{"id":2589,"date":"2010-04-23T06:06:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-23T11:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/?p=2589"},"modified":"2010-04-23T06:06:00","modified_gmt":"2010-04-23T11:06:00","slug":"atlanta-gets-their-lb-weatherspoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2010\/04\/23\/atlanta-gets-their-lb-weatherspoon\/","title":{"rendered":"Atlanta Gets Their LB – Weatherspoon"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 19th pick was rather anticlimactic; it was a safe choice, allowing the Falcons to have a linebacking tandem of Sean Weatherspoon<\/a> (Missouri) and Curtis Loften for (hopefully) years to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really felt that a cover-type linebacker, who has speed and flies around the football, was in our best interest,\u201d Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. \u201cWe got the guy we were targeting all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weatherspoon, who led the Tigers in tackles over the past three seasons, is considered an outside linebacker.<\/p>\n

The Falcons believe that Weatherspoon can help them in pass coverage. Weatherspoon played in the Big 12 and faced a lot of pass-happy spread offenses. His coverage skills are solid. [ajc.com<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So much for surprises out of the ATL; in fact the 2010 draft outside of the Falcons was anything other than predictable. I would have to say it was one of the most interesting drafts<\/a> in recent memory.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t have a lot of time to go into an in-depth analysis, but WTF was Denver thinking? In the last couple of years they have traded away a young proven QB and a star WR; both needed an attitude adjustment. So they march into this year\u2019s draft and in the 1st round take a project QB and a WR that while talented, played in a wishbone offense. I just don\u2019t get the strategy.<\/p>\n

I really like what the Lions did \u2013 they made it out of the 1st round with potential impact players on both sides of the ball. I think Seattle, Cleveland, and of course the Raiders all reached. As long as Buffalo\u2019s Spiller does not become New Orleans\u2019 Bush, that may turn out to be a great pick, however I do not understand why the Bills did not go QB.<\/p>\n

Speaking of QBs, last night\u2019s draft spoke volumes about the perceived quality of this year\u2019s crop. Really a damning indictment. There may be some interesting maneuvering in the 2nd round later today as Buffalo or Oakland attempts to jump in front of Cleveland or Minnesota. All four need QBs of the future, right?<\/p>\n

Closing out with the Falcons, I assume Atlanta will stand down in the 2nd round; they traded this year\u2019s pick to Kansas City for Gonzalez and there really is not a compelling need for Atlanta to try to jump back into tonight\u2019s opening round. The Falcons are sitting on two 3rd round picks \u2013 19 (83 overall) and 34 (98 overall). Those picks should be enough to find d-line and o-line help, assuming they go in that direction, or perhaps find another WR or even HB for Ryan to utilize.<\/p>\n

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