No favorites on OL for Boudreau

Falcons new offensive line coach is virtually starting from scratch with the team's offensive line. Much of the off-season activities involving the line have been spent shuffling different players to different positions. The only player so far that has not been shuffled around is incumbent starting center Todd McClure, who's job security has been considered secure by AJC writer Steve Wyche.

"I have no pre-conceived notions. Right now guys are on a clean slate. Whether you were the coach's favorite before. Whether you weren't the coach's favorite. Whether you were on the practice squad I don't really care. My favorite guys are the guys who do everything right, do it on time and do it physically." -- Paul Boudreau

Right now, practice squad player Harvey Dahl has been working on the first time at right guard, ahead of Kynan Forney who has held that position since the middle of the 2001 season. Boudreau praises both Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo as being two of the team's nastiest players. Clabo is considered to be ahead at right tackle, but both his and Dahl's starting status is not fixed. Right tackle Todd Weiner is coming off a tough knee injury, but is expected to be 100% by the start of training camp. He could re-assume the starting spot at that position if that occurs. Clabo started 11 games last year in place for Weiner at right tackle.

Boudreau also praised rookie left tackle Sam Baker, who looks like he will have a good chance to hold the starting position there when the season starts.

Redman remains starter; Sanders goes to IR

Interim head coach Emmitt Thomas indicated this week that quarterback Chris Redman will remain the starter. Redman struggled last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers completing 4 of 15 passes for 34 yards with 2 interceptions. If no changes are made between now and this weekend, Redman will start his third game for the Falcons against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Falcons also placed cornerback Lewis Sanders on injured reserve on Monday. Sanders suffered a partial tear of his pectoral muscle last weekend. To replace him on the roster, the team promoted cornerback Brent Grimes from the practice squad. Grimes was promoted to the roster earlier this season, but only lasted a few days before he was released and re-signed to the practice squad.

Redman named starter vs. Saints

The Falcons named Chris Redman the starting quarterback today, making him the third quarterback to fill that position since the season started. He is expected to start Monday Night against the Saints. Redman began the year as the team's No. 2, but was quickly passed by Byron Leftwich following his signing. Redman replaced Joey Harrington in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to the St. Louis Rams and played well. He led the team on 2 scoring drives in their failed comeback.

It has yet to be determined whether Harrington or Leftwich will serve as the team's No. 2 against the Saints.

The Falcons also made two roster moves on Thursday. To fill the void left by Todd Weiner when the team placed him on injured reserve a week ago, the team signed linebacker Travis Williams from their practice squad to the roster. Williams had spent several weeks earlier in the year on the roster, but was released in November when the team was forced to address depth at tight end. In 3 appearances, he recorded 3 tackles on special teams.

Leffew originally signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville in 2006. He was released by the Bears at the end of the summer and was picked up by the Green Bay Packers on their practice squad. The Dallas Cowboys signed him off the Packers practice squad prior to Week 12, and he spent the next 3 weeks on their roster but inactive on gamedays. He was later cut by the Cowboys and finished the year on the Packers practice squad. He went to training camp with the Packers this past summer, but was released on September 1. Leffew was a four-year starter at left tackle while at Louisville. He joins ex-teammate Kurt Quarterman on the team's practice squad. Renardo Foster, another ex-teammate is currently on injured reserve.

Harrington to start vs. Colts

The Falcons have made a short-term decision on who will be the starting quarterback at least for tomorrow night's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Joey Harrington will replace an injured Byron Leftwich in the starting lineup. Leftwich is listed among several Falcons as doubtful the Thanksgiving Night matchup against the Colts. Leftwich suffered an injured tailbone in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Head coach Bobby Petrino was noncommittal on whether Harrington or Leftwich would get the start afterwards during this week's press conference: "Since this is such a short week, we are worrying about the Indianapolis game right now. We’ll have a little break after that and we’ll see how everything goes.”

