new york giants

IN THE COMMUNITY
It was a long time coming but certainly worth the wait.
By the time Falcons assistant coach Emmitt Thomas had learned that he was selected as a
finalist for the 2008 Hall of Fame class, he had been retired as a player for close to 30 years.
“I’m very excited (and) honored,” Thomas said when he was named a finalist last summer.
“I thought the window of opportunity had closed for me since I had been retired so long.”
Thomas played defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1966-78 and was selected to five
Pro Bowls (including the 1968 AFL All-Star Game). In his illustrious career, Thomas picked off 58
passes, the ninth-most in NFL history. He played in Super Bowls I and IV, and even intercepted a
pass in Super Bowl IV. The Chiefs will retire his number (18) in a special ceremony in October.
After retiring as a player following the 1978 season, Thomas became an assistant coach for
five NFL teams from 1981-2001 before landing with the Falcons in 2002. When Bobby
Petrino abruptly left the team in Week 15 of 2007, Thomas was named interim head coach
and gained his first victory as a head coach in Week 17, as the Falcons defeated Seattle 44-41.
All in all, Thomas has three Super Bowl rings – one as a player (Kansas City, Super Bowl
IV) and two as a coach (Washington, Super Bowl XXII and XXVI).
The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF), one of the most active team-lead
foundations in professional sports, on July 9 announced grants totaling more than
$300,000 to improve fitness for Georgia’s youth.
The grants will fund a number of summer sports and fitness programs for more
than 3,000 kids across the state, and help expand Falcons Fitness Zones activities for
underserved children in five metro Atlanta neighborhoods. Since launching Fitness
Zones in 2005, AFYF has made physical fitness and fighting youth obesity the centerpiece of its community work.
The AFYF was established in 1985 to serve as the philanthropic arm of the Atlanta
Falcons. Since Arthur Blank’s acquisition of the team in 2002, the AFYF has become the
largest team-funded foundation in the NFL and is one of the most active foundations in
professional sports, providing more than $15 million in grants to non-profit organizations across the state of Georgia. The AFYF is committed to working with non-profit
organizations throughout Georgia to reduce childhood obesity with the help of youth fitness, sports programs, athletic field development and the Falcons Fitness Zones youth
fitness signature program. For more information on 2008 AFYF grant guidelines, check
out www.afyf.org.
#25 CB Von Hutchins
grew up a huge Falcons fan.
Ihelmets,
Back in 1971 when I was just eight, my father bought me one of those plastic football
Falcon red with the black logo and a plastic chin strap. I wore it around
everywhere, playing tackle in the front yard with friends. We all wore the helmets,
pretending to be a different player every day. One day I was middle linebacker Tommy
Nobis, coming inside with my pants all dirty; the next I was quarterback Bob Berry,
telling my father at dinner that I had thrown the game-winning touchdown pass.
That season I went to my first game but the game that has always stayed with
me— what I consider my introduction to the NFL—came in 1973 when the Falcons
hosted the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. With a record of 6-3, the
Falcons were battling for their first playoff spot in franchise history and the Vikings
came in as big favorites at 9-0, with scrambling Fran Tarkenton at quarterback.
It was late November and it was cold, as my father and I sat huddled in the upper
deck with the Falcons leading by six points. The old stadium was on fire and with the
seconds ticking off in the fourth quarter, Tarkenton tried to push his team to a final
score. Then, on fourth down with no timeouts left, Tarkenton was pushed out of the
pocket and eventually out of bounds. The Falcons had picked up their biggest victory
in franchise history and I remember walking away, forever loving the game of football. Interestingly, I would go on to cover the team for one year (1989) as their beat
writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and today find myself working closely
with the franchise in several different areas.
And, oh, has the franchise changed over those years.
Back then the team was owned by Rankin Smith and his sons, their facility in the
back of an old Holiday Inn in Suwanee right off I-85. The transformation in team
ownership from the Smiths to Arthur Blank is amazing, with the Home Depot founder
turning it into a true NFL franchise.
What many fans do not see is the amount of money and time put into building a
solid organization, not just on the field but off it. NFL franchises are huge businesses and
go well beyond what you see on the field. The preparation for practice and for a game is
a major production, going along with the fact that Blank has certainly built one of the
best training facilities in the league. If you have not had the opportunity to attend training camp, head up to Flowery Branch and I think you will be amazed by what you see.
As one NFL executive told me, “The Falcons are ready to win a Super Bowl off the field,”
in reference to the club’s front office and their many different support departments.
On the field, the Falcons are building, putting the
painful memories of 2007 behind them and looking
ahead. As Blank told me, “I’m thrilled about our new
season and not just because last season is over. That
was a very long season. One of the reasons I’m already
Head Coach Mike Smith
excited about this season is due to the work that
Thomas [Dimitroff] did in free agency and the
draft this year. Also, our coaching staff, led by
Mike Smith, includes outstanding coordinators
and position coaches with lots of NFL experience. I think we were very successful in free
agency, obviously, with Michael Turner and
a number of other players we acquired. I
also think we had a very good draft starting with finding the quarterback we were
looking for in Matt Ryan.”
What’s exciting for Falcons fans this season is the number of new faces.
