SB Nation User Blog: Dave the Falconer

An Atlanta Falcon Discussion: Projecting Tony Gonzalez

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:12:08 -0000

"That's right," Tony Gonzalez said. "I'm going to catch 40,000 passes next year." (AP Photo/John Amis)

Yeah, we're back to the biggest free agent acquisition of the off-season. You wanna fight about it?

You're probably familiar with the format by now, but for some of our newer readers and people who might comment on this story for the first time ever--don't be shy, folks!--this is basically a projection thread. You'll be figuring out how many catches Tony Gonzalez is going to get in the year ahead at tight end, how many touchdowns, yards per catch, yards after the catch, yards after the end of the world, and so forth. We'll be looking for some kind of general consensus about the type of player he'll be and his impact on the 2009 Atlanta Falcons, so this one relies heavily on all of you weighing in.

Get it going, ladies and gentlemen.

Antoine Harris And The Grand Opening Of Injury Season

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:03:00 -0000

via www.atlantafalcons.com

Minor surgical procedure, my foot. This is a harbinger of doom!

Antoine Harris is a special teams ace who offers little on defense, and he just had surgery. He'll be out until training camp, which wouldn't be such a big deal if he wasn't the first domino in a seemingly endless line of falling Falcons. Terror grips me!

Now that I've either frightened or confused you, let me make my point clear. Injuries in the NFL are extremely bad news for any number of teams, and the Falcons have lost some reliable performers in recent years. As a Falcons fan, I've learned to tolerate a great deal of shaz that would bring a lesser man to his knees, but injuries absolutely kill me every time. Look at poor Trey Lewis, who might be competing for a starting job this year if fate hadn't taken a hammer to him. By mentioning my overwhelming fear, I'm hoping to work some kind of reverse jinx.

The question for all of y'all (keeping y'all in health) is who among guys who missed significant time due to injury last year will emerge and wreak havoc upon an unsuspecting league? Will it be Lewis, well-known dinosaur and offensive lineman Sam Baker, or someone else entirely? Click and clack your way to discussion-based victory.

Ovie Mughelli Football Camp: Press Release

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:17:09 -0000

DTLR along with Atlanta Falcons Chauncey Davis, Ovie Mughelli and Atlanta Native Daniel Wilcox Former Baltimore Raven Host Football Camp
NFL players and local retailer to host camp in partnership with The Athletic Group and Atlanta's Y-Sportz Magazine
Who:
Professional football players, Ovie Mughelli, Chauncey Davis and Daniel Wilcox, along with local student-athletes between age 12 and rising seniors (entering their senior year of high school later this summer).
What:
Local urban retailer DTLR (Downtown Locker Room) has organized a FREE one-day football camp to meet the unique needs of Atlanta-area high school athletes who are preparing for college football. As part of DTLR's ongoing community outreach in the Atlanta area, the retailer has gathered the unique talents and expertise of NFL players for this event. Several Atlanta area high school coaches will also participate. The day's activities will include a warm up, followed by agility drills, offensive fundamentals and defensive fundamentals broken down by position, seven-on-seven passing drills, an overview of the college recruiting process by a representative from The Athletic Group, and a question and answer session hosted by Davis, Mughelli and Wilcox.

When:
Saturday, July 11, 2008 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where:
James R. Hallford Football Stadium in Clarkston, Ga.
3789 Memorial College Ave
Clarkston, GA 30021

How:
Student athletes can register online on DTLR.com website in the scrolling box at the top as well as on the "Promotions" page or by clicking on the "Click Here" link on the picture or register the day of the camp at 8am-9am.

Chauncey Davis, Ovie Mughelli and Daniel Wilcox will bring other players to assist with this event. Camp schedule will include: Football Position Drills, Recruiting Seminar for Parents & Student Athletes and Lunch.

What Atlanta Falcon Milestone Will Come Next?

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:46:40 -0000

I'm sure you all missed me terribly while I was busy being monkish, but fear not. I have returned.

