SB Nation - Thomas Brown

Eric Barton Goes on Injured Reserve

Chris Pokorny — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:37:38 -0000

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

The Browns placed veteran inside linebacker Eric Barton on the injured reserve today, putting an end to his season. Barton had a bulging disc in his neck from before the bye week against the Chicago Bears. LB D'Qwell Jackson's season ended a few weeks ago due to injury.

It has already been confirmed that former starting outside linebacker David Bowens will start at one of the inside linebacker positions. It is likely that rookie Kaluka Maiava will start at the other one.

With the move, the Browns are back to having two open roster spots.

In practice squad moves, WR Darnell Jenkins' run with the team didn't last too long as he was released to make room for RB Thomas Brown. Here is what the OBR says about Brown:

Brown, originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round (172^nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, was waived by the Falcons on September 5, 2009. A four-year letterman at the University of Georgia (2004-07), Brown ranks fifth in Bulldogs history with 2,646 rushing yards. He also recorded 23 rushing touchdowns. Born on May 15, 1986, the 5-8, 200-pounder is a native of Tucker, Georgia.

My guess is that if we haven't already promoted two players from our practice squad to take our open roster spots, we'll probably sign two free agents from other teams (or grab two players from other teams' practice squads).

UPDATE (9:55 PM):

Pro Football Talk reported that per a league source, the Browns worked out LB Rocky Boiman today. Boiman was originally a fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans back in 2002. Boiman saw the most action of his career last season with the Kansas City Chiefs, when he played in 11 games and registered 73 tackles. Boiman also has a Super Bowl ring from his days with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Atlanta Falcons Enter The Season: Of Cuts And Hope

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:00:53 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

Does this remind anyone else of those old electronic football games? You know, the one where the guys all shook their way violently down the field? It was the All-Hypothermia Team. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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The cuts have been chronicled, and the travels and travails of those who fell from grace here in Atlanta have been capably discussed by my armored co-blogger. In simpler language, we're done there.

What I want to focus on today is the guys who survived the bloody weekend, the "final" 53 who probably aren't actually all that final. By the time you see this post, I'll be dreaming of playoff berths and the Falcons might take someone else behind the woodshed in favor of Brian Williams. This, instead, will be a look at those who stand to gain from the cuts and those who are in difficult spots, either because of the team's recent transactions or their particular skillset.

As you might imagine, you can find the bulk of this post after the jump. Just don't sprain your ankle on the way over, alright?

OFFENSE

A Winner Is You: John Parker Wilson, who watched D.J. Shockley give the ball to the defense in a thoughtful and heartful gesture, took copious notes, mixed chemicals in a lab and learned not to throw interceptions or fumble, damnit! I stand by my earlier comments that JPW does not have the physical toolset necessary to really climb up a depth chart, but he plays very careful football and will make an excellent backup as long as he does that. If Redman moves on in a year or two and JPW gets better, he might actually take that spot.

Oh Noes! You Lose: Verron Haynes, who survived the initial roster cuts but isn't going to see very many carries buried behind Michael Turner, Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling. Early indications are that he won the job because he's better at pass blocking than Thomas Brown, which would seem to be less relevant for a fourth running back than specials teams value, but Brown is only a call away. The veteran will have to leverage his strong skills and provide value when he does get the rock to fend off the young guy, a tough proposition in such limited playing time.

Winner Winner: Eric Weems, who won the support of the coaching staff by making a few nice grabs and proving he's pretty decent in returns. To be a fifth or even fourth receiver in this league, you must add special teams value, and Weems has fought his way onto this team fiercely. He won't get many chances to catch passes, but if he does well when the ball leaves the tee he's a mortal lock to finish the year with the Falcons. If there are any injuries, I'm reasonably confident the guy can make things happen in the slot.

To Lose, To Suffer: Marty Booker. Even though he's most assuredly ahead of Weems on the depth chart, his chances of surviving the season unscatched aren't nearly as good as his younger counterpart. Booker still has something left as a pass catcher and would be valuable if anybody goes down, but a healthy roster can't carry a guy with negligible special teams value forever in a fourth receiver role. Maybe I'm underestimating the guy and he'll prove to be versatile, but somehow I don't think so.

