Mock Draft 4.0: Sintim the Superhero
Ran into the Caped Crusader at Six Flags. While waiting almost two hours to ride the Goliath, I wondered where would Batman go if he was this week's Mock Draft? Is he a tight end or a defensive end?
Gotham City — Not really sure where Batman would go in this week’s Mock Draft.
You see, there is a major problem. Batman doesn’t have any super powers. He has good hands, great agility, strength, but doesn’t have a top shelf 40-yard dash time. He’s what they call a long strider.
Ahmad "Batman" Carroll (4) played for the New York Jets last season after a stint in the Arena Football League. Photo by Jason Getz / AJC
Also, his cape is a clear violation of the NFL’s uniform policy and Commissioner Roger Godell certainly wouldn’t let him play with his utility belt. That’s where he hides all of his really cool gadgets.
You see, the last time Batman was in the draft, he went pretty high. Arkansas’ Ahmad “Batman” Carroll, of Douglass High, went to the Packers with the 25th pick in 2004.
The Falcons have the 24th pick, so Batman isn’t a factor for them if he’s just a 25th pick. So expect the Falcons to stay with Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim with just 15 days before the draft. (Check out some of his Superhero highlights.)
The draft boards around the league are rounding into their final states. This will be the last week of visits for most teams and two major scenarios are taking shape. One with Matt Stafford going to the Lions with the No. 1 pick and the other with Baylor left tackle Jason Smith going to the Lions. (We’ve been in the Smith to Lions camp, in part based on a interview with Lions coach Jim Schwartz at the combine and observations from Stafford’s pro day workout in Georgia.
Another local player is apparently on the Falcons radar screen. Oklahoma guard George “Duke” Robinson, of Washington High, is set to visit the Falcons on Thursday, according to his folks at Impact Sports. Robinson doesn’t figure to be the pick at No. 24, with the Falcons having more pressing needs on defense.
Oklahoma's Duke Robinson, a former star at Washington High, is sent to visit the Falcons.
He’ll likely be gone when the Falcons select in the second round with the 55th pick overall. This visit falls under the due diligence department. Robinson is creeping into a few first rounds in some mocks. Unlike Alabama’s Andre Smith, Robinson took the NFL scouting combine seriously.
He showed up in shape and ready to workout. Robinson measured 6-foot-5 and weighed 329 pounds. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.29 seconds.
COMMUNITY CORNER . . .
But before swing into this week’s Mock Draft 4.0 selections, lets take some time out to look at what some of the Falcons are doing in the community.
The team cheerleaders will make several local television and radio appearances to promote their upcoming tryouts and will perform on air. In addition to rooting the team onto victory, the cheerleaders make an average of 500 community appearances each year.
Been thinking about joining the Falcons cheerleader squad? Get the details this week. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
On Sunday, you can catch them on 11 Alive Sports at 11:35 p.m.
On Monday, on Fox’s Good Day Atlanta at 8 a.m.
On Thursday, on Dave FM 92.9 about 3 p.m.
On Friday, on V-103 FM about 3:30 p.m.
Also, Tight ends coach Chris Scelfo will take part in a USA Football coaching school for youth and amateur coaches on Saturday, April 18th at Westlake High School from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. (There is cost of $45, but you get some Under Armour gear!)
Jason Snelling at the National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C.
Also, running back Jason Snelling recently took part in the National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C.
Punter Michael Koenen will host the Dream House Golf Classic at the Olde Atlanta Golf Club on April 23. It’s a fundraiser for Medically Fragile Children, Inc.
BACK TO THE MOCK DRAFT . . .
In addition to the Stafford issue, the other major bomb that must explode is what is Denver going to do with the 12th and 18th picks. Will they move up to get Mark Sanchez or will some other team, perhaps Tampa Bay make a move to get into the top ten.
But until those deals are done, we’ll have to work with the draft order that’s out there. I went back and pulled last year’s Mock Draft and graded out how things went. There are two ways to grade. You can count direct hits like Falcons take Matt Ryan with third pick.
When the order changes — like it did with all of the draft day trades — sometimes its hard to pile up the direct hits. Then you count having the correct player in the first round. In last year’s draft, I was proud to get Ryan correct on a direct hit. I’d missed on Jamaal Anderson the previous year. I thought former coach Bobby Petrino would pull for his former player Amobi Okoye.
In the top 10, I had 4 direct hits and 9 of the top 10 players picked correctly. Jacksonville took Florida DE Derrick Harvey with the No. 8 pick. I had Leodis McKelvin in the top 10. He went 11th.
The only other direct hit was San Diego taking Antoine Cason with the 27th pick. Overall, I had 25 of 31 of the first rounders. The biggest whiff was on Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith, who was sitting there in the third round when the 49ers scooped him up with the 75th overall pick.
Also, I had Sam Baker in the second round and didn’t envision the run on left tackles that caused the Falcons trade up and get Baker.
Here’s a look at last season’s Mock Draft.
AJC’s 2008 MOCK DRAFT
Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter projects the first round:
Team …………..Player ………………….Pos. ..College
1. Miami ……….Jake Long………………..OT ….Michigan
2. St. Louis ……Glenn Dorsey …………….DT ….LSU
3. Atlanta ……..Matt Ryan………………..QB ….Boston College
4. Oakland ……..Darren McFadden…………..RB ….Arkansas
5. Kansas City ….Chris Long ………………DE ….Virginia
6. N.Y. Jets ……Vernon Gholston…………..DE/LB..Ohio State
7. New England ….Leodis McKelvin…………..CB ….Troy
8. Baltimore ……Ryan Clady ………………OT ….Boise State
9. Cincinnati……Sedrick Ellis…………….DT ….USC
10. New Orleans….Keith Rivers …………….LB ….Southern Cal
11. Buffalo……..Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie..CB ….Tennessee St.
12. Denver ……..Rashard Mendenhall ……….RB ….Illinois
13. Carolina ……Jeff Otah………………..OT ….Pittsburgh
14. Chicago……..Jonathan Stewart …………RB ….Oregon
15. Detroit……..Chris Williams …………..OT ….Vanderbilt
**16. Arizona……..Phillip Merling…………..DE ….Clemson
17. Kansas City….Branden Albert …………..OL ….Virginia
18. Houston……..Mike Jenkins …………….CB ….South Florida
19. Philadelphia ..Gosder Cherilus…………..OT ….Boston College
20. Tampa Bay……Devin Thomas …………….WR ….Michigan State
21. Washington ….Derrick Harvey …………..DE ….Florida
22. Dallas ……..Aqib Talib ………………CB ….Kansas
23. Pittsburgh ….DeSean Jackson …………..WR ….California
24. Tennessee……Felix Jones………………RB ….Arkansas
25. Seattle……..Kentwan Balmer …………..DT ….North Carolina
**26. Jacksonville ..Quentin Groves …………..OLB….Auburn
27. San Diego……Antoine Cason…………….CB ….Arizona
**28. Dallas ……..Limas Sweed………………WR ….Texas
**29. San Francisco..Malcolm Kelly…………….WR ….Oklahoma
**30. Green Bay……Reggie Smith …………….CB ….Oklahoma
31. New England….pick forfeited
**32. N.Y. Giants….Tyrell Johnson …………..S……Arkansas State
(** Was not selected in the first round last season.)
