Atlanta Falcons Inside Slant

The Falcons recently completed a three-day minicamp. To say the team has been deconstructed is an understatement.

Other than safety Lawyer Milloy, linebacker Keith Brooking, linebacker Michael Boley, defensive end John Abraham and maybe wide receiver Roddy White and running back Michael Turner, there might not be another player on the team anyone outside of Atlanta could name.

Throw in the fact that coach Mike Smith is a first-timer and an argument could be made that Atlanta is but a step or two above an expansion team. It is incredibly young and will get younger after the draft.

There are gaping holes in the offensive line, defensive line, depth at linebacker and in the secondary — not to mention quarterback. For leadership that wants to build through the middle, the soil is ripe for planting.

While Chris Redman, Joey Harrington and D.J. Shockley won't be considered the most threatening trio of quarterbacks in the NFL, Atlanta actually has greater immediate concerns.

Along the offensive line, starting left guard Justin Blalock has been moved to right tackle, where regular starter Todd Weiner's return is in question because he had major knee surgery. Quinn Ojinnaka, a backup tackle, was used at starting left guard. Pat McCoy, an undrafted free agent with the Eagles in 2006, lined up as the starting left tackle.

Center Todd McClure and right guard Kynan Forney remain intact but there is major surgery going on around them. Veteran line coach Paul Boudreau should be an asset to whatever crew he's provided after the draft, but he could have the toughest task of any member of the coaching staff.

Atlanta still does not have its ideal defensive interior, although tackle Jonathan Babineaux is a very capable rotational player, as is Kindal Moorehead. Even so, neither is the type of anchor Smith wants, which is another reason why LSU's Glenn Dorsey is being viewed as the Falcons' likely selection at No. 3 — if he's still available.

Though free-agent signee Von Hutchins lined up as the starting left cornerback, which was vacated by DeAngelo Hall, the coaching staff prefers Hutchins be the nickel back. That indicates Atlanta wants a starting cornerback and likely will pursue one high in the draft.

Should it trade back from the No. 3 spot, possibly to No. 8 with Baltimore, Georgia native Leodis McKelvin out of Troy would be an ideal fit — especially since he's also a standout return man, something the Falcons desperately need. Depth at both safety spots also is an issue.

NOTES, QUOTES

—Wide receiver Joe Horn, 36, does not sound like a man wanting to spend potentially his last season in the NFL as a backup on a losing team helping groom younger players to make plays he feels he can make. Though Horn said he would behave professionally and accept such a role, he doesn't seem like he'd be happy doing so.

"I'm not a hater. If I can still run with the young guys and I can still play, play me," Horn said. "I don't want to be making the money I make ($2.5 million) sitting on the sideline or backing a guy up. At the same time, I'm 36 years old and I know how it is. After 10 years, 12 years in this league if you don't know your role will diminish to bring younger guys along you're fooling yourself. You play your role and you make the team a better team by setting the example. You show them with your actions. I have to play my role and be there for the guys like I have been since I've been here."

—Free safety Jimmy Williams, the Falcons' top draft pick in 2006, did not attend the final two workouts of the team's minicamp after being present on Day 1. No reason was given for his absence other than coach Mike Smith saying the workouts are voluntary and that players don't have to be there.

The coaching staff — Smith met with Williams after the first practice — did not seem bothered at all, which signaled that Williams gave a good reason why he had to leave or that they have more pressing things to concern themselves with. Williams and his agent could not be reached.

Williams, who was selected in the second round out of Virginia Tech as a cornerback, was moved to free safety last season and was given countless opportunities to unseat starter Chris Crocker. He never did and was even rendered inactive on game days twice because of poor effort on special teams.

Williams was supposed to get the opportunity to compete with free-agent acquisition Erik Coleman for the starting job but at mini camp, we worked behind Coleman and Antoine Harris.

