20 Questions: No. 18 - Jamaal Anderson

The 20 Questions series will run every few days leading up to the end of training camp and the start of the NFL season.

No. 18: Can Jamaal Anderson be more productive on the defensive line?

He better be or there's going to be a strong contingent of Atlanta fans waiting to run him out of town. Seriously, though, it was really surprising that Anderson had such a difficult time at defensive end last year. Everyone's biggest gripe about him was that he failed to record a sack during his rookie season, and that was certainly a valid complaint. Anderson led the SEC in sacks during his final season at Arkansas, so expectations were extremely high when the Falcons drafted him in 2007.

And really, when a team goes out of its way to draft you at No. 8 overall, shouldn't they expect a somewhat immediate turnaround? I felt bad for Anderson last year because it was obvious that this was eating at him. It's not like he didn't care that he wasn't putting decent numbers up opposite John Abraham. He's a good kid who obviously loves playing for the Falcons, but he needs to come in this season and produce to prove his worth.

Can he do it? Well, the circumstances certainly look good -- in fact, just as good as they were at the beginning of last year. With the Falcons signing Grady Jackson again, he'll have a huge presence on the defensive line and consistently eat up two offensive linemen. That is sure to help Anderson. With Abraham coming off a pretty successful season, teams will likely key up on him with occasional double teams. Those two factors alone should open things up quite a bit for Anderson, but he's going to have to take advantage of it.

With a rookie season under his belt, I think the nerves will be long gone and he'll be able to play a more relaxed brand of football up front. Anderson won't go another season without a sack, and he should rack them up pretty easily this year. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that Anderson will record the first sack of his NFL career Sept. 7 against Detroit. That will be the first of many for Anderson in his career.

Photo: www.atlantafalcons.com

For your Wednesday perusal

Some things to enlighten the mind and sooth the soul...

Blogging Dirty welcomes Grady Jackson back with open arms. Those must be some pretty big arms.

Some great thoughts from The Falcoholic on what looks like a snub of cornerback David Irons.

Covers.com says don't bet on the Falcons unless you bet on them to lose.

A bit of an update on the renovations at the Georgia Dome. Looks much better than the former peach (pink?) and green combo.

Darren Epps at the Chattanooga Times Free Press says Arkansas players are starting to defend Bobby Petrino. Ahhh, the naivety of youth.

From the Gainesville Times, running back Thomas Brown is looking to be a little more consistent.

20 Questions: No. 19 - Grady Jackson

The 20 Questions series will run every few days leading up to the end of training camp and the start of the NFL season.

No. 19: Will signing Grady Jackson really make any difference?

Might as well keep it relevant at No. 19. Grady Jackson will absolutely make a difference at the defensive tackle position. At 6-foot-2, 345 pounds (yes, he's really 345 pounds, and no, I'm not telling lies, kpax), Jackson doesn't even need to get out of his three-point stance to make a difference for the Falcons. Jackson pretty much has his own gravitational pull and he takes up a ton of space in the middle of the line -- something the Falcons didn't have heading into training camp. With Jackson in the middle, the run defense is suddenly solidified a bit more, and that has to give the Falcons confidence.

The only downside to Jackson is that he's not a three-down tackle. Because of his sheer mammoth size, he's going to need to be rotated in and out quite often. The upside to that is having a pretty fresh tackle lining up every couple of downs. The downside to that is that the Falcons don't have anyone else of Jackson's size and ability, which automatically makes any down Jackson spends on the sidelines a running down for the opposing offense.

I'm still not too sold on the crop of defensive tackles the Falcons have at their disposal with the exception of Montavious Stanley. The former Louisville tackle seems to be on the way up since being cut by Dallas last year. If he can earn a starting spot, the Falcons are suddenly a formidable, fearful force in the middle with Jackson added to the mix. If the Falcons, by some minor miracle, regain the services of injured DT Trey Lewis, they're even better set since Lewis is really the only other DT besides Stanley and Jackson I trust.

But take everything else out of the equation and, absolutely, 100 percent yes, Jackson will make a huge difference to the defensive line this year.