Let’s start with Turner. The team’s top free-agent acquisition has wasted no
time making his home in Atlanta. While he spent his last four seasons backing up
LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, he still managed to rush for 1,257 yards. At 243
pounds, he is built like a truck but runs low to the ground, able to move strongly
between the tackles. He was with San Diego when they were in a rebuilding stage,
saying, “I think about it in terms of when I first got [to each team]. San Diego was
coming off a 4-12 season [in 2003]. Everybody’s job was up in the air, they didn’t
know who the quarterback was going to be. There were a lot of similarities. You
don’t want to say ‘rebuilding,’ but both franchises were trying to bring guys in who
would do a good job.”
The Chargers had the league’s worst record in 2003 but came back and went 124 the next season and won the division.
Then there is Matt Ryan, chosen third overall by the Falcons in the draft. Coming
out of Boston College, where he was considered the top quarterback in college football last season, Ryan gives the Falcons a prototypical NFL quarterback. He stands
almost 6-foot-5, has a strong arm and the ability to adapt and focus while being run
down by a 275-pound defensive end. The Falcons also like his mental makeup, as
Ryan told us, “[The expectations are] something that shouldn’t be the most important
thing to you; playing football and being a solid teammate and a real aggressive player on the field is the most important thing.”
There are other new names, such as rookie Curtis Lofton out of Oklahoma, who
may just find himself starting at middle linebacker when the Falcons open the season
on Sept. 7 here against Detroit.
Another reason to look forward to the direction this team is going in is the hiring
of general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith. Dimitroff, coming over from New England, has wasted no time putting his personnel stamp on the
team, while Smith and his staff are coaches the players are going to respect. Like the
great Falcon Jeff Van Note told me at the team’s opening practice on Saturday, “They
(the coaching staff) are the old gym rats of football.”
So while many are not expecting the Falcons to make a lot of noise with their record,
a new foundation seems to be in place, a team that may just surprise us all when this new
group of coaches and players find the right formula.
Now where is that old red, plastic Falcons helmet?
I.J. Rosenberg is the president/publisher of
Score Atlanta, a sports marketing company focused
on publishing, Web, video, radio and event activation. Score is proud to be a close partner with the
Owner Arthur Blank
Atlanta Falcons. Make sure to check out their new
Web site at ScoreAtl.com. I.J. can be reached at
ijrosenberg@scoreatl.com or 404-256-1572.
The Allstate All-Access Weekend Guide was produced and
published by Score Publishing, a division of Score Atlanta. The
publisher is I.J. Rosenberg, editor is Tad Arapoglou and creative director is David Gaudio.
The photos in the Guide were
taken by Falcons team photographer Jimmy Cribb.
RB Jerious Norwood
hen the Falcons signed Michael Turner to a six-year
deal on March 2, he was immediately appointed the
starter. Jerious Norwood would have been in line for the
starting job, but he knew that he wasn’t going to be the
every-down back in Atlanta this season. Still, Norwood
stayed positive, and now he sees a great opportunity.
“I want us to be like thunder and lightning in the
backfield,” he said.
Fullback Ovie Mughelli joins the two young running backs in Turner and Norwood in the backfield that
Norwood is so excited about. In fact, all three of them
believe that they can form one of the best running units
in the NFL.
Turner is the centerpiece among the running backs. He
backed up perhaps the league’s best in LaDainian Tomlinson for
the past four years in San Diego, but the Falcons and many other
teams around the NFL believed his performances indicated that
he was ready to start. He took over the starting spot during the
2007 postseason after Tomlinson injured his ankle and is also averaging 5.5 yards per carry for his career. Now
FB Ovie Mughelli
Turner has received his opportunity to be the No.
1 back on the depth chart for good.
“It feels great,” he said. “It’s finally my turn.”
W
NEED FOR SPEED …
Speaking of yards per carry, Norwood also
brings an impressive average to the table: he sports
a 6.2 in that category. Norwood has also been a fixture in the highlight reels, having scored on touchdown runs of 69 and 78 yards in his rookie season
and running back a 67-yard touchdown against the
Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants last
year. With two home-run threats, the two could be
dangerous.
“Both of us can take it to the house at any
moment,” Turner said.
Don’t forget about Mughelli either; the 2006 AllPro is one of the best fullbacks in the game but
rarely had a chance to shine in Bobby Petrino’s
offensive scheme last season. With Petrino gone,
he’s ready to get back to his form of two years ago
under first-year head coach Mike Smith, who will
use Mughelli much more this fall.
“You always want to affect the game in a positive way,” Mughelli said.
“The fact that I’m being used more is different than last [year].”
Smith is utilizing the 6-foot-1, 255-pound mammoth of a man as much
as possible. After just a few days of training camp, Smith had
already used Mughelli heavily as a blocker, runner and even
receiver out of the backfield.
With an uncertain immediate future at the quarterback position, the performance of the running backs will take on special
importance. And Mughelli thinks that if they can produce, it
should take much of the pressure off of whoever gets the nod at the
quarterback position.
“We’ve already decided that whoever is going be the starting quarterback, it’s gonna be easy on them,” Mughelli said.
