In the Falcons’ first practice since starting cornerback and nickel back Brian Williams was lost for the season to a knee injury, Head Coach Mike Smith said the team was trying to develop a rotation on Wednesday.
Chevis Jackson, who started all of last season, worked out at nickelback and safety Jamaal Fudge, who went through training camp with the Falcons but was later cut, also worked in at nickel, Smith said.
“We’re just trying to get a rotation in and get guys prepared because of the loss of Brian we have to have contingency plans in the secondary.”
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Rookie safety William Moore, who has played in two games on special teams but has yet to play on defense, pulled a hamstring on Sunday and did not practice on Wednesday. So the Falcons have become a little thin in the secondary, depth-wise.
Fudge played for the Falcons last season and played his two previous seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars when Smith was the defensive coordinator there.
“We’re hoping that Jamaal can give us some depth there at the safety position,” Smith said. “…There’s some flexibility with Jamaal. Jamaal knows our system, played multiple positions, both strong and free safety, and also in the preseason worked as a nickelback, so he gives us some flexibility, and at this time of the year you’ve got to have some contingency plans when you’re putting your 45-man roster together.”
Jackson, who has played far less this season than he did in 2008 when he played more than 600 snaps, said preparing for Sunday against Dallas is no different for him than it was in any of the five previous games.
“You just prepare like you’re going to play a game and you never know what’s going to happen, that was evident last week, so you’ve got to be ready,” he said.
Jackson was asked about the difficulty of stepping in late in the fourth quarter last Sunday for Williams after Williams went down. On his first play, he was beaten by Bears tight end Greg Olsen for a touchdown reception that tied the score at 14-14.
“It was fine,” Jackson said. “Going in there, you’ve got to perform. You got to make the play. I let him get inside on me by a step. Try to do better.”
Jackson said he has no problems with confidence and said “if anything, it’s better” than last year.
As far as cornerback and who will play there, the situation is murkier. Smith said on Monday that rookie Christopher Owens, Jackson and Tye Hill, whom the team acquired at the end of training camp from St. Louis, would all get a look.
Hill is in his fourth season and is accustomed to starting. In his rookie season he missed some games to start the season, then finished with a total of 10 starts. He started seven of eight the following season and four of four in 2008, as he battled injuries in his second and third years.
He has been inactive through the first five games of ‘09.
“It’s definitely hard, you know what I’m saying,” Hill said. “The thing about is I’ve been hurt a lot, too, so I’ve sat on the sideline to watch, but I’ve never been on the sideline to watch while I was healthy.”
He also refused to sugarcoat what it’s been like to learn the Falcons’ defense.
“It is kind of hard, I’m not going to lie about that,” he said. “The good thing about me is I’ve played partly, halfway of this system before. So it really didn’t take me as long as what I was thinking it was going to take – it didn’t take me as long as I thought it would to catch on.
“I’m still learning, of course, seeing as I’ve only been here two months. I’m picking it up pretty well. Any time you come in, the position I have come in to play at the end of training camp is definitely difficult and hard but also for the coach to put you on the field because of the simple fact that they have never coached me… They have to have a comfort level and I also have to have comfort level to get out there.”
Hill was asked if he were aware of the situation last year of Domonique Foxworth. Similar to Hill, the Falcons acquired Foxworth shortly before the end of training camp. Foxworth sat a few games to learn the system, then proved a valuable contributor before departing via free agency.
“I am aware of him coming in last year and what happened with him,” Hill said. “I just want to play. I’m pretty sure that’s the mentality he came in with and he’s been pretty successful. He came in and helped this team to win and that’s what I want to bring also.”
Injury Report
Fullback Ovie Mughelli (calf), who missed last Sunday’s game, running back Jerious Norwood (hip flexor), who was injured on Sunday, and Moore (hamstring) did not practice.
Smith sounded hopeful about Mughelli, but not so much about Moore.