Loading ...LEDBETTER’S 2009 MOCK DRAFT 4.0
1. Detroit Lions: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. Lions will try to negotiate a deal before the draft. They pass on Stafford as they try to anchor their O-line.
2. St. Louis Rams: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. The defensive minded Steve Spagnuolo gets someone to anchor the unit.
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. The have to protect Matt Cassel’s blindside.
4. Seattle Seahawks: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. Can learn the ropes behind Matt Hasselbeck for a year or two.
5. Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas. Should fit nicely in Eric Mangini’s version of the 3-4.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Bengals get a receiver as they prepare to say goodbye Ocho Cinco.
7. Oakland Raiders: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College. Raiders don’t pay much attention to the recent controversy surrounding Raji.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern California. There could be some trade action with this pick. Sanchez’ stock is climbing.
9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. Packers have to improve their defensive line.
10. San Francisco 49ers: Andre Smith, T, Alabama. With Sanchez off the board, Singletary decides his motivational skills can help Smith.
11. Buffalo Bills: Everette Brown, DE, Florida State. They could go TE, but this would be too high for Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew.
12. Denver Broncos: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State. The Broncos add a head-hunter to their unit.
13. Washington Redskins: Michael Oher, T, Ole Miss.
14. New Orleans Saints: Brian Cushing, LB, USC. Saints get a backer to hold things down alongside Jonathan Vilma.
15. Houston Texans: Percy Harvin, WR. Florida. Pro Bowler Andre Johnson needs some help.
16. San Diego Chargers: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. Philip Rivers get his wish, an outside deep threat.
17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. Jets get their Brett Favre replacement.
18. Denver Broncos: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. If Broncos don’t move up to get Sanchez, they could set back and move up to get Freeman.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State. Is a good fit for Tampa’s Cover-2. He’s a solid corner, but doesn’t have elite speed to play a lot of man-to-man coverage.
20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Rey Maualuga, LB, Southern California. He slips, but doesn’t get past the Lions.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. They must find a replacement for Tra Thomas.
22. Minnesota Vikings: Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi. Despite having Pat and Kevin Williams, Vikes thing Jerry is too good to pass up.
23. New England Patriots: James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. Son of former wrestler “The Animal.”
24. Atlanta Falcons: Clint Sintim, LB, Virginia. The chants from Falcons fans for “defense, defense” will be heard. Check out some highlights.
25. Miami Dolphins: Darius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Has a big upside.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Clay Matthews Jr., LB, USC. Ozzie Newsome played with Matthews Sr. and knows what he’s getting.
27. Indianapolis Colts: Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. There are some whispers about Moreno climbing up some draft boards. His tape is just so good, some teams will overlook those slow 40-yard dash times.
28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Carolina): Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State. The Eagles get someone to share the load with Brian Westbrook.
29. New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. They attempt to replace Plax.
30. Tennessee Titans: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. His 40 times are scaring a lot of folks.
31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut. Edgerrin James will get his wish to be release after this pick.
32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Larry English, DE/OLB, Northern Illinois. Terrorized the Mid-American Conference when healthy.
FIRST ROUND FRINGE
Robert Ayers, DE/OLB, Tennessee
Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut
Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech
Evander Hood, DT, Missouri
Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan
Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest
Alex Mack, C, California
Connor Barwin, DE/TE, Cincinnat
Batman a.k.a Bruce Wayne is also known for his intellect. What Batman might be lacking — no super hero powers — he could make up for with brain power. Sintim did go to Virginia and is close friends with Chris Long. Is Sintim the right Superhero for the Falcons? Check out his highlights and let us know what you think? Good move to past on tight end Brandon Pettigrew? Why is Duke Robinson coming in for a visit after guards Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl mauled folks last season?
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138 comments Add your comment
Cameron
April 10th, 2009
11:33 am
Are you f-in kidding me? The Colts will draft Knowshon Moreno. Ever heard of a guy named Joseph Addai. Or, Dominic Rhodes. The Broncos inted for KYLE ORTON to be their QB. They are not looking to draft a QB. They will be going defense, defense, and more defense. Sintim is not a first rounder, and better suited for the 3-4. The experts around the league say Smith isn’t even the Lions top tackle on their board. They are going with Stafford. If not, then probably Monroe. As always, there is little right here. Oh wait, you spelled your name right.
I hope you are just trying to stir the pot.
matt r
April 10th, 2009
11:37 am
Broken link to the superman highlights
matt r
April 10th, 2009
11:41 am
I think Philadelphia is a logical landing spot for Moreno, sort of close to home, and they are not a power running team, almost more passing to their RBs than running.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 10th, 2009
11:49 am
CAMERON: Way to come out smoking!!! The GREAT Joseph Addai had 155 carries for 544 yards (3.5 per carry) in 2008. We saw exactly what Kyle Orton did for the Bears. Yeah, he’s a starting NFL quarterback. Good luck with that. Hope you spelled your name right! Or is it Cam-Moron? Looks like were both off to a good start today.
MATT R: Have to figure out how to fix that. The Eagles already have Knowshon in Westbrook. They are the same guy. But Westbrook is much, much faster.
matt r
April 10th, 2009
11:59 am
Knowshon=Westbrook was sort of my point, and I was thinking they could draft him to be the understudy. I see now that Westbrook is only 29, for some reason I thought he was older, even though 29 is almost the end of the line for RBs
SeminoleWarrior
April 10th, 2009
12:01 pm
Sorry D-Led but Sintim will not be the pick. While we do need help at the OLB position, it will not be Sintim. I personally am still on the Patrick Chung wagon but your inside scoop suggests the DeCoud has the inside track on the SS position. Chung is a beast and I think he is worth the pick. But the real sleeper(s) in this I personally think are either Ron Brace, Ziggy Hood, or Brandon Pettigrew. One of them will be the choice…I just feel it. I’m again reminded of Coach Hamiliton’s remarks last season in which he said smaller, aggressive D tackles are just as good as the bign one, especially if the small guys are strong and have great hands. Sounds like Hood to me. But Smitty loves big tackles so I am going to lean in that direction and take Brace. The Brace/Babs combo will be the anchor of the interior D-line for years to come. GO FALCONS!!!
SCFalconfan
April 10th, 2009
12:10 pm
Were the draft to fall like that then Pettigrew would be the best player available that would fit a need for the Falcons. Imagine how much better Roddy would be on the outside with a true threat in the middle of the field to occupy the safeties.
J. Whit
April 10th, 2009
12:13 pm
We don’t need to spend #24 on any linebacker. We need a bulldozer at nose guard. Get him and, all of a sudden, the linebackers look like all-pros.
Edward
April 10th, 2009
12:14 pm
As I see it, the Falcons 1st round draft board might be something like this: Cushing, Matthews, Davis, Jenkins (could slide over to FS) then Pettigrew. I feel pretty confident in saying that Cushing, Davis and Jenkins will be gone by the 24th pick, I’ve seen several mock drafts online that have most if not all of these players gone by the time the Falcons pick.
