June 25, 2008

Sources in Atlanta tell PFW that first-year head coach Mike Smith took an almost opposite tack from the dictatorial approach employed by Bobby Petrino last year during offseason OTAs and minicamps. We hear it’s much less tense, assistant coaches no longer are afraid to speak up and schemes are being drawn up that cater to the team’s strengths, rather than forcing the squad to adapt to the coach’s system. Smith canceled the Falcons’ final minicamp, giving his players a bit of a break before training camp on July 26 and, word is, they seemed to appreciate it. While a positive, upbeat tone may not lead to a great turnaround in terms of wins and losses, we hear that it bodes well for changing the overall culture surrounding the team, which is a key first step in the rebuilding process. Players know they will be rewarded for hard work. That wasn’t always clear with Petrino at the helm.