Are You Ready For Some preseason Football?

If you are looking for a breakout player in the Falcon's first preseason game August 11, Jerious Norwood may be your guy. He is in a battle with the T.J. Duckett for the second string RB, and he could be the long term answer after Warrick's career is Dunn. Duckett has seemed to shy away from contact over his tenure, especially for such a big man, and may have actually regressed last year. He had 380 yards at 3.1 per carry. Look for a motavated rookie in Norwood to try to prove his worth to the team in the preseason. Also look for the team to give Norwood plenty of opportunities.

Here are other reasons why Norwood may excel early and often:
-He runs a 4.33 sec 40 (fasted RB in the draft)
-He is apparantly as fast as advertised -- his speed translates to the field
-He started all 11 games as a senior -- NO FUMBLES
-He ran the west coast offense under Sylvester Croom(ex NFL off cor.) @ Miss. St.
-He returned punts and kicks in college
-He is reportedly a good reciever
-He is a "one of the highest charachter guys scouted" by the Falcons who "gives his all"

Norwood was ranked as the no.3 RB and no. 22 player overal by Rivals.com coming out of H.S. when he chose Miss St. Jerious gained 1,110 yards as a Sr. without much help and garnered 2nd team all-SEC. The Coon's selected him in the 3rd round this year. He joins Fullbacks Justin Griffith and Fred McCrary as Starkville Bulldog's in the Atlanta backfield. All reports out of camp on Norwood have been very positive. He doesn't offer the big back (he is 6'0 203lbs) to counter Warrick's small stature, but Dunn is a good runner between the tackles and at the goalline so it shouldn't matter. Carnell "Cadillac" Williams is similar to Dunn in that regard. He's a small guy but he's great between the tackles. So I think if Norwood lives up to the reports out of camp that he, Dunn, and Griffith will be servicable as a unit. The Falcons don't absolutely have to have a "Thunder" running back ala Natrone Means Buisness or "The Nigerian Nightmare" Christian Okoye on the roster (Duckett was awful last year in short yardage situations). Atlanta could package T.J. Duckett with something else (linebacker, draft pick) and try to get a decent veteren reciever (Justin McCareins?).