BlacksburgHokie Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 FLOWERY BRANCH --Not even the Atlanta Falcons themselves could help avoid pointing out the contrasts during the first day of veteran mini-camp.The differences between last year's team and the one that took the field Monday morning were striking.Smiles replaced scowls, laughs took the place of bickering, and pessimism was ousted by a renewed sense of optimism.The reason for the drastic change: first-year head coach Mike Smith."This game is about having energy on every snap, not just at the beginning of practice but at the end of practice, and I don't think he changed his mannerisms the whole day," veteran linebacker Keith Brooking said. "He was energetic from the time we started until we ended it, and I think that's very important."So does Smith, and it showed. Smith bounced around from position to position Monday, checking in with the quarterbacks, watching the offensive linemen and shouting critiques to the secondary.Vocal might be an understated description of the Falcons' newest leader."I'm a coach and that's the way I do things," Smith said with what is sure to become a well-known smile around Atlanta. "I don't know. I hope I wasn't overbearing out there with the coaches, but I want to have insight on what we're doing."What Smith is doing with the Falcons is starting from the basics and working his way up. Monday's session was all about becoming familiar with Smith and his way of doing things. From how the players arrived in the locker room to what the stretching lines looked like and all the way up to the offensive and defensive formations, Smith said it's important for the Falcons to get acclimated to a different way of doing things.Smith didn't get any arguments from his players. Reputed as a player's coach when he was hired in January, Smith's main goal - along with giving the players an understanding of the systems he'll be running this year - for mini-camp is to get the players to forge off-field friendships with each other and with him."We're trying to come out here and be family," said cornerback Von Hutchins, who was acquired through free agency from the Houston Texans.Smith said he was pleased with the first day of mini-camp, which will last through Wednesday. Monday's two-hour, helmets-only practice gave Smith his first chance to see what the team looks like on the field in person.Linebacker Michael Boley and newly signed running back Michael Turner did not participate in Monday's practice as both are recovering from injuries, although Turner could be back as soon as today and Boley should return to 100 percent in the near future, Smith said.Quarterback Chris Redman took all his snaps with the first-team offense, while last year's starter, Joey Harrington, was relegated to backup duties. Third-string quarterback D.J. Shockley did not participate in practice as he is still recovering from a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2007 season.Also noticeable was the absence of former star cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who was traded to the Oakland Raiders for draft picks several weeks ago. Second-year corner Chris Houston slid over to Hall's right cornerback spot and Hutchins took over Houston's old position."We're counting on each other," Houston said of the secondary without Hall. "The safeties have got to get the corners ready and the corners have got to get the safeties ready. But, at the same time, we're young and we've just got to listen and stick together. That's the whole thing about the defensive backs: We've got to stick together."If we come together, we'll be all right." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texfalcfan Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I cant wait to see these guys play as a team this season.I think we can be a force on D, with dorsey :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeyes Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 texfalcfan (4/14/2008)I cant wait to see these guys play as a team this season.I think we can be a force on D, with dorsey :PI cant wait to see these guys come together as team this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pick_6 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Thanks for the info. I still remember that article in which D Hall was quoted as saying something similar to "I'd take a pay cut to keep this kid (Chris Houston) in Atlanta." I guess his desire for money was too much for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGA_DAWG46 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Their tone are way different in the interviews. You can tell there are alot of excitement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooking/beast Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 the next couple of years will be interesting. Isn't it time for the ATL to have a story book ending. We lost the face of the franchise, Our leader tucked tale and ran like a scared little girl, and our first pick for GM turned us down for a one win team. Ohhh I see it the stars are a lined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budd63 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Its kind of refreshing to have a coach that does not bring contriversy for a change. Gives you hope for a fun season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chifalc Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 budd63 (4/14/2008)Its kind of refreshing to have a coach that does not bring contriversy for a change. Gives you hope for a fun season.A coach where its less about the coach and more about the team? Novel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazoo Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 "That's the whole thing about the defensive backs: We've got to stick together." We have a chance now to have a "we" secondary, instead of a "me" secondary as it takes ALL DBs to stick together per Hutchens. Doesn't sound like one "me" player and 3 "we" players works very well according to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Duke 6 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 brooking/beast (4/14/2008)the next couple of years will be interesting. Isn't it time for the ATL to have a story book ending. We lost the face of the franchise, Our leader tucked tale and ran like a scared little girl, and our first pick for GM turned us down for a one win team. Ohhh I see it the stars are a lined.Girls dont have tails.Get your metaphors straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Don™ Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Also noticeable was the absence of former star cornerback DeAngelo Hall DUH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
direwolf Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Hopefully the team-first attitude will remain throughout the season. God knows it sure as **** was missing last year!Direwolf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Duke 6 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Every new coaches camp starts with the same cleches.....Higher tempo,no walking,get back to the basics and a winning attitude!The ajc just rewrites this garbage.So far the only thing I have read informative was they are focusing on special teams and cross training at the oline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ugadawg Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 good news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidWest Falcon Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Thanks for the article.Getting Chris Houston last year was such a huge pick up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Hoopah! Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 bigduke633 (4/15/2008)Every new coaches camp starts with the same cleches.....Higher tempo,no walking,get back to the basics and a winning attitude!The ajc just rewrites this garbage.So far the only thing I have read informative was they are focusing on special teams and cross training at the oline.Yeah, that part is blah, we've read the same thing when Mora and Petrino took over. The players were suprised by the speed of the workouts, blah, blah. The part about Smith wanting the players to get along is good though, I think Petrino may have caused some in-fighting last year. I'm sure the locker room was divided over Vick as well. Hopefully everyone gets along this year, they RESPECT (not become best buds) with Smith, and we can start winning some football games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ7000 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 have we ever had a mini training camp this early ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee_q Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Same sheetDifferent year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee_q Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Win some games first... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee_q Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 More than 4 and some that count.. not week 17 against 2nd-string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.