SB Nation - Eric Weems

Eric Weems Leaves Falcons For Bears, So Who Returns Kicks Now?

Jason Kirk — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:04:16 -0000

Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl return man Eric Weems has left for the Chicago Bears, where he'll catch all the kicks Devin Hester drops and hand them to Devin Hester. That's probably not true. For the Falcons, this raises the question of what to do about all of the kicks, since somebody's going to need to catch them and ideally run them somewhere.

Here's the list of players who've returned kicks or punts for the Birds before:

That's it! Douglas brought back a few punts his rookie year, and the other three each scooped up a squib kick or something along the way. Ovie Mughelli! Enormous kick returner!

However, players like Jacquizz Rodgers could handle return duties, and Franks, Brent Grimes, and Julio Jones have some kick return experience. The latter two cost a lot of money, so let's say the competition comes down to Franks and Rodgers for the time being.

Franks handled 37 returns in his three years at Oklahoma, and his ball skills are evident in his two interception return touchdowns. Rodgers didn't take on returns at Oregon State, but he's got the movement ability and the hands to give it a shot.

I wouldn't worry too much about special teams here. Ovie's got it all under control anyway.

2012 Atlanta Falcons Free Agents: John Abraham, Brent Grimes On Lengthy List

Jason Kirk — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:18:46 -0000

So. Yep. Time to move on to next year, yes? In addition to coaching staff evaluations, the Atlanta Falcons have quite a few personnel calls to make. For one, defensive end John Abraham, the franchise's all-time sacks leader who put up more sacks than any other two 2011 Falcons combined, could be leaving us.

@johnabraham55 Damn ima free agent.Never truly been through this.If this my last game as a falcon I wana say I loved every min and thank you for the love

By Rotoworld's count, here are Atlanta's other 2012 free agents:

Visit Atlanta Falcons blog The Falcoholic

Quarterback Chris Redman
Running back Jason Snelling
Running back Antone Smith (exclusive rights)
Wide receiver Harry Douglas
Tight end Michael Palmer (exclusive rights)
Center Todd McClure
Defensive tackle Vance Walker (restricted)
Linebacker Mike Peterson
Linebacker Curtis Lofton
Cornerback Brent Grimes
Safety Thomas DeCoud
Kick returner Eric Weems
Long snapper Joe Zelenka

Last year, Snelling signed a one-year deal after testing the waters and Grimes was signed to a lean one-year tender as a restricted free agent. Weems also signed a one-year contract as a RFA, and Peterson was also signed just for 2011.

That so many critical players are due at once is actually a testament to Thomas Dimitroff's first draft class. Most of the names that likely leaped out at you while reading that list came from the 2008 draft. Now, without very many draft picks to work with, the test will be to see which of those players have earned second contracts.

ANIMATED: Michael Turner Tosses Eric Weems With A Purpose

Brian Floyd — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:42:32 -0000

Typically, a vicious stiff arm is reserved for an opponent in pursuit. A well-placed, powerful stiff arm can be one heck of a highlight reel play, as well as allowing the ballcarrier to get free for a big gain. Everybody loves a good stiff arm.

But sometimes, friendly fire just happens. Like on Thursday Night Football, when Eric Weems got in Michael Turner's way. Turner, the Falcons' bowling ball of a running back, didn't even let the minor obstruction slow him down, instead tossing Weems aside with ease.

As an added bonus, Turner's teammate toss served as a block. All he did was fling Weems into two defenders, allowing him to pick up some extra yards. It was a productive toss!

Seems like more running backs should try this.

For more on the Jaguars head over to Big Cat Country. For more on the Falcons, check out The Falcoholic. Follow the rest of Week 15 NFL action at SB Nation NFL.

ANIMATED: Michael Turner Flings Teammate Into Defenders

Jason Kirk — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:36:45 -0000

This is perhaps the second-mightiest thing Michael Turner has ever done, behind only the trampling he laid on DeAngelo Hall a couple years back. Watch as he hurls an entire Eric Weems towards some Jacksonville Jaguars:

Falcons Vs. Lions Highlights: Defense, Special Teams Outstanding In Detroit

Alec Shirkey — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:02:30 -0000

The Falcons 23-16 victory over the Detroit Lions was one that came in very typical Falcons fashion: a highly-contested, physical game that stayed close right to the very end. The Falcons escaped the dreaded third quarter with only a little hurt, and the offense was able to do just enough to come away with the win.

Defense and special teams, however, have finally started giving us highlights to appreciate. The front four got great pressure on Stafford all day, tallying three sacks and five QB hits, along with an impressive eight pass deflections. And then there was Eric Weems, who had a phenomenal day: in addition to a 37-yard punt return, he also managed a kick return to the house (that was, predictably, called back due to penalty). Matt Bryant stayed perfect on the year, going three-for-three on field goal tries.

