Professor

More shotgun in Falcons' future?

Q&A: JIM MORA

Team looking at college offenses to aid Vick's game

By Steve Wyche
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/29/06

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Falcons coach Jim Mora sat down with about a dozen reporters Tuesday at the coaches' media breakfast at the NFL's owners' meetings and answered a variety of questions ranging from quarterback Michael Vick's offseason commitment, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens and possibly tweaking the offense.

Here are some excerpts from the hour-long question and answer session.


Q: Offseason workouts just started. Have you seen anything with Michael Vick, especially with the way things ended last season, where he seems different or more or less committed than before?

A: We started our program the 20th of March. Mike was there four days [a week], which is what it's supposed to be. He weighed 203. He was lean. We ran these 300-yard dashes. He killed them. Our strength coach, Sal Alosi, said he can run forever. Wednesday and Thursday he was out on the field with the receivers throwing. He's met three times with the quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave. He's done the meetings and the workouts before, but he wasn't in this type of shape at this time of the year, and he wasn't on the field throwing in the past.

He initiated the throwing session. He called [receivers] Mike Jenkins and Roddy White. Guys could come in at 7, 9 or 11 in the morning to work out. Jenkins and Roddy were coming in at 7. Mike and [Brian] Finneran were coming in at 9. So Mike said, "Roddy and Jenks, you're coming in a 9, and we're going to work out and we're going to throw."

Q: So Mike wanted to get a little more sleep?

A: No, you've got Vick and Finneran at 9 and the two young guys at 7. The young guys are going to make the adjustment. [Vick] has had success, and this past year we weren't quite as successful and it affected him. I just like the fact that he's taken that initiative.

Q: What changes might you make offensively to better use Mike Vick's skills?

A: What we've done this offseason is we've looked at Texas, West Virginia and Missouri and some of their shotgun run stuff and the way they use their quarterbacks in their system. Some of the stuff they do out of the shotgun is kind of like the old veer stuff with the quarterback making reads, putting the ball in the running back's stomach, reading the end and either dropping it off and pulling it out.

We have a quarterback that's capable of that. It's great stuff. Working from under center, it's tough to see. In the shotgun, you can see it. We're trying to learn from anyone we can.

Q: How seriously did you entertain trade offers about Matt Schaub, and where do you see Schaub going?

A: It doesn't have to be over yet. It would have to be a great offer for us to trade Matt Schaub. We're going to entertain or listen to offers, just like we listened to the Jets. We have to do what's best for us. What's best for us right now is to have Matt Schaub as our backup quarterback. We like the kid as our backup quarterback. When he's played, he's played well. As a starter, he's 0-2. It's not like he's undefeated or anything, but he has played well.

Q: So you can get back into the first round of the draft is what you're saying?

A: We'll see.

Q: You've coached Terrell Owens. If you had a chance to get him, would you run it by your quarterback first?

A: Our quarterback? Yes. If it's a prominent quarterback, a guy that's earned his stripes in the league, guys like Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, Mike Vick, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, guys like that who have status, then certainly you do. Those two have to co-exist.

You saw what happened in Philly when he and Donovan were in sync. When they were in sync, they were unstoppable. For some reason that all went away, and it fell apart for them.

I know that would be a concern in Atlanta because the first time he attacked Mike, we'd have a real problem. The house would crumble like that. I know one thing: Mike wouldn't cower. We'd have to restrain him.

Q: You've always wanted to play quick on defense. Is it time to play bigger?

A: I think so. One of the things we've talked about as an organization is adding a big body to the middle, that big-bodied nose tackle. That's one of the reasons we brought in a guy like Grady Jackson the other day. Now, you don't want a whole team of guys built like that because we still want speed and quickness, but I know Keith Brooking's come to me a couple times and said, "Can you put a big [butt] in front of me?"

That's something that we are looking for. You'd like a guy whose whole game is maybe three yards. You want a guy that when they double-team him, he just grabs him, and then you can get your linebackers going.