Graziani & Co. Look to Carry Momentum into the Postseason…
Tony Graziani and the Philadelphia Soul play host to the Orlando Predators Friday, June 29, 7 :30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

By Gregg Hayim

 

The Philadelphia Soul walked into the Wachovia Center Thursday night with their playoff ticket having already been punched. Brilliant early season play and a 4-0 start can be credited for that. However, a five-game mid-season skid and the inability to regain that once stellar form almost cost them the chance to open the post-season at home. Almost, being the operative word.

 

The Soul’s luck headed southbound when franchise quarterback Tony Graziani went down with a shoulder injury during the second quarter of a Week 7 Monday night game in Dallas. Graziani was placed on the IR and wouldn’t return to action for a month. The Soul would lose the game-and the subsequent four in his absence.

 

In his return to duty, Graziani lead the team to it’s first victory since early April, a 78-34 decision over the New Orleans VooDoo. Since the injury, the Soul have gradually regained their early-season form and Graziani’s new found rhythm with his receiving corps could not have come at a better time. Philadelphia closed the season on the heels of 4-2 stretch; including last Thursdays dramatic 63-49 comeback win over the Orlando Predators.

 

Philadelphia began the game in auspicious fashion; subsequent first quarter possessions resulting in a turnover on downs followed by a Graziani interception that went for six the other way put the Soul in an early 14-0 hole. Not exactly the start Head Coach Brett Munsey had in mind. Graziani- and the Soul- would recover; chipping away at the Predators lead and tying the game at 35 heading into the intermission. Despite an Orlando third quarter opening drive touchdown, the Soul remained resilient and Graziani, well, he remained brilliant. A dazzling second half aerial display, the results of which earned him AFL Offensive Player of the Week Honors and should serve as a warning sign to the rest of the league as to what Graziani and Co. are capable of when healthy and in-tune.  

 

Graziani, a former seventh round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, was magnificent as he rallied his troops, throwing for three touchdown passes and accounting for a fourth with his legs: a two-yard run touchdown run that iced the game and ultimately kept the teams travel gear in storage- at least for another week. A thrilling Soul victory and an equally bitter Predators defeat.

 

Luckily-for the Predators-if they want redemption they won’t have to wait long. The two teams will play again this weekend in the opening round of the AFL playoffs as Friday’s Wild Card match-up marks the first time since 2001 that two teams will play each other in Week 17 and then during the first-round of the playoffs. However, the Orlando Predators should be careful with what they wish for as a Tony Graziani lead Philadelphia offense is things nightmares, not dreams, are made of…

The Falcons have signed outside linebacker Orlando Huff as they need some depth there.  Huff played in all 16 games last season for the Cardinals and he made 69 tackles, defensed 4 passes and forced a fumble.  Huff has a lot of experience and that should help out the Falcons defense big time.  Huff has played in 87 games in his career and he’s made 277 tackles, had 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, defensed 12 passes, forced 5 fumbles and he has recovered 3 fumbles.

The Atlanta Falcons look like they have quite a motley crew of QBs to try to run coach Petrino’s high % passing offense.  Which QB will step up?  That is a good question.  Michael Vick is the starter and he has the physical ability to possibly do the job the coach wants.  After all, he has a strong arm which has never been in doubt.  It’s his accuracy that could present a major problem for the coach.  Vick has never come close to throwing for over 3,000 yards in a season and he’s only completed 53.8% of 1,730 career passes.  Also, the dog fighting that Vick is accused of is hanging over his head and it will not go away.  If Vick is suspended by the NFL, the Falcons season might be over before it starts.  Still, in this country you are innocent until proven guilty.  Vick had an interesting season last year as he was outstanding running the ball, but awful throwing it….and that will have to change if Vick is to be the long term answer in Atlanta.  Vick started all 16 games last season and he completed 204 of 388 (52.6%) passes for 2,474 yards with 20 TD passes and 13 interceptions (75.7 QB Rating).  He was outstanding running the football as he carried the rock 123 times for 1,039 yards (8.4 ypc) with 2 TD runs!  He was the first QB in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.  Vick’s career numbers mirrored what he did last season.  He has played in 74 games (67 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 930 of 1,730 (53.8%) passes for 11,505 yards with 71 TD passes and 52 interceptions (75.7 QB Rating).  He also has carried the football 529 times for 3,859 yards (7.3 ypc) with 21 TD runs.

The Falcons signed Joey Harrington in the off season to backup Michael Vick.  They hope he won’t have to start too many games this season, because that would mean Vick is either injured or suspended.  Harrington started 11 games for the Dolphins last season and he completed 223 of 388 (57.5%) passes for 2,236 yards with 12 TD passes and 15 interceptions (68.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 19 times for 24 yards (1.3 ypc).  Harrington might have the skill set to succeed in Petrino’s offense if he gets the chance because his best skill is getting rid of the football fast as he doesn’t take many sacks.  Still, Harrington’s career to this point has not been good.  He has played in 69 games (66 starts) and he’s completed 1,209 of 2,190 passes (55.2%) for 12,478 yards with 72 TD passes and 77 interceptions (68.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 128 times for 369 yards (2.9 ypc).