Image: Ric Feld/Associated Press

Tuesday reading

Wesley Brown over at Atlanta Falcons Blog puts in his two cents on some occurrences at camp since it got underway Saturday.

Blogging Dirty says just let Joe Horn go already.

From ajc.com, some very bad news for the Falcons, Big Daddy Grady is coming back to the ATL and Harry Douglas doesn't care if you have a Super Bowl ring.

Profootballtalk.com has a very low outlook at the Falcons this year.

Profootballweekly.com has your quotes of the week from around the league.

20 Questions: No. 20 - Is last year really over?

I'm going to try a new series called 20 Questions on this blog as we really get into the meat of training camp. Every couple of days, I will answer a new question regarding the Atlanta Falcons. If you have any questions of your own you want to ask, feel free to drop me a line. Otherwise, I'm just going to make them up as I go.

Today's question: No. 20 - Is last year really worth bringing up any more?

From someone who's sick of reliving it, no, it's not worth bringing up any more. It's like that movie Groundhog Day at this point. In fact, I'd like to declare that anyone mentioning last year's Atlanta Falcons season from now on should be forced into a conversation with this guy. On the first day of training camp Saturday, thoughts and questions about last year were relevant considering the fiasco at the Falcons training camp facility. That's understandable.

But now that the contrasts have been made between last year's opening day and this year's opening day, I think it's time to hold a funeral service for the term "last year" when referring to Michael Vick, or Bobby Petrino, or Alge Crumpler, or DeAngelo Hall, or this guy. That term no longer applies any more when referring to the Falcons.

Sure, there are plenty of players still on the team who unfortunately had to deal with those circumstances, but for many of those players, last year might as well have been a million years ago. The circumstances are so different now, and there's actually a relaxed atmosphere up in Flowery Branch. Everything is drama-free, so bringing up last year in reference to this year doesn't make any sense any longer.

Besides, aren't we all sick of talking, hearing or reading (or writing) about it?

Sure, it sucks that the Falcons had to go through all that stuff last year, but it's ancient history now. Let it die and let's move on. The Falcons certainly have.

Sunday reading and viewing

Couple of things I found while scouring the Web...

Atlantafalcons.com does an incredible job with its video every year. Lots of great and creative ideas come out of these guys. On Saturday afternoon, they mic'd up head coach Mike Smith.

Rookie cornerback Chevis Jackson blogs about getting ready for training camp.

From the Mountain View Voice, a great story on one of Michael Vick's former dogs more than a year after being rescued.

From Scout.com, you'll never see this offense in the NFL, but it sure is fun to watch. Two quarterbacks, six receivers and three linemen? Wow.

Training camp report

The first day of Atlanta Falcons training camp is in the books and it went about as smooth as it possibly could go. It was really nice to go there this year without all the hoopla and distraction of last year at this time.

Here are some news, notes and quotes:

- Chris Redman took all the first-team snaps for the Falcons during the morning practice. Some of you may be disturbed to know that Joey Harrington took all the second-team snaps. Matt Ryan worked with the third team and D.J. Shockley got in sparingly with the third team, as well. Things don't look all that good for Shockley right now if for nothing else than the simple fact that he's not going to get a whole lot of reps. With Harrington being a bit more seasoned, Shockley's days could be numbered in Atlanta.

Here's what Redman had to say about the competition: "I'm just excited. I'm excited to play, I'm happy to be here and I think the whole team as a group came out and looked real strong today. You're always competing no matter where you're at and so I'm just going to go out there and just worry about what I have to do and go out there and try to win games and see what happens."

- Michael Turner looked as solid as he could despite the team going with just helmets and very little contact today. More will be known about him when the team straps the pads on, but he impressed me today. Also worth noting is Jerious Norwood. I think he actually gained a step in the offseason. He looks extremely fast and elusive right now. This could be one hell of a tandem.

Turner on what stood out on Day 1: "The energy. Everyone looked excited out there and excited to be here. That's a good sign coming into the season."

- Rumors flying around camp today about the Falcons talking with Grady Jackson again. A source close to the team told me today that he was surprised the deal wasn't done by this morning's practice. Either way, it looks like Jackson might be coming back to Atlanta. Good thing, too. The Falcons could use some help at defensive tackle.