“Ovie, we’re hoping we can get Ovie out here tomorrow to move around a little bit and Jerious is day to day,” Smith said. “Both of them didn’t participate today and we’re working to get them back as quick as we can.
Of Moore, Smith said, “I can’t say, he’ll be ready to go this week, but we’re going to try to get him out here as quickly as we can.”
Norwood told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this about his injury.
Wide receiver Brian Finneran also did not practice on Wednesday, but his absence was listed under “not injury related.” Michael Turner (chest) and tight end Justin Peelle (ankle) both were limited in their participation.
Shockley Cut for Smith
Quarterback D.J. Shockley, the former University of Georgia and North Clayton High star, was cut from the practice squad to make room for running back Antone Smith. Mike Smith said that with Mughelli and Norwood unable to practice, the team needed a player at running back for practice.
“We released D.J. off the practice squad and signed Antone Smith and it was a decision we made because we felt it was the best combination of players on the practice squad to get prepared this week,” Mike Smith said.
He described his namesake as a “strong, fast urgent running back that’s had some opportunities and been on practice squads with other teams.” Smith said the Falcons gave Smith a workout.
Smith, a Florida State standout who led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 15 touchdowns in 2008, was originally signed as a free agent by Detroit. He also has spent time with Houston and Minnesota this season.
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23 Comments
I am very concerned about our secondary. I just hope that these guys can get up to speed. GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!
i sure hope the secondary can have someone step up and be a difference maker,i hope Chevis Jackson will be that guy since he does have experience in the system.
Not time to go into panic mode just yet.Dont forget that our coaching staff will make sure the best players will be on the field.I think our DEFENCE is under rated and flies under the radar.That can work in our favor considering how teams focus more on our offence.
I think now is a perfect time to panic.
I do not know if it is time to panic. But close if not. What is going on with Tye H. I would have thought he has been here long enough to be ready to start.
Secondary needs work but we still got it! Everyone relax!
@Kinkfish: So long as we have our offense (and a reasonable, if patchwork defense) we’ll be fine. We may just have to run vanilla at Dallas this week, but it’s not like they can stop us.
Come on Y’all quit CRYING and have some confidence … you can trust this, things aint like they used to be in the make me wanna throw up SMITH days … this is a whole new day of SMART GM w/ 1st class coaching as well as a 1st class owner so like it or not as long as these people are in place … we are gonna be contenders !!! it’s been a long time as an old falcon fan i have never been this hopefull !!!
o yeah and KINKFISH … quit shaking in yur shorts !!! Stand up and be a MAN son … you sound like a girl with all that panic talk … GO AHEAD ON AND GET ON DOWN YOU OL DIRTY NASTY STINKIN OLE MEAN MURKY DIRTY CITY BIRDS !!!!!!!
Oh yeah …
unless we can get an amazing pass rush, our secondary is going to get lit up in the upcoming wks. Jackson lacks the awareness and savvy you need to play corner. Mike Smith needs to bite the bullet and throw Tye Hill into the fire. Grimes will get killed by Williams if he doesn’t he has a tough time deling w. bigger WR. plus Hill runs a 4.30, and our main secondary problem has been getting beat deep.
Take it from me OL’ MURK … Dont be a GIRLY GIRL … Stand UP fellers and ACT like MEN !!! BY GOD … Bunch a panic attacked havin ass sissy’s make me want a throw up … Pull up ur britches and act like a MAN not a lil ol’ GIRLY GIRL … GOOD Evening fellers…
Murk,
You are right as long as the birds have them in place they will be contenders. However, there is alot to be concerned with when it comes to their defensive corners, primarily Grimes. As athletic as he is. Roy Williams will DESTROY him. He did last year when Williams played for Detroit. Our corners have always been to small. Last week was no problem. Hester and company are not much bigger than Grimes and Grimes did his job, looked great. But when you get the much bigger receivers, Grimes is not the corner Atlanta should use. His speed and athletic ability will stand out and show with receivers like Hester and Knox and other receivers close to his size. Atlanta Still needs bigger corners. Until then, they will do good during the season but, playoffs will be a different story. At least they are on their way to a 1st back to back winning season. Good Birds !!!!!!!!