If they are gone and if Maualuga or Laurinaitis is still there at 24 (yeah I know big IF statements), maybe the Falcons could swing a trade with St. Louis for their 2nd and 3rd round picks. If that were to happen, some of the players I could see the Falcons picking up are Connor Barwin, Ron Brace, Fili Moala, or Rashad Johnson in the 2nd round and Sen’Derrick Marks, Sherrod Martin, or Dorell Scott in the 3rd round.
Your thoughts, Orlando?
Cameron
April 10th, 2009
12:18 pm
D-Led:
Wow! Hope I didn’t touch a nerve. Just a very illogical mock draft. My question is, Who do you REALLY thik the Falcons will pick with the 24th pick?
Joseph Addai was a Pro-Bowl RB two years ago. He suffered from injuries, Peyton’s injuries, and injuries to the O-Line last year. He will have a bounce back year this year. No way the Colts are going to give up on him already, and/or spend another 1st round pick on a RB. He is a top-five RB when healthy.
I agree with you on Orton. But, McDaniels (nutjob) does not. He likes Orton for the same reason he likes Cassel, they are system QBs that can move the chains. He thinks his system is better than having GREAT players (i.e. Cutler).
Cameron
April 10th, 2009
12:20 pm
Chris Mortensen is the one that reported Smith isn’t even the top tackle on the Lions board. They want to run the ball, smashmouth, and Smith is more of a pass-blocker. Going with that, the pick would be Andre Smith. I doubt they take him number one though, maybe if Millen was still there.
Cameron
April 10th, 2009
12:22 pm
I would love for us to pick Ron Brace as well. Might be a little of a reach, but he fits the biggest need in my opinion. All the DTs we currently have are under tackles not big, run-stuffing tackles.
JMar
April 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
4 mock drafts, 4 times you’ve got Jerry going to the Vikes as a value pick. Seems like you expect that to be a direct hit. I keep waiting for it to change, because I just don’t believe it.
The era of defenses based around dominant linebacking corps is over. But Lofton can be great, and the threesome of Wire, Nicholas, and Peterson (don’t underestimate the veteran tackling machines) should be a solid rotation. All it needs is some shoring up with a third or fourth round guy for depth, not a first rounder pushing two of those guys to the bench. Depending on how the draft is going, trade back for Delmas, English, Hood, Johnson, or Moore from Missouri.
TT
April 10th, 2009
12:24 pm
the lions will pick whoever signs with them first and/or the cheapest. gotta hunch that’ll either be stafford or smith. of course peppy is said to be in the best shape he’s been in in quite some time so i gotta believe that’ll factor into their decision too. it’s interchangeable as far was what they can do with the 1 and 20. get stafford 1, best OT 20, or get smith 1, freeman 20. just can’t decide which way i want them to go so, as of right now, either way is fine with me.
dacha
April 10th, 2009
12:24 pm
whoa, hold the fire back, D-Led…I agree with Cameron. I think that Kyle Orton showed more than enough in Chicago to be a solid starter, so the Broncos will beef up their defense or maybe get a WR as a security blanket behind Brandon “convict” Marshall. As for us, I really want a big D-Lineman but I don’t think anyone will be worth it at 24. I hope we either trade down and get more picks or just grab Pettigrew. The kid would be the final addition to the most potent offense in the NFL. We also need to spend a high pick on CB…they are much harder to come by later in the draft, unlike LBs and safeties.
Daniel Bell
April 10th, 2009
12:36 pm
I really think the defense needs some help, but taking the best TE in the draft with the first pick wouldn’t bother me either.
In Dimitroff We Trust.
WR
April 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
Edwards, I like your thinking, D-Led, Sintim doesn’t appear to be a good fit for the falcons system. I believe that Peria Jerry, Ziggy Hood, or Ron Brace would be good picks, but with Hood and Brace, they could be had in the second round. If Pettigrew is as good as he has graded out and appears to be he’s the pick. Yes the falcons have more holes on defense, but I think they recently unloaded Laurant Robinson because they have their minds set on Pettigrew in the first, and using the move up in draft position from the rams to package a deal in order to obtain an additional second round pick where they would have a decent chance at picking up Chung, and either Brace or Fili Moala.
Jason
April 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
Alright here’s my thoughts and I’m not really an expert on a lot of teams but I will do my best. My team is the dolphins so when I make it to that point I think I’m pretty accurate.
Indy does not pick up a running back in the first round. Joseph Adai is not a top 5 running back when healthy but he’s not a pushover either. Anyone that wants to put him above Adrian Peterson, Darren McFadden, Ronnie Brown, LT, Michael Smith or any of the other elite running backs in the NFL needs to seriously take a look at Adai’s skills.
Denver is seriously going to use Orton. They will more than likely try to build a line behind him but it wont matter what they do. Essentially Denver is screwed, the only thing they have going for them is that they are in the weakest division in football.
Atlanta will go with a Linebacker because they want to work on their pass rush. You could build up a good nose tackle but that’s more of a run defense build than a pass defense. Atlanta can put up yards they need to prevent other teams from putting up yards. They will get a pass rusher at linebacker and someone that can play coverage.
Now the one I dis-agree with the most. Miami has spent a lot of time looking at Hakeem Nicks if they draft a receiver (which they wont explain in a minute) it wont be Heyward-bey. But the reason the Dolphins don’t go Wide Receiver is because Ireland, and Parcells believe very strongly in the receivers they have. Third year for Ginn and they believe it’s time for him to show his stuff. Camirillo had a decent season and Davone Bess is an amazing slot receiver and could potentially become a starter. They are looking for defense and I’d put money on working on their secondary whether it be a corner or a safety. Most mock drafts have Vontae Davis falling to the Dolphins. Honestly with the way things have gone I think it’s a serious possibility.
Reno 911
April 10th, 2009
12:49 pm
The best thing that could happen for the Falcons is a “run” on a position (similar to what happened last year when they traded up for an OT) and someone would want to trade up into the 24 spot to take a coveted player. When none of the players that may fit the Falcons’ needs (and who will be there at 24) really feel like a 1st round talent, and worth the pick, then isn’t it better to not have that pick at all, and turn that into a 2nd and a 3rd (packaged with one of our 5th rounders, for example)? Players who, in my opinion, would be good fits for the Falcons, NONE of whom are likely to be first rounders:
Ron Brace, DT (2nd)
Connor Barwin, OLB/DE/TE (high 2nd)
James Casey, TE, Rice (3rd)
Shawn Nelson, TE, So Miss (3rd)
Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson (3rd)
Rashad Johnson, FS, Alabama (3rd)
Roy Miller, DT, Texas (4th/5th)
Richard Quinn, TE, UNC (5th)
Frankly, I’d rather have five of these players (2-4th rounders) than four players when one is a 1st rounder. I don’t see anyone out there that’s realistic for the #24 pick that would be better than having two of the players to be found later. I think I’d be happy with Cushing or Matthews with the 24th pick, but frankly, would hope that TD could turn that pick into two picks (a 2nd and a 4th to the Falcons, maybe packaging the 1st with one of our 5’s).
mudcat
April 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
SINTIM? With the 24th pick? National Football Post has him ranked as the 85th player in the draft. And you want us to use the 24th pick on him? What is he, a relative or something? Robert Ayers as a fringe 1st round pick? That’s like crossing the Chatahoochie River and thinking you’ve landed in Oregon! I love Sean Smith-CB/Safety or DT Ziggy Hood and the Birds would NEVER pass on Robert Ayers if he were still available at #24. Start drinking cool aid instead of the stuff you’re currently drinking my friend.
Edward
April 10th, 2009
1:04 pm
Reno: I like where you’re going, but only one thing. If you look at the draft trade value chart (the one that supposedly no team uses, but everyone has a copy) the points would be way off from the 24th overall for a 2nd and a 4th. Even if you look at the “updated” value chart on PFT, the 24th pick is worth 740 points (allegedly) even the top 2nd and top 4th rounds only come to (allegedly) 690 points. I think high (top 10) 2nd and 3rd round picks or 2nd and 4th with a 2010 (2nd/3rd) round pick would be worth the 24th overall.
gdg73
April 10th, 2009
1:15 pm
The Falcons are not drafting a LB or DE at #24. In terms of numbers, the Falcons have only one DT on the team that is both healthy and starter caliber and that’s Jonathan Babineaux. With that being said, if a DT with a first round grade is available at #24 we pick him, plain and simple. If not we grab the highest rated corner (Davis, Jenkins, Butler, or Smith). We lost our best corner in free agency (Foxworth) and have not replaced him yet(via free agency). I don’t see where a 3-4 linebacker being drafted for a 4-3 defense at #24 helps this team. Sorry, I just don’t.
gdg73
April 10th, 2009
1:23 pm
Do you see Pittsburgh drafting 4-3 linebackers to fit their 3-4 defense? No because they have a system. They don’t mix and match players. That’s why they are in the hunt for world championships every year. We don’t need to start drafting players that don’t fit what we do. You should be stripped of your mock draft powers, lol!!!
Edward
April 10th, 2009
1:28 pm
gdg73: Unfortunately the only DT with a 1st round grade that’s likely to fall to the Falcons at 24 is Peria Jerry and there’s no guarantee of that. Both Davis and Jenkins will likely be gone and Butler and Smith should be available in the top of the 2nd. The entire group of DBs in this draft are very close in grades, it’s likely that the big run on DB’s will be in the second round. Most “experts” (use that term loosely) can’t even agree on Davis and Jenkins pro prospects.
Deangelo Falls
April 10th, 2009
1:37 pm
Pet-ti-grew! Pet-ti-grew!! Those are the chants you will be hearing on Draft day. Personally I don’t think he’ll be available so I lean towards Delmas. I also like Brace a lot too. LBs will drop b/c there’s so many available. Seriously all three USC guys will not go in the 1st round. Someone’s bound to drop even though they may warrent a first round pick. Come on D Led!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 10th, 2009
1:39 pm
DEFENDING THE PICK – I know that Sintim has been groomed to play in a 3-4 by Al Groh. He’s rather advanced at it. But in my book edge/outside linebackers are edge/outside linebackers. They have to come forward and strike folks and have the ability to drop into pass coverage. Sintim fits that. He set the record for most sacks by a UVA linebacker with 27. Without looking up the stats, the only sack I recall from the linebackers last year was Curtis Lofton’s against Donovan McNabb in Philly. –dol
Now some responses:
SEMINOLE WARRIOR: You can get the Big Tackle later in the draft. Don’t need to reach for Brace at 24. Stillman’s Sammie Lee Hill and Hampton’s Chris Baker are 330-plus guys who should be there in their in the fourth or fifth.
SCFALCONFRAN : Pettigrew has not shown that he has the speed to get down the field and split the Cover-2 zone.
CAMERON: Was a little groggy earlier. Sorry. The clouds will continue to clear up and we’ll have the pick on the 25th. Going got a second straight direct hit at 24.
JMAR: I keep looking to move Perry, but if he’s there, you’ve to take him. If this scenario doesn’t flow and he’s gone, the Vikes will go wide receiver with Rutger’s Britt as a possibility. I thought they hit the jackpot on Troy Williamson and Sidney Rice. Guess I was wrong there.
RENO911: The position most likely to have first round run is WR.
MUDCAT: Just on the ice cold water.
Did anybody go to Sintim’s highlights. Late hit on the Va Tech QB?
gdg73
April 10th, 2009
1:45 pm
all I know is the Falcons better fix their interior defensive line early if not often in this draft. If Jerry is gone, I say trade out of #24 and pick up another 2nd round pick and go CB and Corey Irvin, UGA DT later.
gdg73
April 10th, 2009
1:52 pm
Ledbetter, why try to force a round peg and into a square hole? That’s how so many NFL organizations have so little success. They pick players and try to force them into systems that don’t fit there skill set. The guy has been bred as a 3-4 LB. Doesn’t make sense to me, and hopefully it doesn’t to Dimitroff either.
darrell starks
April 10th, 2009
2:23 pm
1ST PICK BRIAN CUSHING OF USC PLAY MAKER LB
2ND PICK SEAN SMITH OF UTAH WILL BE A STILL AT PICK #55
3RD PICK ASHER ALLEN OF UGA SOLID CB WHO IN MY OPION BETTER THAN HOUSTON
4TH PICK DORRELL SCOTT OF CLEMSON BIG AND STRONG UP THE MIDDLE 6″4 320
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JG
April 10th, 2009
2:29 pm
Per the Sporting News Clint Sintim draft guide 09,
Lacks Elite Athleticism. Loses opponents when dropping into Coverage because lack of Speed. Gets beat easily by running backs in Coverage.
We don’t need a Outside Linebacker who doesn’t have elite speed, and can’t keep up with Running backs out of the Backfield, REMEMBER we play the Saints twice a year and Reggie Busch.
He is more built for Inside Linebacker and would be a good one. But we have a Inside Linebacker in Lofton. Let’s get a true Outside Linebacker please Ledbetter..
Again, I say
Clay Matthews,
Or Louis Delmas
or Peria if he is still available or Evander Hood…
WE can always pick up Marcus Freeman in the fourth round from Ohio state who I think is a sleeper of a deal n as Outside linebacker. And I am a SEC Man and I hate The Ohio STATE. But, I think you gotta look at the later rounds for deals..
Like TD is doing,
He will make the right choice..
JG
April 10th, 2009
2:34 pm
I agree Houston is not the Answer..
but Not sure on ASHER?
We really need to seperate ourselves from both Petrino’s picks from Arkansas in his campaign to become the head coach there..
Interesting… He picks Arkansas players with his first two picks and then ends up in Arkansas???
Anderson- BUST Houston- Captain Toast.. Does he ever turn his head around or is he always trying to catch up to the receiver behind him.
tbhawksfan
April 10th, 2009
2:50 pm
Sit tight and hope Perry falls. If not, Hood would not make a bad pick.
Trading back is an idea, but We might end up with an extra player, but less talent at the top of our draft.
#24: Perry DT / Hood DT
#55: Byrd CB
#90: Vaughn SS
#125: Bell OT
#138: Harris OLB/SS
#143: Morrah TE
#176: Taylor FS
Fits all the needs, good talent all the way through our draft and DT and CB are upgraded. Harris is a ? Could make a nice weakside LB though.
Reno 911
April 10th, 2009
2:52 pm
DOL- careful on teh ice-cold water, man. The extreme temp difference stresses the stomach. Much better to go room temp water, or even a little warm. A little strange at first, but you’ll get used to it. Just lookin out for your health.
WR
April 10th, 2009
3:13 pm
D-Led, Now Pettigrew could be considered a difficult pick because of the needs of the defense, but his speed should not be an issue. He’s 6′5 with big pass catching hands and a long wing-span, along with adequate speed. A TE is usually covered by a linebacker, at times a safety, and less often a corner. Against any of those positions he has a height advantage, think Brian Finneran here but as a blocking TE. If you analyze the best Tightends in the league right now, the ones who are good blockers and pass receivers happen not to be that fast. Their tall, big, strong, good-handed tackles. Jason Whitten, Todd Heap, even believe it or not Mr. Gonzalez. Pettigrew’s height and pass catching ability would command either a linebacker or corner in coverage with a safety over the top, which means one on one coverage for the improving Roddy White and 6′4 Mike Jenkins on the other side, I like Ryan Leaf with those kind of conditions (just kidding), but seriously Pettigrew wouldn’t be a bad pick at 24.
country boy
April 10th, 2009
3:24 pm
Riddle me this Batman… what is the best defense?? The ol’ country boy Riddler says the answer is … a good offense. Almost every “expert” says Pettigrew is the top tight end in a good draft for tight ends. Position of need for Falcs. I know, I know, I know. Our defense has holes. I don’t think Dimitroff will over analyse or try to outsmart himself – sorta like the Ryan pick which was the right choice last year. TD will get a couple of defensive starters in rounds 2 and 3. Come on D Led. Get on board. A good target for our QB and a good blocker for Turner.
Supes
April 10th, 2009
3:30 pm
It’s looking more and more likely The Falcons trade down, and try and pick up an extra pick in the 2nd or 3rd rounds for the 24th. If they don’t absolutely love a certain player at 24, gotta trade down. This is a relatively deep draft, esp. defensively, so Falcons will have plenty of good players to choose from in rounds 2-3. Plus that way, you save money and don’t have to pay them the 1st round money at 24.
WR
April 10th, 2009
3:34 pm
I understand all the naysayers when it comes to selecting a tight-end in the first round, but the fact of the matter is that the defense will be a lot younger this year and the best help for any defense is an offense that can keep the D off the field. If you look back at the great Baltimore defense that won the superbowl, the offense played keep away just long enough to get the defense enough rest in order to continue to play at such a high level. Atlanta’s offense is pretty good but defenses will adjust and throw new winkles at Ryan which at times causes the so-called sophmore jinx, a good tight end can off set that, I for one believe our tight-ends from last year did an admiral job, but we obviously can get better, yes there is tight end value in the later rounds but none with the blocking and catching combination the falcons would get with Pettigrew. Now if Peria Jerry falls to 24, or word gets out that Aaron Curry took a hit off of a joint and he falls to 24, the falcons should definitely go defense, if not Pettigrew is a nice option.
WR
April 10th, 2009
3:36 pm
countryboy, just noticed your post, as you can see I agree.
AKMID
April 10th, 2009
4:06 pm
Trade down.
Ken Strickland
April 10th, 2009
4:06 pm
It’a amazing how someone that can’t determine who the Falcons will or will not draft with any degree of certainty can somehow be absolutely certain who another team will or will not draft. At one time I thought there was no way we’d get a shot at TE BPettigrew because the Eagles were a lock to draft him since they’d lost their starting TE.
Then, I recalled how TD and Smith went into their 1st Falcons draft without a starting DT. They released last yrs starting DT RColeman and lost DT TLewis for the season after suffering a reinjury. Everything screamed for the Falcons to draft a DT, especially with studs like DT’s GDorsey and CEllis available to them. Not only did we draft a QB, we didn’t take a DT in the entire draft.
SEMINOLE WARRIOR-consider this. Last yr TD and Smitty used a 3rd rd pick to draft safety McCloud, who was one of the drafts top rated safeties. He’s a converted CB who led his team in total tackles his senior yr. He can either be considered a CB with SS skills or a SS with CB skills. The overall positives in his scouting report far out weigh his negatives. If the coaches are satisfied with his progress, a SS might not be an early rd consideration. The same might hold true at DT if TLewis is ready to go. After a yr of NFL seasoning under his belt, he might be better safety prospect than any coming out of this yrs draft.
When teams lose starters, fans automatically think the replacements must be acquired either through the upcoming draft or FA. They never seem to consider roster players taken in earlier drafts, or players returning from IR as replacements. Remember, we had 11 picks in last yrs draft, and 6 of those were used on DEF players(LB’s CLofton, KBiermann, TJames and DB’s TMcCloud, Fontenot & CJackson). So, the idea that TD and Smitty addressed the OFF in last yrs draft and decided to wait until this yrs draft to address the DEF is just not accurate.
WR
April 10th, 2009
4:27 pm
Ken Strickland, just made one of the best arguments of the last few weeks and to coattail his comment a bit, Mr. Harrison from Pittsburgh is a perfect example of someone being on the roster and just because fans know little about the player doesn’t mean he can’t play. Keeping things honest, myself as well as probably 75% of the people on this blog were thinking Glen Dorsey, and up until a few games into Matt Ryan’s career we were still wondering how we passed up Glen Dorsey, theres a process to building a strong team within your system its called player development and from what I have noticed with the moves the falcons have made or lack thereof, they feel the players they have developed are now ready to play.
Ken Strickland is the MAN!!
April 10th, 2009
5:55 pm
I don’t post on here much, but always look forward to reading what you have to say. I’m as big a Falcon fan as there is and study the game a lot, especially my Falcons. I definitely know my football, but so do you my friend. Some of your points catch me by suprise because I didn’t think of it prior to reading your post, but they make a ton of sense. Keep up the excellent work, I always enjoy your posts whether I agree or not.
Ignition
April 10th, 2009
6:50 pm
I want Michael Johnson..
He is versatile enough to play both OLB and DE for Atlanta..
He tall, fast, strong and athletic and can cover TE and running backs in the backfied..
And he can definitely rush the passer..
I know at Tech he was asked to do a lot more than the average DE in their system, but when he was just asked to come off the edge he was disruptive..
I personally think Pittsburgh gonna pick him up if he isn’t already gone ..
I sure hope we get him first.
Brian Hunt
April 10th, 2009
7:45 pm
For those of you who think that the Falcons won’t look at a 3-4 LB in the draft, remember that the 4-3 is the base defense and Smith likes to play multiple alignments. On obvious passing downs the Falcons played a lot of 3-3-5. A pass rushing 3-4 LB would look good blitzing off the edge outside of Abraham so that the opposing offense couldn’t double him. I remember one of Patrick Kerney’s best seasons rushing the passer was in Wade Phillips 3-4 with Matt Stewart blitzing behind him. After Stewart left, Kerney’s production went down. It didn’t come back until Coleman came along to push the pocket from the inside.
