Tag: Atlanta Falcons

Please say it isn’t true. Could the Falcons possibly be looking to go with a TE with their first round pick? Half of the usatoday.com panel (4 out of 8 pundits) thinks this is a likely scenario.

• Jim Corbett – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
• Nate Davis – Brian Cushing, LB, Southern California Derek Harper – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
• Sean Leahy – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
• Matt Pitzer – Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
• Rob Rang – Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
• Larry Weisman – Louis Delmas, S, W. Michigan
• Scott Zucker – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

Early on in my off season reports I did list a decent dump off safety net type TE as a need, but good grief, we do not need to revisit the Reeves era of taking a TE (or two) early and often.

Up until this report, I felt certain the Falcons were going to go defense with their first couple of picks, but now I am getting worried. Where there’s smoke, there is fire. Looks like the coals are smoldering.

Because everyone has to have one, right? In the interest of time, today I am only going to focus on the Falcons’ picks. Besides, we still have a long way to get to April 25. More mocks to follow.

J. Michael Moore (of the official Atlanta Falcons’ site) is on his third take of the 2009 draft …

“No. 24 — Atlanta Falcons: S Louis Delmas, Western Michigan (Previous Pick: Clay Matthews)

Look him up and you’ll read concerns about his ability as a run stopper but he’s one of the more gifted players in pass coverage. His skills could translate to the “interchangeable” safety position General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said he was looking for. He was a team captain and three-time All-Conference performer. He’s been called “a natural play maker.” After some more consideration, I thought this a more logical pick.”

Delmas is becoming a “popular” pick for the Falcons, but I think the Falcons need help now, not in a two or three years after Delmas gets some NFL seasoning. Maybe as an early to mid second round pick, but not as my first pick in the draft.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the ajc.com Falcons Blog has offered his take on this year’s draft. Quoting Ledbetter, is almost like someone quoting my ramblings on this blog, but I digress.

” It’s no secret the Falcons will go heavy on defense in this draft. Here are couple of players to track over the next month. They’ll likely still be available when the Falcons pick No. 24.

-Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English.
-Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis.
-Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.
-Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews Jr.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois.”

At this point I think I can draw two conclusions. First, everyone universally agrees that the Falcons will take a defensive selection with their first pick, but the position varies depending on the mock draft in questions. Second, no one has a clue who the Falcons will target with their first pick because it is too hard to predict who will be left by the time Atlanta is on the clock.

The espn.com NFL NFC South blog has the Falcons going defense with their first pick.

“The best way to improve a defense overall is to start with the pass rush. In that area, the Falcons, who have the 24th pick in the first round, have nothing but John Abraham. They could get him some help and score some major points with the hometown fans if they can land Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson.”

[Or Plan B] “Drafting so late in the first round means the Falcons can’t lock in on any one position. If Johnson or another quality pass-rusher isn’t available, it will be easy for Atlanta to move in another direction. The Falcons let outside linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley go through free agency. Although they brought in free agent Mike Peterson, they need another starting outside linebacker. USC’s Brian Cushing or Clay Matthews could fit nicely.”

I am not 100% sold on the Falcons taking a LB early in the draft, at least not with the first two picks. This article (another one from the espn.com NFL NFC South blog) points out the Falcons do have a few options at LB. Let’s hope they do not get desperate and reach.

I think the Falcons have to go d-line and shut down corner (as if those are a dime a dozen) with their first two picks, and then go LB with their third or fourth pick. Atlanta should only go LB with one of their first two picks if they are sure they can get a starter, and at the same time they still have to figure out how to plug holes on the d-line and in the secondary.

I am sure Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff are up to the challenge. Should be an interesting draft.

Unlike last year when the Falcons made an immediate splash by signing Turner, Atlanta has been very quiet in the 2009 Free Agency signing period. They have mostly concentrated on filling the depth chart. The only two noteworthy additions have been former Jaguars LB Mike Peterson and former Rams C Brett Romberg. Neither makes Falcons fans stand up and cheer.

Mike Peterson (LB)

“2008 Statistics – Games/Starts: 15/10; Tackles: 84; Sacks: 1”

Peterson will be reunited with Falcons head coach Mike Smith, who previously served as defensive coordinator in Jacksonville from 2003 to 2007. Peterson, 32, played the last six seasons with the Jaguars after starting his 10-year NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Peterson looks to be a minor upgrade over the departed town favorite Keith Brooking.

Brett Romberg (C)

“ Free-agent center Brett Romberg, who started six games for the St. Louis Rams in 2008, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Romberg, 29, played in 33 games, including 18 starts, for the Rams the last three years. He started nine games in 2007.

With the Falcons, Romberg is expected to compete for playing time behind Todd McClure.”

Solid backup caliber player, which for the most part is all Atlanta has done in the off season; shore up their depth chart.

I doubt signing Peterson and Romberg will change the opinion of SportingNews.com – they called the Falcons losers in Free Agency.

“They must replace Boley, Foxworth and Keith Brooking (Cowboys), a fixture at linebacker for more than a decade.”