“We’re trying to be the heart of the team.”
If they do produce, it will require a strong offensive line.
Many deemed the line as a weakness of the team during
last season’s 4-12 campaign. This year, they feature a
more experienced Justin Blalock at guard, a veteran
tackle in Todd Weiner, decorated rookie Sam Baker at
the other tackle position and many more. Turner doesn’t think that the front five will have a problem jelling
this time around.
“They’ve been getting out there and competing,” he
RB Michael Turner
said. “I’ve been getting some big holes to run through.”
WHAT TO EXPECT …
As for their expectations, the Falcons think that their backfield could
be downright scary. How well will Norwood and Turner work together as a
tandem on the field? Mughelli sounded confident that they would form a
great team.
“Jerious and Michael are going to be unstoppable,” he said.
Norwood’s face lit up when he was asked the same question.
“We continue to work together and try to have the No. 1 backfield in
the country,” he said. “That’s something we’re looking forward to and
hopefully we can fulfill our goal.”
With this group of different styles, there is certainly a chance to evolve into
a strong group when the regular season rolls around. And their success just
might help the Falcons win a few more games in 2008 than the experts think.
“When we get ready for games,” Norwood added, “we want teams to
say ‘Man, here come the Falcons.”’
By
Josh
Bagriansky,
who
can
be
reached
at
jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
SCHOOL’S IN SESSION …
QB Matt Ryan
eing an NFL rookie is akin to starting your freshman
year of high school. Awkward, inexperienced and having to prove themselves on new grounds, first-year NFL
players are often tossed into a deep roster of “upperclassmen,” who treat the newbies like adolescents on the
playground.
In the case of the Falcons, however, there are
several rookies who won’t be pushed around or
overwhelmed by the NFL. Part of that can be
attributed to the talents of the Falcons’
2008 draft class, and part is because of the
OT Sam Baker
relative inexperience of the team. Four
Falcons draftees have an excellent chance of
cracking the starting lineup and turning into
stars as rookies.
B
SAM THE MAN …
Despite being the final rookie to sign his contract and report, offensive lineman Sam Baker was the only first-teamer of the bunch. Baker
logged reps with the starters in mini camp and OTAs, but was unsure about his
spot because of his contract situation. You would think that showing up
to camp halfway through his first practice would put Baker in a proverbial full-nelson from some of his linemates, but that wasn’t the case.
“When I got out there, I got a couple of jokes,” Baker said of his
teammates heckling him about his late arrival. “With me being the
new guy, it’s tough, but [Justin] Blalock helps me a lot.”
Baker is referring to his future left-side linemate in the 6foot-4, 333-pound Blalock. But coming in at 6-foot-5, 312
pounds himself, Baker may be helping more than learning
come opening kickoff. The Falcons understand that Baker
will be critical to an offensive line that gave up 47 sacks
last season (tied for seventh-worst in NFL).
The other potential rookie starters are headlined by Boston College’s Matt
Ryan. As the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, some figure Ryan will be the starter
from the first whistle, but despite being the most valuable rookie in NFL history, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has taken an apprenticeship behind
veterans Chris Redman and Joey Harrington to begin camp, a
situation he is comfortable with.
“At this point it’s about performing consistently, showing
up every day, being productive and getting better,” Ryan said.
“I have about 20 practices under my belt so I’m a lot more comfortable than I was starting mini camp.”
In the team’s 7-on-7 competition, Ryan was in the same
lineup as Harry Douglas. The 5-foot-11, 171-pounder wasted
no time impressing the Falcons, and has been featured as the
third receiver alongside Roddy White and Laurent Robinson in
several formations. While White and Robinson can stretch the
field with their speed and top-tier athleticism, Douglas is looking to put his name on the team’s possession-receiver tag. For
that edge, he has called upon Louisville alums Redman and
Deion Branch of the Seattle Seahawks for guidance.
“Coming from the same school, we’ve had some of the
same coaches in college and they have helped me a great deal,”
WR Harry Douglas
Douglas said of the two. “In the NFL, the holes inside the
defense are smaller and guys in the secondary close on the ball
faster, but with [Redman and Branch’s] help, the opportunity is
out there for me to grab.”
LINING UP …
The final rookie looking to seize a starting spot is linebacker Curtis
Lofton. The early-entry draftee almost didn’t make it to camp either,
but after signing on Friday, he was able to get his 6-foot, 248-pound
frame onto the second team. He currently sits behind Tony Taylor for
the middle-linebacker position.
“Since they took me so high, I definitely thought they were going to put
me with the twos, maybe even the ones,” the second-round pick said after
his first practice. “After having mini-camp and OTAs, I felt good about
things and hopefully didn’t have many mental errors out there.”
In case he has any concerns, Lofton knows he has good teachers
on each side of him in Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.
“Any time I need questions answered, need help or mess up, those
guys [Brooking and Boley] are there for support. We definitely
have a good rapport.”
Thus, school is in for these four rookies, with the NFL
as their campus. For now, Baker is the only No. 1, but each
knows that they are inching closer to starter status. For
Ryan, Lofton and Douglas, winning a starting spot in
training camp would be the equivalent of taking the
most popular girl in school to the prom as a
freshman – and they just might.
