Falcons info (week of 2/25)

[kingfish247]

 

Under Petrino, Vick to run less

 

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

Published on: 02/25/07

 

Indianapolis — Falcons coach Bobby Petrino has been working on his "State of the Team" address that he'll deliver when he meets the entire team for the first time on March 19 for minicamp.

 

"It's going to be big," Petrino said Saturday at the NFL Combine. "We have to get everything taught, work on our technique and evaluate all of our players."

 

Petrino and his staff have digested all of the video from last season and are ready to see the players up close and in person. One of the top priorities is to improve a passing game that ranked 32nd in the league last season. The staff is confident that quarterback Michael Vick, with the proper protection, can develop into a better passer.

 

"We've spent a lot of time evaluating all of his throws and made a lot of videotape," Petrino said. "So we've looked at all of his three-step throws, his five-step, his deep play action. We really feel like he can make all of the throws you need to make."

 

Petrino doesn't plan to put the entire onus of improving the passing attack on Vick.

 

"I've always been adamant about the fact that your passing game is as good as all 11 guys on the field," Petrino said. "You have to do a great job of teaching and working on timing, our protection, our quarterback being at the right spot, our receivers being open at the right time. We have a lot of work ahead of us. "But I certainly know that Michael can do it. He's energized and motivated about coming in and learning our offense. He's started learning it."

 

If Petrino has his way, Vick won't be anywhere near 1,000 rushing yards next season.

 

"It's amazing," he said. "But the thing that I liked when you watched Michael on his runs was that he protected himself. He'd get out of bounds. He did get down at times. He didn't take the hits running."

 

During the staff's video study, they noticed that Vick was in more danger dropping back to pass. "What concerned me was the hits that he took when he was throwing the ball, in the pocket," Petrino said.

 

Petrino, a former quarterback, is a stickler for fundamentals.

 

"He needs to get more consistent with his footwork and set point," he said. "I think certainly you'll see him have a better year throwing the ball this year."

 

Petrino was happy with the play of running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood, but said the Falcons will look for a big running back in the draft.

 

"[Norwood] showed that he had the ability to go the distance," Petrino said. "I think that's what excites me the most on video is the big plays that he's made and the speed."

 

After trading T.J. Duckett last season, the Falcons were not effective in short-yardage situations.

 

"We are going to look at a big running back, someone who can help us in short yardage and really maybe step in and play a lot a year from now," Petrino said.

 

Penn State's Tony Hunt is considered one of the top big backs in the draft. Also, Michael Bush, who played for Petrino at Louisville, will be on the board when the Falcons pick at No. 10.

 

"He's really unique because he's a guy that's 250 pounds," Petrino said of Bush. "He can get his pads down and run with power. He caught a lot of passes for us. He played quarterback his senior year [of high school] so he can throw the football. If you're looking for a guy that's a great athlete, that's definitely Michael Bush."

[Bronco Billy]

I hate to say it, but it sounds like Petrino is in way over his head. The guy is living in a fantasy world.

 

This could be a really bad year for ATL if he sticks to the plan that he is putting forth above.

[SLAYER]

I'm particularly excited about the fact that Vick gets to call audibles this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

as a Saint fan I'm very excited.

[rajncajn]

You've got to be kidding me. Norwood looked fantastic when he played & they're already going to try to draft another RB?

[kingfish247]

I hate to say it, but it sounds like Petrino is in way over his head. The guy is living in a fantasy world.

 

This could be a really bad year for ATL if he sticks to the plan that he is putting forth above.

 

maybe but Petrino at the least has been putting emphasis on things that have gone all but unacknowledged in the previous 3-4 offseasons.

 

maybe Vick falls flat on his face with what Petrino is trying to do but Petrino's message still rings true.

[DMD]

Why didn't anyone previously think about making Vick more into a pocket quarterback before. It seems so obvious now.

[SLAYER]

Petrino and his staff have digested all of the video from last season and are ready to see the players up close and in person.[/b] One of the top priorities is to improve a passing game that ranked 32nd in the league last season. The staff is confident that quarterback Michael Vick, with the proper protection, can develop into a better passer.

 

"It's amazing," he said. "But the thing that I liked when you watched Michael on his runs was that he protected himself. He'd get out of bounds. He did get down at times. He didn't take the hits running."

 

During the staff's video study, they noticed that Vick was in more danger dropping back to pass. "What concerned me was the hits that he took when he was throwing the ball, in the pocket," Petrino said.

 

Why the hell do you think he was running

 

 

 

And not once did he address the o-line situation and their improvement.

[kingfish247]

You've got to be kidding me. Norwood looked fantastic when he played & they're already going to try to draft another RB?

 

he did look fantastic. Petrino acknowledged that much.

 

However he missed time due to a nagging knee injury and he was hardly ever in on pass downs. With Dunn getting up there, the apparent flaws in Norwood's game, and their short yardage issues they would be remiss in not adding another RB at some point in the draft.