Winning Ain't Easy: Big ups to Keith Zinger, a man's man if there ever was one. When he didn't make the team after being drafted late in 2008, he went into the Canadian wilderness, slew many bears with his bare hands and made his own shelter out of rocks and discarded Labatt Blue bottles. He emerged a much more complete tight end than the pass-blocking specialist who the Falcons got last year and held on against prototype third tight end Jason Rader. With two very capable pass-catchers in front of him, he won't get much action this year, but he's a promising player who could have an expanded role in the future.

No Rest For The Weary: The offensive line, which absolutely must avoid injuries this year. I like the promise of guys like Will Svitek and Garrett Reynolds, but I wouldn't necessarily bank on them being able to carry the team for a sustained period this year. With a very stout offense that thrives with a little time, the Falcons really can't afford to give up valuable milliseconds that could result in Matt Ryan speculating about the patterns on the Georgia Dome roof. If this line is in great shape, beautiful. If not, it could get ugly.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

The Land Of Pass Rushing: Peria Jerry, come on down! You've been selected to single-handedly lead our flagging pass rush in the year ahead! You'll be tutored by John Abraham, one of the finest to ever wear a Falcon uniform, and Jonathan Babineaux, who is p. Your companions on this once-in-a-lifetime trip will be Chauncey Davis and Jamaal Anderson, both fighting for a job with young whippersnappers like Kroy Biermann and Lawrency Sidbury. Does that sound crowded? No worries--none of the defensive tackles behind are being counted on to pass rush, so this enormous task falls squarely on your giant shoulders. Ready to be a hero? I think so!

The Two-Headed Defensive End: Davis and Anderson, who are in the unenviable position of battling with one another and fending off two young players who made a real push this off-season. Anderson is probably stronger against the run and Davis against the pass, but neither has been a standout during their careers thus far, and Anderson in particular is playing for his job this season. Early struggles could lead to extended stays on the bench for one or both, and chances are very good one of them is going to freefall down the depth chart before Week 17.

Hold The Line(backer): To all three starting linebackers, who saw their most substantial competition for minutes disappear with the cuts. With Jamie Winborn gone, in particular, both Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson seem ready to get monster minutes. Coy Wire can do some damage in a pinch but likely won't sniff starter minutes without an injury, and Spencer Adkins isn't even a lock to get on the field on defense this season. Curtis Lofton, as we all know, is a dimension-skipping devourer of time and space who has no competition, even from himself.

Cornered: Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, who are going to be looking over their shoulders off the field to an inordinate degree. While Chris Owens and Chevis Jackson fight for roster spots, both these young corners will be clinging to their starting spots while the coaching staff determines what they have in Tye Hill and Brian Williams. Williams could also rob some time from Thomas DeCoud if he isn't careful, so there's a lot of recently drafted or signed guys who have good reason to be skittish. If nobody steps up in the early going, you could be looking at a Hill and Williams tandem by much earlier than mid-season.

Kicker, Punter, Soldier, Spy: Hard to call either Jason Elam or Michael Koenen winners or losers, honestly, because they're both in the same positions they've always been in. What does benefit both is the likely strength of the special teams unit, which with Koenen's laser-guided punts and Elam's boot should have no problem doing some real damage against enemy returns. Of course, it goes without saying that both are as solid as they come...but will they ever find true happiness in such a lonely profession?

So that's a rough rundown, I guess, of how some of the battles shook out and what is still to come. If you've got suggestions on more positions that need to be covered. If not, I'll soak in your praise and adulation any time you're ready.

Falcons And Ravens Recap: The Pre-Season Is Over

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:37 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

John Beck escaping pressure was an all too common sight Thursday night. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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In all my years here at The Falcoholic, there has never been a game that has made me feel less emotional. It was hard to feel happiness or real anger following this game, probably a combination of it being pre-season action and a pretty thoroughly dull contest.

Despite the apathy this game instilled in me, several people sealed their fates Thursday for better or for worse. It's pretty clear how our wide receiver depth chart is going to shake out at this point, I think, and the competition for the third quarterback slot was all but decided by the play on the field. Our defense managed its best Jekyll and Hyde impression, managing to look hideous and wonderful, sometimes in the span of the same play. It was, compared to the nail-biter against San Diego last week, as uninspiring a game as they come. But it did make a difference.

Join me in welcoming the warm glow of the regular season, and then let's break this down.

