FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- With Mike Zimmer retaining his role as defensive coordinator in the wake of Bobby Petrino's resignation, the Falcons defense kept more of a "business as usual" approach Thursday. The same couldn't be said for the team's offense, which lost its play caller and architect.
Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas, however, said the group is in good hands under offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Thomas said Jackson will call plays when the team plays at Tampa Sunday and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave will help manage the offense.
There will be no change at quarterback, according to Thomas, who met with each offensive coach before deciding Chris Redman gives the team its best chance to win. There will be a change in the size of the play book, however.
"I think we're just trying to simplify things and not run 100 plays," running back Warrick Dunn said. "(Jackson) is going to give us an opportunity to go out and just play. The plays that we practice we're going to run and, hopefully, go out and execute."
"It's not going to change completely but there will be some different things that Hue likes to call," added Redman, who threw for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. "We're excited about it. Hue's a great coach and we all believe in him and we expect some big things this weekend."
Center Todd McClure agreed the team's game plan would be altered for the rest of the season. The veteran said the offense would sometimes get lost in the midst of Petrino's large play book and that Falcons would put in less plays during last three games.
"We're going to simplify things a little bit -- cut back the game plan and get it more focused," McClure said. "Before we had so many plays in and it was hard to concentrate and know what we were doing when we went into the games."
DAY TWO: Thomas talked with multiple media outlets Wednesday -- his first day as the team's interim head coach. That didn't make the 64-year-old more comfortable with the press in his second day.
"I've been here six years and this is as close as I've been to (the media)," Thomas said. "I don't even know your names. Talking to the press has been the biggest difference. The support staff here has been great to me. Everything has been taken care of and is in its place."
The coach said the team offered plenty of support to him Thursday. But the ultimate sign of support to Thomas comes with performance on the field.
Players agree.
"He's been in this league for a long time; he's played for a long time and he's been a coach," Dunn said of Thomas, a 28-year coaching veteran who most recently coached the team's defensive backs. "I just think it's right for us to go out and play hard for him and show him we're trying to do everything we can to try to be the best team on Sunday. That's playing for four quarters, playing with emotion and passion and really just leaving it out on the field."
The team also recognizes the importance of veteran leadership on the field during this difficult time.
"He's doing a good job of letting us have fun and letting the players control the practice a little more -- have a little more say about what's going on," defensive end John Abraham said. "It's us out there now instead of worrying about somebody else.
"It makes the leaders really have to step up... When they told me who the interim head coach was going to be it kind of changed my vision for the rest of the season. I feel good about the situation."
WILLIAMS TO PLAY: Second-year defensive back Jimmy Williams took more reps at practice Thursday and will see more action on defense Sunday. According to Thomas, Williams will be active on third downs and on special teams. Williams was inactive the past two games.
"When you're a backup as a defensive back you have to be a good special teams player," Thomas said. "His special teams play hasn't been what we thought it should be in the past. Hopefully, since he's been down, he'll realize that this week and come back and play excellent special teams and be able to help us on third down."
In 11 games Williams has 18 tackles, one interception and two passes defensed. He played cornerback last season but switched to safety during 2007 training camp.
INJURY REPORT: Wide receiver Roddy White (knee) missed Thursday's practice. The team's leading receiver is just five yards away from reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark on the season and should be ready to practice tomorrow, Thomas said.
Defensive back Antoine Harris (knee), who missed Monday night's game against the Saints, could also return to practice on Friday. That's when coaches will look to make a decision on his status for the game.
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FAMILIAR FOE: This week may be awkward and unfamiliar to the Falcons but Sunday's opponent will not be as foreign. The Buccaneers played the Falcons just more than a month ago and left the Georgia Dome with a 31-7 victory.
At 8-5, Tampa Bay could be just one win away from clinching the NFC South. The Falcons hope to play spoiler and are thankful to have recent experience to draw on in a short week of preparation.
"We've got to get focused because Tampa Bay doesn't care who's coaching this week," Redman said. "All they want to do is go out there and win… We're just going to do what we do best and that's going out there and hopefully putting a good team on the field and playing well.
"They're a great team and we know they have a lot to play for. We know they're going to play really tough. I wouldn't say it's a great thing but obviously we played them once this year and we kind of have a feel for them. But we have to go out there and produce."
"You've played them once already so you know what they're going to do," added McClure. "Obviously they've changed some things since the last time we played them. But they know us, we know them and it always helps when you know a little bit about the opponent."
