Smith: ‘A Very Spirited Practice’
Head Coach Mike Smith liked the tempo of Friday’s mini camp practice which — like much of 2008 — progressed with a relaxed focus.
There was one skirmish between the offensive and defensive line, but even that was chalked up to enthusiasm.
“They’ve earned the right to be here and be a professional football player now they need to earn the right to be on a 53-man roster,” Smith said when asked about his team’s intensity and the rumble.
That was a highlight on an otherwise business-as-usual opening practice for the Falcons.
“I think it was a very spirited practice,” Smith said. “It was nice to be back out on the field. It was really the first time in four months that we’ve had a chance to get out and really play some football. I thought the guys really did a nice job.”
Five players were held out due to injury: Center Alex Stepanovich, cornerback Von Hutchins, cornerback David Irons, kicker Jason Elam and defensive end John Abraham.
“We felt they weren’t 100 percent ready to go we made the decision to limit those guys in practice today,” the coach said.
Abraham nursed several injuries through his 16.5-sack season in 2008. Smith would not go into detail about his current ailments other than to say he and other Falcons were taking it slow after the “rigors” or the NFL season.
The coach said more veterans will be held out in coming practices to keep players fresh and give the staff a chance to evaluate younger players.
Abraham was replaced in the starting lineup by second-year player Kroy Biermann.
Hutchins, a free agent addition prior to 2008, missed all of last season after a foot injury on the first day of training camp.
Smith said he will return as soon as he’s cleared by the training staff.
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Mike Smith. You know last year when we got him. After all the crap we went through the previous year. I was’nt sure about him. Hell i really did’nt know anything about him. But wacth’in him in interviews as the season went along. I thought to myself what a positive and infecious dude. Hearin him talk and seein him. It just kept putin a smile on my face. Some people have a way of carrying themselfs…a positive energy if you will… that makes you feel like WE’RE GONNA BE O.K. He’s feelin the flow… doin the bull dance. And Mike if you’r out there? Thank’s for what you’ve done in helpin our team. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
JJ, I couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Coach Smith, I want to personally thank you for what you’ve done for the Falcons franchise. You have instilled hope in me as a Falcons fan that I might get to see Atlanta win a Super Bowl in my lifetime.
However, I have to thank Thomas Dimitroff for his great leadership skills and Arthur Blank for not giving up in his team and giving us, the fans, a team that is most definitely worth cheering for. Thank you, all of you, for your amazing job you’ve done with the Falcons.
I like Zippo and 33 want to Thank Coach Smith, Thomas Dimitroff and Mr. Blank for their efforts in restoring the Falcons to respectability. I have been a Falcon fan since they came to Atlanta and am the proudest I have ever been of them now. Also lets not forget the great staff that Coach Smith has assembled. They have all done a great job also.
Lambo
You are all right and I jump on this bandwagon as well. My hope and focus is to see our Falcons break this string of not winning in back to back seasons. I thank the Falcons and all their leadership to blow this subject clean out of the water and bring those home playoff victories to this football city. Atlanta this is the year we will put it all together. Let us not be shy; let the world know who we are.
I don’t know if many of you remember the last “coach” the Falcons had, Leeman Bennett . Coach Smith reminds me alot of him. Organized practices that accomplished something and had Atlanta in the playoffs all but one of the years he was here. The last year Atlanta played the Cowboys for the national conference championship and lost i believe by 6 points or less. AT the time the franchise was owned by the famous “SMITH” family. RANKIN fired him quoting “we need to go to the next level” From then on until now it has been mostly downhill.
I am very excited about this season. I love the “very spirited practice” and I am sure it has the makings of a great season. Good luck.