By Erik Horne, who can be
reached at ehorne@scoreatl.com.
LB Curtis Lofton
A Q&A with Keith Brooking
Linebacker Keith Brooking, the only current Falcon to
have played on the 1998-99 NFC Championship team,
is entering his 11th NFL season in Atlanta. Score
Atlanta’s Brian Jones caught up with Brooking to discuss his career as well as the upcoming season.
It has been 10 years since you were drafted by the Falcons and,
in that same year, Atlanta reached Super Bowl XXXIII. Being the veteran that you are and looking at what is now a relatively young
team, do the younger players look to you for advice?
Brooking: I just try to carry myself in a natural way and
the only way I know how, and that’s being a true pro and
coming out here and perfecting my craft. Hopefully, that’s a
positive example to these young guys. Obviously if they
reach out to me, I’m there for them to give them advice and
I’m more than happy to do that.
You haven’t missed a game since 2000 when you suffered an injury
against the Philadelphia Eagles. How have you been able to remain injury-free
all this time?
Brooking: I think just sweeping the edges, sweeping the corners, taking care of the little things and not taking anything for granted. I think a very
big part of being a professional football player and playing at the highest
level is taking care of your body and putting the right things in your body.
I’m a big weight-room guy. Weight training and conditioning in the offsea-
son is instrumental in my success. I think that’s part of it and the other is being
blessed, fortunate and being in the right place at the right time because sometimes
[injuries] are tough to prevent no matter how hard you train. I’ve been very
blessed and fortunate to be injury-free.
Since being drafted in 1998 you have played for four different coaches: Dan
Reeves, Jim Mora, Bobby Petrino and now Mike Smith. What is the difference between
Smith and the previous three head coaches?
Brooking: I’m not going to compare Coach Smith to anybody. I really love what
he is doing so far. I think he has implemented his plan since the end of March and [the
staff] has done a really great job presenting to us what they expect from us on a daily
basis. It’s not real complicated, it’s a simple plan. I think that the sooner 100 percent of
the guys on this team buy into it and we are all pulling on the same end of the rope, the
quicker that we are going to have success. I haven’t seen anybody pulling on opposite
ends so that’s very encouraging and I feel great about where we are as a football team.
You have been through the training-camp process plenty of times during your
career. What is one thing you like about training camp and what is one thing that you
dislike about it?
Brooking: There’s really nothing fun about training camp. The physicality of it,
you put your body through the ultimate test. During this time of the year, you find out
what a lot of people are about because this is very tough. I love what everybody’s
doing right now, the way they are approaching this training camp, and I think that’s one
positive thing. The other positive thing is getting to know the guys and becoming
more familiar with the new guys, the draft picks and the free agents that we
signed this year. We are around each other for three weeks. We eat, sleep, shower—as bad as that sounds—for 14-15 hours a day for three weeks straight. So
it’s a great time to become familiar with one another.
Speaking of free agents that you picked up this year, you
were able to acquire several key players such as Michael Turner and
Erik Coleman. With the addition of those two as well as a new head
coach and new general manager, do you think you have a chance to
improve your record from last season?
Brooking: I really do. I think we are off to a great start. It’s
a tough task ahead of us, there’s no doubt about that, but I feel
very good about our football team and where we’re headed.
There has been a great fan turnout for the early stages of
training camp. After all that happened last year, how important is it
for the fans to come back and support the Falcons?
Brooking: I think it’s instrumental. In my years here, we have had
a lot of sold-out games. The fans were on their feet screaming at the top
of their lungs and that’s advantageous to us defensively as it poses a lot
of problems for the offense. But it’s not only that, it’s the adrenaline and
the intensity in the Georgia Dome. It fires a player up and it fires our
football team up. So I think that helps us out a lot. One thing that cures
an empty Dome or empty seats is winning ballgames. So we have to win
ballgames and prove to our fans we are a team to be reckoned with
You have been to the Super Bowl, played in the Pro Bowl numerous times and
you constantly give back to the community. Is there anything else that you
would like to accomplish before your NFL career comes to an end?
Brooking: Win a Super Bowl. I finished second and if you’re not first, you’re
last. I want to win it.–
Falcons renovate Dome for
K
nowing that Falcons fans needed a slight change of
scenery, team owner Arthur Blank took the initiative
and outlined a plan to renovate the Georgia Dome by
August of 2008. After spending a cool $30 million on the renovation, the team is finally ready to show off the new
changes to their old digs.
After starting on April 3, 2007, the Falcons completed
the first round of what has been called “the ultimate homeimprovement plan” by the first home preseason game last
year. These initial changes to the stadium included a fully
remodeled Verizon Club Lounge on both the north and
south sides of the stadium, a complete overhaul of A- and Blevel suites, the creation of eight “super suites,” endzone-toendzone LED ribbon boards, and brand-new Falconsthemed artwork on the field wall.
One of the most noticeable changes from the first
round of renovations was the Verizon Club Lounge. This
spacious seating area includes an enormous signature bar
area, Falcons-themed aesthetics, and three media-lounge
areas that include 63-inch plasma-screen televisions flanked
by eight 52-inch high-def plasma screens. The goal of the
renovations was to give the lounge a similar feel to an
upscale club in Buckhead.
