FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes will forever remember his first moments in a regular season game as a professional. It was last Sunday at Arizona and, with little time to worry, the 24 year old lined up across from Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
He back-pedaled his way into coverage and began what would be a successful day.
When the smoke cleared Grimes, a first-year player out of tiny Shippensburg University, had seen dozens of snaps against Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. He also led the Falcons with 11 tackles and played a part on a defense that held Arizona to three fourth-quarter points in a 30-27 overtime loss.
A memorable game? Yes.
But Grimes prefers another adjective to describe his first moments on the regular-season playing field.
"It's a fast-paced game," he said. "It happed fast out there but it's fun. It's still playing football. You just go out there, have fun and take advantage of your opportunities."
Taking advantage has been quite the mantra in the Falcons locker room since Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation Dec. 11. Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas has stuck with the same offensive and defensive schemes on the field. But his personality has helped lighten the mood around the practice facility and younger players have taken the field in greater numbers, particularly last week.
Grimes knew he would be active for last week's game when the team promoted him from the practice squad Dec. 17. He replaced veteran cornerback Lewis Sanders (who went on injured reserve). What Grimes didn't know was how much playing time he would get at University of Phoenix Stadiums. He got his shot when rookie cornerback Chris Houston experienced some pain during the week.
Make way for the 5-foot-10, 200-pound defensive back from Philadelphia.
"I always wanted to play in the NFL but I knew it was a long shot," said Grimes, who set school records in passes defensed (38) and interceptions (27) in 43 games for the Shippensburg Red Raiders. "It's exciting. I'm just having fun out there.
"I did all right. I feel like I could do better but I went in there, had fun and did what I was supposed to do."
Coaches are also impressed with Grimes, who earned first-team All-American honors as a junior and senior.
"They caught a lot of balls on Grimes last week but we thought he represented himself well," said Thomas, who started the season as the team's defensive backs coach. "He tackled very well and the coverage was outstanding... We were happy with his progress."
Thomas said Grimes can expect more playing time this week.
"I don't want that to be it," the cornerback said when asked about his first game. "I just want to keep playing and keep getting better... Whatever I can do to become better."
Grimes admits he's had to do a little more coming from a small school both to perform and prove himself. But don't think he gets caught up in his accomplishments. If he did that, he probably wouldn't be as focused on the building blocks that got him this far.
"I just know I have to work harder coming from a small school," he said. "If you want to see it as having a chip on my shoulder... I don't really look at it like that. I just come out here and play and let my play speak for itself."
INJURY REPORT: Several players missed practice Thursday, a common sight this late in the NFL season. Thomas expressed concern over rookie defensive back David Irons, however.
Irons strained a hamstring in Wednesday's practice and moved slowly around the team's indoor practice facility in sweats.
"The only guy we're really worried about is Irons," Thomas said after practice. "The rest of them we're just resting them for precaution. Irons is the only guy we're really worried about. We don't know if he'll be available for us Sunday."
NEARING THE END: Sunday the Falcons come to the end of an up-and-down season that has stumped the most veteran of veterans. That includes the team's interim coach, who spoke about the 2007 season and the team's focus Thursday afternoon.
"I've never seen anything like this and I've been 3-13 as a coach and 3-13 as a player," Thomas said. "(I've never seen) anything like all the difficult situations we've been through. We have to take our hats off to the (players). They've responded very well with a good week of work and, hopefully, we can go out and get a win Sunday."