I would not go so far as to call Falcons losers. Michael Boley (LB), signed with the Giants. For whatever reason, last year he completely fell out of favor with Atlanta’s coaching staff. Keith Brooking (LB) departing to the Cowboys helps the Falcons; they no longer have to contend with a fan favorite that has lost at least three steps.

Loosing Dominique Foxworth (CB; signed with the Ravens) hurts a little because he played very well last year, and the Falcons gave up this year’s 7th round selection to Denver to get Foxworth via trade last year. Maybe the NFL will deem him worthy of a compensatory pick, which would allow Atlanta to continue to build through the draft.

The Falcons have also lost Grady Jackson (DT) to the Lions and Lawyer Milloy (S) remains unsigned, with little chance of returning to Atlanta. Both of these players played key roles with the Falcons last year, but are expendable, past their prime veterans. In other words, the Falcons will get younger, faster, and of course cheaper.

Of all the Free Agency losses, Foxworth is most concerning. Not because he was great, but because I am not all that excited about Chris Houston, Von Hutchins (if he returns from injury), Brent Grimes and Chevis Jackson secondary. Maybe the Falcons are waiting for another trade, June roster cuts, and of course there is the draft.

Falcons 2009 Draft Selections
1st Round (No. 24 overall)
2nd Round (No. 23; No. 55 overall)
3rd Round (No. 26; No. 90 overall)
4th Round (No. 25)
5th Round (No. 7; from Oakland)
5th Round (No. 24)
6th Round (No. 23)

Compensatory draft picks will be awarded in April. They are added at the bottoms of rounds three through seven and affect the overall number of picks.

Today’s featured mock draft is from J. Michael Moore from the FalconsLIFE site. Sure, homer type musings are at play, but it gives me something to write about on this foggy Saturday morning.

Moore’s take on a mock draft does not really contain any surprises; i.e. fairly predictable, and no complete head scratchers, but we are still in the realm of guess work. With the 24th pick, he has the Falcons taking Alphonso Smith (CB, Wake Forest):

“He’s a smart, athletic and aggressive cornerback that leaves Wake Forest as the ACC’s all-time interception leader. Of course, cornerback is just one position of need in Atlanta and the No. 24 pick allows the Birds to take the best defensive player on the board, whoever that may be.”

I am of the mindset that the Falcons are in desperate need of some up front defensive linemen. A big piece of meat that can put pressure on opposing QBs will instantly make Atlanta’s suspect secondary look creditable. The only problem is that all the first round caliber d-linemen may be gone by the time the Falcons pick. No need to make a reach pick (i.e. Sam Baker) when there should be decent 2nd and 3rd talent that can contribute to the cause.

It is always fun taking a look at the various mock drafts that pop up all over the place after the NFL Combine. At this point, if a team has a pretty good scouting department, they should know where players stand regardless of their workouts. Still, it is fun to overanalyze every drill because it gives the so called experts something to do. Hey, give ’em something to talk about. Of course I am paying particular attention to the Falcons intentions and what they will do to build off a successful first year draft under new, superior leadership.

Pat Kirwan, Senior Analyst at nfl.com put together his mock draft that is fairly conservative, with little risk taking at the top. Kirwan has the Falcons taking Peria Jerry DT, Mississippi, with the 24th selection:

The Falcons have to beef up the middle of their defense with solid young run stoppers. Jerry is a 300-pound run stuffer who will not be available later in the draft. His 32 tackles for a loss in the last two years at Mississippi tells you the kind of inside force he can be.

It is not a surprise to me that UGA’s Matthew Stafford is the top QB (whether he deserves that honor is a different post), but it is surprising that he slips all the way to the Jaguars with the 8th selection. I do not disagree with the Lions taking an offensive tackle (Jason Smith, Baylor) with the top pick. Building inside out is the way to go. Besides the Lions have two first round picks, they need help across the board, and they are pretty much snake-bitten with their top selections. Go ultra conservative. A simple and safe approach should make for better Thanksgiving Day football.

Kansas City needs a QB, so maybe they are just posturing if they have Kirwan convinced that they are going to go LB (Aaron Curry, Wake Forest) with their first pick, number three overall.

I am not sure when the last time a running back was taken this late in the draft, but UGA’s Knowshon Moreno could be a steal if he actually slips to New England (24th selection).

OK, back to the Falcons. If they can get pressure up front, they will be able to somewhat hide an exposed secondary. Maybe. The Falcons are going to have to address the defensive line and secondary with their first two picks, so the order needs to be most likely to be successful, not necessarily the best talent on the board.

Go Falcons!

It looks like the Falcons are going to let Lawyer Milloy explore his options via Free Agency, and Keith Brooking could be next.

First up is Lawyer. He has been a solid safety over the last three years, but he is 35 and has lost several steps. His on the field leadership is second to none, but it really is time for him to move on. If he cannot find greener pastures, I could see him returning to the Falcons on a one year deal to add some depth to the team, and provide some leadership and training to his drafted replacement.

Now to Brooking. Despite being selected to the Pro Bowl five times, Brooking has never been among the league’s elite players. Others would say vastly over rated, and while I will not go that far, it is time for him to part ways. I will never forget him aimlessly running down the field during the St. Louis game as the play was going on behind him. Pat him on the back. Tell him thanks for the memories. Move on.

