Atlanta Falcons LBs (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Pasquino]

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A little linebacker chatter

By Steve Wyche | Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 06:20 PM

The Atlanta J ournal-Constitution

Guys, I have to admit, I love your passion and quest for constant updates and news and I'm sorry if that last blog didn't deliver. Frankly, there isn't much going on.However … I'm going to give it another shot.

The Falcons should be close to signing at least two, if not three of their drafts picks this week. From what I've heard, they likely will be mid to later-round selections, which typically is the trend at this point of the offseason. Higher picks tend to get signed closer to training camp.

As for the players and coaches, most of them are taking a week or two off to recharge. Bobby Petrino is headed home to Montana for the first time in six years for a great reason — his parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

One personnel development not to overlook: The recent signing of former Arizona linebacker Orlando Huff.

Though Huff was brought in to add depth at weakside linebacker, he also was signed to a one-year deal for experience. Though weakside starter Demorrio Williams is recovering ahead of schedule, there is no guarantee he is going to stay healthy. One hard shot or awkward fall and that surgically repaired, torn pectoral could be re-aggravated and Williams could be on the shelf again.

Though the Falcons really like rookie Stephen Nicholas at weakside linebacker, having a veteran like Huff, who's started in this league, provides some assurance that the Falcons can field a player who might not freeze when the lights come on.

Another little nugget; there's a buzz that the Falcons' coaches really like undrafted middle linebacker Tony Taylor out of Georgia. His headiness and knowledge of the game has set him apart from other upstarts and if he can meet the physical demands of the NFL, he could be on the roster.

I liked what Nicholas did in his bowl game (LINK) and he just strikes me as a hungry (and talented) young guy, but I also wanted to pass along a lesser-known name in Taylor.

 

[sholditch]

Good to see him getting on a roster. Hard worker without tons of natural talent or ability. He was the defensive leader on Georgia that Quentin Moses was supposed to be.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Good to see him getting on a roster. Hard worker without tons of natural talent or ability. He was the defensive leader on Georgia that Quentin Moses was supposed to be.

Taylor did not stand out at the Senior Bowl and went undrafted for this very reason. He's got the intangibles, but none of his tools jump out when being compared to his peers or suggest greater things in his future. Classic overachiever type.

 

[sholditch]

Good to see him getting on a roster. Hard worker without tons of natural talent or ability. He was the defensive leader on Georgia that Quentin Moses was supposed to be.

Taylor did not stand out at the Senior Bowl and went undrafted for this very reason. He's got the intangibles, but none of his tools jump out when being compared to his peers or suggest greater things in his future. Classic overachiever type.

Not comparing tyhe two players at all, but it's funny that what you just said sounds exactly like what people were saying about Demeco Ryans. No way Taylor has one tenth the ability or drive of DeMeco, but here's hoping he makes the team The Falcons do a goood job of placating their fan base by always giving one or two Bulldogs a shot at the roster.

 

[Warpig]

Good to see him getting on a roster. Hard worker without tons of natural talent or ability. He was the defensive leader on Georgia that Quentin Moses was supposed to be.

Taylor did not stand out at the Senior Bowl and went undrafted for this very reason. He's got the intangibles, but none of his tools jump out when being compared to his peers or suggest greater things in his future. Classic overachiever type.

Not comparing tyhe two players at all, but it's funny that what you just said sounds exactly like what people were saying about Demeco Ryans. No way Taylor has one tenth the ability or drive of DeMeco, but here's hoping he makes the team The Falcons do a goood job of placating their fan base by always giving one or two Bulldogs a shot at the roster.

Hmmm...still no mention of Jordan Beck. Poor guy never got a chance. Now with a new regime and newly drafted/signed LB's it appears the writing is on the wall for this guy.

 

[chook]

Good article. Nice to know what the Falcons were thinking with the Huff signing. Thanks Jeff.

 

[Rozelle]

Falcons | Huff working in middle

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:15:36 -0700

Steve Wyche, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons LB Orlando Huff has been working with the second-team defense at middle linebacker during practices.

Where's Beck?

Sounds as though he may be fighting for a roster spot.

 

[Warpig]

Falcons | Huff working in middle

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:15:36 -0700

Steve Wyche, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons LB Orlando Huff has been working with the second-team defense at middle linebacker during practices.

Where's Beck?

Sounds as though he may be fighting for a roster spot.

Sounds like it. I went ahead and cut the cord with this guy.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Yep, need to do the same.

 

[Rozelle]

I should have room for him, think I'll hang onto him this year. He'll be a RFA next year. The old coaching regime liked him, but you know how that goes when the new guys come in.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

any updates on S. Nicholas? I haven't heard much on him in the last week or two.

 

[Rozelle]

any updates on S. Nicholas? I haven't heard much on him in the last week or two.

Had company stop in last Friday and didn't get to see as much of the Atlanta/N.Y. Jet game as I wanted. He looked okay from what I saw. His line was 4-0-0 and he had all that in the 1st half. Hopefully someone who seen more of the game will chime in.

 

[Jene Bramel]

any updates on S. Nicholas? I haven't heard much on him in the last week or two.

Nothing of note. He's running with the second team behind Demorrio Williams, who's made a very impressive recovery from the torn pectoral muscle he suffered in April. Williams was listed as a substitute in the gamebook this week, but didn't play. Nicholas looks like he played the entire first half and made four tackles. That's an excellent sign that Williams will be as solid in the boxscore as many expected in the new scheme. He's clearly being undervalued in most leagues.

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

any updates on S. Nicholas? I haven't heard much on him in the last week or two.

Nothing of note. He's running with the second team behind Demorrio Williams, who's made a very impressive recovery from the torn pectoral muscle he suffered in April. Williams was listed as a substitute in the gamebook this week, but didn't play. Nicholas looks like he played the entire first half and made four tackles. That's an excellent sign that Williams will be as solid in the boxscore as many expected in the new scheme. He's clearly being undervalued in most leagues.

That's what I like to hear

 

[dapace2]

I should have room for him, think I'll hang onto him this year. He'll be a RFA next year. The old coaching regime liked him, but you know how that goes when the new guys come in.

They liked Beck so much?When Hartwell was injured, they moved Bulluck from WLB to MLB and plugged Demorrio in at WLB. This was done instead of plugging Beck in at MLB. Keep in mind that we've heard for two years that Demorrio is the weak link and the reason his stats were so good is because offenses ran right at him over and over again. So obviously they didn't like Beck that much.