Ken Strickland
April 10th, 2009
7:56 pm
WR & THE MAN-you don’t know how much I appreciate your acknowledgements, thanks. I was on a roll, but had to cut it short. If you’ll notice, the 6 DEF players taken in last yrs draft fall into 2 categories, LB and DB. I’m positive TD and Smitty knew they wouldn’t resign SS LMalloy and there was a strong possibility both Boley and Brooking wouldn’t return. Therefore, they drafted their possible replacements last yr in LB’s RJames, CLofton and KBiermann. They knew they didn’t want to retain CB DHall, so he was traded and VHutchins and BGrimes were brought in. Then they drafted McCloud to be groomed as Malloy’s potential replacement, and then drafted CB’s CJackson and Wilrey Fontenot. With CB’s DIrons, BGrimes(last yrs starter), VHutchins(last yr #2 FA signee), CHouston, CJackson and GSharpe, we won’t likely draft another CB with our 1st pick unless he has the ability to become an immediate starter.
I love football, as well as the Falcons. As excited as I was about the success we had, on the field, with MVick, I knew we weren’t a very talented team overall, and it eventually showed. Our current team has a solid foundation and this draft will allow TD and Smitty to solidify that foundation.
I can’t get over how some people believe we’ll suffer because we’ve lost 5 starters. Well, if you’ll remember, TD and Smitty replaced, traded or released 11 starters(OG-KForney(Released), OT-TWeiner(replaced), CB-DHall(traded), QB’s-BLeftwich/JHarrington(released), FS-CCrocker(released), RB-WDunn(released), LB-TWilliams(released), DT-RColeman(released), TE-ACrumpler(released), WR-JHorn(released) and PK-MAnderson(released), and look at how successful we were. SO, TO ALL OF YOU DOUBTERS, PLEASE DON’T BRING THAT CRAP ON HERE ABOUT US NOT BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE ON LAST YRS ACCOMPLISHMENTS BECAUSE WE’VE LOST 5 STARTERS AND WILL PLAY A TOUGHER SCHEDULE.
Mark E Scherer
April 10th, 2009
8:15 pm
man you just must have had dumb luck last year in your picks—-it appears that this will be valiadated in 2009.
Quit smoking what your smoking.
Marty Foreman
April 10th, 2009
8:20 pm
Sorry Ledster, the Atlanta Falcons will seleect Louis Delmas, FS, Western Michigan in round 1 of the draft with the 24th spot.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 10th, 2009
8:58 pm
D. Led is watching “Foxy Brown” with our special host from last week Pam Grier. Didn’t know Huggy Bear “Justin Vargas Sr.” was in the movie.
dacha
April 10th, 2009
9:01 pm
I agree that unless someone unexpected (like Peria Jerry) falls into our lap and if no one shows interest on trading up into our spot, we should absolutely take Pettigrew. Ken Strickland summed it all up perfectly in my opinion, though the safety we drafted last year was T. DeCoud not McCloud.
aj
April 10th, 2009
9:45 pm
The Texans arent’ taking a WR in the 1st round (or the 2nd or the 3rd)… good gawd.
BLACK AND RED DAWG
April 10th, 2009
10:00 pm
This is for only those who know elite talent. These are are the impact players THAT THE FALCONS CAN PICK FROM. THEY ARE ALL GAME CHANGERS. 1)Clay Matthews LB OF USC ,2)LARRY ENGLISH DE/LB OF N. ILLI ,3)PATRICK CHUNG SAFETY OF OGR. 4)CONNOR BARWIN DE OF CINN. (WATCH THEM ON YOUTUBE.COM IF YOU ARE NOT SOLD) If we can get two of them we are set on defense.
Big Ray
April 10th, 2009
11:24 pm
KEN STRICKLAND,
Excellent point. You never let a starter go if you aren’t certain the guy behind him can at least do the job fairly adequately. I don’t think anybody in their right mind in charge of an NFL franchise says to themselves “Hmmm, I’ll let this guy go, even though his backups absolutely suck, but that’s ok. I’ll draft his replacement and it will be fine.”
The draft can be tricky, nothing is guaranteed. And even if you draft the perfect guy, what happens if/when he gets hurt? Exactly. So your point about the guys behind last year’s starters has a lot of merit. And all of last year’s starters had something in common: age, (except Boley and Foxworth) and performance that was not only NOT above average, but it was only going to get worse instead of better. The exception could be Dominique Foxworth.
Not bashing the guys that were let go via Free Agency. Each played his part on a surprisingly good team last season. But each had to go his own way for his, and the team’s reasons. Foxworth? I think he really wanted to be in Baltimore. Boley? Not getting it done. Brooking and Milloy? Getting older, not getting better. Jackson? Literally a stop-gap. You might not have seen him if Trey Lewis had remained healthy.
I liked every one of these guys. But sometimes you have to let them go and move on BEFORE they have nothing left to give you. It’s usually better that way.
I still have to laugh at the people jumping all over D. LEDBETTER for his mock drafts. Anybody hear the term “rough draft?” Didn’t D. LED say some time back that he would change the mock draft from week to week so we would have something to talk about, instead of putting up his final mock right away (more than a month ahead of time, no less)? Are any of the “experts” sticking with the same mock drafts they had from weeks ago? Nooooooooo…get a clue, some of you…;)
Big Ray
April 10th, 2009
11:42 pm
I see there are suggestions of trading down from the 24th pick. That’s a bit risky, don’t you think? If teams make a run on a position that we are not interested in (like wide receiver) and there are like 5-8 of the better/best defensive players available at slots 20-24, wouldn’t you just want to kick yourself for trading your way right out of such a suddenly prime position?
Hey, it can happen. Stranger things have. But if you’re serious about trading our 1st round pick, then I gotta say that any such trade would have to be for one of the first 5 picks or so in the 2nd round of the draft. Anything less means that instead of reaching a bit for a guy at #24, you are now left picking from the rest of the best…of the rest. If you get my drift.
Of course, I could be dead wrong on that, and would be quick to admit it if we managed to get players like Chung/Vaugh with one pick, Brace/Hood with another, and so on. But we pick about as late in the 2nd round as we do in the 1st. And by then, any “runs” other teams are making on particular positions that we don’t care about are likely to be long over, and then teams will be loading up on the other stocked positions. Like linebacker. Or safety. Or DT.
Notice I didn’t say “deeply stocked.” Just stocked.
Ed
April 11th, 2009
12:35 am
How is it that everyone else involved in projecting the draft has Sintrim in the mid second round but you? If the Falcoms do like him just wait and pick him up with number 55. It would be a bad pick at 24 so hopefully you are as off base as I think you are.