In other injury news, the Falcons listed tight end Dwayne Blakley (concussion), wide receiver Joe Horn (hamstring/foot), and offensive tackle Todd Weiner (knee) also as doubtful. Blakley is expected to be replaced by Courtney Anderson, a free agent pickup from a week ago. Rookie Laurent Robinson has filled in for Horn the past two weeks and will likely do again for a third consecutive week. Weiner was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka at left tackle during last week's game when he went out with injury. Ojinnaka is expected to do so again, although there might be a chance that Terrance Pennington may be given some reps on Thursday at left tackle.

Also on the injury report was tight end Alge Crumpler who was listed as probable with a foot injury.

Leftwich promoted as starter

The Falcons announced today that quarterback Byron Leftwich will start this weekend against the New Orleans Saints. He takes over for Joey Harrington, who has been the starter through the first six weeks leading the Falcons to a 1-5 record. This move seemingly became an inevitability when head coach Bobby Petrino opted to bench Harrington in the fourth quarter two weeks ago against the Tennessee Titans. Leftwich, then the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart entered the game. It only seemed a matter of time before a more permanent move was made.

Petrino explained in his Wednesday press conference that this move is expected to be permanent. Harrington will move to the No. 2 position, while Chris Redman who has served as the backup for the entire year will move to No. 3.

Coleman could get first action of the season on Monday night

Updating this week's injury report, the Falcons are listing only two players as out for Monday night's contest against the New York Giants. Those player are offensive tackle Todd Weiner and linebacker Stephen Nicholas. Weiner is expected to miss two to six weeks with a knee injury and Nicholas suffered a high ankle sprain last weekend and will miss two weeks.

Defensive tackles Jonathan Babineaux (knee) and Rod Coleman (knee), along with linebacker Keith Brooking (hamstring) and quarterback Byron Leftwich (ankle) are all listed as questionable for the game as well. Babineaux was the only one among the four the participated in Friday's practice. Coleman had limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday, and Petrino expressed optimism earlier in the week that he'd be ready to play on Monday. This game would mark the first for Coleman this season, as he's been unable to practice for the most part since April. The extra day of rest should benefit the Falcons, as reports indicate that Leftwich's injury is relatively minor, and he was held out on Friday so that he could extra rest.

Leftwich was promoted ahead of Chris Redman as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart this week. If Coleman and/or Babineaux are unable to go, Trey Lewis will make his third consecutive start of the season.

As for the players listed as probable on the injury report, they included tight end Dwayne Blakley (chest), safety Chris Crocker (knee), tight end Alge Crumpler (knee/ankle), defensive tackle Grady Jackson (back), and cornerback Lewis Sanders (shoulder). All are expected to play and/or start.

Fonoti off to a good start

The NFL Experts at Scout.com report that new Falcons guard Toniu Fonoti has looked good thus far in off-season conditioning workouts, per Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino.

Fonoti's weight ballooned up to 400 pounds last off-season when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fonoti is listed at 350 pounds, but has had issues with his weight in the past. Praise from Petrino seemingly indicates that he is in better shape this year as opposed to last year.

Fonoti is expected to push for a starting job at left guard this year. Right now, the starter would be Tyson Clabo, who started ten games last year, all but one of which came at right guard.

Williams, Davis will enter summer as starters

Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino told AJC writer Steve Wyche that Jimmy Williams is expected to be the starter at right cornerback and Chauncey Davis the starter at left defensive end at the start of training camp.

There has been notions that the Falcons may move Williams to free safety this summer, but Petrino seemingly erased them. Although Petrino did indicate that the team will address this position further, which could signal the release of incumbent Jason Webster later this off-season.

Davis has received a lot of playing time the past two years due to injuries to Brady Smith and Patrick Kerney. He is expected to replace Kerney in the starting lineup, who signed with the Seattle Seahawks this off-season. The Falcons are still likely to address this position in the draft, but at this point are unlikely to sign a veteran free agent.

Petrino also indicated that second-year tight end Daniel Fells would get an opportunity for increased playing time, particularly when the offense utilizes a H-back. That possibility could spell the end of Eric Beverly's tenure as a Falcon.