HIGHLIGHTS

I'm an unapologetic Shockley defender, and I have been since he was drafted. If not for his injury, I firmly believe he would have drawn a few starts following the departure of Michael Vick. Alas, poor Shock is not long for this team, as John Parker Wilson played a solid, average sort of game while Shockley imploded. JPW had one fumble--and he was moving around a lot thanks to the second-team offensive line--but otherwise played a cautious, mistake-free game of football. He doesn't have the physical tools of Shockley, but he's a game manager and could be groomed to be the backup someday. I fully expect him to win the job.
Thomas Brown made a strong case for a roster spot, running pretty well on 11 carries and fielding a pair of kick returns capably. If there's one position where the Falcons are likely to load up, it would be running back, so Brown stands a pretty good chance of surviving the final cuts.
Three receivers made strong cases to stay with the team. Eric Weems had a couple of nice grabs and looked, once again, good in the return game, and he'd make a pretty terrific fifth receiver option because of his special teams value. Chandler Williams looked amazing on kick returns, and special teams is definitely his calling card. Meanwhile, Marty Booker looked good enough again to win a spot low on the depth chart, but offers no special team value. It might not matter much, but I'd prefer keeping Weems and Williams because they're younger and more versatile.
Keith Zinger should be the third tight end. Sorry, Jason Rader, but Zinger looked plenty capable Thursday night while making a couple of grabs and throwing a couple of key blocks.
Remember when I told you Peria Jerry was going to be just fine. Well, just call me the Oracle at Delphi, because I totally nailed that one. With a sack, constant pressure on John Beck and four tackles, Jerry looks to be getting better in a hurry and is a lock to line up with the starters against the Miami Dolphins. With the need for a pass rush still quite pressing, he's going to have value right away.
Speaking of value, Kroy Biermann illustrated his by looking pretty monstrous out there. Honorable mention goes to perpetually unappreciated end Jamaal Anderson, who after a shaky start managed to not look like the total bust many have already written him off as. If Anderson's getting motivated and Biermann can keep that motor running, this pass rush suddenly looks much improved even with Lawrence Sidbury drawing a ton of playing time.
To keep my habit of searching for the positive in the secondary going, Chris Owens did force a fumble. High five, Chris!

LOWLIGHTS

With the starters in, Mike Mularkey's offense isn't going to look that boring, but it's worth mentioning that the Falcons weren't exactly moving at a great clip against the Ravens. Part of that is undoubtably due to their defense, but you can't totally ignore the fact that our playcalling is a little predictable at time. That goes doubly for Brian VanGorder, who can no longer escape notice as the defensive coordinator for a team that has allowed second-and-third string quarterbacks to throw more than ninjas at a shuriken convention. Part of it is personnel, but I would really like to take a critical look at the packages being called and see if our guys are being put in a position to succeed.
The secondary portion of this more or less writes itself. We have got to start seeing more out of this unit. I don't want to judge too much based on pre-season, but it's all I have to go on and I'm starting to get legitimately worried about it. Chris Houston is a nice dude and he's clearly got the talent, but something is going on that is causing him to not be in the right place at the right time, and that could haunt this team something fierce come Week 1. I'll be interested to see whether Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff will push the guys hard and stand pat or if there's another signing on the way.
It's one play, but Ferguson's end zone drop of a nice JPW pass probably dropped him below Weems and Booker in the pecking order for a roster spot. The fact that Williams and Weems got all the special team action doesn't say much, either. I wish him well.
I've already mentioned this, but obviously Shockley needed a good game to save his roster spot and wasn't able to deliver. I really hope he gets another shot in this league if he does end up on the cut list.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: I've got to hand this one to Peria Jerry. In a game that featured grinding action, Jerry ground more than anybody, and he's a grounded individual. Ground ground ground.

Game Theme Song: The gentle snoring of a fan who has, with a half-full beer in his hand and his Falcons hat tipped down over his forehead, fallen asleep in the wake of that game.

One Thing To Take Away: This team is improving and this team has a much clearer roster picture, but the defense still must improve.

Next Week: We'll be up against the Miami Dolphins in our first regular season game, and it should be a very entertaining contest all the way around, as they're a young team with a few question marks on defense and a pretty talented offense. Check out The Phinsider for more about next week's game.

Final Word: Notwithabangbutawhimper.

Falcons And Chargers Recap: Getting Defensive About The Defense

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:00:22 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

"Um, shouldn't we wait to celebrate until after I get across the goal line?" (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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That was honestly one of the better pre-season games I've ever seen, for what that's worth.

To say that those of you who turned up at the open thread last night were concerned about the defense would be understating it, in the same sense that calling Chris Redman's performance "masterful" would be.