Full highlights after the jump:

Falcons @ Lions Week 7 2011 Highlights (via FreeNFLHighlights)

Probably one of the most overlooked plays of the game, in my humble opinion, was Akeem Dent's forced fumble on special teams. The Falcons would recover, giving them excellent field position and ultimtely leading the the one-yard Matt Ryan touchdown.

Then in the waning minutes of the first half, the offense would score their second and final touchdown of the day (on a seven play, 81-yard drive no less). Ryan would find Tony Gonzalez on a 30-yard pass, and then finish the job with a beautiful 18-yard completion to Roddy White in the back of the end zone.

From then onwards, it was all defense. Well, that and Calvin Johnson gaining lots of yards. In all fairness, "Megatron" just might be the best receiver in the league though, so you have to credit Brent Grimes for basically shutting him down in the first half. The 50-yard strike to Johnson was probably more the collective fault of safeties DeCoud and Moore than it was Grimes'.

And then there was that scary play involving Will Svitek stepping on Ryan's twisted ankle. Avert your eyes, those of weak constitutions, because it's pretty gruesome to watch. But somehow, Ryan came back into the game after missing only a few plays.

What's more, on his first play back from injury Ryan would find Harry Douglas on a 49-yard passing play, leading to a crucial field goal. He may have thrown two INTs, but Ryan at least gets an "A" for effort in this one. All in all, it was a great day in Falcons land to see this team stick it out, play a complete game and come away with the win.

For more, check out The Falcoholic and Pride of Detroit.

Atlanta Falcons Announce Entire Roster Had Offseason Surgery

Jason Kirk — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:00:59 -0000

Mike Smith isn't the world's biggest fan of sharing injury information. The world's biggest fan of sharing injury information is probably either @InjuryExpert or Facebook. So the Atlanta Falcons coach may have actually kind of liked the NFL lockout, since it prevented any players from having to answer any questions about their offseason medical concerns.

And boy oh boy were there some of those!

Officer Curtis Lofton actually filed paperwork on his knee surgery during the lockout, but the rest of the roster waited until reaching Flowery Branch to disclose en masse news of their operations, leading to your assumption that training camp looks like the staging area for the second season of The Walking Dead. < --- must reference this show every three or four days

On the first day of camp, Michael Turner opened up about his groin surgery. Eric Weems mentioned a "minor" knee surgery. The most exciting revelation, however, was the news that Ray Edwards would miss Friday night's preseason opener due to a summer knee surgery, which -- no wonder he was so inexpensive! I'm probably forgetting five or six.

It's a little much to take all at once, and leaves you in the weird position of bracing against news that's already happened, as if you are a _______. < --- need your help finishing that one

But that's sports fandom sometimes. You look at the mirror one day and realize you're just a ______. < --- paste it in here too

Falcons Undrafted Free Agents: Which Rookies Could Have An Impact?

Alec Shirkey — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:00:52 -0000

Thus far, the Falcons have signed 23 undrafted free agents in this bite-sized offseason. Given that the short preseason will be geared towards getting the starters and impact rookies like Julio Jones ready for the 2011 season, several of those undrafted rookies will have a tough time standing out amongst their teammates.

However, make no mistake, there are a few of these undrafted rookies who can contribute and will have an impact on the 2011 season. Given the outstanding success undrafted guys like Eric Weems and Brent Grimes have had for the Falcons, let's take a look at who could be a big prospect in future years.

If you look at Friday's training camp roster, there are over 90 players listed there. Some of these guys have no shot, but here are a few guys I think could have the fast track to making the team:

QB Adam Froman, Louisville:
Earlier in the week, I actually pointed out that Froman could be a really good signing for the Falcons. Obviously Ryan and Redman are locked in as starter and primary backup, respectively. However, Froman only needs to beat out current third-stringer John Parker Wilson to make the team. Froman has poor mechanics, but good decision-making to make up for it. He also has the size (6'4, 220 lbs) and speed to be a quality backup in the NFL.

C Paul Fenaroli, Stony Brook:
Take one look at this guy, and you immediately think "Beast." Basically, Fenaroli is a guy who lit up the field against weaker competition. However, his strength (34 bench reps) and durability (started 38 consecutive games) are what will give him a shot over some of his competition.

DT Kiante Tripp, Georgia:
Though Tripp was a DE in UGA's 3-4 scheme, he'll likely move inside and could catch on as a contributor to the Falcons rotating defensive front system. Tripp certainly has the size of an NFL player (6'5, 302), and his lack of attention is likely a product of limited playing time under Willie Martinez, who doesn't understand football.

S Suaesi Tuimaunei, Oregon State:
At 6'1, 205 lbs, Tui (yes I'm calling him that) might not seem like a size threat at safety, but he certainly makes up for his size with some pop. He started his senior year for the Beavers, and proved himself to be a great tackler and hard hitter in the run game. He seems alot like Schillinger in that he's a safe player who'll keep everything in front of him, which is why he could make the roster over a risk-reward type player like current backup Rafael Bush.

