FLOWERY BRANCH — Through four games, the Atlanta Falcons have listed Ed Hartwell as the team’s starting middle linebacker.
Through four games, Hartwell has done nothing but watch. Two weeks ago, Hartwell insisted ‘‘This is the best I’ve felt in two years,’’ and yet again he was on the inactive list for the Falcons’ Oct. 1 win over Arizona.
On Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye weekend, Hartwell was back in practice, saying ‘‘I feel good’’ and waiting to see how he fits into the team’s plans for Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants.
The 3-1 Falcons may not be anxious to rush Hartwell back. Five-time Pro Bowl pick Keith Brooking has played the first four games in the middle. The young starting outside linebackers — Michael Boley and Demorrio Williams — have been so productive it may be difficult for coaches to move either to a backup role.
In the Falcons’ 32-10 win over Arizona on Oct. 1, Boley had seven stops with a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and two deflected passes.
Williams, meanwhile, is tied with Brooking for the team lead with 23 tackles as the defense has not allowed a touchdown in three of its first four games.
When Hartwell was completing his rehab from an Achilles injury that limited him to five games last season, he was projected as the starter at middle linebacker with Boley at strongside and Brooking at weakside.
Then Hartwell was forced to have arthroscopic surgery on both knees two weeks before this season. Brooking moved inside and Williams, who started all 16 games last year and ranked second on the team with 132 tackles, was back as a starter at the weakside spot.
The challenge for Falcons defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is how to blend Hartwell back into the playing rotation when the defense already is playing well.
Does Brooking move back outside to make room for Hartwell? Does Hartwell come back as a starter or a role player, perhaps in situations where he can make use of his strengths as a run-stopper?
Donatell’s only answer is he’ll find playing time for each of the top four linebackers in the 4-3 scheme.
‘‘It’s always nice to have depth and we’re going to have roles for everybody,’’ Donatell said after Monday’s practice.
‘‘Everybody is going to come with their lunch pail and we’re going to give them some work to do. We’ll find a role for everybody who can contribute. You’ll see them all.’’
Coach Jim Mora said he wants to make sure Hartwell has fully recovered from the knee surgeries.
‘‘He’s practicing,’’ Mora said. ‘‘I just want to make sure he feels right. I want to make sure he’s ready to go before we put him out there.’’
Hartwell, the former Baltimore starter, was projected as a leading run-stopper on the defense when he signed a four-year, $26.25 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2005. He had 31 tackles in five games last year before the Achilles injury ended his season.
Hartwell recovered from the Achilles injury only to have problems with both knees. Now, after practicing before the Arizona game, having a bye week for more recovery time and returning to practice Monday, Hartwell may be ready to play.
‘‘It’s good to have him back out there working on the field in practices,’’ Donatell said. ‘‘He’s getting reps. We want to weave him back into the lineup. Everyday he’ll get work and hopefully he’ll play Sunday.’’
The Falcons have enjoyed defensive success this season despite playing without Hartwell and having this year’s top acquisition, defensive end John Abraham, limited to one game by a groin injury.
Abraham returned to practice last week and again practiced Monday. Abraham may make a quicker return to the starting lineup than Hartwell, though it’s possible both will play this week.
Meanwhile, Williams says he can’t worry about his starting job.
‘‘I just go out and do my job and I let the people upstairs make the decision on what they want to do,’’ Williams said.
Even though Williams had big numbers last year with his 132 tackles, Donatell says ‘‘He has definitely spiked up his performance this year.’’
‘‘He’s come back in really his second year of playing as a linebacker and he’s had a couple of real strong weeks,’’ Donatell said of Williams. ‘‘He has speed and explosion and has great sideline to sideline range.’’
Through four games, Hartwell has done nothing but watch. Two weeks ago, Hartwell insisted ‘‘This is the best I’ve felt in two years,’’ and yet again he was on the inactive list for the Falcons’ Oct. 1 win over Arizona.
On Monday, when the Falcons returned from their bye weekend, Hartwell was back in practice, saying ‘‘I feel good’’ and waiting to see how he fits into the team’s plans for Sunday’s home game against the New York Giants.
The 3-1 Falcons may not be anxious to rush Hartwell back. Five-time Pro Bowl pick Keith Brooking has played the first four games in the middle. The young starting outside linebackers — Michael Boley and Demorrio Williams — have been so productive it may be difficult for coaches to move either to a backup role.
In the Falcons’ 32-10 win over Arizona on Oct. 1, Boley had seven stops with a sack, an interception, a forced fumble and two deflected passes.
Williams, meanwhile, is tied with Brooking for the team lead with 23 tackles as the defense has not allowed a touchdown in three of its first four games.
When Hartwell was completing his rehab from an Achilles injury that limited him to five games last season, he was projected as the starter at middle linebacker with Boley at strongside and Brooking at weakside.
Then Hartwell was forced to have arthroscopic surgery on both knees two weeks before this season. Brooking moved inside and Williams, who started all 16 games last year and ranked second on the team with 132 tackles, was back as a starter at the weakside spot.
The challenge for Falcons defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is how to blend Hartwell back into the playing rotation when the defense already is playing well.
Does Brooking move back outside to make room for Hartwell? Does Hartwell come back as a starter or a role player, perhaps in situations where he can make use of his strengths as a run-stopper?
Donatell’s only answer is he’ll find playing time for each of the top four linebackers in the 4-3 scheme.
‘‘It’s always nice to have depth and we’re going to have roles for everybody,’’ Donatell said after Monday’s practice.
‘‘Everybody is going to come with their lunch pail and we’re going to give them some work to do. We’ll find a role for everybody who can contribute. You’ll see them all.’’
Coach Jim Mora said he wants to make sure Hartwell has fully recovered from the knee surgeries.
‘‘He’s practicing,’’ Mora said. ‘‘I just want to make sure he feels right. I want to make sure he’s ready to go before we put him out there.’’
Hartwell, the former Baltimore starter, was projected as a leading run-stopper on the defense when he signed a four-year, $26.25 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2005. He had 31 tackles in five games last year before the Achilles injury ended his season.
Hartwell recovered from the Achilles injury only to have problems with both knees. Now, after practicing before the Arizona game, having a bye week for more recovery time and returning to practice Monday, Hartwell may be ready to play.
‘‘It’s good to have him back out there working on the field in practices,’’ Donatell said. ‘‘He’s getting reps. We want to weave him back into the lineup. Everyday he’ll get work and hopefully he’ll play Sunday.’’
The Falcons have enjoyed defensive success this season despite playing without Hartwell and having this year’s top acquisition, defensive end John Abraham, limited to one game by a groin injury.
Abraham returned to practice last week and again practiced Monday. Abraham may make a quicker return to the starting lineup than Hartwell, though it’s possible both will play this week.
Meanwhile, Williams says he can’t worry about his starting job.
‘‘I just go out and do my job and I let the people upstairs make the decision on what they want to do,’’ Williams said.
Even though Williams had big numbers last year with his 132 tackles, Donatell says ‘‘He has definitely spiked up his performance this year.’’
‘‘He’s come back in really his second year of playing as a linebacker and he’s had a couple of real strong weeks,’’ Donatell said of Williams. ‘‘He has speed and explosion and has great sideline to sideline range.’’
