Falcons Wave Marquis Spruill And Sign John Harris

[FenixFalcon]

The Falcons have signed WR John Harris and waived LB Marquis Spruill http://t.co/enyIxme7pa

Falcons waive LB Marquis Spruill, who missed last season with ACL tear Vaughn McClure @vxmcclure23

Falcons sign WR Josh Harris. Another body with Roddy White out following minor elbow surgery Vaughn McClure @vxmcclure23

Ex eagle...looks like they are prepping for week 1 already...gettin the playbook lol

Edited August 24, 2015 by FenixFalcon

[bigbabygrady]

all those roster projections with Spruill making the team, what were they even based on? never heard a word about him during training camp

[Tuggle'2]

Interesting. Wish ya well Spruill.

[AtlantaFanatic]

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/8/24/9199001/falcons-waive-2014-fifth-round-pick-marquis-spruill-sign-wr-josh?utm_campaign=thefalcoholic&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

The Falcons have parted ways with last year's fifth round pick.

Though I was rooting hard for him, even I had to admit that Spruill's lack of snaps in the second preseason game didn't bode well. Spruill was returning from a deeply unfortunate injury to a crowded group of linebackers, and with Stansly Maponga, Tyler Starr, Joplo Bartu and Allen Bradford all playing pretty well, the Falcons must have decided he didn't have a shot to stick around. Spruill's big calling cards were his athleticism and special teams play, and with the injury probably affecting the former and Bradford looking great doing the latter, that was that.

The 2014 class continues to be one of the more divisive ones in recent memory. Jake Matthews, Ra'Shede Hageman, and Ricardo Allen all look good right now, but Spruill's gone, Prince Shembo is gone, and third round selection Dezmen Southward may be following those two out the door in the near future. A decidedly mixed bag, unless Southward and/or Starr blossom down the line.

I know next to nothing about Harris, bluntly, and as McClure notes he's a body for preseason and practice with Roddy White missing some time. He'll need to be absolutely stellar to have a chance of beating out anyone in an already crowded receiving corps.

It's a shame his tenure ended like this in Atlanta, and I do hope he lands elsewhere and fares well.

[bigbabygrady]

Ex eagle...looks like they are prepping for week 1 already...gettin the playbook lol

I'm on board with this! real or not, seems like other teams were always taking our cast-offs for this purpose

[Theyhateme : )]

Southwood won't make it at CB.

[Lornoth]

Seems weird, we already have so many good WR's. Too bad for Spruill, a lot of people had high hopes for him when he was drafted.

[capologist]

Southwood won't make it at CB.

What about Southward?

[Theyhateme : )]

What about Southward?

...thanks man!

[Tandy]

Odd move. Seems we have a lot of talent at the WR position - way more than what we can hold on to in the end. Strange to drop a defender for another WR.

Oh well, I am not privy to their reasoning and I'm sure there was a good reason, but it just strikes me as odd.

[Atlantafan21]

Southwood won't make it at CB.

I really hope he balls out these last two preseason games and makes the team.

[hjerry]

He was out part of the offseason with a flair up. He must not have adequately recovered from his tear. It's too bad.

[Oldskooler]

Southwood won't make it at CB.

Not quite the disappointment that Brookings and Finnerman were. I expected so much more from Brookings and Finnerman.

[egoprime II]

Our 2014 draft was considered to be a good one. I don't like how it is falling apart like this. I am -more- than sure that Draftnut57, KOG, Kayoh and g-dawg...among others...could have done way better than this. Thanks for nothing, TD.

[MasterBateser]

Our 2014 draft was considered to be a good one. I don't like how it is falling apart like this. I am -more- than sure that Draftnut57, KOG, Kayoh and g-dawg...among others...could have done way better than this. Thanks for nothing, TD.

TD apologizes he can't hit on every 5th round pick based on what Smitty and Nolan asked for

[FentayeJones]

The few times I saw Spruill on the field he looked slow and not fully recfovered from the ACL injury. Tough break.

[BadMoonRising]

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2015/8/24/9199001/falcons-waive-2014-fifth-round-pick-marquis-spruill-sign-wr-josh?utm_campaign=thefalcoholic&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

The Falcons have parted ways with last year's fifth round pick.

Though I was rooting hard for him, even I had to admit that Spruill's lack of snaps in the second preseason game didn't bode well. Spruill was returning from a deeply unfortunate injury to a crowded group of linebackers, and with Stansly Maponga, Tyler Starr, Joplo Bartu and Allen Bradford all playing pretty well, the Falcons must have decided he didn't have a shot to stick around. Spruill's big calling cards were his athleticism and special teams play, and with the injury probably affecting the former and Bradford looking great doing the latter, that was that.

The 2014 class continues to be one of the more divisive ones in recent memory. Jake Matthews, Ra'Shede Hageman, and Ricardo Allen all look good right now, but Spruill's gone, Prince Shembo is gone, and third round selection Dezmen Southward may be following those two out the door in the near future. A decidedly mixed bag, unless Southward and/or Starr blossom down the line.

