Steven Jackson: Mike Tice is off to a great start, helping reestablish the Falcons' running game

There's been just enough chatter about Mike Tice this off-season to really excite this blogger. Mind you, I'm easily excited. When Taco Bell brought back the cheesy gordita crunch, I went on a 2 week vacation. But let's get back on topic.

Tice has to be better than his predecessor - that's the common refrain. Tice has impressed the players, and that has to count for something. Steven Jackson in particular had some really positive things to say following OTAs.

Coach Mike Tice has come in and done a really good job of revamping the running game. We're eager to establish ourselves as one of the more balanced offenses and one of the more aggressive running games in the NFL. I think we'll be better this year in that area, and there are a number of reasons why.

For the Falcons to turn around their dismal 4-12 campaign, they must reestablish their running game. At this stage, Jackson isn't going to say anything negative about Tice, even if he can't stand the man. But he doesn't have to go out of his way to complement him either, and that's exactly what he did. Jackson can write about anything; the weather, Alex Welch's creepy overbite, Thomas Dimitroff's choice in hair products. But he chooses to be complementary in his description of Tice. I think that says something.