As usual, the offense looked pretty good against the Chargers. With each passing pre-season game, my respect for the strength of the 11 on that side of the ball grows, and even though it's just pre-season action, I can't really imagine a good reason to criticize Mike Mularkey's charges. The O alone is going to be enough to win us a few games this season. What the D does in conjunction with that will, in the end, determine whether we win the rest of them.

One way or the other, though, this was a very fun game to watch, though I only caught half of it. Rarely do you see a pitched battle like this in a pre-season game, and it speaks well to both teams. Because I'm a homer and because they won, I'm going to say the Falcons looked even better than the Chargers, but your mileage may vary.

Follow me into the jump, where we'll break this week's action down.

HIGHLIGHTS

Wow, Chris Redman. I don't think I need to say anything else, but as I'm unusually verbose, I will anyways. Redman proved again why he's one of the best backups in the league, running and gunning the Falcons to victory with the backup offense helping him out. I would hope he never sees the field because of what that would mean for Matt Ryan, but I have the utmost confidence in our backup. Game ball, right there. Matt Ryan was also good, but that's not something I needed to tell you.
The receivers. Roddy White was his generally efficient self, but it was some guys lower on the depth chart that really proved their mettle today. Marty Booker was targeted frequently and wound up with six catches, Brian Finneran proved his reliability very reliably, and Eric Weems sewed up a roster spot by out-running the defensive back covering him and coming up with the game winning touchdown. There's a lot more to this group than originally suspected, and we could have a pretty complete set of quality receivers this season.
While Michael Turner was awfully solid as usual, the back who caught my eye Saturday night was Jason Snelling. His final numbers don't tell the whole story here, as he proved his brick hands on an incomplete pass but otherwise looked fast, explosive and powerful. I'm rooting hard for Thomas Brown to make the roster somehow, but Snelling's done absolutely nothing to relinquish his death grip on the #3 spot.
Michael Koenen continues to impress, booming four punts and landing one inside the 20. The kid's always had the leg and had the results last year, and field position is so critical to this team that he can't help but be a weapon.
For the Falcons, defense is spelled C-U-R-T-I-S-L-O-F-T-O-N. The potent middle linebacker was everywhere, nearly picked a pass late in the game and hit like a train made of concrete. It's fair to say he's already delivering on potential, and I can't wait to see what he does in 2009.
Brent Grimes had a sack, which sort of makes up for the secondary's performance. Sort of.
Credit the coaching staff yet again. The playcalling on offense was spectacular in the second half, and you get the sense that Mike Mularkey will rely less on gimmicky plays this season. That can only be a good thing.

LOWLIGHTS

Just one very long lowlight today, I think. While I like to believe you can only learn so much from the pre-season, the defense was consistently not very good on Saturday. The secondary in particular got picked to pieces by the Chargers, who are an excellent offensive team with tall receivers that still should not make our guys look like they belong on a Pop Warner team. I want very much to believe in Chris Houston and Brent Grimes, both of whom are athletic corners who clearly have a ton of physical talent. The results are clearly there in practice. They're just not there on the field, against living, breathing teams, and I think I'm starting to want a closer look at Chevis Jackson and Chris Owens. Are they the answer? Who knows, I say. I just think everyone should be getting a chance to get burnt to toast. The safeties also need to step up their game a bit and help out, and here I am thinking particularly of Thomas DeCoud.

A lot of people are inclined to defend the secondary for this team, and I am certainly one of them. The front seven also looked overmatched at times tonight, and they have to get their share of the blame. I would just hate for us to get into the season and find out our corners are going to be overmatched on a regular basis. Hopefully this will iron itself out in time for the final pre-season game.
Okay, one more. Very unhappy to see Jerious Norwood leave and not return. I hope everything's okay, as we're really going to need him this year.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: Gotta be Chris Redman. The dude was quite simply awesome against San Diego.

Game Theme Song: Anything by Redman, just for the heck of it.

One Thing To Take Away: Despite a host of defensive miscues, the Falcons still have what it takes to come back and win a close one. I think that's something we can all feel warm and fuzzy about.

Next Week: We get the improving Baltimore Ravens, who are ably covered by Baltimore Beatdown. Be sure to check them out.

Final Word: Hooray!