man i swear one thing goes wrong here in atlanta like an injury or a loss everyone thinks were going to be lucky to have a 500 season. They would have to go on some major loosing streak. Come on guys I dont think smith is going to allow that to happen we mix it up to much on offense and that d line is still hyped after the chicago game. all its going to take is gettin to romo two or three times and he will get scared and start throwing his usuall interceptions. Come one guys its not even half way through the season yet and everyone is panicing. If were in week 14 and our record is 7-6 or whatever then yeah its time to start worrying, but its not and it wont be we would have to go 3-5 over the next 8 games for that to happen and come on falcon fans do you really thing that is going to happen….NO. “mattie ice” and smith will not let it happen. Come on Falcons fans get on your feet and cheer on your dirty birds
@joe
Bigger corners doesnt necessarily mean that, they will be more effective then the smaller ones who are abt 5.10ish…..The real skill set you need in pass rush defense as far as I know is that how well you ‘jamm’ the wide receivers ‘upfront’ to delay their initial rush by couple of secs or lil more…..the other skill set is ’speed’ which our corners have & have been using it very effectively….by getting under receivers skin ALL DAY!
So I am not too concerned & will not jump on to any conclusions yet….yes it’s a minor concern going deep in playoffs but, the upcoming game at Cowboys will be the ‘true’ test of character for our CB’S
Go Falcons!!
Joe, Are you a’ sayin that Grimes is a GIRLY GIRL ? Dammit i knew he was as useless as a BoreHoggtitty … he’s always a jumpin up with his eyes closed and his hand in the air hoping that he’ll knock the ball down and which he rarely does … and then one of them ol jackass tv comment ers’ will always say man that grimes sure can jump … makes me wanna throw up … I with you JOE bench GRIMES jumpin ass … he is a pantie waisted GIRLY GIRL …
CLAY you are alright … you talk like a MAN … not like them lil pantee waste cry baby sissy PANIC’N GIRLY GIRL bird fan … YOU TALK LIKE A MAN …stand up ol stanky nasty slobbermouth murky dirty birds and stomp some cowgirl ass … GO STANKY BIRDS !!! FLY BY-GOD FLY HIGH !!!!
2 words to help the DB’s….pass rush.
I gotta check these other CYBER SISSYs are crying bout on the other blogs …
Folks…let’s look at the facts! Our secondary has given up 2 TD’s all yr to TE! They are getting the job done & Dallas dont have a clue how to win ball games! Tye Hill will put up just like Foxworth did last yr! Also, we will get to Romo on Sunday cause he’s just stupid & holds the ball long like Cutler! Smitty & Vangorder know what they are doing DEFENSE wise!
I’d like to see what we got in Tye Hill. Grimes and Jackson, while laudable in small doses, aren’t made to start on the outside. Hill’s done it before. Yeah, he’s had a history of getting burned deep too, but part of that was just a spiral of losing confidence and being injured. He still has the size and speed and the Birds got a good coaching staff.
At the very least, I would expect him to see him get the lions share of the snaps there. I’m sure Smith and Van Gorder will get it figured out.
Dirty Birds…let’s get it!!!
Lets go Felcons check out this cool Dirty Bird Song… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na4K266bGlo (For Falcon Fans only)
Sam,
I agree just because you are small does not mean you cant do the job. Like I said Hester and Knox have talent and Grimes did real good. Last year on a losing team like Detroit, Williams ate Grimes alive. Williams has talent and he is with a better team a better QB. Williams will go 175 yds and at least 2 td’s, Unless The Birds can do what Jeff says.. PASS RUSH.I can’t wait for the game tomorrow… Front row seat… entire field view, surround sound (Bose) and I dont even have to get dressed. GET DIRTY!!!!!!!!!!!!