Eric Weems Returns To The Falcons Special Teams

by Dave Choate on Jul 31, 2011 7:30 AM EDT in Falcons News

I caught up with yesterday's good news late last night after spending six hours on the road, so you'll have to excuse the delayed response on this post.

The Falcons managed to land Eric "Special" Weems on a one-year contract, bringing back a first-time Pro Bowler who flashed elite return skills and the ability to tackle players at least four times as big as he is. He is like a tenacious, helmet-wearing ant. That is, believe it or not, a high compliment.

Even with the NFL's new punt return rules, Weems retains considerable value for the Falcons, particularly since Michael Jenkins is gone. If he can pick up a few more snaps at receiver, return kicks and punts and still find it in himself to bring down opposing returners, Weems will be worth every penny and then some.

The next big question is just how much of a role Weems will have in the offense, and that's something that likely won't be answered until the regular season. My guess is that he doesn't get any more than 10 grabs in 2011, but as usual, that comes with the disclaimer that I'm usually horribly wrong.

It should also be noted that in addition to Weems, John Parker Wilson and Vance Walker each signed one-year tenders. Key reserves and special teamers make their triumphant returns!

Weigh in on Weems, Walker and Wilson here.

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Comments

Personally

I would rather see a 100% healthy Harry Douglas returning kicks/punts. I don’t like wasting money on a player who can only do one thing, and with the new rule changes his job just got a little less important.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

Man

he only got a 1 yr deal. I don’t see much waste there. Infact if I was weems I might have my agent really looking next year.

by BigFalcon84 on Jul 31, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Man

I know how long his deal is. That part isn’t important. One of those talented UDFA receivers would still be a hell of a lot cheaper and with the new rule changes they would be asked to do much of anything besides waive their arms in the air and catch the ball or kneel down in the endzone most of the time. Why even play the 1 year deal game with a player like him?

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Weems is a fantastic coverage guy as well (I think that’s actually what got him into the Pro Bowl, IIRC). I remember several instances last season where he made key tackles on kickoff coverage. For the price, it’s worth giving the guy another season – especially when HD has yet to show the spark we’ve been expecting out of him (although I think that changes this year). I could see Weems even being our own version of a Wes Welker – someone who slides underneath coverage and slams out 8 annoying yards at a time when the downfield options are covered.

by The DW on Jul 31, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Eric Weems our own version of Wes Welker...............

Well there you have it folks!

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't laugh.

If JJ and RW84 can stretch the field enough… it could happen.

by Mnemonic on Aug 1, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Man III, the return of Man

I really don’t think Weems contract is going to break the bank and keep us from signing anybody. Yea, the kickoff game will be affected, but punts is still punts and the guy can make a tackle on ST. For being so small he can actually light people up. We can sign an UDFA for close to nothing. Which is probably what Weems got. As for waving arms in the air, not as easy as it seems. Adam Jennings sure seemed to have a problem with it.

by aces666high on Jul 31, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

LOL

Man III, The Return of man.

Also you have some good points, but I still believe playing the one year deal game with Weems is silly.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions

If HD got injured on Punts during the upcoming season

I think you’d have the opposite reaction: ‘Why didn’t we re-sign Weems for cheap?"

by KMarch on Jul 31, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Your probably close on the offense starts

But I say we keep him for the year to see how the game plays out with the new rules. Then we decide on long term or not.

"I'm about rings now"
~Arthur Blank

by CollegePark4Life on Jul 31, 2011 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Burress joins the Jets

LMAO!

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

I don't think signing weems to 1 year deal is a bad thing

He gives us great playmaking ability in the return game on kickoffs and is a great defender on special teams i would like to see the team utilize him more like the raiders did last year with Jacoby Ford on reverses screen passes and line him up in the back field like they did when he caught a 30 yard touchdown pass against dallas in 2009.My concern is he is only 5’9 and probably won’t be a big part of the offense we already cut ties with jenkins and won’t resign finneran they drafted Julio Jones i still think they need to sign another free agent receiver to fill a spot now left by the jenkins release.

by falconpower on Jul 31, 2011 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

Weems is the last person I want to see Ryan throw to

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I think Turner should be the one you fear the most when passes are divvied up!

by aces666high on Jul 31, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Will Svitek

On a tackle eligible play would scare me.

by Mosugo on Jul 31, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

He had lead hands Sunday fo sho'...

I think he caught 2 of 13 passes I saw thrown his way.

Ovie, on the other hand, catches stuff by shoving his hands THROUGH a defender’s chest, grabbing the ball, and then jerking it back through the gaping chest cavity.

Since it was practice, he then put an ungloved hand on the defender, and he was healed.

Ovie is so great, he cures cancer.

by Mnemonic on Aug 1, 2011 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions

They probably won't back Norwood

I said back on these message boards in febuary i would like to see them sign Norwood to a 1 or 2 year deal and use him as a full time kick,punt returner and use him as a slot receiver and throw it to him out of the back field he has the size 5-11 210 and the hands,physicalness, and speed to beat defenders down the field don’t use him as a runningback but that is just my thought on it.I don’t think weems gets more that 10 or 12 catches on the offense he would be like the 5th or 6th option any way.

by falconpower on Jul 31, 2011 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

Exactly

Weems only has 13 career catches and 5th/6th option is probably fitting.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Just Last Year

Norwood was injured on a kick-off. It’s one of the easiest positions to get seriously injured.

by KMarch on Jul 31, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I still think we need to sign one more receiver for depth

At least someone we know is not just a special teams guru.Plenty of guys still out there like Chris Chambers,Antwan Randle-El,Mark Clayton,Legadu Naane or Malcolm Floyd

by falconpower on Jul 31, 2011 10:17 AM EDT reply actions

TD is waiting

I think we have time to wait this one out. Priority has to be Blalock/Grimes – then see how much cap room is left. I’ll bet we get an “insurance” WR sometime mid next week, since they won’t be able to practice until Thursday anyway. By waiting, we can see who is left and sign a veteran for a much lower cost.

by The DW on Jul 31, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Patience is the key

All of these big spenders will have to make cuts and then there will be more recievers that’ll hit the open market.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 31, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

good call.

by KMarch on Jul 31, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Theres a few names out there right now swaying in the wind and with this limited window everyones working with a lot less time to give that diamond in the rough that extra look. U hit it right on the head bizarro mr92687!!! and we’ve got just the guys in the FO to sit back and wait til the dust settles and not panic. You know like freak out and sign an average punter for $19.5 million.

by aces666high on Jul 31, 2011 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions