The Emergence Of Eric Weems

by Dave the Falconer on Oct 3, 2009 8:00 AM EDT in Falcons News Comment 8 comments

Normally we'd have a Saturday news roundup, but since there's no game we're going to narrow the focus to what would have been a single one of those items. Let no man say I cannot focus, even if ooo shiny.

Eric Weems clawed his way into a roster spot and a special teams return role after Harry Douglas was broken in twain in the pre-season, and it's his play in that role that's beginning to really draw a lot of attention. Special teams does tend to get lost in the shuffle in the face of our talented offense (who underperformed for one week only, one hopes) and our Jekyll and Hyde defense, but as Michael Koenen and Jason Elam proved last year, they can play an absolutely critical role in determining how the team's going to do. Koenen provided a lot of teams with terrible field position in 2008, a perfect fit for a defense that rarely was able to prevent a march most of the way down the field.

Weems brings something a little different to the table. When I watched him against the Patriots last week, I was struck by how explosive he looked returning the ball. It's early yet, but he's averaging 27 yards on kick returns and over 10 yards on punt returns. That's good for sixth in the league in kick return yardage, behind guys like Minnesota's Percy Harvin, who took one from coast to coast last weekend. Compare that to well-known special teams ace Jerious Norwood, who may be playing his last year with the Falcons and carried a 25.7 average per kick return last year, and it's easy to see why Weems is valuable. He's cheap, he plays well and he runs damn hard.

With his value set once the ball's in the air, I'd really love to see what the fast and shifty Weems could do in the receiving game. Teams are going to increasingly aim to take Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White out of games, and when they do, other receivers have to step up. Michael Jenkins, Marty Booker and Brian Finneran all offer excellent hands but not blazing speed, so if Weems can catch a little too he'd add another dimension to the passing game. I do think our offensive lethargy against the Patriots was a fluke, nothing more, but it never hurts to have more options.

What do you expect from Mr. Weems?

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Jerious Norwood

Is this the last year of his contract or do you foresee him getting cut?

by MostlyCorndog on Oct 3, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

cut, no

But I don’t think the Falcons will be able to resign him, as his production and playmaking ability might warrent him a contract from another team the Falcons aren’t willing to match.

In Dimitroff we trust

by Bonhoffer on Oct 3, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weems is very useful as a return man since Harry got hurt.

Eric can also help in 3 and 4 WR sets, and can sub for White and Jenkins if they get nicked up or winded.

by WarWolf on Oct 3, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At 5' 9", 191 pounds

I wonder if his smallish stature might hurt him as a WR. Don’t the Falcons supposedly require more blocking from their WRs than most teams?

Mr. Weems has done well enough to be worth keeping on the roster solely for kick returns and special teams though. An underqualified player like Adam Jennings can cost you a game or two in that role, if you don’t ship them off to the Lions quickly enough. Good luck, young man!

by tom slick on Oct 3, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You have a point about his size, but...

They said the same thing about (Carolina’s) Steve Smith, who’s 5’9" and 185 lbs.

I’m not saying necessarily Weems will be as good a receiver as Smith, but size doesn’t always mean everything.

by ironchapman on Oct 4, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great article as usual

Being in CT, i haven’t caught a game yet but i know Weems has the drive. On another note, i never really saw him as a burner/blazer (but then again i never really SAW him).
Two questions though:
-How has Koenen been doing as far as field position (also hows our ST defense doing)
-Also Dave, please elaborate “Jerious Norwood, who may be playing his last year with the Falcons”

by qthaballa on Oct 4, 2009 1:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Norwood, I believe, is a free agent

And he’ll want an opportunity for more touches somewhere. I believe another team will sign him.

by Dave the Falconer on Oct 4, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we don't keep Norwood

I think we’re in trouble. He’s way too good of a player not to pay him.

He’s been hurt the past few weeks, so there’s no way to know whether he’d be getting more touches or not.

To be honest, I’d like to revisit what someone said a few days ago on here, let Norwood start over Turner and see what happens. I wouldn’t make it a permanent thing, but from what I saw in NE, we’re gonna need an offensive boost.

by Zippo729 on Oct 5, 2009 3:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs