2008 Comcast Pro Football Guide by Jim Zegers

2008 PRO FOOTBALL GUIDE ATLANTA FALCONS team information schedules get ready for football guide

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QUESTIONS FOR THE COACH MIKE SMITH

was named new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after coming off a successful campaign as defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Smith recently sat down with Score Atlanta publisher I.J. Rosenberg to discuss his new role in Atlanta and what to expect in the near future. Talk about transitioning into this job, moving into a head-coaching job, all of the details, since it is much different than being a coordinator or an assistant. Smith: When you’re a defensive coordinator or a position coach, you really have tunnel vision in terms of how you concern yourself with the defense. As the head coach, you have to look at all aspects of the football team: offense, defense and special teams. Probably the thing that is the most overwhelming is the day-to-day interaction with other people in the organization. People can talk to you about how it’s going to be different, for example in terms of making decisions with ticketing and marketing. Are the Falcons conscious that the organization needs a boost, needs a face, a head coach that is out there in the community? It does seem like this organization, after the year it went through, needs someone out there that people can associate with. Smith: Well, I don’t see it as something that is part of the job description as much as that it’s more my personality and who I am. And I received some really good advice from a number of coaches and people I talked to when I knew that I was going to have an opportunity to interview. That [advice] was, you have to be yourself and don’t do anything different. Be yourself because that’s what has gotten you to the point where you are right now and it has given you the opportunity to interview for this job. How hands-on will you be with your coaching staff and your coordinators?

Smith: They’re going to call the game on game day, but we are going to be very involved in the preparation during the week. I’m very confident with the staff that we’ve put together, with Brian VanGorder running the defense, Mike Mularkey running the offense and Keith Armstrong running our special teams. I think it’s the head coach’s job to prepare the team and the coaching staff during the week. On game day, the players go out and play, and the offensive and defensive coordinators make the calls. But I also think it’s important that a head coach manages the game. They have to make the right decisions at the right time that affect the outcome of the game. What’s your plan for Matt Ryan? Smith: Matt has done an outstanding job in learning the system and the verbiage. Now, I will say this: The quarterback position is probably the most difficult position to transition into from the college game to the professional game. But if there’s anyone I think has a chance to compete and play early, it’s Matt. He’s very cerebral, he has a very good understanding of the game, he’s a hard worker, and he’s got a great mental makeup. I have made our football team well aware that we’re going to play the best players, and we are not concerned about where they were drafted or how many years they have in this league. It’s our job as a coaching staff to put the best players on the field that give us the best opportunity to win. What’s your long-range vision for yourself and the organization, and do you think about those sorts of things? Smith: The thing that I see long term is that we want to be successful on the football field, we want to win a lot of games, but we also want to be an organization that the community is going to be very proud of. For instance, in the month of May, when we were in our OTAs, there were 64 times that we had players out in the community. I think that it’s very, very important that our players are interacting with the community in terms of going out and making appearances. Lots of coaches think about their jobs all of the time. When you go home at night to go to sleep, are you one of those people who stays up all night thinking about the big game or something like that? Smith: I’m a big believer in visualization. I taught and coached that philosophy when I was a college coach. What I do is rehash the day: Did I get A, B and C accomplished, and then somebody threw D and F at you. But then I do visualize, I do see us being successful. I see us lining up against Detroit and having success, stopping them on defense, having success on special teams, moving the football offensively. I think it’s very important that you have that positive reinforcement.

OFF SEASON MOVES DRAFT PICKS

FREE AGENTS

Pick: First round, pick No. 3 (third overall) out of Boston College The skinny: Will Ryan be the next Tom Brady? Those are lofty expectations, but he possesses prototypical size (6-4, 220 pounds) and intangibles for the quarterback position. Matt was the 2007 ACC Offensive Player of the Year with 4,507 passing yards.

The skinny: Signed from the New York Jets, Coleman has been a steady contributor in the secondary since being drafted out of Washington State in 2004. The 5-11, 206 pounder made 41 tackles in 15 games last season. He is capable in both run support and coverage (seven career interceptions).

QB Matt Ryan

OT Sam Baker

Pick: First round, pick No. 21 (21st overall) out of Southern California The skinny: A four-year starter at USC, Baker should combine with Justin Blalock to form a talented young front. Good athleticism at 6-5 with the frame to add more weight. His father, David, is commissioner of the Arena Football League.

LB Curtis Lofton

Pick: Second round, pick No. 6 (37th overall) out of Oklahoma The skinny: An early-entry draftee, Lofton was the best linebacker on a talented OU defense last season. As a junior, Lofton notched 157 tackles, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. Could eventually see time as a starter at middle linebacker.

CB Chevis Jackson

Pick: Third round, pick No. 5 (68th overall) out of LSU The skinny: A battle-tested cornerback who brings 40 games of SEC starting experience to the NFL. Not a burner but possesses good size (6-0, 192) and a national championship pedigree. Five interceptions in his senior season.

WR Harry Douglas

Pick: Third round, pick No. 21 (84th overall) out of Louisville The skinny: Enjoyed a productive career at Louisville as Brian Brohm’s No. 1 downfield threat. Superb hands and route running make up for small stature (5-11, 172). Will push for starting spot alongside Roddy White and Laurent Robinson.

S Thomas DeCoud

Pick: Third round, pick No. 35 (98th overall) out of California The skinny: DeCoud could be a special teams ace (six career blocked kicks). Has played every position in the secondary, but showed his future at safety in 2007 (117 tackles, four interceptions) in his first full season without injury.

LB Robert James

Pick: Fifth round, pick No. 3 (138th overall) out of Arizona State The skinny: Finally broke through in his senior season, compiling 106 tackles, 2.5 sacks and four interceptions. Despite his size (5-11, 219), James can mix it up and shows good awareness in coverage. First Team All-Pac 10 selection in 2007.

DE Kroy Biermann

Pick: Fifth round, pick No. 19 (154th overall) out of Montana The skinny: The star defensive end excelled in his senior season, putting up gaudy numbers (72 tackles, 15 sacks and five forced fumbles). Bierman was the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award winner (best defensive player in Football Championship Subdivision) with 15 sacks.

RB Thomas Brown

Pick: Sixth round, pick No. 6 (172nd overall) out of Georgia The skinny: The Atlanta native (Tucker) stays at home after a productive career at UGA. Brown could be a viable third-down option and provides good hands (39 career receptions) and special-teams versatility (32 kick returns).

CB Wilrey Fontenot

Pick: Seventh round, pick No. 5 (212th overall) out of Arizona The skinny: Diminutive corner (5-9, 176) brings 46 career starts and 4.4 speed to the pros. Has a chance to emerge from the shadow of Antoine Cason, the more heralded Wildcats corner. Had 174 tackles and five interceptions in college career.

S Erik Coleman (5th year)

DB Deke Cooper (6th year)

The skinny: The Swainsboro, Ga., native joins the Falcons from Carolina, where he achieved career highs in tackles (59), passes defended (four) and interceptions (three) last season. Cooper brings size (6-2, 210) to a Falcons secondary that is sparse on height.

K Jason Elam (16th year)

The skinny: Elam, who played at Brookwood High School, is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Denver Broncos and is one of the best kickers in the game. Despite entering his 16th season, Elam brings a big leg to Atlanta, one which is responsible for the longest kick in NFL history (63 yards). Could be revitalized kicking indoors.

DE Simon Fraser (4th year)

The skinny: This beast of a defensive end was released by the Cleveland Browns after a 2007 season in which he registered 14 tackles in limited time. At 6-6 and 300 pounds, Fraser will be counted on to bring his high-motor game to a Falcons defensive line that lacked punch last season.

TE Ben Hartsock (5th year)

The skinny: Hartsock should enter camp as the starting tight end after two seasons each in Tennessee and Indianapolis. The Ohio State alum pulled in 12 passes for 138 yards last season in a run-dominant offense. Taking over for Alge Crumpler, his production should increase in Atlanta.

DB Von Hutchins (5th year)

The skinny: Part of a much improved Texans defense last season, Hutchins is a physical player in the secondary despite his 5-9 frame. Notched a career-high 95 tackles (third on the team) and six passes defended in 2007. On his third team after beginning his career with Indianapolis in 2004.

DL Rashad Moore (5th year)

The skinny: GM Thomas Dimitroff is familiar with Moore from his season as a Patriots reserve. The 6-3, 325-pound defensive tackle has had stints with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Patriots, and will get a chance to shore up a Falcons run defense that was porous in 2007.

DT Kindal Moorehead (6th year)

The skinny: The 6-2, 285-pound defensive tackle has been a solid reserve for the division-rival Carolina Panthers since 2003. Playing on the same line as All-Pros Julius Peppers and Kris Jenkins has rubbed off on the Alabama product. Moorehead has 9.5 sacks in only 13 career starts.

TE Jason Rader (3rd year)

The skinny: After a two-year stint with the Miami Dolphins from 2005-2006 and one season with the Patriots, Rader is back with the Falcons. The Falcons originally signed him as a rookie free agent out of Marshall in 2004. The 6-4, 271-pounder was released by the Patriots on Sept. 30.

C Alex Stepanovich (5th year)

The skinny: One of six former Ohio State players on the Falcons roster, Stepanovich appeared in 12 games last season for his home state Cincinnati Bengals. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2004, starting all 16 games as a rookie. Has 34 starts in 42 career games.

RB Michael Turner (5th year)

The skinny: After a four-year apprenticeship under LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, Turner has been handed the keys to the Falcons running game. With a career average of 5.5 yards per carry, “The Burner” is the real deal and will have every opportunity to prove he can handle a full workload.

TE Keith Zinger

Pick: Seventh round, pick No. 25 (232nd overall) out of LSU The skinny: Excellent blocking tight end who won a national championship with now-Falcons teammate Chevis Jackson. Zinger was seldom used in the passing game at LSU, but has good hands and is a mauler off the line.

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BURNIN’ UP : Michael Turner set to catch fire in Atlanta For a while now, football fans have had their eye on Michael Turner. The versatile runner was a backup for four years behind all-world running back LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, but his talent shone through nonetheless. In the final regular-season game of the 2004 season, his rookie campaign, Turner got his first start and ran for 87 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. In last year’s AFC Divisional game, with Tomlinson injured, Turner went for 71 yards on 17 carries in a 28-24 win over the defending champion Indianapolis Colts. Earlier in the year, he exploded for a career-high 147 yards in a win at Denver. With a 5.5 yards per carry average in his four seasons – and his contract with the Chargers up – it was Turner’s time to take the lead role. During the free-agency period in which he was considered by many to be the top prize, Turner spurned other franchises for the chance to play in Atlanta. “The situation’s been building for years,” Turner says. “I knew the opportunity was going to come one day. I’m just glad it’s finally here.” Very quickly, Turner has embraced his new surroundings. The 26-year-old Chicago native, who starred at Northern Illinois, says the unfamiliar city has been nothing but supportive. “It’s going great so far. I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m loving the city and the people, and the fans have been great.” OFF THE BACKBURNER … Turner’s running style and work ethic should quickly endear him to any fan base. Nicknamed “Burner” by Chargers fans, Turner brings a little bit of everything to the table with his no-frills approach. “I’m not flashy, there’s not a whole lot going on,” he says. “I say it’s a blue-collar style. Power and speed – the power to run over people, and the speed to run around them.” If you’ve watched Turner play over the last four years, you will probably agree with that assessment. Known as a punishing runner who can also break the big one – he has three carries of over 70 yards in 228 attempts, including an 83-yard touchdown run against the Colts in 2005 – Turner will need to be an offensive catalyst for a Falcons team that parted with mainstay Warrick Dunn earlier in the offseason. Expect him to be the “thunder” to Jerious Norwood’s “lightning” in what promises to be a more smash mouth approach under new head coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. Falcons’ fans will hope that the Turner/Norwood pairing will achieve similar success as the Tomlinson/Turner duo of old, but Turner declines to compare the Chargers backfield of the last four years to the one the Falcons will sport in 2008. “It’s really two different situations,” he says. “Both Jerious and LT are great running backs. Jerious and I are both very young in the league, we’re just trying to make our mark.” SAME STYLE … Besides the change in scenery and the promise of a marquee role in the Falcons offense, Turner will have to make another transition: the switch from a perennial playoff contender in San Diego to a Falcons team trying to pick up the pieces after a rough 2007 season in which it went 4-12. Turner, however, says the situation he enters with the Falcons is something he has seen before in his career. “I think about it in terms of when I first got [to each team]. San Diego was coming off a 4-12 season [in 2003]. Everybody’s job was up in the air, they didn’t know who the quarterback was going to be. There were a lot of similarities. You don’t want to say rebuilding, but both franchises were trying to bring guys in who would do a good job.” He certainly will be expected to shoulder a heavy load on a team in flux, but Turner, who has been praised through the years for his even keel and quiet focus, says his approach will stay the same no matter what. “I’ll be doing the same things [as in San Diego], just doing more of it. I’m just going to go do my thing.” Falcons’ fans hope Turner’s “thing” is to help turn around a franchise that needs someone new to root for. Fortunately, he’s perfect for the role. By Alex Ewalt, who can be reached at aewalt@scoreatl.com.

