A little nugget from Kerry Meier: “If you keep your mind right, it’ll take your body a long way.” Solid advice.
But what about your mustache, Kerry? Can you keep that right?
Source >> Falcoholic
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Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
FLOWERY BRANCH, GA. — William Moore didn’t expect to record zero tackles in a game last season, his rookie year, let alone coming up empty on tackles for the entire season.
Injuries, including a hamstring, shut Moore’s season down in October when he was placed on injured reserve. The former Missouri star used last season’s stumbling block to quickly determine how he didn’t want his NFL career to go.
Once the offseason arrived the 25-year-old safety set out to make sure his second season with the Falcons didn’t end up like his first, with frustrations around every bend.
“As a competitor it’s definitely frustrating,” Moore said Saturday. “That taught me a lot as far as sitting on the sideline and I got the mental part of the game. Plus this offseason, I learned how to stay on the field because I want to play the game and make contributions.”
The Falcons want Moore on the field at safety, but beyond the injuries he sustained last season, the coaching staff wanted to see a more confident and communicating version on the back end of the defense. So far through OTAs and the first few days of training camp, head coach Mike Smith likes what he sees.
“William’s done a very nice job,” Smith said following Saturday’s first practice. “He’s very improved in his communication. That’s the thing our safeties have to do. We do so many things with regards to our coverages, they have to be great communicators and get us checked into the right coverages.”
Moore owes much of the credit to learning the art of defense directing in the Falcons’ scheme to the current starters, Thomas DeCoud and Erik Coleman. Despite Moore being drafted in 2009 in the second round to possibly take his position, Coleman, a seven-year veteran, has taken him under his wing.
“I’ve got two great safeties in front of me,” Moore said of the starters. “They definitely raised the bar competition-wise. I enjoy that. We all love that. I feed off of them. Every day those guys are going to come out and make plays, I know that. They teach me a lot in the classroom and out on the field.”
As Smith said, a premium is placed on the safety position by the Falcons, and Moore realizes the player that fills that role must have confidence, the kind of confidence that can only be gained by knowing the playbook inside and out.
“Safety is a very important position in the NFL, especially on this team because we set the defense,” Moore said. “That’s where last year came in, finding that confidence. Now I’ve got a great grasp on what’s going on. I feel like I know my playbook to be able to go out there and put the corner in the right position. When you can do that, you can play better.”
Finding that confidence and resembling the All-American general manager Thomas Dimitroff scouted at Missouri took all offseason. Now in his second training camp, Moore lines up with the second team and his voice is the loudest of all, barking orders while his hands wave defenders around.
“I feel confident as far as physically and mentally,” Moore said. “When you first come in its very challenging for every rookie. I went through a lot last year, some growing pains, but you’ve got to learn from them. I stayed [in Atlanta] during all OTAs and all offseason. I’ve got my playbook and I feel very confident now.”
The confidence shows in his early-camp play and body language and Smith’s excited to see Moore take the next step when the pads go on.
“We’re anxious to see how he will compete when we get the pads on,” Smith said. “I think he’s going to look better in pads because of the skill set that he has than he will in shorts.”
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
Ah, change. Inevitable as death and taxes. (Unless you’re a vending machine.)
As Captain Jack Sparrow so sagely remarked at the end of one of his Pirates installments, “Now….bring me that horizon.” That horizon is fast approaching, my friends.
Folks, first and foremost, a huge thanks to Daniel Cox. He has helped us through a tough period without a new media producer at the same time we’re completely redesigning/re-launching our website (before Training Camp). His insightful articles and unique points of view have kept us afloat as we searched for our full-time new media producer. And good news: Daniel will continue to work with us throughout the season as a credentialed contributing writer.
That said, the redesign and staff shortage has taken its toll. The coverage has not even approached being as comprehensive as it should be, and I take full responsibility. With the access and immediacy we’re afforded here in Flowery Branch, you folks deserve much better. We simply haven’t been a reliable source of everything Falcons.
That’s changing. And soon.
We have hired an extremely talented reporter/digital media specialist, and this person will be starting just before Training Camp. I think you’re really going to like this person - and you can expect to see him constantly on the FalconsLife boards. And we’re breaking down the tired old conventions and scrapping some of the things we’ve done for 10 years just because that’s the way you do them.
