Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 1, 2014 15:39:08 GMT
Falcons need new leaders without Joe Hawley, William Moore
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Not only did the Atlanta Falcons lose two good players when strong safety William Moore and center Joe Hawley were placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. They also lost two solid leaders.
Moore assumed more of a leadership role at the start of the season knowing his good friend, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, wouldn't be on the field after tearing an Achilles this offseason.
"I embrace that leadership role, and not just because I have to and not because it’s due time," Moore said recently. "It’s because I want to. I know what it does for our football team. That’s one thing that it takes to win.
"If we want to win around here, it’s going to take people not only to talk about it, but to show younger guys the way. I think that’s what I’m here for as far as making plays and doing what it takes to lead us to make plays.’’
Coach Mike Smith believes Moore, who suffered a shoulder injury, can continue to be a leader from the sideline, much like Weatherspoon has been already this season. Moore was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, so he could be back in eight weeks.
"When I spoke to William, I talked to him specifically about even though he's not going to be between the lines, we're going to need his leadership, much like Sean (Weatherspoon)," Smith said. "Sean is with us in the meetings. And we expect that William will do that as well. He's designated to return, so he's a guy that's definitely going be back before the season is over, so he can be a guy who can help us win games."
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was asked which defensive players could step in leadership roles on the field.
"We definitely have some very mature guys that handle their (meeting) rooms real well," Nolan said. "Osi (Umenyiora) handles his room extremely well, but he's not on the field all the time and that's because his role on the field is to be a rusher in those situations. And Paul Worrilow is a guy that, although it's only his first year (relaying defensive calls), he's slowly and gradually continuing to be more vocal when it comes to other things. He's real vocal on the field when it comes to calls. That's his job.
"Like I said, we've got a mature group that hopefully will step up to task in the D-line. The linebackers are very young. We'll have to wait and see. To call them out right now or to make somebody do it, obviously it's got to be a natural thing."
Hawley was the unquestioned leader of the offensive line before tearing his ACL against Minnesota. Although the center naturally has to be a leader, starter Peter Konz might not be a natural to assume such a role immediately. Veteran right guard Jon Asamoah already has displayed some leadership qualities, like taking tight end Levine Toilolo under his wing when Toilolo was forced to line up at right tackle the last game.
"Jon's an experienced player," offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said of Asamoah. "That will, I'm sure, be an evolving process; who emerges as the leader. Much like the quarterback position, the center position is naturally a position of leadership. But leadership can come from any of those guys. That will be something that will have to be developed."
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Not only did the Atlanta Falcons lose two good players when strong safety William Moore and center Joe Hawley were placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. They also lost two solid leaders.
Moore assumed more of a leadership role at the start of the season knowing his good friend, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, wouldn't be on the field after tearing an Achilles this offseason.
"I embrace that leadership role, and not just because I have to and not because it’s due time," Moore said recently. "It’s because I want to. I know what it does for our football team. That’s one thing that it takes to win.
"If we want to win around here, it’s going to take people not only to talk about it, but to show younger guys the way. I think that’s what I’m here for as far as making plays and doing what it takes to lead us to make plays.’’
Coach Mike Smith believes Moore, who suffered a shoulder injury, can continue to be a leader from the sideline, much like Weatherspoon has been already this season. Moore was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return, so he could be back in eight weeks.
"When I spoke to William, I talked to him specifically about even though he's not going to be between the lines, we're going to need his leadership, much like Sean (Weatherspoon)," Smith said. "Sean is with us in the meetings. And we expect that William will do that as well. He's designated to return, so he's a guy that's definitely going be back before the season is over, so he can be a guy who can help us win games."
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was asked which defensive players could step in leadership roles on the field.
"We definitely have some very mature guys that handle their (meeting) rooms real well," Nolan said. "Osi (Umenyiora) handles his room extremely well, but he's not on the field all the time and that's because his role on the field is to be a rusher in those situations. And Paul Worrilow is a guy that, although it's only his first year (relaying defensive calls), he's slowly and gradually continuing to be more vocal when it comes to other things. He's real vocal on the field when it comes to calls. That's his job.
"Like I said, we've got a mature group that hopefully will step up to task in the D-line. The linebackers are very young. We'll have to wait and see. To call them out right now or to make somebody do it, obviously it's got to be a natural thing."
Hawley was the unquestioned leader of the offensive line before tearing his ACL against Minnesota. Although the center naturally has to be a leader, starter Peter Konz might not be a natural to assume such a role immediately. Veteran right guard Jon Asamoah already has displayed some leadership qualities, like taking tight end Levine Toilolo under his wing when Toilolo was forced to line up at right tackle the last game.
"Jon's an experienced player," offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said of Asamoah. "That will, I'm sure, be an evolving process; who emerges as the leader. Much like the quarterback position, the center position is naturally a position of leadership. But leadership can come from any of those guys. That will be something that will have to be developed."