FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The dry erase board in Hue Jackson’s office was filled with play diagrams and notes Wednesday as the hours to Russell Athletic Falcons Training Camp counted down. One hastily-scribbled note to the team’s offensive coordinator was from starting quarterback Joey Harrington, looking to set up a meeting with his coach.
Preparations for 2007 are in full swing. That includes installing a new offense, which enters its third phase Thursday afternoon with Harrington under center and a cluster of crafty veterans and exuberant youngsters around him.
“I think we’re further along than I thought we’d be,” Jackson said when asked about the team’s offense and its large playbook. “We really believe in having our guys learn things three times. They got it one time in the mini camp segment and they got it another time in the (organized team activities). Now they’re fixin’ to get it again during training camp.
“We’re going to find out where we really are. I think our guys are going to hit the ground running because our guys really did a good job of studying football and doing what the coaches asked them to do…”
The next step, according to Jackson, is fine tuning plans to get multiple playmakers involved on game day.
It begins with Harrington, who brings a veteran presence to one of the game’s most important positions.
“What I’ve seen out of Joey is a young man that is eager to learn (and) eager to go out and do what he’s asked to do in practice,” Jackson said. “He’s very sharp. You can tell he’s been playing in the league a while. He’s got a veteran presence – great poise in the huddle, great command in the huddle. We’re really excited about working with him this season.”
Harrington, the third overall pick in the 2002 draft, was signed April 9 after spending 2006 with the Miami Dolphins. He’s appeared in 69 games and has thrown for 12,478 yards and 72 touchdowns in his career. Most of the quarterback’s experience is as a drop-back, pocket passer.
That suits Jackson and a plethora of receivers.
Starting tight end Alge Crumpler is coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl. The Falcons also have 12-year veteran – and four-time Pro Bowler Joe Horn at wide receiver.
The Falcons also have strong veteran leadership along the offensive line in tackles Wayne Gandy and Todd Weiner, who have 14 and 10 years experience respectively, and nine-year veteran Todd McClure at center.
“(General Manager) Rich McKay, Coach Petrino and the scouting staff have done a good job assembling a team that has an opportunity to last not just one year, not just two years, but to be a part of (many) winning years. Obviously it starts with our younger players but they have to learn from our older players.
“Joe Horn has done a great job since he’s come here to Atlanta in really showing our young guys how to work at that position. We have Wayne Gandy, our left tackle, who has been in this league a lot and is going to mentor (rookie guard Justin) Blalock. We have a very good nucleous of young guys but we have a very good core of older, veteran guys who have played the game and been very successful.”
Youthful exuberance populates other positions.
Jackson, who coached Pro Bowl receiver Chad Jackson in Cincinnati, has plenty of praise for rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson and second-year player Fred Gibson.
He also likes what he sees from second-year running back Jerious Norwood, who averaged 6.4 yards per carry and notched two touchdowns (including a scintillating 78-yard scamper) in his rookie season. Norwood will be counted on more in the absence of veteran Warrick Dunn, who will miss several weeks after surgery to repair a herniated disc.
“Jerious has shown the ability to make big plays,” Jackson said. “He’s one of our playmakers that we need to make sure has an opportunity to touch the ball because he’s very dangerous from anywhere on the field. I’m really excited to watch him in training camp because, for a running back, where you really start to find out about them is when it’s physical, tough and hot. Can those guys keep coming after you play, after play, after play with the violence that it takes running the ball to make those positive yards? He demonstrated that a year ago as a rookie and, hopefully, he will take the next step in his development as a player this season.”
Jackson said he’ll learn more about his offense when training camp kicks off in the Georgia heat. As pads go on, so will more new facets of an already complex offense designed to get the ball in the hands of playmakers no matter the field position, score or down.
“You don’t want to leave your seat because there could be a chance that we’ll score a touchdown and you might be out getting a hot dog or something,” Jackson said. “We want to be able to strike from anywhere on the field and we believe in scoring points. That’s what this league is about. You have to be able to score to win… you have to be able to score points and that’s our mission and that’s our goal.”