“We brought [VP of Football Communications] Reggie
Roberts up there a few days ago, and he remarked that this
looks like the hottest club in Atlanta,” said Falcons Chief
Financial Officer Greg Beadles.
A glass wall separates the concourse from the lounge,
creating a unique new immersive experience for club-goers.
“If you’re walking by, you see the new LED boards
popping out around the bowl of the Dome and you can hear
the crowd noise,” Beadles explained. “There’s a connection
that’s never been there before. Even though you’re in the
Club Lounge, you really feel like you’re still at the game.”
Another facet of last year’s renovations, the “super
suites” replaced 40 of the Dome’s original 204 suites. The
super suites allow fans to enjoy a premium NFL experience at a cost of $4,000 per season. Soft drinks and food
are included with the cost. The Falcons received quite a
bit of interest in the suites last year, as they were priced
well below the NFL average suite price, which was
$110,000 in 2007.
While the new suites and media lounge were only
experienced by a few fans attending games last year, the
r awesome fan experience
LED ribbon boards were enjoyed by all. The LED boards,
which are located on the mezzanine level, span the entire
length of the field and feature high-impact in-game messaging as well as messages aimed at motivating the fans. The
LED boards project dynamic images across a grid that is 40
pixels high and 3,680 pixels wide.
The second phase of the renovations was initiated
this summer and will be completed before the season
begins. Some of the alterations include doubling the size of
the video-replay boards on each end of the Dome to allow
for high-definition programming, repainting the interior and
exterior of the Dome from mauve and teal to Falcons black
and red, improving lighting in the upper and lower concourses, improving concession areas, inserting Falcons-
themed aesthetics throughout the concourses, and renovating the entry gates to the Dome.
The seats inside the stadium have been painted red
and black, and the portion of the exterior that was formerly
mauve and teal is now also red and black. The seats in the
upper and lower deck of the stadium are now painted red,
while the club-level seats are now painted black. The ceiling
of the Dome features banners honoring former Falcon
greats like Jeff Van Note, Jessie Tuggle, Tommy Nobis,
Steve Bartkowski and William Andrews.
The concourses present themselves in Falcons colors
as well, with a black ceiling and red trim. Also featured on
the walls of the concourses are HD television monitors so
that fans can watch the game while getting refreshments.
“The improvements will provide more value to our
fans on game day and hopefully be another step in keeping
the Dome a first-class facility,” Blank said. “Since the Dome
was built in 1992, 23 NFL stadiums have been built, substantially renovated or are in planning stages. Like our commitment to putting a competitive team on the field, we are also
committed to being competitive in other areas such as this.
We want to provide a great game-day experience for our
fans, and this is one more way in which we can do that.”
Fans are sure to enjoy the new accommodations that
come with the Dome’s renovations in the 2008 season. And
with a new-look team led by a brand new staff, changing the
look of the Falcons’ nest could not have come at a better
time for the franchise.
By Stephen Black, who can be reached at
sblack@scoreatl.com.
AFC
PREVIEW
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Most people expected big things from the Ravens last year, especially after
they added Willis McGahee to the roster. But while McGahee thrived, the rest
of the team stunk and even that intimidating Ray Lewis-Ed Reed-Samari Rolle
trio suddenly wasn’t so intimidating anymore. Steve McNair decided to hang
up his cleats and with a new, inexperienced head coach, it’s hard to picture the
Ravens turning things around.
BUFFALO BILLS
Since 1999, the Bills have had just one winning season. There is reason for
hope that they will pull one off this year, however. While the Patriots should
reach the top of the AFC East again, the Bills should be strong enough to hold
the other division rivals down. The team will need to find consistency at quarterback from Trent Edwards and/or J.P. Losman, but Marshawn Lynch showed
flashes of brilliance in his rookie season. First-round draft pick Leotis McKelvin
will bolster the defense, and James Hardy was a steal with the 41st pick.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Look, the number of players getting in trouble is well-documented, but it was
Chad Johnson’s trade demands that had this team stressed in the offseason.
It’s a shame too, because Carson Palmer continues to develop into a great
quarterback. After all the time Marvin Lewis spent trying to rid the team of its
“Bungles” reputation, that 2006 playoff appearance is a distant memory now.
Rudi Johnson will have to carry the load at running back once again.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Jamal Lewis had his highest rushing-yard total in four years. Some guy named
Derek Anderson became one of the NFL’s more efficient quarterbacks and
made a Pro Bowl appearance. And if Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow II
were not enough, the Browns added Donte Stallworth to the receiving corps in
the offseason. Yep, it seems pretty safe to say the Browns are back … but they
will have to find a way to overcome what promises to be a tough schedule.
DENVER BRONCOS
It always starts and ends with the running game. If Travis Henry can stay
healthy (and out of trouble), he has an incredible offensive line that will help
him excel. If he can’t, take your pick at running back: Mike Bell, Andre Hall,
Selvin Young, whomever. Jay Cutler is coming off a decent year in his first season as a full-time starting quarterback, and you can guarantee that Champ
Bailey and Dre Bly will continue to snatch up plenty of interceptions in the secondary. Champ’s brother Boss will be suiting up on defense as well.