We’re going to leverage technology like never before. Engage with FalconsLifers like never before. Update and report like never before.
So stay tuned for a new site. A new AF.com personality. And a new attitude.
–Moderator
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
Quote
http://static.nfl.com/static/content/catch_all/nfl_image/s_merriman_100117_IA.jpg
Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press
Shawne Merriman is threatening to hold out from training camp unless the Chargers provide him assurances he won’t be traded.
Besides Merriman’s appearance on the HBO show “Entourage,” the Chargers have seen very little of him this offseason.
Merriman’s career is at a crossroads, in spite of the cameo on TV. Almost everyone I talk with wants to know which player the league will see this year — the dominant player who collected 39.5 sacks in his first three years, or the one that is recovering from injuries and has only four sacks to his name the last two seasons.
With Merriman there is always a little cloud around his play. Was his great first three years a result of steroids use (which he was suspended for), or rather just his raw talent? Even the Chargers don’t know the answer to that question. They do know, however, they are not going to re-sign Merriman to an extension next year unless he returns to his 2006 form (when he had 17 sacks in just 12 games).
The Falcons would be a perfect team for Merriman to re-establish his career. Indoors, perfect field conditions, a loud crowd, and a great bookend rusher in John Abraham.
The Falcons need a dominant rusher (who doesn’t?) and taking a chance on Merriman would be a smart move. They drafted Sean Weatherspoon in the first round and need to get him on the field, thus making Stephen Nicholas expendable.
The Chargers can assume they will get a compensatory pick (a third-rounder) from losing Merriman, if there is a new CBA and if — a big “if” here — the framework of the current system stays in place. Therefore to make the deal now, they would need to get a second-rounder and another asset. With the conditional second, the Chargers are still at no risk.
If the Falcons re-sign Merriman, they get the two, which is better than the compensatory. And if they don’t, they still gain a third-rounder which would be a higher three than any compensatory three. Win-win for the Chargers.
Merriman needs to realize that no one is going to give him a new deal unless he plays well this season. Yes, his statistics for the first three years are Entourage-cameo worthy, but there are some real issues that make any long-term investment very risky. The Falcons take a risk but are protected by just giving away a third-round pick and a player who was not going to be a starter.
Obviously he underplayed NIcholas’ importance to this team, but it’s an interesting trade scenario none the less. Would you do it?
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
Last season, at the start of training camp, I made very early predictions for every team in the NFC South, going through each individual game. Not to toot my own horn, but I ended up fairly close with my predictions (See the predictions here). I had the division finishing as follows:
Atlanta - 11-5
New Orleans - 11-5
Carolina - 10-6
Tampa Bay - 5-11
I missed every teams final record by 2 games, mainly by over predicting all but New Orleans, who I sold short. As for the actual games, my records were:
Atlanta - 14-2 (Got wrong Dallas & the home game against New Orleans)
New Orleans - 10-6 (Missed Philadelphia, both Tampa Bay games, New England, second Atlanta game, & Dallas)
Carolina - 9-7 (Missed Philadelphia, Buffalo, Arizona, Miami, NY Jets, Minnesota, & NY Giants)
Tampa Bay - 12-4 (Got wrong Miami, switched the New Orleans games, and the NY Jets)
That put me at 45-19, or 70% correct. Not bad for predictions made at the end of July. This season, I’m only making predictions for the Falcons games, but with that in mind, here are my predictions for each game this season for the Falcons. As always, these are baring injuries to major players.
@ Pittsburgh - The Steelers are starting the season without Roethlisberger, and have no Willie Parker or Willie Colon (RT). What does that mean for the Steelers offense? Either Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich handing of to Rashard Mendenhall and throwing to Hines Ward while Flozell Adams tries to block. Not a good recipe for their Offense. Defense keeps it close, but Falcons start their third straight season with a win.
vs Arizona - Without Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin, this isn’t the same team. As good as Fitzgerald is, Leinart still has to get him the ball. Robinson gets first INT for the Falcons in a win.
@ New Orleans - I can try to look at Falcons games with an unbiased eyee, but I have to admit I hate the Saints. I also hate the fact that Atlanta (at least lately) seems to always go to New Orleans before the come here. Ok, enough of a rant. Facts - New Orleans is coming off a Super Bowl run. They just had 2 tough games against Minnesota and San Fran. Atlanta has a tough time winning in New Orleans. That continues. Falcons fall to 2-1.
vs San Francisco - Two things I know about last season: Atlanta never looked better than when they played San Fran, and San Fran rarely looked as bad. Very tough game this season, and if it were in the Bay I’d give the nod to the 49ers. At home, however, I’ll give it to the Falcons by a field goal.
