Falcons bit by the injury bug

Posted by Stephen Rhodes on September 7th, 2007 filed in Main, News

The Atlanta Falcons cannot seem to catch a break whatsoever.  First it is the Michael Vick dogfighting case, now it appears that the Falcons’ players are dropping like flies.  According to George Henry of the Associated Press, Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino is saying that defensive lineman Rod Coleman and safety Chris Crocker will not play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.  In addition, there’s an outside chance that tight end Alge Crumpler may miss Sunday’s season opener, as well.

Assuming that Coleman and Crocker miss the game on Sunday, Jimmy Williams would probably start for Crocker at free safety and Jonathan Babineaux would replace Coleman on the Falcons’ defensive line.  Another issue, while not life-or-death in nature, is who will serve as the team’s third quarterback.  As of today, it is: Joey Harrington, Chris Redman and practice squad QB Casey Bramlet.  It is being tossed around that running back Warren Dunn may seve as an emergency QB should Harrington and Redman get injured this Sunday. 

But as Petrino told the Associated Press,  ”He would be the one.  I guess you’d have to… get a couple of shotgun snaps, teach them how to do that and draw up a little single-wing or something in case you ever had the problem where two quarterbacks went down in the same game.  I’m a little concerned about having to take time out to do that.”  I suppose if the Falcons are going to have their injury problems, now is probably the best time for them to happen.  And they eventually will need to address the 3rd QB issue, preferably as soon as possible.