Sunday Morning

[ballfan]

Daniel Cox 04 hrs ago

August 1st, 2010

Tt Tt Tt FLOWERY BRANCH, GA — There’s more than spearmint in the air around the Falcons’ training facility early in camp.

One of Wrigley’s largest gum manufacturing facilities is located behind the practice field and aromas can be thick, but the buzz the defense is creating two days into camp is lingering longer.

Two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Roddy White has noticed it already and admits he was taken by surprise a little with the defense’s tone against him and the offense.

“They’re stepping up and doing their thing,” said White on Saturday. “The first couple of practices, they’ve dominated and we’ve been struggling. I like what they’re doing. They’re active and making plays out there, so I’m excited.”

Dominant is a word they like to hear and it’s part of the “new standard” coordinator Brian VanGorder has put forth for the unit. It starts every day in practice, even early on.

“[VanGorder's] talked about the new standard that we want to have for ourselves,” linebacker Coy Wire said after Sunday’s morning practice. “If we’re ever going to reach that standard and level of excellence, then we have to make progress toward that goal every day. So when we come out here at practice, we’re striving to reach that standard that we’ve set for ourselves and that’s to be a dominant defense in the league this year.”

The early energy and enthusiasm is a product of every man on the defensive side of the ball buying into what it takes to perform consistently at an elite level. Wire wouldn’t disclose the details of the new standard, but he did say it’s one Falcons fans will enjoy watching on Sundays.

With the return of last year’s injured top draft picks Peria Jerry and William Moore, and the additions of free agent corner Dunta Robinson and first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon, the defense knows the new pieces may be just what were needed to take a young defense to a new level.

With the new pieces, the players are stepping out on the field with a confidence in themselves and each other and playing with a swagger, knowing a top-10 ranking on defense is in their sights.

“That’s one of our goals,” Wire said. “I’m not ashamed to say that. That’s everyone’s goal in the NFL, but absolutely top 10. We feel we have the makings to be a dominant defense in the league. We feel it’s upon us to achieve that. Whether we do or we don’t is up to us. That’s a good feeling knowing that it’s going to come down to us as individuals and teammates.”

Wire feels everyone has bought in and they also know there’s another benefit of being an outstanding defense. The team they practice against every day can benefit.

“We’re going to make our offense better,” Wire said. “Like Roddy said, we’re getting after them a little bit.”

Playing it smart: As a senior coming out of Kentucky, Corey Peters’ intelligence was a much a part of his draft stock as his play on the field.

The three-time SEC-Academic Honor Roll honoree believes his intelligence plays a role in his ability to diagnose things quickly from the defensive tackle position within the defensive package he may be working out of.

“I think it definitely has its advantages,” Peters said on Friday. “I’ve been blessed with the ability to take something off the board and put it into work out here. Some people have to walk through things. Everybody learns differently. I think that’s the biggest advantage is being able to sit down and write something on the board and being able to translate it out to a walkthrough or to a situation.”

Peters believes the secret to success for many around the league is their intelligence or their ability, honed over time, to fuse the playbook and their muscle memory. It’s the rookie third-round pick’s goal to use his smarts to get to that level.

“Out here if you know what you’re doing then you move faster,” he said. “That’s why these guys that have played 10 or 12 years in the league are so effective. Even though teams scheme against them, they’re able to get whatever they get.”

A drill for every occasion: Last season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led the league in blocked kicks with six. Nine teams tied with zero blocks on the season. The Falcons totaled three.

There are days in training camp where a drill is occurring and every player on the field and fan on the hill is wondering why they’re doing it.

On Sunday morning, during a special teams practice, special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong rotated through his blocking station sets of receivers, linebackers and defensive backs to work on blocking kicks.

It was a 25-minute drill that consisted of a player lining up opposite Armstrong and a volleyball, and the player learned and practiced the art of the blocked kick.

Few things in the NFL happen by chance. There’s a good chance somewhere along the line, the team worked feverishly on it.

And that’s why Armstrong worked his guys so hard Sunday, encouraging them to dive onto the mat, reminding them that they’ve hit the ground hundreds of times and it won’t hurt … that bad.