HOUSTON TEXANS
No matter how much progress is made here, the Texans will always have a
tough time in the AFC South. But the fact that the Texans went 7-3 outside of
the division and finished at .500 overall proves that they are taking the right
steps. If Matt Schaub can find Andre Johnson in the end zone a few more times
and Mario Williams continues his reputation as a sack machine, an over-.500
record is not out of the question. But with the competition they have in their
own division, don’t count on it.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Peyton Manning … Reggie Wayne … Marvin Harrison … Anthony Gonzalez …
Joseph Addai … it’s a fantasy dream all on one team. Add Adam Vinatieri at
kicker and an always-improving defense, and you’ve got one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Another division title is all but certain – but after
last year’s early playoff exit, can the Colts rediscover their magic from two seasons ago? With Tony Dungy still at the helm, anything is possible.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Not too many people expected David Garrard to have such a breakout year last
year – and they had better get used to him since he recently signed the biggest
deal in Jaguars history. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are probably the
AFC’s best 1-2 punch and Jerry Porter will bolster an already talented group of
receivers. It’s just too bad they’re in the same division as the Colts and Titans
– that might be too much to overcome here.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Here’s a situation in which the bye week definitely didn’t help: the Chiefs were
4-3 entering the bye week last season and then proceeded to lose all nine of
their remaining games. The Chiefs will need to find consistency from Damon
Huard at quarterback, and losing Larry Johnson to a season-ending injury didn’t help either. Johnson’s health is key to Kansas City’s success - but don’t forget about Glenn Dorsey.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
If it was not for Baltimore blowing it in overtime, the 2007 Dolphins would have
lived in infamy as the only 0-16 team in history. Luckily for Miami fans, that did
not happen. So how could they possibly pass a team in the division? Well,
drafting Jake Long No. 1 helps, and if Ronnie Brown can stay healthy, the ‘Fins
can’t possibly be worse than they were last year … right?
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
How do you improve a team that went 18-1 with its only loss coming by three
points in the Super Bowl? Tom Brady is still running the show, Randy Moss
decided to stick around and Bill Belichick is still at the helm. Are we calling an
undefeated season? No – if they couldn’t do it last year, it will never happen.
But are they the favorites to win it all again? Um, yeah … especially now that
they have a chip on their shoulders.
NEW YORK JETS
The Jets overachieved two years ago and underachieved last year, so who
knows what to expect? What is known is that linebacker Jonathan Vilma is gone
and there are still plenty of concerns at quarterback. The one thing that may help
New York’s fate is the fact that their schedule is not too difficult: only six of their
16 games will be against 2007-08 playoff opponents. Another losing season,
however, and Jets fans will be screaming, “You gotta be freakin’ kidding me!”
OAKLAND RAIDERS
That Super Bowl XXXVII loss truly sent Oakland on a downward spiral from which
they have yet to recover. The Raiders picked up Javon Walker in the offseason and
while he underperformed due to injuries last year, he would be a great target for
JaMarcus Russell if he can return to his productive ways. The running game is suddenly formidable again with the selection of the explosive Darren McFadden in the
draft, but an atrocious defense is now banking on former Falcon DeAngelo Hall to
become the answer.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Blowing a fourth-quarter 18-point lead to Jacksonville in the playoffs certainly
ended Pittsburgh’s season on a sour note. Still, Pittsburgh returns a solid
offense – Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Najeh Davenport, Rashard
Mendenhall and Hines Ward – along with a tough defense, and a great coach
in Mike Tomlin, who picked up right where Bill Cowher left off. The Steelers
have a difficult schedule, however, that includes the Jaguars, Giants, Patriots,
Colts, Chargers, Cowboys and Titans. Yikes.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Though they are in the NFL’s hardest division, Tennessee still has a great
chance of emerging as one of the AFC’s surprise teams. Two years ago, the
Titans were 2-7 before Young turned things around and went 7-1 the rest of the
way. Then last season, he led them to four wins in their last five games to reach
the playoffs. With LenDale White’s production increasing, a perfect tight end for
Young in Alge Crumpler and the Pacman Jones saga behind them, this will be
a great year for Tennessee fans.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
It seemed as if the Chargers’ window was closing when they were 5-5 in late
November, and then they rattled off eight consecutive victories before falling to
New England in the AFC Championship Game. LaDainian Tomlinson is still the
best running back in the league but he will not have the luxury of Michael
Turner backing him up anymore. Still, if the defense plays as well as it did to
end the 2007 season, San Diego has nothing to worry about.
NFC
PREVIEW
ARIZONA CARDINALS
In Year 1 of the Ken Whisenhunt Era, the Cardinals rivaled the Packers and the
Vikings last season as the most improved team in the NFC. The defense was
much better after a dismal 2006 and Larry Fitzgerald was rewarded for his
superb receiving with a fat new contract. The team’s franchise quarterback,
Matt Leinart, was involved in some co-ed shenanigans in the offseason. Can
the former first-rounder mature into the leader Arizona expected when it selected him 10th overall two years ago?