COOL AS ICE : Matt Ryan ready for first-year pressure Recovery. Rebirth. Return to glory. Following a tumultuous year that saw the team register a 4-12 record, the Falcons approached the 2008 NFL Draft with the notion of rebuilding prominently on their minds. When it came time for the Falcons to make their selection with the third overall pick, the team went with Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, passing on some of the draft’s other top prospects like LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. With news of the selection, some criticism surfaced from fans and media alike, as the team was accused of reaching for Ryan because of the position he plays, which just so happens to be the most important in the game. All the while, the Falcons’ focus remained unchanged: recovery, rebirth and return to glory. ANSWERING THE BELL … With the help of time, the Falcons have begun their recovery from last year’s difficult season. And as the team sees it, with the addition of Matt Ryan, the process of rebirth–the awakening of a franchise under a new light and with a new leader at the helm–has begun. To understand why the team is so confident in Ryan’s abilities, one needn’t look far. While the voices of critics echo loudly, it is the talented quarterback’s ability to ignore and cope with doubters that matters most. “I don’t think you can worry about critics,” Ryan explains. “No matter what decision a team’s going to make early in the draft, there’s going to be criticism of that decision. You just can’t get caught up in it. For me, it’s been all about just coming down and preparing and just trying to earn the respect of my teammates and get better on a day-to-day basis. That’s what I try to do.” For proof of resiliency, consider Ryan’s college career. In his first two years at BC, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback threw for less than 2,000 yards combined with only 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. In his final two seasons, Ryan completed better than 60 percent of his passes, and threw for 7,449 yards to go along with 46 touchdowns. As such, the signal caller’s ability to deal with adversity, adapt and remain focused, while drastically improving his game, is not only noteworthy, but also key to his and the Falcons’ future success in the NFL. THE LEADER … As scouts and analysts obsess over statistics, 40-yard-dash times and other such measurables, they often ignore the rare intangibles that make good players great. And while Ryan certainly has the height, arm strength, agility and athleticism to be a successful professional quarterback, it is his intelligence, maturity and composure under pressure that will truly separate him from the pack. In 2007, the Eagles were involved in three games decided by four points or less. Ryan led his team to victory in all three. On the road, in hostile territory against Clemson and Virginia Tech, “Matty Ice” threw game-winning touchdowns in the waning seconds of both contests. Simply put, when the going gets tough, a condition the Falcons have certainly grown accustomed to of late, Matt Ryan is at his absolute best. As a rookie expected to become the face of the franchise, Ryan is faced yet again with a great deal of pressure. Not surprisingly, he is more than ready to deal with such pressure. “[The expectations are] something that shouldn’t be the most important thing to you; playing football and being a solid teammate and a real aggressive player on the field is the most important thing. But, at the same time, that’s part of being an NFL player, making sure that you project a positive image for the team that you play for. That’s something that I try to embrace.” While Ryan hopes to be running with the first team come Week 1, he admits that what is truly important is becoming “a better player by the end of the season than I was at the beginning.” No matter what his personal, short-term expectations are, however, one thing is for sure: in the long-term, the Falcons are far better off with Matt Ryan on their side. By Scott Janovitz, who can be reached at sjanovitz@scoreatl.com. www.scoreatl.com

Four rookies have chance to start for Falcons Being an NFL rookie is akin to starting your freshman year of high school. Awkward, inexperienced and having to prove themselves on new grounds, first-year NFL players are often tossed into a deep roster of “upperclassmen,” who treat the newbies like adolescents on the playground. In the case of the Falcons, however, there are several rookies who won’t be pushed around or overwhelmed by the NFL. Part of that can be attributed to the talents of the Falcons’ 2008 draft class, and part is because of the relative inexperience of the team. Four Falcons draftees have an excellent chance of cracking the starting lineup and turning into stars as rookies. SAM THE MAN … Despite being the final rookie to sign his contract and report, offensive lineman Sam Baker was the only first-teamer of the bunch. Baker logged reps with the starters in minicamp and OTAs, but was unsure about his spot because of his contract situation. You would think that showing up to camp halfway through his first practice would put Baker in a proverbial full-nelson from some of his linemates, but that wasn’t the case. “When I got out there, I got a couple of jokes,” Baker said of his teammates heckling him about his late arrival. “With me being the new guy, it’s tough, but [Justin] Blalock helps me a lot.” Baker is referring to his future left-side linemate in the 6-foot-4, 333-pound Blalock. But coming in at 6-foot-5, 312 pounds himself, Baker may be helping more than learning come opening kickoff. The Falcons understand that Baker will be critical to an offensive line that gave up 47 sacks last season (tied for seventh-worst in NFL). SCHOOL’S IN SESSION … The other potential rookie starters are headlined by Boston College’s Matt Ryan. As the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, some figure Ryan will be the starter from the first whistle, but despite being the most valuable rookie in NFL history, the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has taken an apprenticeship behind veterans Chris Redman and Joey Harrington to begin camp, a situation he is comfortable with. “At this point it’s about performing consistently, showing up every day, being productive and getting better,” Ryan said. “I have about 20 practices under my belt so I’m a lot more comfortable than I was starting minicamp.” In the team’s 7-on-7 competition, Ryan was in the same lineup as Harry Douglas. The 5-foot-11, 171-pounder wasted no time impressing the Falcons, and has been featured as the third receiver alongside Roddy White and Laurent Robinson in several formations. While White and Robinson can stretch the field with their speed and top-tier athleticism, Douglas is looking to put his name on the team’s possession-receiver tag. For that edge, he has called upon Louisville alums Redman and Deion Branch of the Seattle Seahawks for guidance. “Coming from the same school, we’ve had some of the same coaches in college and they have helped me a great deal,” Douglas said of the two. “In the NFL, the holes inside the defense are smaller and guys in the secondary close on the ball faster, but with [Redman and Branch’s] help, the opportunity is out there for me to grab.” LINING UP … The final rookie looking to seize a starting spot is linebacker Curtis Lofton. The early-entry draftee almost didn’t make it to camp either, but after signing, he was able to get his 6-foot, 248-pound frame onto the second team. He currently sits behind Tony Taylor for the middle-linebacker position. “Since they took me so high, I definitely thought they were going to put me with the twos, maybe even the ones,” the second-round pick said after his first practice. “After having minicamp and OTAs, I felt good about things and hopefully didn’t have many mental errors out there.” In case he has any concerns, Lofton knows he has good teachers on each side of him in Michael Boley and Keith Brooking. “Any time I need questions answered, need help or mess up, those guys [Brooking and Boley] are there for support. We definitely have a good rapport.” Thus, school is in for these four rookies, with the NFL as their campus. For now, Baker is the only No. 1, but each knows that they are inching closer to starter status. For Ryan, Lofton and Douglas, winning a starting spot in training camp would be the equivalent of taking the most popular girl in school to the prom as a freshman – and they just might. By Erik Horne, who can be reached at ehorne@scoreatl.com.

