Practice Squad Notes

Practice Squad candidates:

Players that fall in the Certain category, I would be willing to bet a substantial amount of cash saying that they are eligible for the practice squad because I am sure I'm correct. The people in the Not So Certain category, I have a good feeling about, but wouldn't bet too much dough on their eligibility. As you'll notice, many of the players are not in danger of being put on the practice squad, but are still eligible.

Certain

Not So Certain

Waine Bacon, S Floyd Black, NT Ulish Booker, OL Jamal Burke, WR Jeff Chaney, RB LaTarence Dunbar, WR Terrence Edwards, WR Justin Griffith, FB Kris Farris, T Ron Flemons, DE Blake Henry, G Raymond House, DE Joey Huber, P James Hugo, TE Kurt Kittner, QB John Lewis, WR Ben Mahdavi, LB John Markham, K Dwayne Morgan, OL Jon Olinger, WR Will Overstreet, LB Karon Riley, LB David Rivers, QB Travaris Robinson, DB Mike Saffer, OL Bryan Scott, CB Kevin Shaffer, T Fred Talley, RB Jason Thomas, TE Demetrin Veal, DL Jason Waters, CB Ryan Watson, NT Recardo Wimbush, LB

Jimmy Farris, WR Mookie Moore, G Tawambi Settles, S

Notes

• The past two seasons, the Falcons practice squads on opening day have been made up of players that spent training camp with the team.
• Over the past six years, the Falcons have kept 7 wide receivers, 6 offensive linemen, 4 tight ends, and 4 linebackers on the opening day practice squad. They've also kept two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two cornerbacks, and one safety and kicker each.
• Often the makeup of the opening day practice squad is based on injuries. In 1999, the team kept two wide receivers on the practice squad in Jammi German and Eugene Baker, because they only kept four on the active roster.
• Many times players on the original practice squad don't last very long. Eight players in the past six years have not lasted a month on the practice squad. Three times it has been because they were cut, but the other four times it was because they were promoted to the active roster, and once it was due to them signed a contract with another team.
• The Falcons have always kept a tenth offensive lineman on the practice squad.
• Last year was the first time the team ever began the season with more than six wide receivers combined on the roster and practice squad.
• Since 1997, 12 draft picks have not made the opening day roster. Of those, three have been signed to the practice squad, and another one was placed on injured reserve.

I predict that the following players will make this year's practice squad: Waine Bacon, Floyd Black, Terrence Edwards, Jon Olinger, and Mike Saffer.

I predict the team will only keep four safeties on the roster, but they usually try to keep a fifth which I think will be Bacon. The team usually tries to keep all of its draft pick. The team will try to keep another defensive lineman on the practice squad for depth. I think it will be Floyd Black. Terrence Edwards and Jon Olinger are wide receivers. Olinger should stay because he is a big guy that has upside. Edwards will stick because he has good hands, but just needs to put on weight. I'm not sure Saffer will make the practice squad, but the team will keep a tenth lineman. I think Saffer may have the best chance among the players being brought to camp, but I wouldn't be surprised if the team added another player from elsewhere.