When a player successfully got his hand square on a ball, they were to sprint to the ball, pick it up and continue to run. Armstrong implored each player picking up a batted volleyball to scoop and score.

Forgot how important a blocked kick is?

Brian Williams’ blocked punt against Carolina last season in Week 2 led to a Falcons touchdown and an eventual 28-20 win.

Defensive end Chauncey Davis showed his knack for Armstrong’s technique last season by recording the other two blocked kicks. His first came against Carolina in Week 10, which gave the Falcons the ball back and a touchdown came on the ensuing drive. Although Atlanta went on to lose 28-19, Davis’ play gave Atlanta the ball and the ability to draw within two points of the Panthers.

In Week 15, Davis’ block of the Jets’ Jay Feely was the difference in the game. The block came with just over four minutes left in the game. With the ball back in the offense’s hands, Atlanta scored for the 10-7 win.

[mcsupersport]

I like the idea of our defense pushing our offense into being much better to not get shown up in practice, so when game time rolls around, Dominance happens.

[illest_will]

love it, can't wait to see them boys fly!

[ballfan]

I like the idea of our defense pushing our offense into being much better to not get shown up in practice, so when game time rolls around, Dominance happens.

Yup, but not enough negativity in the write-up, so it slides to page 2.

I was there Saturday AM and just sat there watching and thinking, this is going to be a fun year. Seems like competition at every position and I bet once the pads are on we will have some fights. Both sides of the ball are looking to make a statement.

[MattIceRyanMVP2]

I can read this over and over and over. I love it. From the goals to the nasty attitude. Great read, Thanks for posting.

[Drathdon]

Well done article, full of what I like to hear. It's nice to see team coverage without a negative slant.

[cnasty]

I love what Peters said about using his intelligence to get better on the field. I watched a documentary about Vince Lombardi several years ago and he said the key to drafting an effective player is to look for intelligence. He talked about how a player's grades in college would play a big role in his decision to draft someone. That allowed him to be successful year in and year out. If you think about it, it really makes sense. A smarter player will be able to improvise quicker/read and diagnose a play quicker. Hearing that out of Peters shows me why we drafted him in the 3d and gives me a lot more confidence that he will most likely become an integral part of this defensive line. Good post.

[ballfan]

I love what Peters said about using his intelligence to get better on the field. I watched a documentary about Vince Lombardi several years ago and he said the key to drafting an effective player is to look for intelligence. He talked about how a player's grades in college would play a big role in his decision to draft someone. That allowed him to be successful year in and year out. If you think about it, it really makes sense. A smarter player will be able to improvise quicker/read and diagnose a play quicker. Hearing that out of Peters shows me why we drafted him in the 3d and gives me a lot more confidence that he will most likely become an integral part of this defensive line. Good post.

BTW, he is also a BIG fella. It is really hard to see that in the interviews. On the field, without pads, you notice that the official height and weight posted is not always too acurate.

[Interceptor430]

Good Read, just what we need.

[basketballjones72]

It's funny that when I was at Training Camp the fans were cheering for the Offense whenever they made touchdowns, but I heard almost nothing when the defense made a play. So when I saw the defense make an interception I purposely yelled a little too loud. C'mon people, defense wins Championships!!!

[ballfan]

It's funny that when I was at Training Camp the fans were cheering for the Offense whenever they made touchdowns, but I heard almost nothing when the defense made a play. So when I saw the defense make an interception I purposely yelled a little too loud. C'mon people, defense wins Championships!!!

I don't know, every pass break up got a reaction. Hard to see interior stuff and no tackling, so most of the runs were quiet. All of the deep passes got a reaction no matter what the result.

I'll say it again, this is going to be a fun year!

[vel]

It's funny that when I was at Training Camp the fans were cheering for the Offense whenever they made touchdowns, but I heard almost nothing when the defense made a play. So when I saw the defense make an interception I purposely yelled a little too loud. C'mon people, defense wins Championships!!!

Because it's something new. And most people want to see the offense do good because if the defense does good then they think the offense will struggle during the season but don't see it vice versa

[vel]

DP (And that doesn't stand for Double Penetration neither)

Edited August 2, 2010 by vel

[JKH5785]

good read. I'm excited about seeing this new intensity of the Defense on gameday