Hard Knocks 2011: 10 Reasons Why the Atlanta Falcons Should Accept
According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Atlanta Falcons general manager, Thomas Dimitroff, is open to letting HBO's cameras behind the scenes of the Falcons training facilities during this year's training camp to shoot the next installment of Hard Knocks.
We still don't know whether or not the NFL training camps will fall into place in time for this to happen, but the idea of the show coming to Atlanta is exciting to Falcons fans.
The Atlanta Falcons organization is on the upswing, and exposure on the hit show would elevate their world wide perception.
Here's 10 reasons why the Falcons should definitely take on the T.V. show.
They Are Mentally Prepared
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If there is any team that has the personality to endure being followed around by cameras, it's the Atlanta Falcons.
The team is a relatively quiet and focused bunch that is led at key areas by great maturity, all the way from the ownership of Arthur Blank to the quarterback in Matt Ryan.
There have been zero locker room distractions with this ball club in the past few seasons. While not having a controversial member of the team might be detrimental to the drama the show ideally utilizes, it would be nice to see a team that knows how to represent itself so well.
Fans Will Figure out the Mystery That Is Michael Turner's Conditioning
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Michael Turner is nicknamed "The Burner," which apparently refers to burning a path in defenses with his running ability.
Nowadays, however, some Falcons fans are calling him the calorie burner, and even claiming he might not be doing too hot at it.
Turner has gained considerably noticeable weight since his arrival in Atlanta in 2008. He admitted last season that he was bigger and needed to work on losing some pounds, which he did.
But, even in 2010 fans continued to jabber about Turner's slow starts on run plays, lack of explosiveness and gigantic thighs.
A Pro Bowler, Turner is a loved part of this team, but he's also become somewhat of a running joke. Falcons fans are convinced he's been an element of fool's gold in the past two years, amassing good statistics without being the impact player he was in his first season with the Birds.
Curtis Lofton Will Get the Spotlight He Deserves
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The Atlanta Falcons have had a recent of history of linebackers not getting the respect that they deserve.
Curtis Lofton has been the latest victim. Lofton, coming into his fourth season out of Oklahoma, is the "Matt Ryan" of the Falcons defense.
In other words, he's the unquestioned leader, and a member of the 2008 draft class.
The feisty head hunter hasn't quite emerged as a household name, but he's one of the best linebackers in the NFL and deserves the recognition.
The show would definitely put the spotlight on Lofton.
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Jamaal Anderson's Position Conundrum
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This would be one of the fun sub-stories of the series.
The 2007 draft's first-round pick Jamaal Anderson is yet to fit into the Atlanta Falcons system.
He struggled at defensive end in his rookie season, and since then has played back and forth between end and tackle as a relief player.
Many Falcons fans are surprised the tweener hasn't found another team, but he will definitely battle for his job this offseason.
Kroy Biermann holds the defensive end spot opposite of John Abraham, and the second defensive tackle position will be the most competitive position in the entire depth chart.
Anderson will have to battle those two areas, and things could be fairly dramatic for the former top pick.
Jerious Norwood vs. Jacquizz Rodgers
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The Falcons have lacked explosiveness in the backfield in the past two seasons.
Much of this is due to the fact that Jerious Norwood was injured for the majority of 2009 and 2010.
Now a forgotten part of this roster, Norwood was once a fan favorite in Atlanta.
From 2006 to 2007 Norwood was the lone bright spot on a team slumping into the hells of the sports world.
In 2008, he was the electricity behind the Falcons newly renovated offense.
When healthy, he's the most talented and electric member of the team.
But, he hasn't been healthy, and now the Falcons are four deep at tailback with Turner, Jason Snelling, Jerious Norwood, and rookie tailback Jazquizz Rodgers.
Rodgers, at 5'7", is the scat back the Falcons wanted to re-institute the agility to their backfield.
Now Norwood is standing on a tight rope, and he could be battling to save his job. Could Norwood possibly get healthy and steal the second tailback spot from Rodgers and Snelling?
The Development of the Secondary
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The Falcons secondary was the youngest part of their team in 2010, and many thought it was their greatest weakness.