WR Brandyn Harvey, Villanova:
Ok, he was a UFA last year, but I couldn't leave him out. With the Falcons releasing longtime receiver Michael Jenkins earlier today, that could leave an open spot on the roster for one of the many untested wideouts on the roster. Harvey, who spent 2010 on the practice squad, is probably the best out of that group. His ridiculous size (6'4, 205) and straight line speed would make him both a receiving threat and a good candidate for special teams.

For more on the Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

NFL Kickoff Rule Changes Could Diminish Roles Of Eric Weems, Michael Koenen

Jason Kirk — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:09:56 -0000

The NFL Competition Committee, headed by Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, has enacted a series of rule changes for the upcoming NFL season, should it ever actually happen. All scoring plays will be subject to booth review, no NFL team may use a color besides green for its turf (the Boise State rule!), and kickoffs will now be launched from the 35-yard line, not the 30.

The last will have more impact on the Falcons than any of the others, as the Birds were able to build a special teams advantage of late thanks to Michael Koenen's touchback talent and Eric Weems' Pro Bowl year, which included a postseason kickoff runback.

Koenen ranked fourth in the league in touchbacks last year with 23, by far outpacing all other kickoff-prone punters. A decreased emphasis on kickoff skills could mean the team's kicker (or Kroy Biermann!) could handle the duties, which would perhaps give Koenen more time to concentrate on, uh, punting.

And less of a playing field for Weems, who finished second among all players with 25 or more kick returns, might mean the specialist will have to devote more time to receiving drills if he wants to remain an impact player.

TV Schedule: NFL Pro Bowl, NHL All-Star Game, Celtics-Lakers, Maryland-Georgia Tech

Jason Kirk — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:14:33 -0000

Your Atlanta sports TV time and channel schedule. All times ET. As always, click on any team's name for complete schedules, scores, and previews, plus an active community devoted to your team. And check ESPN3, too.

Football

NFL Pro Bowl, 7, Fox: Atlanta Falcons-biased coverage here, while fans of lesser teams should go here. If you've never watched a Pro Bowl -- and who has? -- today's the day to start. Nine Falcons players are in the game, including six starters, seven if you count Eric Weems as a starting special teamer. But wait there's more! Falcons coach Mike Smith's staff is coaching the game, making it officially the most Falconly Pro Bowl ever.

You'll also get local college heroes Calvin Johnson, Champ Bailey, and Richard Seymour, plus former Falcons Michael Vick and DeAngelo Hall. OK, so nobody's going to watch to see DeAngelo Hall. But I've watched about four minutes of Pro Bowl in my entire decades-long sports fandom, and I'm going to merrily watch this entire thing. Mike Mularkey is going to break out some insane gadget plays, by the way.

Hockey

NHL All-Star Game, 4, Versus (Same story: ATLiens here, errbody else here)

Golf

Farmers Insurance Open, 1, Golf Channel, 3, CBS (Coverage here)

NBA basketball

Miami Heat at Oklahoma City Thunder, 1, ABC

Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers, 3:30, ABC

Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors, 10, ESPN

College basketball

Duke Blue Devils at St. John's Red Storm, 1, CBS

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Miami Hurricanes, 3, CSS (Women)

Georgia Bulldogs at LSU Tigers, 5, ESPN2 (Women)

Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Tech Hokies, 5:30, Fox Sports South

Maryland Terrapins at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 7:45, Fox Sports South

Washington Huskies at Washington St. Cougars, 10, Fox Sports South

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NFL Playoff Schedule: Half The AFC, NFC Title Picture Set

JP Starkey — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 14:00:56 -0000

Half of the title picture is set for both the AFC and NFC conferences after Saturday's Divisional round games. The Ravens blew their 21-7 lead, falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-24. Joe Flacco completed just 16 of 30 passes, threw an interception and lost a fumble in Baltimore's meltdown loss.

The Steelers will now face the winner of the Jets/Patriots game, which takes place today at 4:30. If the Jets win, the Steelers would host the AFC title game, but if the favored Patriots win, Pittsburgh will head to Foxboro.

In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers dismantled the Atlanta Falcons - or what looked like the Falcons anyway. Atlanta actually held a 14-7 lead after Eric Weems returned a touchdown 102 yards - but that just seemed to piss the Packers off. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers went onto score 35 unanswered points, taking a commanding 42-14 lead before the Falcons scored again. Green Bay went on to win by a 48-21 margin. Rodgers was brilliant, completing 31 of 36 passes for 366 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown.

Green Bay will head on the road no matter who wins today's game in Chicago. The Seahawks will take on the Bears, with kickoff coming at 1 PM EST. The winner will host the Packers in the NFC title game.

So to recap, the NFL schedule for today and next weekend looks like this:

Seattle @ Chicago - 1 PM EST, televised coverage on FOX.
New York @ New England, 4:30 PM EST, televised coverage on CBS.

Sunday, January 23:

Green Bay @ Chicago/Seattle, 3 PM, televised coverage on FOX.
Pittsburgh vs. New York/New England, 6:30 PM, televised coverage on CBS.