AJC: Rookie Falcons Look To Have Prominent Roles In 2010
by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2010 10:01 AM EDT
in NFL Draft
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Obviously, next week will be an exciting one with the rookies reporting for mini-camp, but it's the storylines already emerging from this class that kicks this news cycle into high gear for me. Obviously, the biggest news involves Dominique Franks and Joe Hawley, two of the Falcons' most surprising draft picks. What's going on with them, you ask, because you never read anything I link to?
Jump. Follow it.
First off is the news that Franks may be competing for a kick returner or punter returner job...or even both. He's an obvious choice, because he's not going to start during his freshman campaign in the NFL and flashed some serious wheels on punt returns while at Oklahoma. There's no doubt that he'll be a favorite to win that competition.
The only question is whether he'll beat out Eric Weems. If Weems isn't returning, he darn well better be looked at as a receiving option, or he's in danger of getting cut. Considering he average 10 yards on punt returns and like 25 yards on kick returns, he really shouldn't be in a position where he needs to look over his shoulder. But such is the potential of Franks, I guess. This should be an interesting battle in camp.
In other news, Joe Hawley is evidently the heir apparent to Todd McClure:
"He's a guy who's going to gore you, and we love that," Dimitroff said. "You know that from our line right now, with how they are coached and with how they play. He fits into that mode as far as playing right up to the whistle."
Sounds like somebody fits the Harvey Dahl/Tyson Clabo mold to a T. That really does help to explain why the good Comrade was so enamored with Hawley, and it bodes well for his chances of taking over for McClure that D. Orlando Ledbetter can even write that he appears to be. Every one of us was clamoring for a long-term solution at center, so if this works out, I'll be a very happy camper indeed.
Your thoughts?
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I am a Weems fan
The guy plays very well for his limited role. I think he sticks because of the way he plays. But, if Franks beats him out for return duties (I guess Douglas is out of the discussion?) then so be it.
Rec'd
I like Weems also but if Franks is a better option then so be it.
If Franks beats Weems out is there a possibilty Weems could be a full time slot receiver?
Looking forward to see if Hawley is as aggressive as Dahl. That would be a good thing.
I still think that Weston Johnson might have an impact. Wire might be in trouble.
Wait til you read my special teams breakdown.
I specifically went over that (pre-Franks, of course), you’ll find it interesting, I hope! :)
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
I promise that's going up in the near future!
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No worries, man.
Just throw it up there whenever you’re ready, and I’ll be there to see if I can’t help explain it a little :P
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
I for one
don’t think Weems will make the team this year. I think it will be White, Jenkins, Douglas, Wolfe (UNLV rookie), and Finneran or Meier(Kansas rookie). Don’t forget that Norwood had return duty as well.
As much as I love Finn
The team should keep Weems around over him. Weems is younger, faster, has shown glimpses of quality talent and provides a different look. We now have Meier and Jenkins for big, lumbering guys.
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by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2010 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions
On 3rd and 7 do you trust Finn or Jenkins more to catch the ball?
Just saying…
"If lessons were learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education." -Murray Warmath
I do trust Finn more
But he’s so situational that it doesn’t make a lot of sense for us to keep him around.
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by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2010 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm a HUGE Finn Fan;...
…I love any player whose desire is bigger than their situation, but you’re right. He’s probably not going to survive the final cut. I’m hoping Meier fills the void, because Jenkins won’t. MJ12 was drafted on the merit of one catch he made for OSU. I like his blocking, but he’s got hands of stone.
Barring injury, Joe Hawl’s going to get some starting time this season at center. McClure is just getting too long-in-the-tooth to take the pounding from 310 lb nose tackles for 16 games. I’m, as always, willing to be wrong.
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
Weems at least deserves
to be on practice squad if everyone else beats him out.
Special might stick around, but I'll be surprised if we see him more than once or twice a game.
Harry Douglas and Dominique Franks are likely better than Weems at both of Weems’ roles.
He was about 20th in the league for both punt and kick return yardage and tied for third most return fumbles. He was decent, but I think we’ll be better this year.
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I don't think we'll let any real talent walk
The injury bug can always hit and having so much depth that you don’t know who to play is a problem I like having.
I'm interested to see the progress of guys like Walker and Atkins...
"If lessons were learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education." -Murray Warmath
As much as I like Jenkins...
I think it’s time for him to go. I know he’s a decent blocker and everything, but he just hasn’t pulled his weight. He just drops too many passes. I like the guy, but I think that Meier could really be an option at No. 2. I know not a lot of people will agree that prediction, but I stand by it.
agreed
I’m not sure it’s time to cut him necessarily, but i think this has to be viewed by management as a “put up or shut up” year for him. he was extremely disappointing last year… i don’t have the stats to back at up, but i watched every snap of the season and felt like i watched him drop ball after ball. This team can’t afford that kind of performance out of the #2 slot … no team can afford it, but especially us with a young developing quarterback. It’s very important than Ryan have dependable weapons around him, and Jenkins was anything but that last year.