The emergence of Brent Grimes changed opinions on a dime.
Grimes led a finessed and feisty secondary that grew better and better as the season went on. Grimes made the Pro Bowl in 2010, a fact that is amazing in hindsight, considering he was an undrafted free agent out of Shippensburg College.
On the other corner is former top pick Dunta Robinson, who had a quiet year as a high paid player on the team's roster.
And the safety position will be commanded by William Moore, a young but blossoming safety.
This group would be a fun focus in the show.
The Personality of Roddy White
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Every team that has been on Hard Knocks has had that one personality.
Roddy White is, well, a watered down version of that, and serves a microcosm of the Atlanta Falcons team's persona.
Even as a receiver, who was statistically the best in the business in 2010, Roddy White has never yanked a sharpie from his sock or changed his name to OchoQuatro.
But, he is without a doubt the most endearing and interesting personality on an otherwise quiet and blue collar roster.
White dipped his feet into the water of NFL receiver controversy, stirring up issues with the New Orleans Saints after inappropriate comments via his Twitter account.
That's as close as he's gotten to becoming the stereotypical personality, however. Maybe this show would be his chance to take on the role he's expected.
Or, maybe we just want Roddy to continue to stay humble. Who knows what the show could do to his image?
The Reveal of Mike Smith
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Mike Smith is as generic and blue collar as his name.
But, he's a great football coach and a rather interesting personality once you zoom in on him.
DeAngelo Hall, a former Falcon who caused many locker room issues in Atlanta, learned the hard way in 2009 when he tried to get into a scuffle on the Falcons sideline.
Mike Smith ran up to Hall and stuck his grill within centimeters of Hall's facemask.
The entire Falcons bench got up to defend the coach, and the coach defended the entire Falcons bench.
Needless to say, Smith has since had the respect of his entire roster. He's a team player. He's part of the team.
This was no more evident than in 2008, when the Falcons turned around their fortunes and went 11-5, defying some of the most insurmountable odds in sports history.
Smith was high-fiving, smiling and enjoying the moment just as much as the players, and definitely even rubbed off a blue collar attitude in the locker room.
He's created a fun, easy-going and youthful team atmosphere that fans really appreciate.
Following Julio Jones
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Thomas Dimitroff traded away everything but his soul to get Julio Jones in the first round of this year's draft.
Now the biggest story in Atlanta is whether or not the trade was worth it. Julio Jones will be the focal point of the T.V. show, as watchers wait through the drama of him possibly getting injured, trailing, or failing to grasp the team's blueprint.
Or, Jones could emerge as a superstar player. And yes, he has the potential to become a superstar right away.
Even I was skeptical of the pick at first, but no more than ever I'm interested in the rookie class of the Falcons football team.
The Julio Jones pick will either be deemed successful, or blow up in Dimitroff's face, and it will happen on the show.
The Promotion of a Model Pro Sports Franchise
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The Atlanta Falcons deserve the spotlight, and the recognition.
This team was in dire turmoil in 2007, with the face of the franchise going behind bars. The Falcons fell apart, the fan base split, and the team was miserably bad.
With 2008 came a huge overhaul, including the hiring of Mike Smith, the drafting of Matt Ryan, and the signing of Michael Turner.
Since then many other improvements have come around. Roddy White has gone from a bust to the NFL's best wide receiver. Tony Gonzalez has entered and added veteran leadership and impact ability.
The defense has grown with little to no star power, and plays with a vicious and chip-on-shoulder attitude.
The team thrives off the energy of small, unknown players who make huge plays, such as Brent Grimes, Kroy Biermann and Eric Weems.
They had the most Pro Bowlers of any team in the NFL last season. They went 13-3 in 2010, which was the second-best finishing record in franchise history.
And, the team is shooting for a Super Bowl run in 2011, if it happens.
The fan base is as good as ever, embracing the mentality and representation of the city. "Rise Up" has resonated through the speakers, T.V.s, and voices of Falcons fans. There's a following here that is unrivaled in the history of Atlanta sports, and it's refreshing for the sports world to see a franchise turn for the better on a dime.
The Falcons might be one of the classiest organizations in all of sports, and they deserve the recognition and attention.
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