Bright Future, going to be a good Draft

[Harry10]

great season, i think i was the only one who thought the Falcons could make the playoffs at the beginning of the season, but that is only because i am one of those fans who always thinks like that.

i love the posistion the Falcons are going into in this year's draft....... no major needs and alot of talent in the late first round, so Birds will be able to get the best player available.

Brannan Southerland
Jeremy Maclin, Michael Crabtree could fill in for Fin and help out in punt returns

Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Pettigrew could give Ryan a big target

Foxworthy has been impressive, but Malcolm Jenkins, Vontae Davis could still help out in depth

William Moore, Taylor Mays are monsters and could help the team right away

i'm not a big fan of Michael Johnson, i think he is going to be a bust, but he could slip to the late first round.

[HMFFL]

This will be the draft thread.

Such a great feeling that Thomas Dimitroff is making the picks.

[lpsevier]

I could see Mays being targeted by us in the later first round.

Not sure how I feel about that though.

[HMFFL]

We have bigger needs and I like Norwood!

In The Land Of Dreams, The Falcons Might Consider Percy Harvin



Hear me out.

I know many of you are thinking that the only offensive players we should even be considering in this upcoming draft are tight ends and linemen. I understand that, and for the most part I agree with it. It's the responsible thing to do, the kind of thing that you settle down with and have several little responsibilities and a nice picket fence.

Yet I'm going to advocate for something completely out of left field. I'm going to say that the Falcons should at the very least consider taking Percy Harvin of Florida.

For those of you unfamiliar with Harvin, he's a true hybrid who has played well as a receiver and a runner. In the NFL, most teams are going to be looking at him as a receiver/returner type, but I'm convinced he could be effective with 5-10 carries a game as well.

Let's face it, eventually Jerious Norwood is going to get a better gig somewhere else. If Michael Turner holds up to the pounding his body took this year, he's going to continue to be the featured guy. What if we had a guy who could serve as another playmaker in the receiving game and fill the Norwood memorial role as a runner as well? That would make our offense even more dynamic, and despite our clear defensive holes I think it never hurts to diversify our weapons.

Am I just dreaming here, or could Harvin be that kind of guy? Even if he can, is he worth the first or second round pick it would take to get him?


Link

[lpsevier]

How's that working out for Reggie Bush and the Saints?

[HMFFL]

Damn!

Taylor Mays has decided to return to Southern California for his senior season rather than turn pro.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/n ... &type=lgns

[lpsevier]

I'm a little surprised, but I think we may be going DT anyway.

[HMFFL]

Five draft possibilities

B.J. RAJI

Defensive tackle, Boston College

“B.J. Raji had his best day [Wednesday],” Mayock said. “He was dominant. He pushed the pocket. He dominated the offensive line in both individual drills and in team drills.”

WILLIAM MOORE

Safety, Missouri

“(He) probably is my most disappointing player,” Mayock said. “After his junior year I thought he might be a top-20 pick. He came back for his senior year and he did not play well. He fought through some injuries. It looks to me that he might be more of a linebacker than a safety. He’s not coming out of his breaks. He doesn’t run well. There is a buzz around here that he might be a linebacker.”

BRANDON PETTIGREW

TE, Oklahoma State

“Pettigrew has just been dominant at the tight end position here,” Davis said. “He can run and catch. We watched him in a blocking drill and he won every one of his matchups. He played against run blocking and pass blocking. In all of the situations, it wasn’t even close. He is a very good blocker. I think he’s the total package.”

BRIAN CUSHING

LB, Southern Cal

“He can be either a weakside or a strongside guy,” Davis said. “He could be an inside linebacker in a 3-4. He’s very instinctive. I like the way he plays. He will light you up. There are not if, ands or buts about that. I think his best football is ahead of him. As a freshmen at USC they just wanted him on the field and Pete Carroll made him play defensive end with his hand on the ground. He bounced around a little bit and he has had some injury issues.”

MOHAMED MASSAQUOI

WR, Georgia

“He’s a good looking receiver,” Mayock said. “He runs precise routes. But I think he benefited from coming out of an offense with a quarterback who could throw the intermediate routes. He’s looked good down here. I don’t think anybody will tell you he’s a first-round pick. He’s a solid, second- or third-round pick who’s going to play in the league for a long time.”

http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/spor ... draft.html

[lpsevier]

Raji seems to be moving up the boards, so I don't think we'll be in play for him.

Of course, when we sign Haynesworth in free agency we'll be ok at DT anyway

[HMFFL]

Mocking The Draft Picks S William Moore For Falcons

First, take a look at the mock draft over at the newly revived Mocking The Draft. It's pretty likely we'll have our mock draft there again this year, and it was a really great experiment last year. Soak in the picks and scroll down to the Falcons.

The selection of Missouri safety William Moore is a very interesting one. Safety is a position of need of the Falcons, as Lawyer Milloy should be sliding into a backup/mentor role within a season or so. Moore lacks high end speed, but he hits like a train with a brick wall attached to the front of it and is very good in coverage. If the Falcons decide this is a position of need, I really couldn't complain about this selection.

If I had a preference there, though, it would definitely be the guy Mocking The Draft has the Dolphins picking right after us. That'd be one Phil Loadholt of Oklahoma, who at 6'8 and 337 pounds could convincingly play a small mountain in a major motion picture. There's some concern given about his height and his tendency to play a little stiff, which would make him a poor fit for left tackle. Fortunately, we already have Sam Baker there, so we could easily move him to the other side of the line and either draft again at guard or move Tyson Clabo back inside.

