Falcons to storm Georgia’s Pro Day
Could Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland be the next Bulldog drafted by the Falcons?
In each of the last three NFL drafts, the Falcons have selected a player from the University of Georgia.
In 2006, quarterback D.J. Shockley was selected in the seventh round with the 223rd pick overall.
In 2007, tight end Martrez Milner was selected in the fourth round with the 133rd pick overall.
Last season, running back Thomas Brown was selected in the sixth round with the 172nd overall pick.
Before Shockley was picked, the franchise has stayed away from Georgia players for more than 10 years. They had taken Mitch Davis in the fourth round (118 overall) of the 1994 draft.
The Falcons brain trust will descend on Athens tomorrow for Georgia’s pro day.
Much of the fuss will be over quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno.
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock is set visit. ESPN and Scouts Inc.’s Todd McShay is also set to visit. Our buddy Steve Wyche from NFL.Com is coming too.
With two legitimate first round picks, all 32 teams in the NFL will be represented.
The Falcons will not be in the hunt Stafford or Moreno, who figure to be long gone by the 24th pick.
However, there are some other Bulldogs who might entice general manger Thomas Dimitroff and the rest of the personnel department.
Cornerback Asher Allen, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, fullback Brannan Southerland and defensive end Jarious Wynn all participated in the NFL scouting combine and will get a chance to improve their workouts at the Pro Day.
Which Bulldog do you see the Falcons taking? (I think Southerland might be able to help in short yardage situations). Which Bulldog do they need to take? (Allen is a corner. They need a corner). Or do they need to go back to the old days and say away from the Bulldogs?
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112 comments Add your comment
VICK SUPPORTER 2 lost in space
March 20th, 2009
8:30 am
JAN. 20………………..HOW’S THAT FOR ONE PARAGRAPH OR LESS?
Ken Strickland
March 20th, 2009
8:33 am
STIRGD’NAHRIF-that was an excellent well thought out post. The Falcons are approaching the point where they can start drafting players to be groomed to replace expensive FA’s that have been signed, or vets that are approaching the down side of their careers.
I originally thought TE or DT would be the position we would draft first, then I changed to CB. But after analyzing what we already had on our roster, expecially the talent that will be returning from IR, I have come to realize TE and SS are our primary positions of need. A complete TE like Pettigrew would take an already potent OFF to the next level. He would expand our passing OFF, make our no huddle OFF deadly, and we could go to it at anytime without substituting.
If we improve our Redzone, short yardage and scoring OFF, teams will end up in catchup mode with little time remaining on the clock. We’ll start the season with one of the NFL’s best rushing OFF’s, if not the best, and one of the most potent passing OFF’s, led by one of the NFL’s most accurate passers.
One way to improve your rushing DEF is to use your OFF to control the clock, score, and place teams in a situation where they have to pass in order to catchup. A TE like Pettigrew can help us accomplish that. What we need on DEF can be acquired from the 2nd rd on. There will be no shortage of talented, if not as polished, DE’s, DT’s, SS’s and LB’s throughout this draft, and Dimitroff is the GM that can find them.
Stirg d'Nahsif
March 20th, 2009
9:36 am
Well said, Ken; I think we are on the same sheet of music.
I like Pettigrew, alot, and the only reason I expressed excitement for Johnson at number 24 is because I don’t think he’d be available for our second pick. So, either one would satisfy me.
I, too, change up when you consider releases, returns, re-signings. I’m still on the bandwagon for shopping a starting SS, in which you expressed is plentiful in the draft (linebackers and d. tackles, alike); however, I don’t think Pettigrew will last the second round and there’s just no other tight ends with similar traits (although, TD seems to covet Coffman).
I am really feeling your philosophy on the offensive strategy, with the addition of a very good tight end; but I think Pettigrew is the only one that can pull it off. That philosophy has worked for Colts, Rams and Vikings. The difference with us, we can now put a good defense with it; and, like you said, a good defense sits on the bench watching a good offense.
Shane
March 20th, 2009
9:40 am
Love that the Falcons are finally giving UGA some love. How many Pro Bowlers had to come out of Athens before the ‘Coons woke up to the gold mine 60 mi away?