Today we'll be starting some discussion with a hypothetical, as we are wont to do. Last year the Falcons had one of the best seasons ever from a rookie quarterback, set a special teams return yardage record and just generally excelled on a level not seen since a decade ago. It was a terrific year to be a Falcons fan, but then again, you already knew that.

What I'd like to see discussed is what milestones might be set in the year ahead. If you don't think there'll be any, feel free to say so. If you feel that Matt Ryan will put up the best season of a Falcon QB ever, or that Michael Turner will come up with more than 2,000 yards, or that John Abraham will be the first human being ever to put up triple digit sacks in one season, then so be it. I'd just like to hear from you, gentle readers, so let's light this one on fire.

Go go go!

Former Atlanta Falcon Michael Boley Out 8-10 Weeks

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:50:53 -0000

Former Atlanta Falcon Michael Boley Out 8-10 Weeks

Tough break for Boley and the New York Giants. As one of the guy's biggest fans, I hope he's up and running again sooner than later.

Spencer Adkins And The Importance Of Projects

Dave the Falconer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:11:42 -0000

via insidetheu.com

So by now you've heard that the Falcons signed Spencer Adkins, a sixth-round pick at linebacker in this year's draft. Adkins offers something that arguably no one else in this draft class does though, and that's a near-mythical project status.

When you think about it, the Falcons mostly drafted guys who are ready to help somewhere right away. CB William Middleton and DT Vance Walker can provide depth at their positions, while OT Garrett Reynolds could actually compete to start in the near future. Our higher round picks will have positions on the depth chart locked up and are safe bets to contribute in some form in their rookie seasons. Adkins isn't like to see the field for the first several weeks of the season, and then it's likely to only be on special teams.

Normally, a guy like that wouldn't even make the team in the first place, but Adkins has a lot to recommend him. He's got game-breaking speed for a linebacker, a solid tackling technique and....well, that's really it. The coaching staff will have to do some molding to turn his physical tools into on-the-field success, but I believe in the talent. Clearly, Thomas Dimitroff does too.

Perhaps even more important than Adkins is what the linebacker represents. Teams which get in the habit of drafting the sure thing regularly sacrifice potentially superior talent for steadiness. That's not a bad thing, per se, but a team of average to slightly above average players rarely goes further than the first round of the playoffs. Especially late in the draft when you're practically spelunking for talent, swinging for the proverbial fences makes an awful lot of sense. Guys like Adkins represent the outside chance that you can turn lead into gold, and it's a great way to fill out a roster.

How important do you think projects are for an NFL roster?

Atlanta Falcon Coaching Staff Lauded By ESPN

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:13:10 -0000

The praise train keeps rolling on!

ESPN's Pat Yasinskas has been ranking positions all through the off-season in the NFC South, and the Falcons have been at the top or close to it of most of these rankings. The frosting on this cake of enthusiasm has to be the latest article, where Mike Smith and his merry band of coordinators and coaches draw the top spot out of the four teams, beating hot shot New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, oft-lauded Carolina Panthers coach John Fox and rookie head coach Raheem Morris for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's a pretty incredible honor after a single year.

Smith has been successful because he's a players' coach, but he's also a gruff son of a gun who expects the best everyone in the organization can give. Mike Mularkey has drawn some fire for scheming in a way that seems to recall James Bond villains (Turner, you'll clear the spike trap just in time for Baker to throw the screaming defender into the bottomless minefield), but there's no denying his creativity and he's smartly used his players in a way that will help them succeed. Brian VanGorder should do very well next season with more firepower on the defense. Overall, it's a staff that can safely be accused of putting the team in a position to succeed while staying firmly in the background. Can't say I mind that.

Of course, the turnover of coaching staffs at the NFL level suggests that Mularkey and VanGorder may not be around forever if their success continues. It's a testament to Mike Smith's strength as a coach that I believe we could weather that, but hopefully that's not something we're going to have to deal with any time soon. I like change as much as the next guy, but only if it's for the better.