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FALCON PLAYERS No Name 55 Abraham, John Anderson, Jamaal 98 93 Anderson, Tim Babineaux, Jonathan 95 72 Baker, Sam Batiste, Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anthony 70 71 Biermann, Kroy 63 Blalock, Justin 59 Boley, Michael Brittingham, Jamar 40 42 Brock, Eric 56 Brooking, Keith 43 Brown, Isaac 27 Brown, Thomas 77 Clabo, Tyson 26 Coleman, Erik 35 Cooper, Deke 73 Dahl, Harvey 92 Davis, Chauncey 28 DeCoud, Thomas 83 Douglas, Harry 1 Elam, Jason 99 Evans, Willie 86 Finneran, Brian 29 Fontenot, Wilrey 65 Forney, Kynan 79 Foster, Renardo 75 Fraser, Simon 20 Grimes, Brent

Pos DE DE DT DT T OL DE G LB RB S LB LB RB G S S OL DE S WR K DE WR CB G OL DE CB

Hgt 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-0 6-0 6-2 5-11 5-8 6-6 5-11 6-2 6-5 6-2 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-5 5-9 6-3 6-7 6-6 5-10

Wgt 266 282 325 284 312 313 241 333 223 216 202 241 206 200 332 206 210 308 274 197 171 195 267 206 169 302 340 274 185

Age Exp College 30 9 South Carolina 22 2 Arkansas 27 4 Ohio State 26 4 Iowa 23 R USC 26 2 LA-Lafayette 22 R Montana 24 2 Texas 25 4 Southern Miss 24 R Bloomsburg 23 R Auburn 32 11 Georgia Tech 23 R Cntrl Michigan 22 R Georgia 26 3 Wake Forest 26 5 Washington St 30 6 Notre Dame 27 2 Nevada-Reno 25 4 Florida State 23 R California 23 R Louisville 38 15 Hawaii 24 1 Miss State 32 9 Villanova 23 R Arizona 29 8 Hawaii 24 2 Louisville 25 4 Ohio State 25 1 Shippensburg

FALCON PLAYERS Name Harrington, Joey Harris, Antoine Hartsock, Ben Horn, Joe Houston, Chris Hutchins, Von Irons, David Jackson, Chevis James, Robert Jenkins, Michael Jennings, Adam Koenen, Michael Lewis, Trey Listorti, Brad Lofton, Curtis Lovell, Kevin McClure, Todd McCoy, Pat McIntyre, Corey Miller, Brandon Milloy, Lawyer Milner, Martrez Moore, Rashad Moorehead, Kindal Mughelli, Ovie Nicholas, Stephen Norwood, Jerious Ojinnaka, Quinn Patterson, David

No 13 41 89 87 23 25 30 22 51 12 81 9 97 47 50 6 62 64 38 68 36 88 90 94 34 54 32 76 91

Pos QB CB TE WR CB CB CB CB LB WR WR P DT TE LB K C OL FB DE S TE DT DT FB LB RB T DL

Hgt 6-4 5-10 6-4 6-1 5-11 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-10 6-4 5-9 5-11 6-3 6-4 6-0 5-9 6-1 6-5 6-0 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-5

Wgt 210 197 264 211 175 185 197 185 218 215 176 199 323 251 248 153 301 333 258 259 216 259 353 299 245 232 202 305 297

Age Exp College 29 7 Oregon 26 2 Louisville 28 5 Ohio State 36 13 Itawamba (MS) JC 23 2 Arkansas 27 5 Mississippi 25 2 Auburn 22 R LSU 24 R Arizona State 26 5 Ohio State 25 3 Fresno State 26 4 Western Wash 23 2 Washburn 23 R Massachusetts 22 R Oklahoma 24 1 Cincinnati 31 10 Louisiana State 27 2 West Texas A&M 29 4 West Virginia 22 R Georgia 34 13 Washington 23 2 Georgia 29 5 Tennessee 29 6 Alabama 28 6 Wake Forest 25 2 South Florida 24 3 Miss State 24 2 Syracuse 23 1 Ohio State