Here are a couple of quick hits for you:

- Laurent Robinson was the No. 2 receiver on the first team this morning.
- Brent Grimes was in the other cornerback spot opposite Chris Houston.
- The first-team offensive line Saturday: Sam Baker (LT), Justin Blalock (LG), Todd McClure (C), Harvey Dahl (RG), Tyson Clabo (RT). Interesting since Dahl was a practice teamer for San Francisco to start last season.
- None of the tight ends looked very smooth this morning. It's obvious that this is not a group of pass-catchers.
- The defensive line shifted around all morning and it didn't look like there was a clear set of first-teamers with the exception of Montavious Stanley.
- At linebacker, Curtis Lofton worked with the first and second teams at middle linebacker while veteran Keith Brooking slid over to the weakside and played some middle.
- Tony Taylor got some reps at linebacker with the first team.
- Brian Finneran had some great catches during team and 7-on-7 periods. He is one big target and it's good to see him healthy again.

Photo: Head coach Mike Smith (John Bazemore/Associated Press)

Training camp a day away

Members of the Atlanta Falcons are reporting to the training facility in Flowery Branch as we speak, and the Falcons are less than a day away from opening up camp.

The Falcons will practice twice Saturday with an early 8:30 a.m. practice and another at 3:45 p.m. Both sessions are open to the public.

I will be in Flowery Branch bright and early for the morning session, so check back Saturday for updates here and on Sunday in The Telegraph and at macon.com.

If you're planning on attending any of the practice sessions, here are just a few tips from me to help make your trip a little more enjoyable:

1. Wear a hat and bring plenty of sunscreen. The facility in Flowery Branch is wide open and there is no shade anywhere on cloudless days. It can be brutal out there sitting in one place for two hours, so be prepared to create your own shade with a hat, a program or a rather large fellow who may be standing near you.

2. Arrive early. Last year was a bit of a fiasco with all the protesters looking for parking spots along with the real fans. There shouldn't be any protesters this year, so that'll free things up a bit, but parking can be tricky. There's plenty of space across the street at Flowery Branch High School, but it's a bit of a trek to get onto the grounds of the facility. Getting there early will remedy that.

3. Bring binoculars. The facility in Flowery Branch isn't the most fan-friendly when it comes to spectating. There's an area to the right of a practice field on a hill where they'll corral anyone wanting to watch practices, but the facility is huge with three football fields side by side. The coaches tend to practice on the closest field to the fans during training camp, but other positions of interest might be hundreds of yards away on another field. Some binoculars will remedy that problem.

I'll make this offer again this year, but anyone who has questions about the Falcons they want answered by me, players or coaches, let me know and I'll do my best to get answers for you. You can leave a comment here or e-mail me at jadams@macon.com

For those who missed it the first time, here's the Falcons' training camp schedule of practices that are open to the public:

07/26/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/26/08 3:45pm Training Camp Practice (3:45 p.m.)
07/27/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/27/08 3:45pm Training Camp Practice (3:45 p.m.)
07/28/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/29/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/30/08 1:30pm Training Camp Practice (1:30 p.m.)
07/31/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/01/08 10:15am Training Camp Practice (10:15 a.m.)
08/01/08 6:30pm Falcons Friday Night Lights: Team scrimmage at Mill Creek High School
08/02/08 11 am Roam the Dome: Scrimmage and fan events at Dome. Open to public.
08/04/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/05/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/06/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/07/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/08/08 10:15am Training Camp Practice (10:15 a.m.)

Photo: Beau Cabell, The Telegraph

Mughelli goes Hollywood

Atlanta Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli recently tried his hand at being on the other side of the microphone. During ESPN's ESPY awards ceremony, Mughelli was a reporter on the red carpet, interviewing high profile guests as they made their way into the venue.

Mughelli has a blog on Yardbarker.com, and he wrote all about his experience. As a side note, Mughelli might have a thankless job that doesn't often put him in the spotlight, but he's one of the most genuinely nice guys in the Falcons locker room. It's great to see him having some fun in front of a camera.

Check out his blog here: Mughelli's blog.