Falcons And Rams Recap: The Importance Of Depth

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:00:22 -0000

More photos » by Seth Perlman - AP

The starting offense and Jerious Norwood were willing to mow down a few Rams on their way to domination Friday night. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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If our starting offense made moving down the field look effortless, a few timely plays and some struggles showed why those players lower on the depth chart will be critical to the Falcons' success this season.

In the first quarter, when Matt Ryan was completing seemingly everything to seemingly everyone and Michael Turner continued to pretend he's a human being and not a sentient tank, the Falcons looked like juggernauts. In the third quarter, when D.J. Shockley was having trouble connecting with his passes and the defense struggled to stop a quarterback who is likely slated for the practice squad, the team looked pretty average.

It raises the critical question of whether the Falcons have the depth they'll need to get through a full season intact. There's no doubt that our starters on both sides of the ball have looked pretty good through the off-season and the first half of pre-season, but teams who can spell those kinds of starters with capable, adaptable backups are the ones who make deep runs into the playoffs every year. I'm not prepared to say that we're woefully thin or anything, but with so many guys riding high on the depth chart who are known quantities, you can bet I'll be keeping a very close eye on the guys behind them who show a lot.

Join me after the jump as we examine the Rams game and give recognition where recognition is due.

HIGHLIGHTS

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner make it look absurdly easy out there. Ryan completed 7 of his 8 passes and caught Tony Gonzalez on a beautiful touchdown strike, something I hope to see early and often in 2009. Meanwhile, Turner just about ran over everybody. Those pundits who think last season was a function of a good offensive line or a weak schedule for The Burner are going to be surprised when he runs through their televisions and shoulders them through their living room walls, I'd wager. I couldn't be less concerned about how ready for the season the two of them are, and it was nice to see Jason Snelling motoring his way to 60+ yards on 12 carries as well. Factor in Jerious Norwood and possibly Thomas Brown and you've got three or four very good reasons for the rest of the NFL to worry about the run.
Speaking of Gonzo, he had three nice grabs in this one and showed why he's likely to be an enormous factor in the passing game. It's rare to see a tight end who has such a finely honed sixth sense about where the ball is, and we're mighty blessed to have him this season.
Roddy White got it done as usual, too. No surprises here, as he looks to be in game shape and ready to go. A lot of receivers got in on the action tonight, but to no one's shock he looked like the best of the lot.
Chris Owens' fumble recovery gave us a glimpse of the awareness he brings to the table. Owens will likely not get much higher on the depth chart in his rookie season than nickel and dime packages, but he's got enormous big play potential in the defensive backfield and is going to be pushing hard for playing time all year long. Still could use a little work on those cover skills, though.
While we're talking rookie depth, how about that Lawrence Sidbury kid? El-Sid picked up the team's only two sacks and looked athletic and aggressive against the Rams. With pressure on the passer still topping my wish list for major changes in 2009, Sidbury has shown that he could be an extremely effective situational rusher from Week 1. Let's hope he gets a chance to show it in the regular season.
Eric Brock isn't the world's finest cover safety, but his pick off of Rams' QB Keith Null was a nice one, and simply by playing two solid games of football he's become a frontrunner for a roster spot in my mind. The team could use anyone who might author a few big plays in the secondary this season.
After whiffing on an extra point last week, Jason Elam returned to form by nailing both XPs and a pair of field goals this week. Ho-hum.
Big credit for the coaching staff this week. In a game that has no lasting impact on the standings, it's good to see Mike Smith & Co. going for the jugular just to see if it works. For the most part it did, and the starters got a chance to really put up some big plays, so kudos. There's a fine line between being aggressive and being reckless, but if anybody can walk it this season, it's our own talented group of playcallers.

LOWLIGHTS

Shock, buddy, you gotta help me out. I've been defending your inclusion on this roster and championing your ascension to the #2 spot for the better part of the last three years, and this was probably the worst game I've ever seen from you. Those two picks were bad, the fumble was atrocious and some of the throws out there were just plain errant. With John Parker Wilson turning in a workmanlike performance late in the game, we could be talking about your roster spot in a couple of weeks. Here's hoping things turn around.
This isn't directed at a particular player, but the way Brock Berlin and to a lesser extent Keith Null were able to pass the ball on our backups is a huge indictment of the strength of our second-and-third stringers. Last week I fretted about the way Matthew Stafford was able to pick his way through our secondary, and it's sadder by several degrees when two guys fighting for the third string job on the St. Louis Rams can make you look mediocre. It's the pre-season, I know, but with our cornerbacking corps in flux and safeties and linebackers still finding their way in this defense, stuff is going to have to start clicking soon or I'm really going to be worried when we have to face off against a team like the New England Patriots. I'd expect that to be a focus at practice this week.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: We'll split this one between Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, who played the Rams like a cheap harpischord. Many guys worthy of being in the running for this, but I just can't ignore how utterly dominant both looked. With such high praise from The Falcoholic, congrats on your least meaningful award ever, guys!

