Two surprise players who are likely to make

[theProf]

I have seen virtually no discussion on the message boards concerning the following two players, who have a very good chance of making the Falcons final roster: OG Andrew Jackson and S Rafael Bush. A couple of Daniel Cox articles got me thinking about these two players. Some excerpts from these articles as follows:

"One rookie that few have said anything about is the Falcons seventh-round selection Andrew Jackson, a guard from Fresno State.

One rookie to keep an eye on is Andrew Jackson, he (Pat Yasinskas) said. They think they got a steal. I heard from other personnel people around the league and they share the same opinion on Jackson.

Yasinskas felt Jacksons concerns over an ankle injury that kept him out for much of his senior year hurt Jacksons stock."

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/2011/08/notebook-august-4/

"VERSATILE BACKUP

The name of Rafael Bush may not be on the tips of many tongues, but the coaching staff of the Falcons know the second-year safety well.

After joining the Falcons as an undrafted free agent last April on the heels of an illustrious career at South Carolina State University, Bush made the practice squad and was promoted to the active roster for the final game of the season. With the backup positions wide open behind established starters at safety, William Moore and Thomas DeCoud, Bush is doing everything he can to impress the coaches. From observations with him and his coaches during the early days of camp, the staff likes what hes doing.

Bush credits the ability to learn while on the practice squad last season as a factor for his positive start in camp this year.

Last year the practice squad helped me, Bush said. That year I got a chance to watch the game. It slowed down for me and I was able to gain confidence and learn a lot about the NFL and things that I didnt know. I think this year coming in Im a lot more confident knowing my job and responsibilities. I think thats got the coaches eyes and they felt like they believed in me. Im just out here just continuing to work hard. Whatever they ask me to do Im going to do. Its exciting.

There is no lack of confidence in the physical part of his game. What Bush felt he needed to maintain was how he approaches every day and every assignment mentally. One of the curveballs the coaching staff has thrown to him is asking him to get in some work at the nickel cornerback position, in addition to his natural safety position.

I just came into the season with it in my mind mentally, if they wanted me to play safety, nickel or corner, I wanted to be able to do it mentally, Bush said. I put that on my back. Whatever they ask me to do, I want to go out there and mentally try to get it down and watch everything and see how it pans out.

He believes the versatility hes developing at corner and safety, in addition to playing special teams, only makes him a stronger player and more valuable to the team. It can also help him stay around in the league a little longer than the average.

Its still early, but so far in camp, the mental preparation paired with Bushs natural athletic ability are making it hard for the coaches to ignore the fact that he may be the role-playing, backup safety theyre looking for."

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/2011/08/notebook-august-2/

Atlanta will probably carry 9 Offensive Lineman on the final roster. Eight are pretty much locked-in (Baker, Blalock, McClure, Clabo, Johnson, Reynolds, Svitek, and Hawley). The final OL roster spot will probably be either Valdez or Andrew Jackson.

Atlanta normally carries 4 Safeties on the final roster. DeCoud, Moore, and Schillinger are pretty much locks. Atlanta likes its back-up Safeties to be good on Special Teams and to be versatile enough to possibly play a CB position. Appears that Bush is being groomed for that role. I don't see any viable competition to Bush for the #4 safety on the current roster. Perhaps Atlanta might bring in an experienced vet FA Safety, but I think that they are extremely near the cap limit already, which very much diminishes the FA possibility.

[Kung-Pow]

This is the way I see it shaking out.

[maxatlanta]

I understand the need to protect Jackson from being picked up by another team. But after missing most of his senior year with injury, and being a rookie with no OTA and a two week training camp, he isn't likely to beat anyone out for a roster spot.

I wouldn't be shocked if we just carried the 8 OL:

Hawley = back up C & OG

Reynolds = back up OG & OT (if Johnson starts)

Johnson = back up OG (if Reynolds starts)

Svitek = back up OT and extra lineman in heavy run formations

We don't really need more OL than that active on gameday.

edit: Valdez might actually be the one we have to keep active in order to protect from poachers. He is the one more likely to be capable of stepping in and starting for a needy team.

Edited August 5, 2011 by maxatlanta

[Quizztorris]

I understand the need to protect Jackson from being picked up by another team. But after missing most of his senior year with injury, and being a rookie with no OTA and a two week training camp, he isn't likely to beat anyone out for a roster spot.