[kingfish247]

And not once did he address the o-line situation and their improvement.

 

 

this didn't cover it?

 

"I've always been adamant about the fact that your passing game is as good as all 11 guys on the field," Petrino said. "You have to do a great job of teaching and working on timing, our protection, our quarterback being at the right spot, our receivers being open at the right time. We have a lot of work ahead of us. But I certainly know that Michael can do it. He's energized and motivated about coming in and learning our offense. He's started learning it."

 

he covers the coaches, the o-line, Vick, and the receivers in that quote.

Edited February 26, 2007 by kingfish247

[rajncajn]

maybe but Petrino at the least has been putting emphasis on things that have gone all but unacknowledged in the previous 3-4 offseasons.

 

maybe Vick falls flat on his face with what Petrino is trying to do but Petrino's message still rings true.

 

Yeah, problem is he's setting himself up to take the blame when, not if, Vick does fall flat on his face.

 

 

he did look fantastic. Petrino acknowledged that much.

 

However he missed time due to a nagging knee injury and he was hardly ever in on pass downs. With Dunn getting up there, the apparent flaws in Norwood's game, and their short yardage issues they would be remiss in not adding another RB at some point in the draft.

 

Very often RBs that come into the league are not used in pass protection situations. Especially when they are not the starting RB and the starting RB is Warrick Dunn. You can't call Norwood's pass protection a flaw if he's not even used in that situation.

[SLAYER]

this didn't cover it?

he covers the coaches, the o-line, Vick, and the receivers in that quote.

 

Yes he mentions quite often that the problem is the o-line. and the solution, the only sloution that he can come up with after watching zillions of feet of tape is that they need to teach better and the line needs to improve their timing. If that's covering it then yes the Falcons are in trouble this year.

[rajncajn]

Yes he mentions quite often that the problem is the o-line. and the solution, the only sloution that he can come up with after watching zillions of feet of tape is that they need to teach better and the line needs to improve their timing. If that's covering it then yes the Falcons are in trouble this year.

 

[SLAYER]

 

 

 

+1

[kingfish247]

Yes he mentions quite often that the problem is the o-line. and the solution, the only sloution that he can come up with after watching zillions of feet of tape is that they need to teach better and the line needs to improve their timing. If that's covering it then yes the Falcons are in trouble this year.

 

well he didn't name Schaub the starting QB if that's what you were assuming he'd say is the cure-all. The point, it seems, he's making is everyone needs to improve.

 

a link to more complete Petrino quotes (for context) from his press conference...

 

(on criticism of Vick) "I don't know all of the criticisms, so I can't answer to that, but I do know this - it is 11 guys on offense doing their job at the same time. We need to protect and make sure that he has space and room. Anytime he's had the room and the space, he can make the throws he needs to make. He has an extremely strong arm. We need to get more consistent with his footwork and get his set point. I think certainly you'll see him have a better year throwing the ball this year."

 

He may be in over is head. Vick may fail. Petrino may fail. At this point, Petrino has recognized and acknowledged all of what's ailing the offense... Vick, o-line, receivers, coaches. Everyone needs to improve. Imo that's the right tone to have going into any offseason.

[Bronco Billy]

 

He may be in over is head. Vick may fail. Petrino may fail. At this point, Petrino has recognized and acknowledged all of what's ailing the offense... Vick, o-line, receivers, coaches. Everyone needs to improve. Imo that's the right tone to have going into any offseason.

 

 

He's also taking what is Vick's strength - running the football - and stating that he intends to limit that, while playing directly into Vick's biggest weakness, which is a mechanically efficient passing game.

 

Good luck with that one...

[muck]

Maybe, he told Blank that he didn't think Vick was the right QB ... and Blank said something like, "If he doesn't pan out this year, we will move on next year. Its not on you if he doesn't work out."

 

So, Petrino tells Vick what he needs from his QB, and if he fails, look for ATL to cut/trade Vick next offseason and go get a QB somewhere else...

[Bronco Billy]

Maybe, he told Blank that he didn't think Vick was the right QB ... and Blank said something like, "If he doesn't pan out this year, we will move on next year. Its not on you if he doesn't work out."

 

So, Petrino tells Vick what he needs from his QB, and if he fails, look for ATL to cut/trade Vick next offseason and go get a QB somewhere else...

 

 

There's the problem - with Schaub being a FA next year, if Vick isn't the guy (and most objective people know he sucks as a passer), ATL starts with absolutely nothing at QB next year - and they will have let Schaub go for nothing. They'd be literally starting from scratch at QB. That's a bad spot to be in.

 

Well, it's hard to feel sorry for them. They put themselves in this position by running a coaches' merry-go-round trying to find someone who could do the impossible with Vick, and sold out the franchise to do it.