Game Theme Song: "The Last Line of Defense" by Dilated Peoples. Just because.

One Thing To Take Away: With the likelihood of at least some injuries and the need to not have our starters log enormous minutes every game, the Falcons' backups will be a big piece of our success this year. Hopefully that's a positive thing.

Next Week: We'll be taking on the mighty (?) San Diego Chargers, who are ably represented by Bolts From The Blue. Give the site a visit, as I'll be popping by to answer the questions of curious (?) Chargers fans this week.

Final Word: Twenty-thirteen.

Pre-Season Open Thread: Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:00:20 -0000

via www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

And we're back!

Continuing a trend of playing teams they beat last season, the Falcons will motor down to St. Louis to hopefully hand the Rams their collective horns. Look for the pitched battle for cornerback spots and wide receiver jobs to continue here, as well as hopefully better games from Jason Snelling and Thomas Brown, who are contending for the third running back job. Should be, at the very least, plenty interesting.

Join me for our usual rundown, won't you?

Who? Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams

Where? Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Weather? I don't know how to tell you this...but there's no weather in a dome. I'm sorry for any confusion this causes you.

Fun Fact? We're actually old division rivals with the Rams, which most of you probably remember. I'd come up with something more interesting, but it's the Rams. Meh.

Injuries? We'll be missing Chris Houston, which should give a lot of the young defensive backs a chance to shine.

Odds? Not applicable for those of us who are still reasonable people.

Foe? That'd be the fine folks at Turf Show Times, who I'm sure will love my comments about the Rams. Be sure to head over there and say hi during the game.

GO FALCONS! Let's headbutt these Rams!

Poll

Who will win this most epic contest of strength and wit?

Verily, it shall be the Falcons

119 votes

Nay, it shall be the Rams

14 votes

Thou dost thee thy

18 votes

151 votes | Poll has closed

Friday Pre-Game Notes: Tackling The St. Louis Rams

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Thomas Brown will try to run his way into our hearts Friday night. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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After a very average kind of game against the Detroit Lions last week, Falcons fighting for a roster spot will be looking to make a very big splash against the St. Louis Rams.

Some rosters are pretty well locked already, but the Falcons have a lot of guys who are poised to make a difference and are just waiting for the opportunity. Guys like Thomas Brown, the speedy potential special teams ace at running back, who is looking to unseat Jason Snelling. Guys like Chris Owens, who is drawing some rave reviews for his play at cornerback. And then there's guys like Dave the Falconer, who enjoys believing he makes a difference as he shouts and cheers from his futon. Bless them all.

With that in mind, let's jump in to some pre-game observations:

Chris Owens seems to be shattering the learning curve. If he wins a prominent job in the secondary he's likely going to struggle somewhat, but he's very smart to maximize his value on special teams. There are a lot of corners who are likely in front of him, but an impressive outing tonight could change that very quickly.
This is going to be a critical game for a lot of other rooks, like Vance Walker and Lawrence Sidbury, because Mike Smith wants to get them time against the Rams' starters. This will separate the men from the boys in a hurry, and it's a great way to accelerate the aforementioned learning curve.
Over at Turf Show Times, my brothers in blue-and-gold seem to think the injuries to Chris Houston and William Moore will make things easier for their passing game. That'd be true if they weren't down Marc Bulger and Donnie Avery, but since that's the case, I'm going to engage in a little good-natured trash talk and say NO WAY JERKS HAHAHA! Ahem.
Curtis Lofton, natural born leader? The expectations for one of The Falcoholic's favorites already are sky high, and it looks like he's ready to assume that kind of role. He and Mike Peterson will be critical to the growth of some of the younger guys in the front seven.
Apropos of nothing, here's a fun little feature on Peria Jerry. My favorite response by far is when D. Orlando Ledbetter at the AJC asks him who his favorite team is, and Jerry says the Falcons....and then says he "can't believe (DOL) asked me that." We're going to get along just fine, Peria!