ATLANTA FALCONS
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and new running back Michael Turner bring
optimisim for a team that had its fair share of turmoil in 2007. With a new head
coach and several veterans released or traded, the Falcons have plenty of new
faces on both sides of the ball. The new man at the helm in general manager
Thomas Dimitroff has the pedigree to resurrect the team, and Atlanta can be
thankful for the emergence of wide receiver Roddy White (1,202 yards) and
cornerback Chris Houston last season.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Which version of the Panthers will the NFL see in ‘08? Carolina was consistently inconsistent, as its quarterback situation grew murky thanks to injuries to
Jake Delhomme and David Carr. Second-year quarterback Matt Moore showed
poise and will certainly get a long look in preseason. The team can count on
stud linebacker Jon Beason, who was third in the NFL in tackles as a rookie,
as well as the explosive Steve Smith who, when healthy, is the most lethal wideout in the league.
CHICAGO BEARS
Now two years removed from the Super Bowl, the Bears were dire underachievers in 2007. This season could be different though, with linebacker
Lance Briggs locked up long term and the defense returning to health. Even
without any semblance of a running game (89.1 yards per game – 30th in NFL)
and Rex Grossman’s continued inconsistencies, the Bears only fell two games
short of .500. Expect even more touches from the scintillating Devin Hester and
more involvement from second-year tight end Greg Olsen in the offense.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Dallas should be hungry after watching division rivals New York take home
the Super Bowl title. Jerry Jones let the underachieving Julius Jones head
north to Seattle, so Pro-Bowler Marion Barber III now has room to run in the
backfield. While Barber quietly racks up touchdowns, expect Terrell Owens
to do the same, with a little more flare (and a little less crying). Tony Romo
is fresh off a record-setting season and the Cowboys return the league’s
No. 1-rated defense.
DETROIT LIONS
The Lions shocked the league with a 5-2 start last season, only to fizzle out as
quickly as a Matt Millen draft strategy. The team can, however, be optimistic
about the wide receiver tandem of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, as well as
the progression of linebacker Ernie Sims (172 tackles). Also, despite a porous
offensive line (NFL-worst 54 sacks conceded), the brash Jon Kitna threw for
4,068 yards. Still, Kitna may want to think twice about making any more brash
predictions (he said the team would win at least 10 games in 2007).
GREEN BAY PACKERS
The end of the Brett Favre Era (we think) shouldn’t be as rocky as anticipated,
with the Packers coming off a 13-3 season and within three points of making
the Super Bowl. Whoever emerges at quarterback between Aaron Rodgers
and Brian Brohm should flourish with weapons such as wideouts Donald
Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones, as well as the explosive Ryan Grant
at running back. With the rest of the division flawed, the Packers have the edge.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Adrian Peterson was bound for an MVP season until a knee injury sidelined him
for two games, yet he still managed to rush for an NFC-best 1,341 yards and
12 touchdowns. The Vikings also boast a lethal 1-2 punch with Peterson and
Chester Taylor, as well as a suffocating defensive front seven. Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen arrives via free agency, and joins a Vikings’ “D” that conceded a paltry 74.1 rushing yards per game in ‘07. If the Vikings get their quarterback situation solved with Tarvaris Jackson, watch out.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints have a good chance to two-step back to the top of the NFC South
in 2008. The team finally addressed some defensive needs with the selection
of defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and the acquisitions of Jonathan Vilma and
Randall Gay. Also, with Deuce McAllister healthy after a torn ACL, expect the
pressure to be lifted off of Reggie Bush. The electrifying back will be motivated
to prove his naysayers wrong, after he had more fumbles (seven) than touchdowns (six) last season.
NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants shocked the world with a Super Bowl title over New England, but
can the fairy tale continue? Despite his impressive late-season stretch, Eli
Manning still has yet to put together a good full season. What remains consistent is the defensive line of Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan and the vastly
underrated Justin Tuck. The key to the Giants’ first title in 17 years was their
league-best 53 sacks. With that kind of defense, the G-men should challenge
Dallas for division supremacy.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Eagles are slowly returning to form, as four of their losses in ’07 were by
three points. Changes were made, with oft-injured veterans Jevon Kearse and
Takeo Spikes cut to make room for big money as Asante Samuel was brought
over from New England. The offense still revolves around the health of
Donovan McNabb, who hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2003.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Everyone jumped on the Niners’ bandwagon last season, so perhaps their
potential should be downplayed in ‘08. Rookie linebacker Patrick Willis led the
NFL in tackles with 174 while scooping up Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and Nate Clements justified his big contract with 92 tackles and four picks.
Unfortunately, the Niners will still struggle on offense this season, as the opposition knows who Frank Gore is now and quarterback Alex Smith has digressed
since losing Norv Turner as offensive coordinator.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
The Bucs shockingly won the NFC South last season, as Jeff Garcia carried
over his superhero act from Philadelphia to lead Tampa Bay back to the playoffs. The return of running back Cadillac Williams from knee surgery should
make things easier, but last year’s surprise Earnest Graham (898 yards, 10
touchdowns) won’t lie down easily. On defense, linebacker Derrick Brooks is
aging, but count on Barrett Ruud and second-year defensive end Gaines
Adams to pick up the slack.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
The ‘Hawks topped another ho-hum NFC West behind savvy free-agent acquisitions and efficient play from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Defensive end
Patrick Kerney didn’t let dollars leave him complacent (14.5 sacks – second in
the NFL) and Marcus Trufant’s shutdown play at cornerback earned him a nice
payday. The running back position will have a completely new look this season, as former MVP Shaun Alexander was cut following the signing of free
agent Julius Jones.