I don’t know why, but I agree about Meier… maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but i have a really good feeling about this guy, like he could be kind of Wes Welker-ish for us.
by cheshire falcon on Apr 30, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
“In this whole group, there is not one player coming here with a sense of entitlement,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “I think that’s very important for us.”
I like hearing this.
I wonder what he really meant
was that sentence addressed toward the new group of players or the team as a whole? If it’s the latter, I’d be surprised if Ryan and Turner at least don’t have that sense of entitlement…
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
Having it and acting like you have it are separate matters indeed.
If it’s true that’s awesome because I don’t know many Americans that don’t act entitled, including myself.
Rule #1: Double tap.
by Ball Hawk on May 2, 2010 10:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I gotta say...
I’m a big Weems fan. I thought he played well. In fact, I was surprised by Kirk’s statistics. I guess it’s just my gut feeling. However, obviously if Franks is better, put him in there. I’m okay foregoing Douglas and Norwood if it keeps them away from more pounding.
"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta
Stats always amaze me.
But they don’t measure his ability to rise to the moment. During that home stretch last year, whenever a big return was really needed, Weems delivered.
From the other side of the fence, it may have been the way the rest of the team was setting up the returns. Just think of what a REALLY good return man would have done with them!
How many more days, Lord, must I walk through the wilderness?
Competition breeds winners
I don’t think I’ve got to see Weems in enough situations to determine what talent level he has a receiver and probably none of us have. When TD talked about no one having a sense of entitlement I think they tried to address that philosophy through the draft. As long as there is competition (or the appearance of competition) at every position, it will help those that hold those positions avoid becoming complacent.
I think Wolfe will prove stiff competition as a slot receiver and could possibly eclipse Harry Douglas, especially if he isn’t 100% from his ACL injury. I also think that Finn should start mentoring Meier as his replacement this year, especially with his injury history.
Keep Weems and trim the fat elsewhere. We’ve got Safeties and Corners that could go before Weems.
Let's talk Hawley
Sorry bust in on the Weems discussion here, but isn’t anyone excited by that analysis of our new C?
I was shocked when our first 3rd didn’t go C, and surprised it was Hawley over Walton and Tennant. I figured they saw him as cut from the right cloth and was just happy they took a C. Glad to know he’s another Nasty Bastard™.
Maybe there is no Heaven. Or maybe this is all pure gibberish — a product of the demented imagination of a lazy drunken hillbilly with a heart full of hate who has found a way to live out where the real winds blow — to sleep late, have fun, get wild, drink whisky, and drive fast on empty streets with nothing in mind except falling in love and not getting arrested...Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll.
by iRonin on Apr 30, 2010 7:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I am excited about that too
we all felt they’d go with Tennant, and they went a different way. I hope they’re right, and what we’ve heard from them since the end of the draft confirms this theory. and we get to see Tennant twice a year anyway….
on a seemingly unrelated note about Centers in the NFL – has there ever been a case of a Japanese Sumo wrestler being converted to a center or guard in the NFL or NCAA? It just seems that one of those players would make an unbeatable center or guard.
Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia
New guy to the blog
Been reading off and on though. Why is everyone so in love with Weems? He’s decent but nothing special. A guy who I think will surprise people in camp is Tim Buckley, he a very good athlete and he reminds me so much of Josh Cribbs.
I'm not saying he's irreplacable
But I do like him. He’s elusive enough to contribute on special teams and as a receiver, but if he’s knocked out by superior players, than so be it.
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Hawley must be good if they liked him more than Tennant
Glad they picked up a DB in Franks
Can’t have enough DB’s against the Saints
He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is
Weems
Scored two TD in 09 (in losing efforts)
He didn't start that much so how do we know how good he is.
Rule #1: Double tap.
by Ball Hawk on May 2, 2010 10:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Good call! Nice addition.
The Falcons, in my opinion, made a great call when they signed UFA Ryan Wolfe, WR (UNLV) as an incoming NFL freshman. Every QB needs a dependable, sure handed, go-to guy that can help move the ball down the field incrementily. Just like the RB that is good for 4 to six yards on almost every carry, a receiver that is good for five to ten yards each time he has an opportunity is what keeps drives alive. Ryan Wolfe, I believe, will not only be that dependable receiver, barring injury, but will one day end up in the Hall of Fame. This guy not only reaches the next level but has always become one of the greatest to have played at each level.
I am an AZ Cardinal fan and I lobbied for three players this year for the Cards to draft: Toby Gerhart, Stanford, (to platoon with Beanie Wells); Taylor Mays, USC, (to bolster the Pass/Run defense); Ryan Wolfe, UNLV, (to give Matt Lienart that go-to guy). The Cards passed on all of them, but the Falcons have a new weapon in their arsenal that I think will be a big surprise and box office draw, the fans will love him.
Looking forward to our matchup on the afternoon of Sept. 19th at the Dome. Should be a good game for both teams to see where they stand in the grand scheme of things. I have a feeling Lienart will step up to the challenge created by the retirement of Warner. Good luck and may the best team win!
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