The 3rd string QB job will be a battle between local boy D.J. Shockley from Georgia and Chris Redman who played at Louisville where Bobby Petrino coached.  Shockley has no experience in the NFL, so Redman would appear to have the edge despite not playing in the NFL since 2003 with the Ravens.  Redman played in 4 seasons for the Ravens and it covered 10 games (6 starts).  In those 10 games, Redman completed 106 for 198 (53.5%) for 1,111 yards with 7 TD passes and 5 interceptions (71.3 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 13 times for 12 yards (0.9 ypc).

Most experts had Jason Snelling ranked as the 2nd best fullback in the draft and had him pegged for the 4th or 5th round so the Falcons were happy to snap him up in the 7th round.  He has missed time on the football field due to epilepsy and that could be one of the main reasons that he dropped in the draft.  He has nice size at 5’10″, 233 pounds and he has enough speed (4.6 40) to get extra yards.  He’s a powerful runner and a good lead blocker that consistently can hit a moving target.  In 43 games (20 starts) at Virginia, Snelling carried the football 276 times for 1,324 yards (4.8 ypc) with 11 TD runs.  He also caught 84 passes for 775 yards (9.2 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Snelling has the look of a steal for the Falcons in the 7th round.

The Falcons selected Stone probably with the idea of using him on special teams but he could wind up being much more.  He has nice size at 6’2″, 203 pounds and that helps him against the run as he’s a good box safety which projects well for a strong safety in the pros.  He is a little slow as he only runs a 4.6 40 so he can’t handle the free safety position.  At Maine, Stone played in 41 games (27 starts) and he made 173 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, had 10 interceptions, 5 sacks, broke up 11 passes and forced a fumble.  Stone is a physical player that should make the Falcons tougher when he’s on the field.

The Falcons got themselves a very versatile lineman with this pick.  In 2005, Datish started at LT for the Buckeyes and last year he was the starting center.  Datish also projects well as a guard in the pros so he should be a solid backup for the Falcons from Day #1.  He also could start down the road for the Falcons at any of a number of positions.  He has nice size at 6’3″, 302 pounds and he’s a smart football player.  He does need to develop more of a mean streak in the running game but maybe the Falcons coaching staff can bring that out in him.  He played in 39 games at Ohio State in his four years there and he started 35 of them.  Datish was another solid pick by the Falcons at this point in the draft.

The Falcons likely just picked David Irons to play on special teams.  If that’s the case he is definately worth the pick as he’s outstanding as a gunner and jammer on the punt and punt return teams.  But, unless Irons can pick up the mental aspects of the NFL game better than what he did at Auburn he will have a tough time getting on the field on defense.  He has great physical talent as a 5’10″, 188 pound corner that runs a 4.46 40.  But he’s soft against the run and he isn’t always in the right position in the passing game.  He also has had multiple knee surgeries so his durability is in question.  Irons played in 24 games (all starts) at Auburn and he made 88 tackles, broke up 23 passes, had 2 interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered 2 fumbles.  If the Falcons can coach him up they might have a steal.  But based on his special teams ability alone he was worth a 6th round pick.

The Falcons went off of most teams draft boards to select Trey Lewis, a DT from Washburn.  He’s a huge guy at 6’3″, 318 pounds and he’s best as a run defender.  He doesn’t have any speed at all, but he can demand a double team.  Still, Washburn to the NFL is a huge jump in competition so we’ll see how Lewis handles it.  He played in 46 games (34 starts) at Washburn and he made 156 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, had 10 sacks, forced 3 fumbles, recovered 2 fumbles, broke up 2 passes and blocked 2 kicks.  Because the Falcons drafted Lewis so late it wasn’t much of a risk for them, but it could wind up being a decent pick if Lewis can handle the competition.

Martrez Milner is a physical marvel at 6’3″, 256 pounds and he runs a 4.65 40 which is really fast for a player his size.  He definately looks the part, but he’s never converted his physical talents into results as he was an underachiever at Georgia in college.  Still, coach Bobby Petrino thinks he can light a fire under Milner and bring out the best in him.  Milner played in 48 games (16 starts) at Georgia and he caught 49 passes for 808 yards (16.5 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for Milner to back up Alge Crumpler and play in a lot of two TE sets for the Falcons.  Milner was worth the gamble by the Falcons.

The selection of Stephen Nicholas was a smart one by the Falcons who might need him to start right away because of the injury to DeMorrio Williams that could cause him to miss most if not all of the 2007 season.  Nicholas plays hard every down and that will convert well into the NFL.  He’s a little small at 6’2″, 229 pounds but he makes up for that by hitting with force.  He also has decent speed for a player his size as he runs a 4.7 40.  Nicholas was a 4-year starter at South Florida where he played in 47 games (45 starts) and he made 324 tackles, 52.5 tackles for a loss, had 20 sacks, broke up 14 passes and had 2 interceptions.  Nicholas was an excellent pick by the Falcons.