I wouldn't be shocked if we just carried the 8 OL:

Hawley = back up C & OG

Reynolds = back up OG & OT (if Johnson starts)

Johnson = back up OG (if Reynolds starts)

Svitek = back up OT and extra lineman in heavy run formations

We don't really need more OL than that active on gameday.

edit: Valdez might actually be the one we have to keep active in order to protect from poachers. He is the one more likely to be capable of stepping in and starting for a needy team.

Agreed with that last little part. Plus I don't think we can send Valdez to the practice squad a second time so we have to use him or cut him.

[dirtybird2k5]

Holy crap! The seventh president of the united states is playing for the birds?

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

There is no lack of confidence in the physical part of his game. What Bush felt he needed to maintain was how he approaches every day and every assignment mentally. One of the curveballs the coaching staff has thrown to him is asking him to get in some work at the nickel cornerback position, in addition to his natural safety position.

“I just came into the season with it in my mind mentally, if they wanted me to play safety, nickel or corner, I wanted to be able to do it mentally,” Bush said. “I put that on my back. Whatever they ask me to do, I want to go out there and mentally try to get it down and watch everything and see how it pans out.”

He believes the versatility he’s developing at corner and safety, in addition to playing special teams, only makes him a stronger player and more valuable to the team. It can also help him stay around in the league a little longer than the average.

That's some encouraging news. Good luck to Bush, I would rather have someone already on the roster succeed then having to sign a vet. We need to see more player development like this from the coaching staff.

[DaMeatTroughsEgo]

Andrew Jackson should make like our current president and blame Bush for everything.

[SyCo]

Andrew Jackson should make like our current president and blame Bush for everything.

[lostnmexico]

Holy crap! The seventh president of the united states is playing for the birds?

HOLY CRAP! HE IS EVEN ON THE $20 BILL! He is so money to make this roster he has his own treasury note!

[Rostan]

Jackson has a shot as we lost Dahl so right now we have a big whole in our O-line. We will need to sure that up if we expect to improve on last years only average running game.

[Voice of Reason]

Jackson has a shot as we lost Dahl so right now we have a big whole in our O-line. We will need to sure that up if we expect to improve on last years only average running game.

That spot is already filled. It was filled before Dahl left. The Birds drafted Dahl's replacement the past two years. It will more than likely be Reynolds, but Johnson has an outside shot.

As for Jackson, it's going to be really, and I mean REALLY hard for him to make the 53 man. Depends on how many O-linemen we keep:

Baker/Svitek

Blalock/Johnson

McClure/Hawley

Reynolds

Clabo/Vladez

That's 9 right there. I doubt we keep 10,and I don't see anyone on that list that Jackson can beat out.

[delaigle]

Safety The article says the Falcons carry 4

in 2008 and 2009 they carried 5

in 2010 they carried 4

[Dusty]

Rafael Bush is a superb athlete. He has great field vision and ball awareness. I was very high on him last year when we snatched him up:

Oh yeah, he is a THUMPER!

Edited August 6, 2011 by Nat Turner

[theProf]

From an August 6 Pat Yasinskas article entitled Matt Ryan Thrilled with O-Linemen:

"We’ll have more on the battle to replace Dahl in Sunday’s Camp Confidential segment on the Falcons. But third-year pro Garrett Reynolds appears to be the early leader. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix.

There’s one other surprise candidate. That’s seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson. Coaches are saying he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in camp so far. Even if Jackson doesn’t end up starting, he appears well on his way to a roster spot. He can be a key backup because he has the ability to play guard and tackle."

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

[delaigle]

From an August 6 Pat Yasinskas article entitled Matt Ryan Thrilled with O-Linemen:

"We’ll have more on the battle to replace Dahl in Sunday’s Camp Confidential segment on the Falcons. But third-year pro Garrett Reynolds appears to be the early leader. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix.

There’s one other surprise candidate. That’s seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson. Coaches are saying he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in camp so far. Even if Jackson doesn’t end up starting, he appears well on his way to a roster spot. He can be a key backup because he has the ability to play guard and tackle."

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

But nearly all the Falcon O-linemen can do that

Clabo, Reynolds, Baker, Blalock, Valdez

then McClure, Hawley, Johnson, Bruggeman all play Guard and Center

Svitek Tackle only ???

That writer probably never look at the Falcons roster.

Edited August 7, 2011 by delaigle

[muskokas finest ©]

Agreed with that last little part. Plus I don't think we can send Valdez to the practice squad a second time so we have to use him or cut him.