—Outside linebacker Michael Boley, the team's top defender, and tailback Michael Turner, signed as a free agent from San Diego, did not participate in the minicamp, although they were present. Smith said both were recovering from offseason, arthroscopic procedures — Boley (ankle), Turner (shoulder) — and were held out for precautionary reasons.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not going to be about a coach making up all these great schemes. It's going to be about the players going out to play. I think that's why the Patriots do so well. They don't need superstars at every position. Every man does his job and the offense works. If we do that, we'll make plays, win games." — Fullback Ovie Mughelli, taking a shot at former coach Bobby Petrino, on Mike Mularkey's offensive scheme.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Coaches have shuffled players along the offensive line to see how some of them adapted to playing new positions. In turn, the coaching staff gained insight on how it could draft after seeing the success and failure with the versatility of some players.

Most notably, starting left guard Justin Blalock, who struggled as a rookie, was moved to right tackle, and backup left tackle Quinn Ojinnaka was moved to left guard. Blalock's shift is two-pronged. Regular starting right tackle Todd Weiner is recovering from major knee surgery and his return is questionable. Secondly, Blalock's skill set might be better suited at tackle.

If Blalock is moved, Atlanta could opt to pursue a guard to compete with Ojinnaka later in the draft than a right tackle earlier in the draft. The Falcons still have to acquire a left tackle and that could be the priority.

Should it decide to keep Blalock at tackle and pursue a guard in the middle of the draft, Atlanta could use some of its higher selections to address other need areas.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

—PK Morten Andersen is a reliable geriatric kicker that still has some leg left but the signing of Jason Elam takes him out of the picture.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

—FB Corey McIntyre (tendered at $927,000 with no compensation) was the special teams captain, but he might not be an ideal fit in the offense.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.

PLAYERS ACQUIRED

—FS Erik Coleman: UFA Jets; $10M/4 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

—K Jason Elam: UFA Broncos; $9M/4 yrs, $3.3M SB.

—DE Simon Fraser: Not tendered as RFA by Browns; terms unknown.

—TE Ben Hartsock: UFA Titans; $9M/4 yrs, $2.5M guaranteed.

—CB Von Hutchins: UFA Texans; $9M/4 yrs, $2.5M.

—DT Rashad Moore: Not tendered as RFA by Patriots; terms unknown.

—DT Kindal Moorehead: UFA Panthers; terms unknown.

—C Alex Stepanovich: UFA Bengals; terms unknown.

—RB Michael Turner: UFA Chargers; $34.5M/6 yrs, $15M guaranteed.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED

—DT Tim Anderson: UFA; terms unknown.

—LB Michael Boley: RFA; $2.017M/1 yr.

—OL Tyson Clabo: ERFA; terms unknown.

—DE Chauncey Davis: RFA; $927,000/1 yr.

—QB Joey Harrington: FA, had been released by Falcons; $1M/1 yr, $300,000 SB.

—P Michael Koenen: RFA' $1.47M/1 yr.

—QB Chris Redman: UFA; $4M/2 yrs, $2M guaranteed.

—NT Montavious Stanley: ERFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.

PLAYERS LOST

—TE Courtney Anderson: UFA Bills; terms unknown.

—TE Dwayne Blakley: UFA Titans; 1 yr, terms unknown.

—DT Rod Coleman (released).

—S Chris Crocker: UFA Dolphins; 1.15M/1 yr, $300,000 SB.

—TE Alge Crumpler (released).

—RB Warrick Dunn (released).

—WR Jamin Elliott (released).

—OT Wayne Gandy (released).

—CB DeAngelo Hall (traded Raiders).

—QB Byron Leftwich (released).

—S Omare Lowe: UFA Seahawks; $605,000/1 yr.

—CB Lewis Sanders (released).

—LB Marcus Wilkins (released).

—OLB Demorrio Williams: UFA Chiefs; $16M/5 yrs, $5.5M guaranteed.

Thanks for the good read, lots of good stuff.
The reporter has done his homework.

That`s some of the buzz I have been hearing, from both Raven and Falcon talkers upon McNairs retirement.
Plus, I believe McKelvin was in Flowery Branch during part of Mini camp?