There are a lot of quality choices out there, but I might be inclined to go for Loadholt over Moore. We'll see how this one plays out in the months ahead.

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2009/1/29/ ... ft-picks-s

The mock draft: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/1/2 ... mock-draft

[Harry10]

i know that getting a WR would be over kill, but i wonder if this will be one of those drafts where the first WR is selected in the second round. i just wonder where Jeremy Maclin and Michael Crabtree

[lpsevier]

Maclin COULD be a real possibility for us.

He may be tough to pass up.

I don't think we'll be selecting a WR in the first though.

[lpsevier]

I'm starting the like the idea of drafting Michael Johnson at DE, who will certainly be there when we pick, and moving Jamaal Anderson to LB.

Thoughts on that?

[HMFFL]

Five players on the Falcons’ radar at NFL combine

Here’s a look at five players on the Falcons’ radar at the combine:

• Louis Delmans, Safety, Western Michigan

A high-character guy, the kind the Falcons are trying to add. He works with youth and wants to build a Boys and Girls club in his hometown of North Miami Beach, Fla. Shined at the Senior Bowl. Was a four-year starter for the Broncos. A big-hitter, with man-to-man coverage skills.

• Brandon Pettigrew, Tight end, Oklahoma State

Described by his position coach Doug Meacham as a “classic tight end.” Pettigrew does the dirty work inside. He is also fast and athletic enough to get open on mismatches with linebackers and safeties down field.

• Brian Cushing, Linebacker, Southern California

Could be gone by the time the Falcons pick at No. 24. He’s 6-foot-4, 255 pounds and can run, has good lateral quickness and strength. A workout freak with just six percent body fat who eats five meals a day that are crafted by a nutritionist and delivered to him.

• Peria Jerry, Defensive tackle, Mississippi

Turned in a fine senior season and was named first-team All-American by Associated Press. Had 47 tackles and 17 tackles for loss, which led the Southeastern Conference. He also had six sacks and a fumble recovery.

• Clint Sintim, Linebacker, Virginia

Played outside linebacker in the 3-4 alignment for Al Groh. Appears to have the speed and striking ability the Falcons covet. Was a four-year starter in the Atlantic Coast Conference and also played special teams.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sport ... mbine.html

[lpsevier]

Any of those top 4 guys I would love.

Cushing especially.

[HMFFL]

Georgia Tech Offensive Lineman Andrew Gardner said he would love to play for his hometown team.

http://life.atlantafalcons.com/index.ph ... wentry=943

[HMFFL]

It Pays to be Confident at the Combine

There's something to say for having the kind of confidence that walks right on the edge of hubris. Jason Smith personified the condition in the opening moments of his meeting with Combine reporters Thursday.

Are you the best Smith at the Combine?

"I don't know. I am the best offensive tackle... Look at my film from Baylor and you'll see I'm the best."

His words were by no means cocky, annoying or overly flamboyant. On the contrary, his comments left little doubt that he could be the best offensive tackle available in April's draft.

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman didn't allow a sack his senior season of college. His performance on the field is so effortless, teammates nicknamed him "Smooth."

Or maybe that was because of his words...

"When I'm on the field I take a lot of pride physically assaulting somebody."

(Again, nothing scary about his comment unless you're an opposing defensive lineman).

Smith is listed as one of four tackles expected to go in the first round of the Draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Where he actually goes remains a mystery but his combination of athleticism, intelligence (he could have left as a junior with a degree) and confidence may separate him from the pack.

http://life.atlantafalcons.com/index.ph ... wentry=941

[lpsevier]

Interesting question for you:

If Andre Smith is now there when we pick, do you draft him?

[HMFFL]

Interesting question for you:

If Andre Smith is now there when we pick, do you draft him?

We need to consider him, but I have many concerns, and the biggest would be his work ethic. I heard today on AM Sports Radio that he was actually seen at a local club called "Dream" so it's not like he left the combine to become a gym rat. Maybe he's not wanting to be a top pick and prefers to be picked by a team around the southeast. He's already loss an enormous amount of money due to the way he's acting.

Edit: Found this:

Andre Smith Is “The Biggest Loser”

Figure Smith would have pulled in a guaranteed $30 million as the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft. We think that’s fair considering last year’s No. 1 pick Jake Long was an offensive tackle like Smith and we’re accounting for the fact that the economics of the game might not provide for the usual bump that happens each year.

This morning, Peter King told "The Dan Patrick Show" that, as of now, Smith is down to the bottom of the first round. So let’s see how much Smith could have lost.

Let’s put Smith as the fourth offensive tackle taken behind Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Michael Oher. Since so many teams took offensive tackles last year in the first round, we’ll put Smith as going to the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 28.

The 28th pick last year was Lawrence Jackson, who received $6.1 million in guaranteed money. We’ll give Smith the benefit of the doubt here and say he’ll get similar guaranteed money to what Duane Brown got at No. 26 last year ($6.2 million).

If it goes down like this, Smith would have lost $23.8 million.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/29348238

[HMFFL]

CB Allen hopes to impress hometown Falcons at combine

Georgia cornerback Asher Allen of Tucker plans to complete the full combine workout.

He hopes to impress the Atlanta Falcons.

“I would love to play in Atlanta,” Allen said. “I live 11 miles from the Stadium. That would be great.”

http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/spor ... mbine.html