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The Falcons have dealt 26-year old G/T Quinn Ojinnaka to the Patriots for a undisclosed future draft pick. Ojinnaka played in 9 games (5 starts) for the Falcons last season. In four years with the Falcons, he played in 39 games (12 starts). Hopefully the Falcons got a decent pick from the Patriots who are getting desperate due to injuries and holdouts along the O-Line.
The Falcons have lost rookie WR Kerry Meier for the year as he was placed on the Injured Reserve List due to a knee injury. This will hurt the Falcons who don’t have a lot of depth at WR. Meier played in both pre-season games for the Falcons this year and he had 3 receptions for 34 yards (11.3 avg). He was a fifth round pick of the Falcons but he will have to wait until 2011 to show what he can or can not do.
The Falcons got pushed around by the Patriots on Thursday Night. Matt Ryan was so-so in completing 8 of 13 passes for 76 yards. John Parker Wilson finished up the game by completing 14 of 25 passes for 98 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT. Antone Smith led the way on the ground for the Falcons in this game with 8 carries for 44 yards (5.5 ypc). He also added 2 grabs for 14 yards (7.0 avg) for the Falcons. Michael Turner (8 car, 32 yards) and Dimitri Nance (8 car, 21 yards, LF) helped out a bit in the ground game. TE Justin Peelle (3 rec, 30 yards) and WR Troy Bergeron (2 rec, 28 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons. The Falcons finished up with 98 yards rushing (3.9 ypc) and 168 yards passing in this game.
The defense didn’t look too sharp. Safety Erik Coleman led the way for the Falcons in this game with 5 tackles and 1 pass defensed. DEs Lawrence Sidbury (4 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack) and Kroy Biermann (3 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) also made a impact on D for the Falcons. The Patriots finished up with 120 yards rushing (4.0 ypc) and 179 yards passing in this game.
The Falcons looked like they were sleepwalking last night but they were still good enough to beat the Chiefs. Matt Ryan was so-so in a brief appearance completing 3 of 6 passes for 34 yards. Chris Redman wasn’t much better completing 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards. John Parker Wilson finished up the game by completing 8 of 16 passes for 80 yards. RB Antone Smith led the way on the ground for the Falcons last night with 36 yards rushing on 12 carries (3.0 ypc). Michael Turner looked sharp rushing for 29 yards on 4 carries (7.3 ypc) last night. Jason Snelling wasn’t too sharp last night rushing for 24 yards on 11 carries (2.2 ypc). Dmitri Nance only rushed for 6 yards on 7 carries last night (0.9 ypc) but he rushed for 2 TDs. Nance also caught 2 passes for 26 yards (13.0 avg). The Falcons finished up with 100 yards rushing (2.7 ypc) and 144 passing yards last night.
The defense was good against the pass and not too good against the run last night. Linebacker Spencer Adkins led the way for the Falcons’ D last night with 6 tackles and 1 QB hit. LB Curtis Lofton was very busy last night too with 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit. CB Chevis Jackson had a good game last night with 3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception. The Chiefs finished up with 130 yards rushing (4.6 ypc) and 143 yards passing.
25-year old WR Eric Weems will likely be the Falcons’ player getting most of the action on kickoff returns. Weems played in 16 games last season with the Falcons and he returned 48 kickoffs for 1,214 yards (25.3 avg). He has now played in 23 games in his NFL career and he has returned 49 kickoffs for 1,233 yards (25.2 avg). Weems might be needed more on offense early this year with Michael Jenkins injured but I still see him getting his fair share of action on kickoff returns.
27-year old RB Jerious Norwood could also get some action returning kicks in 2010. He played in 10 games for the Falcons last season and he only returned 1 kickoff but it went for 39 yards. Norwood has now played in 55 games in his NFL career and he has returned 117 kickoffs for 2,987 yards (25.5 avg).
No matter whether Weems or Norwood is returning kicks the Falcons’ offense will likely have a lot of solid field position when they trot onto the field in 2010.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE FALCONS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010: B+