Not sure how the new CBA affects the practice squad rules, but in the past you could send a player for a 2nd season. Jose, however, has already spent 2 seasons in that group.

[falconidae]

Jackson had a second round grade as a junior, then dealt with an injury in his senior year. If he's healthy, he may force them to cut or trade one of the others.

Same with Matthews- second round grade as a junior, injury as a senior. Both could be real steals if healthy.

[Sheldon Cooper]

I like both players. I hope both are on the 53 man roster. Nobody mentioned them as someone they want to see in the first pre-season game, but I do want to see these guys myself. There are a lot of other players I'll be looking for first. I do hope ALL of our draft picks make the team. It would be nice if Jackson was a steal.

[muskokas finest ©]

Jackson had a second round grade as a junior, then dealt with an injury in his senior year. If he's healthy, he may force them to cut or trade one of the others.

Same with Matthews- second round grade as a junior, injury as a senior. Both could be real steals if healthy.

Can always hope the Patriots will be OG shopping again this season.

[theProf]

From an August 6 Pat Yasinskas article entitled Matt Ryan Thrilled with O-Linemen:

"We’ll have more on the battle to replace Dahl in Sunday’s Camp Confidential segment on the Falcons. But third-year pro Garrett Reynolds appears to be the early leader. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix.

There’s one other surprise candidate. That’s seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson. Coaches are saying he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in camp so far. Even if Jackson doesn’t end up starting, he appears well on his way to a roster spot. He can be a key backup because he has the ability to play guard and tackle."

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

Another promising report on Andrew Jackson:

"Aug. 07, 2011 10:36 a.m. - by Knox Bardeen - OG Jackson pushing people around

Rookie OG Andrew Jackson was pushing defensive linemen around in 9-on-7 drills. The seventh-round pick from Fresno State has been impressive in camp thus far. Falcons RapidReports"

[Romfal]

I'll give you another one. The battle for 5th corner is wide open between UDFA's, and if we have a 5th corner I've heard good things so far about Kamaal McIlwain. Bit undersized, kind of like Grimes, but fast, athletic and a hard worker.

Skip to 1:20

quote from Pat Yasinkas

"The most impressive of the undrafted rookie free agents so far has been cornerback Kamaal McIlwain. He’s small (5-foot-10 and 175 pounds) and comes from Newberry College. But he’s shown great athleticism and is displaying a knack for being around the ball. Those traits have worked out pretty well for the Falcons in the past (see Grimes)."

Probably practice squad for sure right now.

[theProf]

From an August 6 Pat Yasinskas article entitled Matt Ryan Thrilled with O-Linemen:

"We’ll have more on the battle to replace Dahl in Sunday’s Camp Confidential segment on the Falcons. But third-year pro Garrett Reynolds appears to be the early leader. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix.

There’s one other surprise candidate. That’s seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson. Coaches are saying he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in camp so far. Even if Jackson doesn’t end up starting, he appears well on his way to a roster spot. He can be a key backup because he has the ability to play guard and tackle."

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth

Evidently PY was quite taken with Andrew Jackson. In today's article entitled Camp Confidential Yaz indicates that Jackson could be a possible future starter. An exerpt from the article:

"Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix. But one of the most pleasant surprises of camp so far has been seventh-round pick Andrew Jackson. He might not be quite ready to start, but he’s likely to make the team and could emerge as a key backup at guard and tackle in the short term and potentially could be a starter down the road."

[delaigle]

I understand the need to protect Jackson from being picked up by another team. But after missing most of his senior year with injury, and being a rookie with no OTA and a two week training camp, he isn't likely to beat anyone out for a roster spot.

I wouldn't be shocked if we just carried the 8 OL:

Hawley = back up C & OG

Reynolds = back up OG & OT (if Johnson starts)

Johnson = back up OG (if Reynolds starts)

Svitek = back up OT and extra lineman in heavy run formations

We don't really need more OL than that active on gameday.

edit: Valdez might actually be the one we have to keep active in order to protect from poachers. He is the one more likely to be capable of stepping in and starting for a needy team.

Last year they normally carried only 7 O-linemen active on game day

Baker Svitek

Blalock

McClure Hawley

Dahl

Clabo

Reynolds and Johnson spent most (all I think) game days inactive

with Valdez and Bruggeman on the PS all year