Sources say Harvey Dahl, a practice-squad player for much of his career, has overtaken Kynan Forney for the Falcons’ starting ORG spot. We hear Dahl’s nasty temperament has been the secret to his recent success in Atlanta. Head coach Mike Smith’s staff is looking for guys with a mean streak, and Dahl has stood out as someone who can set an example for the rest of the O-line.

Sources tell PFW the left side of the Falcons’ offensive line is beginning to take shape. It’s likely that rookie Sam Baker will start at left tackle and second-year veteran Justin Blalock will hold on to his spot at left guard. Blalock was being considered for a move to right tackle, but with last year’s starting right tackle, Todd Weiner, expected back from knee surgery by training camp, talk of a shift has died down. Expect the Falcons’ coaching staff to give Baker a lot of help anchoring the left side, setting tight ends next to him on many plays early in the year.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the Falcons have come to terms on a 4-year deal with defensive end Kroy Biermann, the team’s fifth-round draft selection. Biermann, 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, played in 52 career games at the University of Montana and totaled 220 tackles and 32 sacks. Here is his bio from the Falcons website:

The 2007 Buck Buchanan Award winner as the best defensive player in the Football Championship Series (formerly D-IAA), Biermann will have to make the transition from his customary defensive end position to outside linebacker in the NFL. Biermann used his burst off the snap, instincts and high motor to rack up gaudy numbers last season (72 tackles, 15 sacks, five forced fumbles) in helping lead Montana to a national championship.

He earned eight letters at Hardin High School: three each in football and wrestling and two in track. He was a first team all-state pick and team captain as a junior and senior at linebacker. He was chosen first team all-conference at running back in 2002 and 2003. He participated in Montana’s Annual East-West Shrine Game.

His high school football coaches were Kelly Kinsey and former (1971-75) Griz tight end Duane Walker. Biermann was one of the state’s premier wrestlers at the A level and placed second in the state as a junior and senior. His senior year in wrestling he was team captain, had the most take-downs and most pins, and was voted his team’s Most Valuable Wrestler.

Here is a rundown on Douglas from NFL.com

Harry Douglas might lack the ideal bulk you look for in a receiver. That hasn’t made it any easier for defenders to tackle the 5-foot-11 receiver.

Douglas has blazing speed and the explosive second gear to leave his opponent grabbing at air. He started just 19 of 46 games for the Cardinals, but was extremely productive and left his mark on school and Big East record books.

His 10 100-yard receiving performances over the last two years rank tied for fifth in Big East Conference history. Douglas finished his career as the team’s fifth all-time leading receiver, with 173 receptions, tied for sixth in Big East annals. His 2,924 yards receiving rank second in both school and league annals while his 15 touchdown catches rank seventh on Louisville’s career chart.

At Jonesboro High School, Douglas earned first team All-County and honorable mention All-State honors as a senior. He was named the top receiver in the region and one of only three players to receive all nine possible votes for first-team All-Region that season. He was also selected to the Clayton News Daily Southern Crest Super 11 squad, as he caught 40 passes for 831 yards and seven touchdowns during his final campaign.

As a junior, Douglas added All-Region recognition for his 26 catches for 487 yards and five scores. He would close out his three-year career with 80 receptions for 1,539 yards and 14 touchdowns.

A three-sport athlete who also lettered in baseball and basketball, he collected All-Region honors and was a state Top 15 hoops choice by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He averaged 20.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.0 steals as a senior for the fourth-ranked team in the state.

The Falcons also today signed veteran safety Deke Cooper.

The Falcons today came to terms with seventh-round CB Wilrey Fontenot on a multi-year deal. He started all 46 games he played in during his college career at the University of Arizona. Fontenot totaled 174 tackles (130 solos), five interceptions and 25 passes defensed for the Wildcats. He was the first of the two seventh round draft choices by the Falcons this year.

Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Ashley Fox wrote a column today on the possibility of first-round pick Matt Ryan walking into the starting job this season with the Falcons. “If there’s one thing I learned growing up in that area it’s that you can’t worry about” expectations, Ryan said last week to Fox. “You can’t even think about it. If you do, if you get caught up in it, it can only distract you. For me, I certainly have high expectations for myself and what I want to accomplish as a player. You have to live up to those expectations, and that’s really the way I’ve gone about it.”

Ryan has a lot heaped on him in his first season with the Falcons, and that does not even include a whopping contract that pays his $72 million over six seasons. Some think that Ryan has the intangibles to be as good as a QB like Carson Palmer, others think he’ll flame out like failed QB’s Ryan Leaf or Rick Mier . As Fox rightly points out, one thing that Ryan has going for him today is the fact he’s signed and sealed, and will be in camp on time.

Atlanta wants Ryan to be the savior of the team, putting the awful 2007 season to bed, and putting fans in the seats with Falcons Tickets as well. Owner Arthur Blank wants him to be the QB that eventually has Falcons fans thinking Super Bowl tickets and puts the memory of Michael Vick to rest as well. Time will tell if Ryan is going to be able to do that.

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