FALCON PLAYERS Name No Pennington, Terrance 66 85 Rader, Jason 8 Redman, Chris Robinson, Laurent 19 2 Ryan, Matt 46 Schneck, Mike 37 Sharpe, Glenn 3 Shockley, D.J. 44 Snelling, Jason Stanley, Montavious 96 Stepanovich, Alex 69 39 Stone, Daren 53 Taylor, Tony 33 Turner, Michael Vaughn, Cameron 49 14 Weems, Eric 74 Weiner, Todd 84 White, Roddy 67 Wilkerson, Ben Williams, Chandler 18 52 Williams, Travis 82 Zinger, Keith

Pos OL TE QB WR QB LS CB QB RB DT C S LB RB LB WR T WR C WR LB TE

Hgt 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-4 5-9 6-4 6-0 6-4 5-11 6-1 6-4

COACHES Mike Smith Head Coach Emmitt Thomas Asst Head Coach/Secondary Keith Armstrong Special Teams Coordinator Mike Mularkey Offensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder Defensive Coordinator Paul Boudreau Offensive Line Gerald Brown Running Backs Joe Danna Defensive Quality Control Paul Dunn Assistant Offensive Line

Wgt Age Exp College New Mexico 315 24 2 Marshall 271 27 3 Louisville 221 31 6 Illinois State 194 23 2 220 23 R Boston College 234 30 10 Wisconsin 185 24 R Miami (Fla.) Georgia 222 25 2 Virginia 229 24 2 Louisville 302 26 3 Ohio State 296 26 5 Maine 215 22 2 Georgia 235 24 2 Northern Illinois 244 26 5 LSU 240 24 1 Bethune-Cookman 191 23 1 300 32 11 Kansas State UAB 208 26 4 LSU 310 25 3 Florida Intl 178 22 1 Auburn 221 26 2 268 23 R LSU

Jeff Fish Director of Athletic Performance Ray Hamilton Defensive Line Bill Hughan Asst Strength and Conditioning Tom McMahon Assistant Special Teams Bill Musgrave Quarterbacks Glenn Pires Linebackers Alvin Reynolds Defensive Backs Terry Robiskie Wide Receivers Chris Scelfo Tight Ends Glenn Thomas Offensive Quality Control

2008-09 NFL SCHEDULE WEEK 1 Thursday, September 04 7:00 NBC WAS @ NYG Sunday, September 07 1:00 FOX DET @ ATL 1:00 CBS CIN @ BAL 1:00 FOX SEA @ BUF 1:00 CBS NYJ @ MIA 1:00 CBS KC @ NE 1:00 FOX TB @ NO 1:00 FOX STL @ PHI 1:00 CBS HOU @ PIT 1:00 CBS JAC @ TEN 4:15 FOX DAL @ CLE 4:15 FOX CAR @ SD 4:15 FOX ARI @ SF 8:15 NBC CHI @ IND Monday, September 08 7:00 ESPN MIN @ GB 10:15 ESPN DEN @ OAK

WEEK 4 Sunday, September 28 1:00 FOX ATL @ CAR 1:00 CBS CLE @ CIN 1:00 CBS HOU @ JAC 1:00 CBS DEN @ KC 1:00 FOX SF @ NO 1:00 FOX ARI @ NYJ 1:00 FOX GB @ TB 1:00 FOX MIN @ TEN 4:05 CBS SD @ OAK 4:05 CBS BUF @ STL 4:15 FOX WAS @ DAL 8:15 NBC PHI @ CHI

WEEK 2 Sunday, September 14 CHI @ CAR 1:00 FOX TEN @ CIN 1:00 CBS GB @ DET 1:00 FOX BUF @ JAC 1:00 CBS OAK @ KC 1:00 CBS IND @ MIN 1:00 CBS NYG @ STL 1:00 FOX NO @ WAS 1:00 FOX SF @ SEA 4:05 FOX ATL @ TB 4:05 FOX MIA @ ARI 4:15 CBS SD @ DEN 4:15 CBS BAL @ HOU 4:15 CBS NE @ NYJ 4:15 CBS PIT @ CLE 8:15 NBC Monday, September 15 PHI @ DAL 8:30 ESPN WEEK 3 Sunday, September 21 1:00 CBS KC @ ATL 1:00 CBS OAK @ BUF 1:00 FOX TB @ CHI 1:00 FOX CAR @ MIN 1:00 CBS MIA @ NE 1:00 CBS CIN @ NYG 1:00 CBS HOU @ TEN 1:00 FOX ARI @ WAS 4:05 FOX NO @ DEN 4:05 FOX DET @ SF 4:05 FOX STL @ SEA 4:15 CBS CLE @ BAL 4:15 CBS JAC @ IND 4:15 CBS PIT @ PHI 8:15 NBC DAL @ GB Monday, September 22 8:30 ESPN NYJ @ SD