Big Ray
April 11th, 2009
12:39 am
I don’t think Sintim is the best we can do at #24, though he’s going to be a good NFL linebacker. But if teams suddenly go on a run at the LB position….well, you never know who’s gonna get taken. But yeah, most mocks currently have him somewhere in the 2nd round. Question is, if you need another LB, but don’t think you should pick one in the 1st round, then what kind of guys will be available late in the 2nd? Sintim is no guarantee to last that long, but again…you never know…
D3
April 11th, 2009
5:53 am
What’s up fellas? Time is drawing closer and closer my friends, 14 DAYS & 6 HOURS UNTIL DRAFT TIME!!!! If you have a chance watch ‘Path to the Draft’ on NFL Network. Really got some good stuff. They detail a position in the draft class and rate each guy that will be drafted in those positions. First of all, let me say that these aren’t the end-all, be-all on draft authorities, but they’ve been pretty accurate in the past for the most part. Just had a look at them analyzing DT. There top 5 DT’s were as follows: Raji, Jerry, Hood, Brace, & Moala. Right off the bat, he was asked to rate the DT class and he gave it….a D. From most of the banter on the blog, I’d say that most of us agree with it, and Dorsey & Ellis from ‘08 were better prospects than Raji or Jerry. Also a huge reason why Haynesworth became the highest paid player in March as well.
TD, Smitty, & Co.’s method of draft is a needs-based draft, but just because we have a need via FA exit doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t have that player on the roster ready to step up, like Ken Strick always points out. Also asked to rank Hood and Brace, he said in any other year a 3rd or 4th rounder, but because of the talent and depth of the DT class, than probably 2nd, maybe sneaking into end of first.
Hood may in fact turn out to be a play-maker, but he is almost the same build and frame as Babineaux. Brace definitely makes more sense for sure, but he would be a bit of a reach @ #24, IMVHO. Sometimes reaches work out, but most of the times they don’t. Given the choice between Hood and Brace @ #24, gotta go with Brace, no question. Even though there is not top-end depth @ DT, there is middle round depth. Guys like Chris Baker, Sammie Hill, Roy Miller, Terrance Taylor, or even SenDerrick Marks could be that run-stuffing DT we need.
Big Ray
April 11th, 2009
6:33 am
Good stuff, D3. Surprising grade given the to DT class. What was the grade on the LBs?
D3
April 11th, 2009
7:10 am
DOL – thanks for the new mock. Gotta disagree with you on a couple of points (hey, how much fun would it be having all agreement?). Me thinks that the Lions will go the Falcons route and snag the QB, not that Stafford is even close to Ryan, but still. And use their second to grab an OL to protect him (i.e. Sam Baker). I also have a really hard time seeing the Vikings taking Peria Jerry when they have The Williams Brothers at DT, two of the best. And finally…..IMHO, Sintim is not a first round grade. I haven’t seen one mock that has him going in the first round, even if he fits our system and can play each LB spot. Not saying he won’t be a good player, but he’s not worth a #24. Now, if they traded out of the first and were able to get a Sintim or Barwin AND a Ron Brace, that would rock it.
Seminole – good to have you back bro’. Sintim won’t be the pick. Brace would be an excellent fit and pick, but 24 would be too high IMO. Used to be high on Hood, but I’m pretty against picking him to be honest with you based on his senior year, frame, size, & downside.
Edward – great points, man. That’s exactly what I’ve been saying as well: if Cushing or Matthews are either there, Grab ‘em. Even though LB is not our most pressing need, it is the deepest with FIRST round talent if we couldn’t trade out of the pick.
marko
April 11th, 2009
7:13 am
I was doing a little homework, and I ran across something you guys might find interesting. The Clay Matthews dynasty has Georgia roots. The original Clay Matthews played for Georgia Tech in the late forties. The Los Angles Rams drafted him in the twenty-fifth round in 1949. How many rounds did they have back then anyway? He never played for them. He spent his career playing for the Forty Niners. Two of his sons played in the NFL. Bruce is in the hall of fame, and Clay jr. finished his career as a Falcon. If we’re Lucky, Jr. the second will still be hanging around at twenty-four. Then we can bring the Matthews back to Georgia where they belong.
D3
April 11th, 2009
10:12 am
Cameron – what’s up money? Agreed on Addai as a stud. He had one bad year, but he was one of the best RB’s in the league before that. I think that if they pick an RB up, it will be more in the mold of a 3rd or 4th round ‘project’ RB like Javon Ringer or Shon Greene. Also with you on Brace, if we HAD to take a DT in the first, it would definitely be Brace, no question. Just say NO to Hood @ #24.
JMar – agreed on trading back if possible, which would give us a great chance at several of the players you mentioned. I do depart from you on drafting an OLB first. If Maybin, Cushing, or Matthews are there @ 24, I say grab’em.
Reno – happy saturday my friend. Yep, trading back would give us the best options for sure. If we could get Brace, Barwin, Chung/Moore/Vaughn, and a Nelson/Cook/Coffman/Casey by trading back that would be the, _____, well you know.
Zup
April 11th, 2009
11:25 am
I’m hearing a lot of buzz about the Falcons trading down in the draft. Can anyone pose a probable scernario, if it happens. What other team would bite at the 24th pick, and what should the Falcons expect in return? Thanks for the forum D. Led; you do a good job with this blog.
Zup
April 11th, 2009
11:26 am
Oops, should have read D3’s post before mine–duh.
Falcon228
April 11th, 2009
11:28 am
Nice pick Orlando but I would take a long look at his coverage skills before using a #1 on him. I know he had a load of sacks last season, (13 to lead the nation in sacks by Linebackers in ‘08), he’s got to cover receivers because Van Gorder does use the Zone Blitz. He probably would fall to them in the second round but you never know. The Falcons do use the 3-4 which would make him a candidate for their first pick but I’m looking more at TE Brandon Pettigrew. That position was missing last year as a constant and you could see it in games we lost. The talent this year for LB is amazing. Not only are teams picking them in the 7 rounds of the draft going to benefit but on the Monday following the draft there will still be some fantastic talent worth signing.
D3
April 11th, 2009
12:09 pm
Zup – what’s happenin’? Yeah, since TD is from the Pioli/NE school of trading back, it could be a very real scenario, especially if guys like Jerry, Cushing, Maybin, & Matthews are gone. Corners and safeties have a very weak class this year. Malcolm Jenkins and Vontae Davis are the only CB’s worthy(pass on Davis b/c he’s evidently a MeAngelo Hall clone), and there are no safeties with a first round grade, even Delmas or Chung. The only hope I think we have on finding a trading partner would be if there’s a run on Tackles and Receivers. Someone might want to jump up and take a WR like Darius Heyward-Bey or Hakeem Nicks or grab a Tackle like Eben Britton before it gets to Tennesee, Pittsburgh, Philly, or Giants.
Falcon228 – good point on LB. Sintim will NOT be going to anyone in the first. I used to be completely sold on the Pettigrew train to, but had to jump off b/c the TE talent is too deep, D is a higher priority, and Pettigrew may not even have the highest upside of TE’s, JMHO.
Marko – you da man! I’m right with you on the Matthews train. I’ve gone full circle on Matthews. He was the guy I wanted if Cushing and Maybin were gone, but then our fellow bloggers put doubts in my head about being a one year wonder, mike mamula clone, juicer, etc. I then went to the DT argument, then to Pettigrew, back to DT, and finally back to Matthews if he’s there. Grab ‘em. He may not be experienced, but his work ethic is why I like him so much.
Big Ray – good sat. afternoon buddy. Some people really get pissed about DOL’s mocks, like he kidnapped their dog or something. I disagree on a lot of his picks, but respectfully. Gotta at least give it to him that he’s different from the norm. I agree with all his picks (English, Matthews, Sintim), except Sintim.
