Falcons Sign Seven Players To Reserve/Future Contracts

by Dave Choate on Jan 19, 2011 8:01 AM EST in Falcons News

In the immortal words of Radiohead, this list offers no surprises.

Basically, a reserve/future contract allows the Falcons to sign their practice squad to a contract that covers the 2011 season. That allows them some degree of control over the futures of these magnificent seven, all young players who spent all or part of the year as squadders.

A quick rundown of each? Don't mind if I do! Check it after the jump.

Center Rob Bruggeman: A big ol' center with some degree of run-blocking skill, Bruggeman is an in-house option to back up to Joe Hawley when and if Todd McClure retires. Until then, he's not extremely likely to sniff the active roster.

Guard Jose Valdez: Maybe the most intriguing prospect to spend time on the team's practice squad in 2010, Valdez is a hulking guard who has drawn some attention as a sleeper for a roster spot in 2011. My understanding is that he's a coat of polish away from winning a roster spot, especially if Harvey Dahl, Justin Blalock or both leave. Expect to hear his name again.

Defensive End Emmanuel Stephens: Stephens is a sort of low-upside defensive end who can, according to scouting reports, do a little bit of everything you like a defensive end to be able to do. That smells like a decent deserve to me.

TE Marquez Branson: Here's an interesting one. Branson actually has quite a bit of upside but is still rough around the edges as an NFL football player. The Falcons are going to be looking for a long-term replacement for Tony Gonzalez, and they may be inclined to give Branson a crack at breaking the depth chart as soon as 2011. He's the only guy the Falcons currently have under team control (Justin Peelle and Michael Palmer being the others) that might be able to start, in my opinion.

WR Tim Buckley: At 6'1", 185 pounds, Buckley's an average-sized wide receiver with an average pedigree from the proud institution of Alcorn State. He's supposed to be pretty sure-handed, so he could sniff the roster if the Falcons end up cutting ties with Brian Finneran in the off-season.

WR Brandyn Harvey: The other guy on the practice squad that I think has a real shot to contribute in the years ahead. Harvey's a big, physical wide receiver with average wheels, a guy who more so than Buckley might be the heir apparent to Finneran. Drops issue and route running kept him from making the team in 2010, but he'll get another shot.

WR Andy Strickland: More in the mold of Eric Weems. If the team ever decides they want to move Weems to a full-time receiver role, they could try Strickland out on returns, and the lanky receiver could be an option as a fifth or sixth receiver. I like Harvey's chances better, though.

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Comments

Tim Buckley

He’s a small guy with hands but is he quick? A small guy with hands don’t really offer much.

by Fear Me on Jan 19, 2011 9:00 AM EST reply actions

Meant to say a small guy that can only catch don't really offer much.

by Fear Me on Jan 19, 2011 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

Question-what ever happened to Antone Smith?

I thought he was suppose to be an extremely fast guy (Norwood type speed). I only saw him on the field a few times this past season.

by Fear Me on Jan 19, 2011 9:04 AM EST reply actions

He's on the roster.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 19, 2011 4:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

mclure

Is coming back. Bet on it. I think I agree dahl is gone

by birdwatch on Jan 19, 2011 9:14 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Agreed about McClure his contract ends next year and I expect him to play out.

"The only problem with invading America isn't getting past their military, but dealing with the 80 million snipers once you're in."-Joseph Stalin

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 19, 2011 9:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Why does everyone think Dahl will leave?

I would say next to clabo he is our best lineman. And I like what I saw from brandyn harvey. Great hands but needs to work on route running. And yeah what did happen to antone smith?? He looked a helluva lot better than gartrell johnson

"The only problem with invading America isn't getting past their military, but dealing with the 80 million snipers once you're in."-Joseph Stalin

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 19, 2011 9:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions

only one atlanta will resign is clabo

mike johnson is more of a mauler than even dahl, and we will draft an OL

by GTbacker on Jan 19, 2011 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

Antone Smith

Finished the year with GB i believe. Fitting.

" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln

by tapate50 on Jan 19, 2011 9:31 AM EST reply actions

That was dimitri nance

But antone coulda left…I honestly don’t know.

"The only problem with invading America isn't getting past their military, but dealing with the 80 million snipers once you're in."-Joseph Stalin

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 19, 2011 9:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Your right it was Nance

I know Smith was injured at least during 1 point of the season.

by qthaballa on Jan 19, 2011 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

Question about Harvey

Dave, you mentioned that Harvey could be a replacement for Finn. If that’s the case what do you think the plan is for Meier?

by mwalex on Jan 19, 2011 9:34 AM EST reply actions

You'd have to think they both have a shot ...

To be honest though, Harvey might have the inside track at this point, for no other reason than his speed.

Meier’s 40 was in the 4.6-4.7 range, even before the knee injury. Harvey’s 40 isn’t, to be fair, much better (he’s in the 4.5 range), but from what I saw pre-season, he seems to have a better initial burst. Just my thoughts.

by James Rael on Jan 19, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

I can see that

But wasn’t Meier going to be the next Finn? If so then how could both guys make the team? Roughly the same speed (depending on how Meier recovers) and I think Meier had better hands. If a “burst” WR is added to the team then someone might be in trouble even in Finn isn’t with the team next year.

by mwalex on Jan 19, 2011 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

yes and no ...