Monday, September 29 8:30 ESPN BAL @ PIT

WEEK 7 Sunday, October 19 1:00 CBS SD @ BUF 1:00 FOX NO @ CAR 1:00 FOX MIN @ CHI 1:00 CBS PIT @ CIN 1:00 CBS TEN @ KC 1:00 CBS BAL @ MIA 1:00 FOX SF @ NYG 1:00 FOX DAL @ STL 4:05 FOX DET @ HOU 4:15 CBS IND @ GB 4:15 CBS NYJ @ OAK 4:15 CBS CLE @ WAS 8:15 NBC SEA @ TB Monday, October 20 8:30 ESPN DEN @ NE

Byes: Lions, Colts, Dolphins, Patriots, Giants, Seahawks

Byes: Cardinals, Falcons, Jaguars, Eagles

WEEK 5 Sunday, October 05 1:00 CBS TEN @ BAL 1:00 CBS KC @ CAR 1:00 FOX CHI @ DET 1:00 FOX ATL @ GB 1:00 CBS IND @ HOU 1:00 CBS SD @ MIA 1:00 FOX SEA @ NYG 1:00 FOX WAS @ PHI 4:05 FOX TB @ DEN 4:15 CBS BUF @ ARI 4:15 CBS CIN @ DAL 4:15 CBS NE @ SF 8:15 NBC PIT @ JAC

WEEK 8 Sunday, October 26 1:00 CBS OAK @ BAL 1:00 FOX ARI @ CAR 1:00 FOX TB @ DAL 1:00 FOX WAS @ DET 1:00 CBS BUF @ MIA 1:00 FOX STL @ NE 1:00 CBS SD @ NO 1:00 CBS KC @ NYJ 1:00 FOX ATL @ PHI 4:05 CBS CLE @ JAC 4:15 FOX NYG @ PIT 4:15 FOX SEA @ SF

Monday, October 06 8:30 ESPN MIN @ NO Byes: Browns, Jets, Raiders, Rams

Monday, October 27 8:30 ESPN IND @ TEN Byes: Bears, Bengals, Broncos, Packers, Texans, Vikings

WEEK 6

WEEK 9

Sunday, October 12 CHI @ ATL 1:00 FOX MIA @ HOU 1:00 CBS BAL @ IND 1:00 CBS DET @ MIN 1:00 FOX OAK @ NO 1:00 CBS CIN @ NYJ 1:00 CBS CAR @ TB 1:00 FOX STL @ WAS 1:00 FOX JAC @ DEN 4:05 CBS DAL @ ARI 4:15 FOX PHI @ SF 4:15 FOX GB @ SEA 4:15 FOX NE @ SD 8:15 NBC

Sunday, November 02 NYJ @ BUF 1:00 CBS DET @ CHI 1:00 FOX JAC @ CIN 1:00 CBS BAL @ CLE 1:00 CBS TB @ KC 1:00 FOX HOU @ MIN 1:00 CBS ARI @ STL 1:00 FOX GB @ TEN 1:00 FOX MIA @ DEN 4:05 CBS DAL @ NYG 4:15 FOX ATL @ OAK 4:15 FOX PHI @ SEA 4:15 FOX NE @ IND 8:15 NBC

Monday, October 13 NYG @ CLE 8:30 ESPN

Monday, November 03 PIT @ WAS 8:30 ESPN

Byes: Bills, Chiefs, Steelers, Titans

Byes:Panthers, Saints, Chargers, 49ers

WEEK 10 Thursday, November 06 DEN @ CLE 8:15 NFL Sunday, November 09 NO @ ATL 1:00 FOX TEN @ CHI 1:00 CBS JAC @ DET 1:00 CBS CIN @ HOU 1:00 CBS SEA @ MIA 1:00 FOX GB @ MIN 1:00 FOX BUF @ NE 1:00 CBS STL @ NYJ 1:00 FOX CAR @ OAK 4:05 FOX IND @ PIT 4:15 CBS KC @ SD 4:15 CBS NYG @ PHI 8:15 NBC Monday, November 10 SF @ ARI 8:30 ESPN Byes: Ravens, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Redskins

WEEK 13 Thursday, November 27 12:30 CBS TEN @ DET 4:15 FOX SEA @ DAL 8:15 NFL ARI @ PHI Sunday, November 30 1:00 FOX SF @ BUF 1:00 CBS BAL @ CIN 1:00 CBS IND @ CLE 1:00 FOX CAR @ GB 1:00 CBS DEN @ NYJ 1:00 CBS MIA @ STL 1:00 FOX NO @ TB 1:00 FOX NYG @ WAS 4:05 FOX ATL @ SD 4:15 CBS PIT @ NE 4:15 CBS KC @ OAK 8:15 NBC CHI @ MIN Monday, December 01 8:30 ESPN JAC @ HOU WEEK 14

