short-gain, between the tackles runners.
• Philip Wheeler, Outside Linebacker - With a nose for the ball and good play recognition, Wheeler will go somewhere near the rest of his Jacket teammates, most likely early on Sunday. He’s known as a great blitzer, and he can play well against the run. What limits him are the following: he isn’t ready to play any zone defense, has a tendency to take some plays off when the play isn’t directly involving him, isn’t very fast, and plays recklessly at times, trusting too much in his ability, which probably isn’t as good as he thinks it is. He’s best used as a run-stopping OLB and occasional blitzer, and while he’s versatile enough to play inside, he is too easily blocked to be effective.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 4 - 24th pick (123rd overall) - Pittsburgh Steelers, who appreciate guys who can play run D and bring in the occasional blitz.
• Gary Guyton, Outside Linebacker - An explosive athlete, Guyton is a solid character guy who will improve the team both on and off the field. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have flaws. Guyton takes a little too long to recognize plays and rarely puts big hits on ballcarriers. Still, he’s quick and smart, and in a system which utilizes him mainly as a run defender, he could be helpful. He shouldn’t be playing 3rd downs, but could be fantastic as a special teamer and backup two-down linebacker. It’s hard for him not to remind you of another former Tech LB who was a better athlete than football player - Keyaron Fox.
  Just for fun prediction: Round 7 - 10th pick (217th overall) - St. Louis Rams, who need some help in kick coverage immediately.
• Mike Cox, Fullback - Cox will never be a key receiver out of the backfield or a change-of-pace ball carrier, but he isn’t a bad blocker at all. A big wide guy who can clear a lane for a back or block for kick and punt returners, Cox has very good awareness on the field. There are some injury issues and an arrest that could drop him out of this draft, but he will certainly go to camp with someone, and might even get selected this weekend. As a blocking fullback and special teams player, he’s worth a look.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Seattle Seahawks, who are one of the few teams that still utilize pure blocking FBs.
• Adamm Oliver, Defensive End - I’ll be surprised if Oliver is drafted, if only because injury has prevented him from working out for scouts. He’s a high-effort, hard hitting DE, but he will struggle to shed blockers and lacks the speed you look for in a starter. Oliver is probably destined for the depth chart doldrums, but he might be helpful on special teams.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Jacksonville Jaguars, who tend to value the slower DEs of the world sometimes.
• Jamal Lewis, Strong Safety - Lewis projects as a future special teams player, as he has great athleticism but poor on-field recognition and awareness. He might be useful in dime packages, since there won’t be much guesswork involved in those situations. As it stands, however, Lewis can’t recognize plays well enough to be ready to contribute right now. He’s a project for the long run.
  Just for fun prediction: Undrafted free agent - Signed by Carolina Panthers, who could use some help in kick coverage and might give him a chance to help out.