Harvey pre-draft description (courtesy of SI):

Nice-sized receiver who consistently makes the difficult reception … and nicely adjusts to the errant throw.

Meier pre-draft description (courtesy of CBSSports):

Very solid receiver, using his hands to catch. Can extend his arms to snatch wide or high throws … [t]ough enough to catch balls in traffic and over the middle.

Granted those so-called draft gurus usually suck at second-tier talent evaluation.

KC pre-season game:
Meier caught 2/4 (receptions/targets)
Harvey had zero targets

NE pre-season game:
Meier caught 1/2 (receptions/targets)
Harvey had zero targets

Miami pre-season game:
Meier was already IRed (knee)
Harvey caught 0/1 (receptions/targets)

Jacksonville pre-season game:
Meier was IRed
Harvey caught 1/5 (receptions/targets)

Pre-season totals:
Harvey caught 1/6
Meier caught 3/6

Really can’t bank on those numbers since Matty wasn’t throwing to them/they were facing second/third string defenses. All in all, have to think it’ll be a nice little camp battle.

by James Rael on Jan 19, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

I also think you have to throw in Meier's craftiness

He’s a former QB, and can supposedly read weaknesses in the DEF very well. A lot of the film I’ve seen of him at Kansas show him improvising great plays after the initial design has failed. Add in the fact that he is a very good thower (for a non-QB position), and I think Meier adds more value if he get his speed back to pre-injury level.

by KMarch on Jan 19, 2011 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

its the little things.

if you go back and watch tape he is a really polished receiver. for eg. he ran a lot of slot verticals in college, what most guys do is try to get up field as fast as they can. Meier slows himself down, get the outside release so the the corner will slide out with him and then comes back to the middle so that the QB has enough room to make the throw without the safeties being a factor. Im not so concerned about his injury anyways because he was never a speed guy anyways. he is more in the mold of blair white/austin collie

by GTbacker on Jan 19, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

fair/good points ...

QB has enough room to make the throw without the safeties being a factor

Truth be told though, college DBs (as a whole and especially in the Big Ten) aren’t as quick/speedy/whatever as NFL DBs.

by James Rael on Jan 19, 2011 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

I've got no problem

With heading into next pre-season with the thinking that the 2 of them are basically competing for 1 spot.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 19, 2011 1:55 PM EST up reply actions

I second this

If Kerry Meier was healthy all season, Harvey might not even still be on the practice squad. As it is, a healthy competition never hurt anybody.

by Dave Choate on Jan 19, 2011 3:29 PM EST up reply actions

Hopefully "healthy" is the key word this time, for all our guys

by CubFan90 on Jan 19, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Interesting comments about the reserve OLine

If there is reason to be excited about them, that’s great. Didn’t Dahl and Clabo come off the practice squad? If these guys are even close to ready, I say that we only sign 2 of the OLine FAs (Blalock and Clabo imo), and maybe even just 1. Hawley and Johnson are very versatile linemen, and Hawley can play OG as well as C. TD has given himself a lot of options here. Of course, the fear is that our OLine gets worse, but there’s also an immense reward if they improve.

Maybe we should have an upcoming post about everyone’s opinion of the OLine? I’m on the fence about them: I think Matt made them decent with his quick releases. I think we saw the result of him holding the ball for a little longer against GB. Also, they really seemed to lack getting to that second-level in run blocking.

by KMarch on Jan 19, 2011 10:50 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Dahl & Clabo

Were both snatched off the Practice Squads of other teams. But yeah, I agree with all your main points.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 19, 2011 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

Money

I’m not sure how much money is going to play out in determining who gets signed for linemen. Clabo and Dahl have identical salaries, while Blalock makes next to nothing. I’m not sure how much it will cost to keep Blalock, but If the falcons double the salaries of Clabo and Dahl, it would still be less then what they have to pay for Blalock.

Your Division Champions, "The Atlanta Falcons!" The goal doesn't stop here.

by Edgecrusher211 on Jan 19, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions

Assuming we don't resign Mike Peterson and perhaps cut Chauncey Davis

Money shouldn’t be an issue for this team.

I also don’t get where you’re coming from with the remark about Blalock. Clabo and Dahl made some nice money in 2010 (Both at $2.5 mil). You’re saying that you expect Blalock to ask for $5 mil a season? I really don’t see that happening (probably closer to 2.5/3). If anything, Dahl will want more after already getting 2.5 mil this season. Considering he’s an OG and perhaps the weakest member of the unit with some able bodies behind him, I think he’s probably gone.

by KMarch on Jan 19, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, Blalock was so cheap because he was still on his Rookie contract

Clabo and Dahl were both on 1-year RFA tenders (the $2.521 Million was a pre-set amount based on the 1st Round compensation level of the tender).

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 19, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

This is making me want to take two weeks off of school and go see some OTAs

When do those start?

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by Caleb Rutherford on Jan 19, 2011 1:31 PM EST reply actions