Nfc/Training Camps

Sporting News, The, July 19, 1999

Arizona

CAMP PHILOSOPHY: The days of a country club atmosphere have to end if the team is to build upon what it established--making it to the second round of the playoffs. Coach Vince Tobin never has run a meat-grinder training camp. He gives players days off for rest and weightlifting. There is no excessive hitting. That has to change this year. There still will be heavy emphasis on the mental approach, but the coaches say they want a more physical team on both sides of the ball. That won't be achieved by taking days off. Never before during its days in Arizona has the team come off a winning record and a playoff win. Perhaps the most significant thing to be established is leadership. The club lost three co-captains--LT Lomas Brown, OLB Jamir Miller and RB Larry Centers.

PRESEASON PRIORITY: The overall play of the defensive front seven, particularly run-stopping, must improve. It might seem difficult to think there are problems with a line of Andre Wadsworth, Eric Swann, Mark Smith and Simeon Rice. But Swann is coming off two knee surgeries. Smith is threatening to hold out of camp. Rice never has been dominating against the run, although he is a superb pass rusher. Behind them is a linebacking corps that is in disarray. On the left side, free-agent acquisition Rob Fredrickson steps into Miller's spot. Whether MLB Ron McKinnon can dominate without Swann is critical. On the fight side, Tony McCombs lost his spot to Patrick Sapp in the playoffs. Neither is feared.

KEY COMPETITION: The dub thought it had ended its woes at fight cornerback when it drafted Tom Knight in the first round in 1997. After a typically rough rookie year, in which a number of veterans burned him, Knight has been injury prone. The club moved rookie S Corey Chavous to comer just before the playoffs, and he was brilliant. Chavous is smart and observant, but he's not the fastest player on the field. Knight has marvelous speed but seems to be held together with tissue paper. He was becoming a much better cover guy when his rash of injuries struck. Chavous has overachieved, and Knight has under-achieved. If Chavous wins the job, Knight and his big salary could be cut loose.

KEEP AN EYE ON: RB Michael Pittman has made Centers expendable. Next on the hit list could be Adrian Murrell, a 1,000-yard rusher last year. Pittman is big, strong and fast. He can catch. But so far, Pittman, a second-year player, is nothing more than eye-popping potential. If he plays up to his ability, the club will have an interesting and effective weapon. If he proves to be a fumbler, the club will have lost a big gamble.... The team must find a left tackle. The leading candidate is first-round pick L.J. Shelton, but it's not a one-man race. Veteran Matt Joyce is solid, and Anthony Clement, a 1998 second-round pick who missed last season (surgery, herniated disk), is huge (6-7, 355).... There will be tweaking on both sides of the ball but no major philosophical changes planned. There will be more multiple wideout sets offensively with the drafting of first-round pick David Boston and the emergence in NFL Europe of Andy McCullough to complement Rob Moore and Frank Sanders.... The offensive line should be more physical-the front office wants four tackles and a center up front. That should help the running game, which was better overall but still sputtered in short-yardage situations.

--Lee Shappell

CAMP FACTS

Where: Northern Arizona University; Flagstaff, Ariz

Rookies report: July 30

Veterans report: July 30

Atlanta

CAMP PHILOSOPHY: The Falcons have a strict offseason conditioning program so the club can get fight to work when training camp opens. There won't be fears of breaking down a player physically from the up-tempo style of the camp because most of the team (74-of-80) attended the offseason program. Coach Dan Reeves plans to go full speed but will ease up on tackling demands. The Falcons also want to make sure they get a decent look at the fringe players on the roster. The team has learned to trust Reeves' style of an intense camp. The players know he is not scared of high expectations, so he won't overwork his team because there is pressure to win.

PRESEASON PRIORITY: The team's top priority is being well-prepared for the opener because it faces Minnesota in the Georgia Dome. It's a big game because it will be the first game at home as defending NFC champions, and the team wants to keep the excitement level high for the entire season. The Falcons also want to show the Vikings the win in the NFC tide game was no fluke. So the preseason games, particularly the last two, will have significance. Reeves says the team wants to play well enough so it has the confidence to take on a contender like Minnesota. "We need to have our timing and everything down (by the end of preseason)," he says.

KEY COMPETITION: Most positions are set. The exception could be the fight guard spot, where '98 starter Gene Williams will try and hold off free-agent pickup Greg Bishop, a former starter with the Giants. Bishop's arrival gives the team terrific depth because he can play guard and tackle. Williams was part of a solid unit that helped RB Jamal Anderson lead the NFC in rushing, but it's hard to imagine the team paying more than $1 million for Bishop to be a backup to Williams.