WEEK 11 Thursday, November 13 8:15 NFL NYJ @ NE Sunday, November 16 1:00 CBS DEN @ ATL 1:00 FOX DET @ CAR 1:00 FOX PHI @ CIN 1:00 FOX CHI @ GB 1:00 CBS HOU @ IND 1:00 CBS TEN @ JAC 1:00 FOX NO @ KC 1:00 CBS OAK @ MIA 1:00 CBS BAL @ NYG 1:00 FOX MIN @ TB 4:05 FOX STL @ SF 4:05 FOX ARI @ SEA 4:15 CBS SD @ PIT 8:15 NBC DAL @ WAS

Thursday, December 04 8:15 NFL OAK @ SD Sunday, December 07 1:00 FOX WAS @ BAL 1:00 CBS JAC @ CHI 1:00 FOX MIN @ DET 1:00 CBS HOU @ GB 1:00 CBS CIN @ IND 1:00 FOX ATL @ NO 1:00 FOX PHI @ NYG 1:00 CBS CLE @ TEN 4:05 CBS MIA @ BUF 4:05 CBS KC @ DEN 4:05 CBS NYJ @ SF 4:15 FOX STL @ ARI 4:15 FOX DAL @ PIT 8:15 NBC NE @ SEA

Monday, November 17 8:30 ESPN CLE @ BUF

Monday, December 08 8:30 ESPN TB @ CAR

WEEK 12

WEEK 15

Thursday, November 20 8:15 NFL CIN @ PIT

Thursday, December 11 8:15 NFL NO @ CHI

Sunday, November 23 1:00 FOX CAR @ ATL 1:00 FOX PHI @ BAL 1:00 CBS HOU @ CLE 1:00 FOX SF @ DAL 1:00 FOX TB @ DET 1:00 FOX MIN @ JAC 1:00 CBS BUF @ KC 1:00 CBS NE @ MIA 1:00 FOX CHI @ STL 1:00 CBS NYJ @ TEN 4:05 CBS OAK @ DEN 4:15 FOX NYG @ ARI 4:15 FOX WAS @ SEA 8:15 NBC IND @ SD

Sunday, December 14 1:00 FOX TB @ ATL 1:00 CBS PIT @ BAL 1:00 CBS DEN @ CAR 1:00 FOX WAS @ CIN 1:00 CBS TEN @ HOU 1:00 FOX DET @ IND 1:00 FOX GB @ JAC 1:00 CBS SD @ KC 1:00 FOX SF @ MIA 1:00 CBS BUF @ NYJ 1:00 FOX SEA @ STL 4:05 FOX MIN @ ARI 4:15 CBS NE @ OAK 8:15 NBC NYG @ DAL

Monday, November 24 8:30 ESPN GB @ NO

Monday, December 15 8:30 ESPN CLE @ PHI

WEEK 16 Thursday, December 18 IND @ JAC 8:15 NFL Saturday, December 20 BAL @ DAL 8:15 NFL Sunday, December 21 CIN @ CLE 1:00 CBS NO @ DET 1:00 FOX MIA @ KC 1:00 CBS ATL @ MIN 1:00 FOX ARI @ NE 1:00 FOX CAR @ NYG 1:00 FOX SF @ STL 1:00 FOX PIT @ TEN 1:00 CBS PHI @ WAS 1:00 FOX BUF @ DEN 4:05 CBS HOU @ OAK 4:05 CBS NYJ @ SEA 4:05 CBS SD @ TB 8:15 NBC Monday, December 22 GB @ CHI 8:30 ESPN WEEK 17 Sunday, December 28 1:00 FOX STL @ ATL 1:00 CBS JAC @ BAL 1:00 CBS NE @ BUF 1:00 CBS KC @ CIN 1:00 FOX DET @ GB 1:00 FOX CHI @ HOU 1:00 CBS TEN @ IND 1:00 FOX NYG @ MIN 1:00 FOX CAR @ NO 1:00 CBS MIA @ NYJ 1:00 FOX DAL @ PHI 1:00 CBS CLE @ PIT 1:00 CBS OAK @ TB 4:15 FOX SEA @ ARI 4:15 CBS DEN @ SD 4:15 FOX WAS @ SF

POST SEASON Wild Card Weekend Saturday, Jan. 3 AFC Wild Card Game (NBC) NFC Wild Card Game (NBC) Sunday, Jan. 4 AFC Wild Card Game (CBS) NFC Wild Card Game (FOX) Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 10 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (CBS) NFC Divisional Playoff Game (FOX) Sunday, Jan. 11 AFC Divisional Playoff Game (CBS) NFC Divisional Playoff Game (FOX) Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 18 AFC Championship Game (CBS) NFC Championship Game (FOX) Super Bowl XLIII Sunday, Feb. 1 -Tampa, Florida Raymond James Stadium (NBC)

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