Q & A Sean Weatherspoon ready for home opener

[falcon057]

Atlanta Falcons 9:37 p.m. Friday, September 17, 2010


Q & A: Sean Weatherspoon ready for home opener



By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon didn't stick out like a sore thumb in his NFL debut Sunday in Pittsburgh.




He appeared right at home while making eight tackles.

"I think that the two that really stand out are the two inside linebackers, [Curtis] Lofton and Weatherspoon," Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Both of them are good young players."

Weatherspoon, the Falcons' first-round draft pick from Missouri, is starting to get settled into the area and is looking forward to making his Georgia Dome debut against the Cardinals at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Weatherspoon spoke with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about starting as a rookie, his trips to Lenox Square and his love for Waffle House.

Q: How do you feel your debut went?

A: It was cool. I made some plays. One thing about being a rookie is that you really have to make sure that you discipline your eyes because when you get in there, you are so anxious to go make plays. It's a lot of stuff happening out there. You just have to go back to your fundamentals and you have to use your eyes a little bit better. ... it wasn't as crazy as I thought it would be.

Q: Who helped you get through it?

A: Mike Peterson and [John Abraham] helped me. He told me that he went out there and was just gassed, he was so excited to go out there and play. I just tried to stay calm during the pregame and the coin toss. That's usually when I get jacked up. I just wanted to keep my composure, and I think that's what helped me play as effectively as I did.

Q: Do you think it will be different playing at home this week at the Georgia Dome?

A: I feel like I'll be a little bit more amped up for this one. I kind of know what to expect in an NFL game. I know that every series and every play is big. You definitely have to be ready for that. Being in front of the home crowd you get a chance to go out there and play against a team that has a pretty good rushing attack. If we go out there and take care of that, we'll be fine. I'm just really looking forward to this one because I have tons of family coming in to see me play my first game in the Georgia Dome.

Q: How many of your folks are coming?

A: About eight coming for Texas. My brother lives here in Conyers. He will be here with his family as well. I'll have a big crowd.

Q: What's been the biggest adjustment from college?

A: The biggest adjustment is just not knowing exactly what to expect. That's the toughest part for me because being a rookie I don't know have that experience. Those preseason games helped me out, but there was no way were they as intense as the Pittsburgh game. Just the lack of experience is the biggest change. I think you learn on the job a little bit. As long as you're not a liability, you should be able to do that.

Q: How have you been adjusting to living in the Atlanta area?

A: I'm settled in. I'm renting a place out in Buford. I have a place where I can lay my head and I can call home. That's something that's been heartwarming for me because being down in the dorms was tough sleeping in that bed every night. I'm getting accustomed to the city a little bit. I get down to Lenox [Square] and walk around there a little bit. I like the area down there, but every day we wake up, it's all about football.

Q: Have you found a favorite restaurant yet?

A: Not yet. But I'm a Waffle House guy, and they have a lot of those out here.

[DemBirds]

Oh we should definitely win. Whisenhunt thinks we run a 3-4 apparently and Sean and Curtis both play inside! It's gonna be a good sunday.

[NZFalcon]

(09-18-2010 05:41 AM)falcon057 Wrote:  his love for Waffle House.

ROFL

[trickworm]

I'm getting more and more impressed with this young man. He's got swagger, but the right kind of swagger coupled with doses of humility.

[bF™]

I bet 5 bucks he was smiling throughout this whole interview

[The Falcon Jedi]

I wonder if he still sings on demand. THe vets made him do that during pre-season.

[m cooper 22]

For a guy that 'talks to much', he always seems to say the right things. Great interview, he has a promising future.

[falcon057]

did anyone notice this:

Q: How many of your folks are coming?

A: About eight coming for Texas. My brother lives here in Conyers. He will be here with his family as well. I'll have a big crowd.

He's got family in town. not a bad thing for a young player.

[ChocTheFalconFan]

I remember ppl saying he probably wasn't going to be drafted high because he's a talker like Chad Ocho and T.O. and etc! - But me personally I don't think he's that type of talker! - I think he's more like a Brian Dawkins type talker - A person who gives their everything on the field for every game but you hear nothing about them in the media doing stupid stuff! - Lofton and Spoon will be a force for many years!

[m cooper 22]

Yeah, that's exactly how I see it. The guy is passionate about football, if he gets hyped up by making plays, gets hyped up seeing his team mates perform, and he enjoys hyping them up, I'm all for it.