Falcons and Lions Recap: Impressions After A Close Loss

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:00:24 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

Did you know Mike Peterson can fly? (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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If you can take one thing from a pre-season game, it's the guys who truly separate themselves from the pack, the rookies who rise above and the veterans who come ready to prove something new. It's those kinds of things that make pre-season games worth following closely.

This was not really one of those games, sadly. The Falcons lost a squeaker and played a solid game almost all the way around, but standout performers were few and far between. Our starters looked as good as ever, though, and a couple of guys did raise my eyebrows in a, well, eyebrow-raising fashion.

Join me after the jump, and we'll explore Saturday's fracas.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hard not to mention Michael Turner, who savagely gashed his way through the Lions' rush defense for 63 yards and a TD on a mere six carries. It's probably going to be a very good season for Turner, and seeing him looking fresh and aggressive after a season with a heavy workload was good for my soul.
Eric Weems didn't have eye-popping numbers, but he helped himself with a pair of grabs and a 34 yard punt return. Guys hoping to win a roster spot in a crowded back end of the receiver rotation are going to have to provide special teams value, and Weems still appears the most likely to do that. Honorable mention to Chandler Williams, who was pretty good on both kick returns and decent on his own punt return.
The quarterbacking in general was decent, but Matt Ryan did his job efficiently (as expected) and John Parker Wilson completed all three of his passes (unexpectedly). For Ryan, it's just another day at the big green office, but JPW is competing for a roster spot and definitely helped himself today.
Roddy White didn't look the least bit rusty, hauling in three catches for 29 yards and getting plenty of love from Ryan. I'm not the least bit concerned about his off-season progression even with the holdout.
Backup linebacker Tony Gilbert, who mostly played special teams when he was under Mike Smith on the Jaguars, picked a pass and ran it all the way back, flashing a little big play potential in the meantime. His special teams value almost guarantees he'll make the final roster, and doing something on actual defense has never hurt.
Thomas Johnson, who I mistakenly called Tommy Jackson the other day because I'm a gosh darn moron, came up with the game's lone sack and looked comfortable out there. With Trey Lewis looking less than excellent on this day, Johnson could earn a leg up on getting in the rotation if he continues to play well.
Jason Elam was excellent as usual, hitting two field goals, but it was Michael Koenen who really drew my attention. A 45.8 yards per punt average is very, very good, and it appears he's only going to continue to get better.

LOWLIGHTS

D.J. Shockley really didn't look very good out there. He completed only three of his eight passes and seemed to be a little skittish in the pocket, which has been a common issue. Chris Redman also looked a little ill at ease; both quarterbacks' issues might have had something to do with the fact that the line wasn't stellar today.
Trying to separate from one another in the race for the third running back spot, Jason Snelling and Thomas Brown each turned in pretty mediocre outings. Jason Snelling punched a touchdown in, true, but he also only had 4 yards on 3 carries. Thomas Brown got far more carries--11 in all--but only came up with 19 yards. This game certainly isn't going to decide anything.
The defense was, as a whole, somewhat less than inspiring. Potential third running back Aaron Brown had a field day against us, and rookie Matthew Stafford and perennial backup Drew Stanton both looked pretty good for much of the game while passing for us. It's way too early to get concerned about this and it's also instructive to remember that they were doing their work against our backups and their backups. But, and there's always a but, it would've been nice to see a lot more out of guys in the secondary not named Chris Owens, who looked pretty comfortable against the run already.
Roddy White ran once for zero yards! HE'S A BUST!!!!

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: Not hard to hand this one to Michael Turner, since he looked like far and away the most impressive Falcon on the field. This won't be the last one of these he wins from The Falcoholic in 2009.

Game Theme Song: Given the distinctly average nature of this game, let's go with a distinctly average song. ~~"Love Isn't Always On Time" by Foreigner~~. Oops. "Hold The Line" by Toto, I mean.

One Thing To Take Away: It's the pre-season, so you can't read too heavily into this stuff. Our starters look as good as ever, though.

Next Week: That'd be the St. Louis Rams, of course. Be sure to visit Turf Show Times for all the dirt you could ever want or need on the Rammin' Rams.

Final Word: Average.

Poll

Who was the player of the game?

RB Michael Turner

300 votes

LB Tony Gilbert

54 votes

DT Thomas Johnson

30 votes

QB Matt Ryan

19 votes

K Jason Elam

13 votes

You can't choose just one!

56 votes

472 votes | Poll has closed