FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- After a few days of waiting Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith announced a starter for the team's preseason opener Thursday afternoon.
Quarterback Chris Redman, who led the team for the final four games of 2007, will take the first snap of the 2008 preseason.
“We’re going to start Chris Redman on Saturday night," Smith said Thursday afternoon. "All of the quarterbacks will get an opportunity to play in the game. As we go through the preseason, we will start a different quarterback in different games. That’s the plan right now. We’re going to make sure that all of our guys have an opportunity to play with the first unit. As we said, it’s an open competition for those guys.”
Smith stressed an open competition at quarterback at the beginning of Russell Falcons Training Camp and continued to hammer the point Thursday. Reporters looked for a quarterback rotation in the morning but the coaching staff opted to review tape and wait until the afternoon to make a decision.
Redman threw 10 touchdowns in four starts last season -- his first after spending close to three years out of football. He re-signed with the Falcons early in the off-season and has been a quiet leader in the locker room and the quarterback meeting room.
“I’m going to try and do what I can," Redman said Thursday when asked about leading a young team. "Luckily, I’ve got a lot of good leadership on the offensive side of the ball. We’re all out there as a team. If one person is dragging a little bit then the other guy picks him up. That’s crucial for a good offense and I’m lucky to have good teammates like that.”
Smith did not say which quarterback would follow Redman into the game Saturday. Coaches will count the number of snaps to confirm the four signal callers get equal billing over the four-game preseason.
Third overall pick Matt Ryan, D.J. Shockley and Joey Harrington have each had chances to work with the first team during practice in training camp.
“I think as a competitor everyone wants to play on this team," Ryan said. "We’ve come into camp and everyone’s competing and trying to get on the field. I’m no different in that respect.
“I think you can’t worry about it (expectations) too much. For me it has really just been about coming out, working hard, and trying to get better on the practice field everyday. If you get caught up worrying about that other stuff, it’s only going to be negative. So I haven’t tried to think about it too much.”
OTHER STARTERS: Smith said coaches have finalized a complete list of starters for Saturday's game but, since it's just the start of the exhibition season, onlookers shouldn't make too many assumptions.
Many decisions came down to injuries with starting center Todd McClure, wide receiver Laurent Robinson and cornerback Chris Houston all missing practice in recent days.
"There are a couple of guys in terms of the offensive line that we’re really going to have to wait and see how they are," Smith said. "They will be game time decisions. There are a couple of guys that are a little bit banged up. We have set our starting 22. Harvey Dahl will start and again, just like the quarterback situation, I don’t think you should read anything into that"
The coach said Houston and Robinson would be game-time decisions.
SOLID DEFENSE: Defensive end John Abraham spent some time after practice with guests from the Ultimate Athletic Association. The group of eight children sported "Abraham" t-shirts and asked questions in the midst of getting autographs from the Pro Bowler.
Tristan Burgess, executive director of the association, is happy any time at-risk youth can interact with a role model like Abraham. Burgess travels to schools around the Atlanta Metro area to encourage children through sports.
"We make sure school work comes first and we're trying to keep them away from gangs, guns and all that stuff," Burgess said. "It means a lot to these kids, especially with a role model like John."
YOUTH WEEK: The Falcons Community Relations Department sponsored its annual Youth Week celebration during the first seven days of Russell Falcons Training Camp. Children 17 and under experienced a variety of games and contests each day. Click here for photos.
RELATED LINKS:
- COVERAGE: Click here for complete coverage of 2008 Russell Falcons Training Camp
- NOTEBOOK: Redman to start preseason opener
- TRANSCRIPT: Head Coach Mike Smith
- RELEASE: Datish returns, Lovell waived
- RELEASE: Preseason single-game tickets on sale Friday
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Chris Redman | D.J. Shockley | Matt Ryan
- AFTERNOON VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Chris Redman
- ROOKIE DIARY: Part Two of Chevis Jackson's Rookie Diary
- BIRDSEED: J. Mike reviews and comments on Falcons news
- J. MIKE'S BLOG: Afternoon Announcement? | Redman to Start
- TWIG'S BLOG: Our New Camera!
- FALCON AL'S BLOG: Chevis Jackson Rookie Diary