I know next to nothing about Harris, bluntly, and as McClure notes he's a body for preseason and practice with Roddy White missing some time. He'll need to be absolutely stellar to have a chance of beating out anyone in an already crowded receiving corps.

It's a shame his tenure ended like this in Atlanta, and I do hope he lands elsewhere and fares well.

All the ones that don't make it are TD picks, the ones that do are are Scott's its that simple just ask, these message board GMs around here!

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

Unfortunate situation for the dude. I wish him well.

This roster will continue to churn player after player. Always striving to get better.

[hjerry]

The few times I saw Spruill on the field he looked slow and not fully recfovered from the ACL injury. Tough break.

This is really what I believe. He was reported to be sitting out earlier in the offseason with a flair up, and just never really seemed to get his athleticism back on the field. I'm guessing that he never fully returned from the injury

[falconidae]

He's still practice squad eligible, so ,if he's not signed anywhere else, they may very well sign him back.

[bigbabygrady]

Are ACL injuries prevalent in any other sport besides football? Seems like ACLs are just popping left and right in college and pro football

[GTBF54]

He's still practice squad eligible, so ,if he's not signed anywhere else, they may very well sign him back.

Bingo.... Doubt he gets picked up if he's still recovering from his injury......

[GTBF54]

Texas WR John Harris scouting report

Texas Longhorns wide receiver John Harris could have taken the easy way out.

Out of the rotation following a disappointing junior season that included a failed transition to tight end, the former four-star prospect considered quitting or transferring to Texas Tech in an effort to become the next Jace Amaro.

Instead, he re-committed himself to the Texas program under the new coaching staff, dropped to 218 pounds from 225 pounds, and built on the connection he established with quarterback Tyrone Swoopes on the scout team in 2013.

The result?

The first 1,000-yard season for a Texas receiver since Jordan Shipley in 2009 as Harris made numerous big plays, including what ended up being the game-winning catch against Iowa State. One of only six receivers in school history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards, Harris did so on 68 catches, producing seven touchdowns in the process.

Entering the 2014 campaign, Harris had only nine receptions for 180 yards over his previous three seasons.

Since his breakout senior season wasn't enough to earn an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine, Harris had to impress during the Texas Pro Timing Day in March and turned in a solid effort:

40 time Vert Broad jump Shuttle 3-cone Bench press 4.57 seconds 33.5 inches 9 feet 10 inches 4.45 seconds 6.82 seconds 19 reps

He measured in at 6'2 and 213 pounds.

Strengths

• Big-play ability -- Some numbers provided by the Longhorn Network provide perspective on Harris' season. Of those 68 catches, 75% went for a first down or a touchdown, the second-highest percentage among the top 43 in receptions. He also had 15 catches for 20 yards or more, including his 68-yard reception against Texas Tech.
• Ball skills -- There were a handful of times during the season when Harris went up for 50-50 balls and was able to come down with them because he does have strong hands and often simply wanted the ball more than the opposing defensive back. Besides pure effort, he also has a talent for high-pointing the football.
• Blocking ability -- With his big frame and a willingness to work hard, Harris was an effective and consistent down-field blocker during his senior season.
• Perseverance -- Despite the lack of success after arriving at Texas, Harris stuck it out and took advantage of the opportunity provided by the new coaching staff.
• Solid testing numbers -- Harris is far from an elite athlete, running a sub-3.6 40-yard dash is a solid time for a 213-pound outside receiver. His low 40 time was even more impressive, as at least one scout at the Texas Pro Timing Day had him at 4.49 and the unofficial time Alex Dunlap of Orangebloods got was 4.50.
• Special teams experience -- Harris played on each special teams unit during his career at Texas and the ability to contribute in that phase could help him land on a roster.

Weaknesses

• Questionable hands -- Harris dropped numerous passes in the 2014 season that he should have made. Combined with his lack of film from other seasons, scouts would justifiably have concerns about his ability to consistently come down with easy catches.
• Possible one-year wonder -- Was the breakout season from Harris merely a fluke? It's impossible to rule it out.
• Lacks elite size/speed combination -- Put together, the height and speed of Harris don't necessarily set him apart from a handful of other wide receivers ranked in the same range.

Draft projection -- Undrafted free agent

Optimum Scouting ranks Harris as the No. 65 wide receiver, well behind teammate Jaxon Shipley and well into undrafted free agent territory. A scout from the San Diego Chargers spoke with Harris after the Texas Pro Timing Day, so that could be a franchise interested in signing him if he does go undrafted, as expected.

http://www.burntorangenation.com/2015/4/29/8506749/john-harris-2015-nfl-draft-scouting-report-texas-longhorns

[ATL_DirtyBirds]

Still salty that we didn't take telvin smith here or at prince shembo spot

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

Are ACL injuries prevalent in any other sport besides football? Seems like ACLs are just popping left and right in college and pro football

Basketball too.

But football players are typically larger, playing with shoes with significantly less give on turf and prone to making harder cuts which increases the rotational force on the knee which usually causes an ACL tear.