July 18, 2008

After a disappointing rookie season, Falcons DE Jamaal Anderson is determined to get better in Year Two and has put a lot of work into improving this offseason, the way we hear it. Anderson, the eighth overall pick in the 2007 draft, was unable to get a sack last season, but the coaching staff remained patient with him and he started all 16 games. Sources say some of Anderson’s problems stem from being a long strider, which makes it easy for blockers to knock him off his course. He’ll need to do a better job of taking short, choppy steps and has to use his hands more to gain leverage, as well. Close observers of his in Atlanta say he wants to be good and has a solid foundation of teachers in head coach Mike Smith and DL coach Ray Hamilton, who served in the same position with the Jaguars for the past five years while Smith worked as Jacksonville’s defensive coordinator.