Me thinks the draft will be fun to watch this year as the Falcons look to overhaul their secondary, find a serviceable TE that can act as Ryan’s safety net, and of course figure out what to do with the defensive line.

I had no idea that Vick was still taking up space on the Falcons’ salary cap. According to the ajc

“The Falcons have announced their intentions to trade his rights. If the Falcons can’t find a trade party and they release Vick once he is reinstated, they would take a $15.430 million salary cap hit in 2009. He is also due a $680,000 bonus in 2010.”

So let me get this straight. Vick goes to prison, which has to be some sort of breach of contract. At a minimum it has to be a violation of the NFL Code of Conduct. But, when all is said and done, Vick still could cost the Falcons in excess of $15 million against the 2009 salary cap?

Un’fing believable that the league would allow this to happen.

espn.com has an article about the Panthers’ screwing the pooch against the Cardinals. One problem is one of perspective and facts. They include the Falcons’ 34-19 loss to Denver in Super Bowl XXXIII as a “home” game for the Falcons.

Give me a f’ing break. Is Miami, which hosted Super Bowl XXXIII, in any way, shape, form, or fashion, remotely Atlanta? Way to start off a Sunday morning with some bad memories. F^*k Eugene Robinson! Thanks for that!

BTW, interesting site with some decent info. Most of this can be found on nfl.com, but kudos for the effort.

Or the Go Falcons! Edition. How can I be so right, yet so wrong? The Red Raiders proved that they were not so hot, getting handily corralled at the hands of the Rebels from Oxford. Kentucky showed me that I should not pick against the SEC, and that they where not in the same piss poor category as the Fighting Chickens. Finally, WTF happened to the Elephants? Seriously, I thought they would win, but I did not like the point spread. Did anyone really think they would lay down for Utah? The end result was a 2-1 day.

I am surprised that we are going Bowling today since today is all about the Falcons and the NFL playoffs, but duty calls, so I am obligated to make a selection.

International Bowl: Buffalo (8-5, 5-3 MAC) vs. Connecticut (7-5, 3-4 Big East). Not sure if they get any harder to pick or watch than this one. I am going to go with the points and take Buffalo with the 6.5, but I am not sure why anyone is bothering to play this game.

Record to date: 16-11.

We will talk more about the Falcons/Cardinals game as we pull closer to Saturday. Before we get to that point, back in August did anyone figure that Atlanta would be included in Super Bowl XLIII discussions?

If history is any indicator, Arizona almost certainly will bow out of the postseason in a hurry, and the odds are very long for either the Vikings or the Chargers to win it all. It also says Carolina, Atlanta, the Giants, Philadelphia, Miami, Tennessee or Indianapolis most likely will end up hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.

In other Falcons news, Matt Ryan ran away with the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, landing 44 out of 50 possible first place votes. Ryan has had a remarkable year, but of late, has not played all that remarkable.

Go Falcons!

Off to the game in a few minutes, and keeping my fingers crossed for a Falcons victory, a Carolina loss at the hands of the hated Saints, and a home playoff game.

It should be fun scoreboard watching, but I am a little worried about the Falcons own game. Not because the Rams are any good; they are not, they suck. Atlanta is favored by 14.5, so this is a game they should not only win, but they should win big. Hope all the playoff excitement does not go to their heads.

New Orleans plays host to Carolina today; Panthers are favored by three. I can only hope that New Orleans wants to crash the Panthers playoff party, and Brees goes after Marino’s single season passing yards record. The Saints have nothing to play for, so I do not see them winning, but one can hope.

Not planning to tailgate today; looks to be poor weather in Atlanta with rain and thunderstorms ruling the day. The boys are excited because they get to wear their new Ryan and Norwood jerseys. Should be a good time, except for the $7 beer.

Happy Sunday!

I just optimistically ordered my Falcons playoff tickets. If the Falcons beat the Rams, and the Saints beat the Panthers, the Falcons clinch the NFC South, the #2 seed, and a first round bye.

According to the Falcons web site, the Falcons would play on these dates:

NFC Divisional Game – Saturday, January 10, 2009, at 8:00 PM or Sunday. January 11, 2009 at 1:00 PM or 4:15 PM
NFC Championship Game – Sunday, January 18, 2009

Last week everything fell into place for the Falcons. One can hope that this weekend we get a Christmas surprise.

Go Falcons!

It may not have been pretty, but the Falcons reached the playoffs with a 24-17 win on the road against Minnesota! Simple incredible. Who would have predicted this? Certainly not me.

This weekend all the breaks have fallen in Atlanta’s favor. The Ravens took down the Cowboys. The Chargers defeated the Buccaneers. And the Redskins just took care of the Eagles.

I wonder if the Falcons have any shot at the NFC South title? I am not sure what happens if the Giants win over the Panthers, but if they do, and they fall the falling week to the Saints, can Atlanta steal the top spot? Carolina probably has some sort of crazy tie breaker, but one can dream. Besides, I do not want to get too greedy. I am happy with making the playoffs, even as a wild card.

The Falcons are in the playoffs!