Would love to see Southerland & Mass stay in Black & Red. And Ellerbe could contribute, although several Free Agents have already been brought in. Maybe get Wynn for a bargain, see what he does.
It’s been such a position of injury, can’t have too many run-stoppers….Mike Smith is a Defensive animal…and Defense, as we know, wins.
darrell starks
March 20th, 2009
10:30 am
I agree ASHER ALLEN came out to early and cause him self millions of dollar but WHAT GAMES are we talking about because the games i saw him play in he was solid LOOK every corner back is going to get beat sometime thats just reality even the best CB GET beat but asher allen is tough and play hard AND NOT ONLY THAT HE IS BETTER THAN SORRY CHRIS HOUSTON.GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FreeMikeVick
March 20th, 2009
10:32 am
chris 4 prez
March 19th, 2009
3:58 pm
FreeMikeVick, you my friend are a morron!
Whats a morron? Why is it the ones who attempt to question my intelligence fail miserably?
I MUS.WRITE
March 20th, 2009
10:38 am
Flacon Devil….. I hope you’re right about Robert James, from what ive heard he is a tackling machine and at 5′10 sum people compared him to london fletcher.
I would like for Maybin or Cushing to fall to us but if they dont …the pick at 24 has got to be Ziggy Hood the more film I see of this guy the more impressed i am
I would definitely pick him at 24 if we cant trade down, Also I think Zach Follett is going to be a really good Pro -hopefully for us…… I think he will outperform 3 of the 4 USC linebackers in the draft ..just a gut feeling -We have to get this guy……TD type guy nonstop motor – good tackler in space and plays with a nasty disposition
If we could get ZHood /Z Follett in the later rounds and a big NT to clog the middle I would be happy.
ndadome
March 20th, 2009
10:55 am
I MUS.WRITE I thought Hood was a DT. .am I wrong about that? Either way, I’m with you. .he is impressive. .Chase Coffman, TE, looks promising in the second round or so. .I also like Rashad Johnson, FS, from Alabama. .smart guy who can cover, and will hit you in the mouth.
Ken Strickland
March 20th, 2009
1:37 pm
I don’t know about the rest of you, but this is the most exciting, as well as puzzling, off season I’ve ever experienced as a Falcon fan. There’s one other thing we must consider before going overboard at our lack of FA participation to this point. There will be another FA signing period. And remember, we’ll also be able to sign players cut by other teams during training camp.
As far as SS in concerned, we should keep an eye on Antoine Harris, who’ll be coming off IR. His scouting report says he has the talent to effectively play both safety positions, and he’s not afraid to come up and hit. Based on everything I’ve read and heard about LB Robert James, he might be a better prospect than any LB in this yrs draft, and we already have him signed.
I can also understand why we might draft a DE. If JAbraham goes down, based on last yrs production, we’d need a DE that can provide his kind of production. I don’t think KBiermann has reached the point where he can be an effective every down DE. CDavis is steady, but he can’t provide the pass rushing ability that Abraham does. If we draft DE English, and he measures up to expectations, we would end up with a solid DL. We’d have 2 pass rushing DE’s in English and Abraham, and 2 solid DT’s, capable of rushing the passer, in TLewis and JBabineaux.
Truebeliever
March 20th, 2009
1:38 pm
They may be able to get great value in later rounds by getting Asher Allen in the 3rd and Ellerby in the 4th. Both of which would at the very least provide quality depth at thier positions and be excellent contributors on special teams.
VICK SUPPORTER 2
March 21st, 2009
9:21 pm
I CAN HARDLY WAIT UNTIL THE 2009 SEASON STARTS! REACHING THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN SHOULD BE A GUARANTEE, OTHERWISE THE GM, HEAD COACH AND QUARTERBACK WILL BE A BUST AND 2008 WAS JUST A FLUKE. GO FALCONS!
Harry Rand
March 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
The Falcons need a tight end and Southerland has the perfect size for the position, plus he already has great hands and can block. It’s a no brainer!