@ Cleveland - Who starts for the Browns, Delhomme or McCoy? Either way, Holmgren hasn’t gotten this team close to where he wants. Falcons win in the Dog Pound.
@ Philadelphia - Who thinks Mike Smith has forgotten Andy Reed purposely using Mike Vick more against the Falcons than any other team? He hasn’t. Falcons will be more pumped for this game than any other and, if they get the chance, will run the score up. Also, I’m not impressed with Kolb yet. Falcons take the game, maybe by doble digits.
vs Cincinnati - I don’t think Cincinnati will be able to hold up too well as the season rolls on, I think their locker room will be in turmoil by seasons end (TO + OchoCinco isn’t good for any team). However, I think they’ll have just enough to send an emotionally drained Falcons team to 5-2 going into the bye.
BYE - Love the middle of the season byes, good chance to heal those small, nagging injuries.
vs Tampa Bay - I don’t think the Bucs will be as bad as a lot of people are saying. However, I don’t think they’ll be able to get by a rested Falcons team in Atlanta either.
vs Baltimore - Ahh, the battle of the 2008 First Round QBs. I admit, at the time of the draft, I was hoping Atlanta would end up with Jake Long and draft Flacco later. We got Ryan and Baker instead and got who I now think is the better QB. Flacco seems to lean on his D more than Ryan (last season, what D?), but that same D is getting a little old. They show signs of their age and fall to the Falcons in Atlanta.
@ St. Louis - During the next 5 games for the Falcons, 4 are on the road. This first one shouldn’t be too tough, the Rams have the potential for a good QB, but no one to throw the ball to or block for him. They’ll lean on Stephen Jackson for a while, but that won’t work when they fall behind. Falcons win easily.
vs Green Bay - Toughest game during this stretch, but it’s at home. Should serve as a little boost, and Rodgers can be streaky. After a tough game in Minnesota, Green Bay doesn’t have enough to keep up with the Falcons, who rise up to 8-2.
@ Tampa Bay - Home game for Tampa after traveling to Baltimore, road game for Atlanta after hosting Green Bay. Both teams will be a little beat up, but Atlanta, the superior team, will find a way to win.
@ Carolina - I really don’t think Carolina is as bad as people are thinking, they still have a great rushing tandem, Fox has yet to have consecutive “Down Seasons”, and they are usually better in the second half. Falcons fall to 9-3.
@ Seattle - Last road game of the season, and it’s against a coach I don’t think will cut it in the NFL. Carroll is a great recruiter, but that doesn’t help in the NFL. Atlanta wins here and has a chance to make it their last road game, including the playoffs.
vs New Orleans - New Orleans is a good team, and I think they have as good a chance as any to end the NFC South’s streak of no team winning back-to-back division crowns. However, they don’t as Atlanta locks up the division after getting to 12-3.
vs Carolina - Atlanta has already locked up the division and a first round by. What do they have to play for? Number 1 overall seed, division rival, possibly even a chance to knock the Panthers out of a playoff spot? Motivation enough as Atlanta wins, but rests their starters late.
Season Prediction - 13-3, First in the NFC South and Number 1 seed in the NFC.
And just for fun, other quick NFC Prediticns:
NFC North: Minnesota - 12-4
NFC East: Dallas - 11-5
NFC West: San Francisco - 9-7
Wild Card: New Orleans - 11-5
Wild Card: Carolina - 10-6
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
All this talk about Jerry and HD coming back (awesome, btw), and nothing about William Moore. Guess thats a bad sign right?
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
Hope it’s not serious.
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
We’re going to create “Official” fan report/observation threads this year, to make it easier for everyone to find your detailed updates. We’ll be organizing these by practice. Anyone at the first practice Friday morning at 8:30 am, have at it…
–Moderator
Source >> Atlanta Falcons Blogs
Atlanta Falcons receiver Michael Jenkins(notes) makes a catch in front of Dunta Wright (23) during NFL football training camp in Flowery Branch, Ga., Friday, July 30, 2010.
Source >> Yahoo Sports Images