More trouble for NFC South

The New Orleans Saints have been on the move up since a disappointing 2007 season. Free agency was extremely kind to them and the draft was much the same.

Now, less than a week away from training camp, the Saints have made another move. Check this out:

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have acquired disgruntled New York Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey.
Saints spokesman Greg Bensel on Monday confirmed the trade. The Saints did not immediately say what they were giving to the Giants in exchange.
The deal must be approved by the league and is contingent on Shockey passing a physical.

This doesn't bode well for the Atlanta Falcons, or the rest of the NFC South for that matter.

Falcons release training camp schedule

The Atlanta Falcons released their training camp schedule this week. Below are the dates and times camp is open to the public. Camp is scheduled to open July 26.

07/26/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/26/08 3:45pm Training Camp Practice (3:45 p.m.)
07/27/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/27/08 3:45pm Training Camp Practice (3:45 p.m.)
07/28/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/29/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
07/30/08 1:30pm Training Camp Practice (1:30 p.m.)
07/31/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/01/08 10:15am Training Camp Practice (10:15 a.m.)
08/01/08 6:30pm Falcons Friday Night Lights
08/04/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/05/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/06/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/07/08 8:30am Training Camp Practice (8:30 a.m.)
08/08/08 10:15am Training Camp Practice (10:15 a.m.)

Miller fight available on UFC.com

Cole Miller's third-round victory over Jorge Gurgel at Saturday's UFC 86 in Las Vegas was chosen as the Submission of the Night. Because of that, UFC.com has decided to allow visitors to watch the Maconite's win for free on the Web site.

Simply go to www.ufc.com, then toggle through the videos on the homepage to find Miller's fight.

It was really a good one with a lot of highs and lows. Miller came so close to losing the fight, but came back and scored a victory in probably one of the best fights of the night.

Miller wins at UFC 86

Cole Miller defeated Jorge Gurgel during the undercard portion of Saturday night's UFC 86. Miller earned the win with just 12 seconds left in the final round by submitting Gurgel with a Triangle Choke.

Miller lost a close first round and came back in the second to get ahead on the judges' scorecard. In the third, Miller had a cut open up just under his eye, but he was able to keep it from hindering him. With about a minute left in the bout, Miller locked in the Triangle and cranked it up, forcing Gurgel to tap out before the match went to the judges.

Check out Sunday's Telegraph and macon.com for more on the 14th win of Miller's professional MMA career.

Photo: Associated Press

Cole Miller fighting Saturday night

I had a chance to speak with Macon's Cole Miller on Thursday night about his upcoming fight in UFC 86 with Jorge Gurgel. It sounds like it's going to be a great one. Miller comes into the fight after a disappointing loss back in January, and Gurgel comes in as the more experienced fighter.

Check out The Telegraph and macon.com Saturday and Sunday for a preview of Miller's fight and a post-fight conversation with him from Las Vegas.

Here's a little of what Miller had to say Thursday night:

"I know his style. I know his game in the past. Because he looks the same in all of his past five fights, I think he's going to try to bring some different things to the table. So I really wasn't trying to train for the footage that I saw (of him), I'm just trying to perfect my skills, you know?; moving onward and just make myself a better fighter. I don't train for my opponents; they train for me. I don't care what he says he's going to do. I don't care what he says he changed in his training. I don't care if he went and did a camp instead of having to run his (fighting) school. I had to do the same thing in my last fight. I had to teach more classes, and for this fight, I took more time for myself. We're all in the same boat, and I think this is a very evenly matched fight."

Some harsh words there. And can you believe these two have been close friends for about three years now?

For those interested in watching Miller's fight, you'll be disappointed to know that it won't air live during UFC 86. The Miller-Gurgel fight is part of the undercard -- matches that aren't shown live on TV. If the live event becomes shorter than expected, UFC may show the Miller-Gurgel fight to fill space. UFC 86 can be ordered through your pay-per-view options on Cox Communications or your satellite provider.
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Of note: Miller recently had a film crew follow him around for a few days to detail what he did to get ready for Saturday's fight. Miller told me that footage is still being edited, but it will be available on his Web site after the fight. Check it out at here.

Photo: UFC