ST. LOUIS RAMS
The Rams took a beating last season, as All-Pros Orlando Pace and Steven
Jackson missed a combined 19 games to injury while the team was condemned to an 0-8 start. Thus, Marc Bulger tossed more interceptions than
touchdowns, which didn’t help a minor-league defense (27.4 points per game
– 31st in the NFL) stay off the field. After 13 seasons with the Rams, the team
cut wide receiver Isaac Bruce this offseason, leaving Torry Holt as the lone
offensive star from the Super Bowl glory days.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
The ‘Skins rode a four-game winning streak into the playoffs last season with a
solid young core of offensive and defensive prospects. After years of costly free
agent busts, the team has built through the draft with a combination of talented first-rounders (LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers, Jason Campbell) and sleepers (Chris Cooley). If Campbell continues to grow and Clinton Portis can stay
healthy, Washington could return to the postseason. It won’t be easy, however,
in arguably the most competitive division in the NFL.
QB D.J. Shockley
“[Shockley] broke the ice for us to get here,”
Milner said. “He’s a remarkable guy. He’s always
working hard.”
Milner is another player who was expected to see
the field a lot last year but suffered a season-ending injury
midway through the 2007 campaign. After a full recovery, he
is ready to come back in full force.
“I still have a lot to prove as far as route running and
blocking,” Milner added. “I just want to get my name out
there and help this team get better.”
Brown is fighting for a roster spot as Jerious Norwood,
Michael Turner and Jason Snelling are in front of him on the
depth chart. Considering the pro-style offense he played in at
Georgia, Brown is ready for the challenge.
“The offense is always different when you come up from a different level,” Brown said. “Being in an offense as far as catching
the ball in the backfield and blocking has helped me out a lot.”
ON DEFENSE …
.J. Shockley, Thomas Brown, Brandon Miller, Tony
Taylor and Martrez Milner. What do they have in common? After playing together at the University of Georgia,
they now are all on the Atlanta Falcons roster.
For a long time, the Falcons were known for
passing on home-grown talent. The two most wellknown players to play for the Falcons after starring in
Georgia are Jessie Tuggle and Keith Brooking. Tuggle
played college football at Valdosta State and became one of
the fiercest NFL linebackers in the 1990s, while Brooking
played at Georgia Tech and is one of the better linebackRB Thomas Brown
ers in the game today.
The recent trend of picking Georgia players started
when Shockley was drafted in the seventh round of the 2006 draft,
which led to the drafting of Milner and signing of Taylor in 2007.
The Falcons added to the list this year, drafting Brown in the fifth
round and signing Miller to a rookie free-agent contract.
D
ON OFFENSE …
LB Tony Taylor
When Shockley was at Georgia, he had to wait until his
senior year to get his chance to shine and he did just that,
leading the Bulldogs to an SEC title in 2005. Now with
the Falcons, he is in a situation similar to the one at
UGA, as he is again trying to earn a spot at quarterback. Last year would have been a chance for Shockley
to become a starter, but a preseason knee injury sidelined him for the entire season. Now that he is healthy,
he said that he is doing everything he can to impress
the coaches and make the team. He is also considered
a leader for the other former UGA players since he
has been with the team the longest out of the group.
Taylor is listed as the starter at middle linebacker, an impressive jump
for someone who was not drafted last year. Rookie Curtis Lofton may take
over when he gets more comfortable with the new defense but Taylor, who
has had an outstanding camp, only looks to get better.
“The game is starting to slow down for me just a tad,” Taylor said.
“[Brooking and Michael Boley] make it easier to go out there to communicate, and it makes the game a little easier and a little more fun.”
Miller is facing a similar battle as Brown, as he is fighting for a roster
spot at the defensive-end position. Although there is a lot of information to
process, Miller is getting more comfortable with what is expected from him.
“We came and ran the same plays during OTAs,” Miller said. “Right
now I’m doing pretty well because I know most of the plays.”
HOW ‘BOUT THE ’08 DAWGS? …
All five players were playing together in Athens during
Georgia’s 2005 SEC Championship-winning season, so they
know what it takes to win. The 2008 Bulldogs are picked by
many as not only conference favorites but possible BCS
National Championship contenders as well. So what do some of
the guys think of the Dawgs’ chances? Brown does not want to
make any brash predictions quite yet.
“I really can’t say because I haven’t been there,” Brown
said. “I know that they have the talent to compete for a
national title, but as far as will they make it or not, I
really can’t say.”
Miller is a little more optimistic about the
Bulldogs this year.
“I think they have a great shot if they stay focused,”
he said. “The schedule is real hard but we’re still going
to make it.”
By Brian Jones, who can be reached at
bjones@scoreatl.com.