What are your thoughts on Smith & Co.?

WR Noriaki Kinoshita Joins The UFL

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:25:56 -0000

WR Noriaki Kinoshita Joins The UFL

The upstart league took the Falcoholic favorite in. With Aaron Kelly and others ahead of him in the quest for a roster spot, Kinoshita will get a chance to actually start somewhere, albeit in a totally different league. I wish him well.

Discussing FB Ovie Mughelli's Role In The Offense

Dave the Falconer — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 03:32:36 -0000

via www.thefootballexpert.com

Ever since I covered Ben Hartsock's somewhat overlooked role in the offense, I kept having the feeling that I was forgetting someone else. Turns out, it's probably the least discussed Falcon on offense since he signed his deal under Bobby Petrino. That's right, our topic for discussion on this Sunday afternoon is the man, the myth, the legend, Ovie Mughelli.

One of the best blocking fullbacks in the league, Mughelli is a key piece of the Falcons' potent ground attack who goes somewhat unheralded running in front of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. He's also the highest paid fullback in the league, which means he darn well better be doing a good job.

Your topic of discussion, should you choose to accept it, is what kind of impact Mughelli really has on this team and what he's likely to do in the year ahead. How critical is he to the running game? Will he do any short yardage work in 2009? Is Ovie Mughelli one of the coolest names in football?

It's all in your capable hands, friends.

Meet A New Atlanta Falcon: S William Moore

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:11:06 -0000

via www.attcottonbowl.com

I could think of no more appropriate nickname than "C4" for William Moore, considering that everyone who talks about him talks about how he blows people up.

We heard it from Thomas Dimitroff, we heard it from scouts, and fans who saw him play in college, such as MarioVanPeebles Republic of China at Rock M Nation. Clearly, he's a tackling safety of the highest order. We've heard a lot more about Moore than some of our other picks, but let's take the time for a belated introduction, shall we?

Join me after the jump for more on our explosive safety.

History: A two year starter for the Missouri Tigers, Moore was an effective player who battled a variety of unfortunate injuries through his college career. He was a 2nd Team All-American in 2007, when it looked like he'd be a high first round pick if he left school. Honoring a teammate who passed away by wearing his number, Moore has a reputation as a down-to-earth and good guy.

Pros: Has the kind of strength and physique necessary to hit running backs, wide receivers and tight ends with equal force. Fantastic tackler who plays the run about as fiercely as you possibly can. Excellent lateral movement and surprising quickness. Can make a pick every now and then with above average hands and decent awareness. Potential team leader.

Cons: Moves well side to side and is quick, as previously mentioned, but lacks top-flight speed. Very aggressive, sometimes to his detriment. Instincts against the pass are not as good as they could be. After his college injuries, Moore has to have a question mark placed next to his durability, which is a concern.

Role: I'd frankly be surprised if Moore wasn't bringing his tlaent to bear on some unfortunate souls from the start of the season. The Falcons didn't pick him up to sit unless he performs at a level significantly below Thomas DeCoud this summer, and he's such a force against the run already that he makes sense at strong safety. I fully expect him to get a ton of snaps and potentially factor in on special teams, if Mike Smith is willing to get him on the field for that as well. I see a very bright future for Moore, who could be a decade-long starter in the NFL if he steers clear of injury.

Final Thoughts: Moore seemed like a good pick at the time and nothing that's happened since has changed my opinion. I'm still a big DeCoud fan, but there's no denying that Moore offers considerable upside and has the support of the regime. I think it's fair to cautiously expect some very good things from Moore, especially with a defense that should be a little bit better overall than it was last year. Here's to the future!

Poll

What will William Moore offer in 2009?

Sustained starting

202 votes

Butt on the bench

17 votes

Practice perfection

2 votes

Different team

5 votes

Awesome alliteration

24 votes

250 votes | Poll has closed