WR – big props on Harrison example. Chevis Jackson, Thomas DeCoud, Stephen Nicholas, and Trey Lewis all have a chance to be standouts.
tbhawksfan
April 11th, 2009
1:14 pm
I based this mock on Draft tec latest mock.
#24: Davis CB Too good to pass on. Smitty and environment will keep him in line. Big upgrade at CB.
#55: Loadholt OT Another too good to pass on. 6′8″ and 336. Gotta protect The Iceman.
#90: Vaughn SS DeCoud/Davis/Houston/Colemon/Grimes/Vaughn/Fudge should be a pretty good secondary.
#125: Taylor DT Until Trey Lewis can prove he’s back we have Babs and nada. Taylor is BIG.
#138: Maiva OLB Great speed addition. Nice hair.
#143: Morrah TE Good speed/hands recieving TE.
#176: Walker DT Another BIG to clog the middle.
Ken Strickland
April 11th, 2009
2:57 pm
ORLANDO LEDBETER-what is the significance of the statement “YOUR COMMENT IS AWAITING MODERATION” that sometimes appears after my name?
I think the TE position is the only one that we’ll be looking to draft an immediate starter. Every other pick we make in this draft will be for future potential starters. TD and Smitty might not draft who they want, or who any of us wants, but they’ll certainly end up drafting what they need.
BigSherm7
April 11th, 2009
5:38 pm
You’ve got to think about replacing John Abraham because he’s a season-ending injury just waiting to heppen. Also, Jamal Anderson hasn’t sacked anything since he worked at the local Publix during his college days . . . please deep-six him and find a headhunting defensive end, ok Mssrs. Blank, Dimitrof, and Smith, please???
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 11th, 2009
6:35 pm
Vikes have knocked 78 players off their draft board:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/42826802.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr
A look OSU’s Malcolm Jenkins:
http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_scout_draft_web_04-11-09_AOE0LBU_v2.1b305da.html
KEN: AWAITING MODERATION means you triggered one of the filters and I have to moderate that post.
Ken Strickland
April 11th, 2009
7:39 pm
ORLANDO LEDBETTER-thanks for answering my question. If you’d tell me what it is I’m saying that triggers the moderation warning, I’ll avoid saying it and save you some hassle.
I just completed reviewing a mock draft the wasn’t bad.
1st-DT PJerry
2nd-TE JBeckum
3rd-OLB MFreeman
4th-SS MHamlin
5th-OG TGreen
5th-DE ZPotter
6th-CB CMunnerlyn
falcon21
April 11th, 2009
7:40 pm
Good to hear Ken, I’m glad I am not the only one it happens to.
Stirg d'Nahsif
April 11th, 2009
7:50 pm
Wow! Is that why my entries aren’t posted? Come on, D.O., I tried fixing it up. I’m working on a Pulitizer over here.
Ken, good mock. I like:
1st-TE Pettigrew
2nd-DT Ron Brace
3rd-OLB Clint Sintim
4th-S Chip Vaughn
5th-DT Sammie Lee Hill
5th-OG TGreen
6th-CB/S hybrid
Stirg d'Nahsif
April 11th, 2009
7:55 pm
Just got finish watching the movie “Leatherheads”. Two thumbs up!
tony
April 11th, 2009
8:58 pm
Clint Sintim is a BEAST! Bring him home Dimitroff.
D3
April 11th, 2009
9:13 pm
BTW, Kiper AND McShay both have the Falcons taking Pettigrew @ 24. They never agree on anything. And even though I don’t think we’ll draft Pettigrew, I WILL NOT be upset in the slightest if we do draft him. Difference of head and heart.
Great article from Yasinkas from NFC South Blog on Mike Peterson pick-up. If you haven’t, check out his blog, pretty good stuff.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcsouth/0-10-50/Peterson-ready-to-tackle-new-role-for-Falcons.html
D3
April 11th, 2009
9:22 pm
DOL – do I need to re-post? I think a word triggered the filter.
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
April 11th, 2009
10:22 pm
Stirg: I just watched it too. It was decent. Three stars from D. Led
D3: I’ll do some moderating real quick. I have a 99.5 approval rating of the post that need moderating. Yeah, saw our buddy’s Pat’s article on Mike Peterson.
KEN: It real simple. A qb with a four letter name triggers moderation.
D3
April 11th, 2009
10:23 pm
Two posts, no dice. WTH?
D3
April 11th, 2009
10:25 pm
Sorry, didn’t see your new post. All good. You know you ‘da man.
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
April 11th, 2009
10:29 pm
D3: Nothing awaiting moderation.
Got to dye eggs with the Ledbetter girls. They are not to fired up about it this year. Getting older I guess. Will get them started, then dip out to Wal-Mart for baskets.
Stirg d'Nahsif
April 11th, 2009
10:37 pm
D.O., when boiling the Easter eggs, leave one raw. Its a bowl of laughs when trying to crack one on someones head.
Nookah
April 11th, 2009
10:37 pm
D3, as usual you the man!!! Or should I say one ah de man dem!!!! Ken you too bro!!! Gotta share the love.
D3, I read that article about Peterson…very nice and it really puts into perspective how well on the way we are in LB depth. I think we are very close to being a very good team. I have to agree with Ken, we have a firm foundation set and it is the first time for a long time we have been drafting personnel with the long-term future in mind. The way we are drafting now is as Ken alluded to, not for 1 or 2 years but we are drafting with player development and continuity in mind. The end result of this will be an elite and winning organization later on.
Big Ray, thanks for bringing that to the forefront. “Mock” as the name suggests. The name is indeed to be taken literally people!!! Don’t get too personal over it or you will in the end end up as this draft…….”mocked”!!!!
I still think if Pettigrew is there we have to take him. He is like a 2-for-1-sale. He solidifies the running game and provides Matty Ice with an excellent outlet. Yes he dose not have breakaway speed but who says we need breakaway speed from our TE? Remember we are a run-first, smash-mouth team and this guy loves to block. He takes pride in his blocking and suits Smitty to a (TE)E! He also has long arms and you don’t have to throw it inside his frame for him to catch it. He can make the catches outside of his frame. He can shield off defenders with that big body and extend to pull the catches in. Kinda like your big “midfielder” in soccer. Even if he has a “man on his back” give it to him as he will use that body to shield off the defenders and still control the ball. We can get the DT’s and the other defenders later.
One thing we should always remember…the draft is only part of the story. What we drafted in previous years is as the great Paul Harvey would say….”the rest of the story”!!!
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect everytime!!!!
D3
April 11th, 2009
11:32 pm
Maybe my computer is out of whack, but I can’t post AT ALL!
Resumption of the D3 Mock Draft after a brief hiatus. Here we go…..
Mock Draft Quattro.1
1)Clay Matthews, OLB
2)William Moore, S
3)Jared Cook, TE
4)Chris Baker, DT
5a)Keenan Lewis, CB
5b)Louis Foster, WR
6)Zach Potter, DR
7)Ramon Foster, T
So there you have it. Fire away boys and find the holes.
Who’s interested in a friendly mock draft competition? We could set Saturday @ noon as a final deadline before the draft. We could have a 1st round mock and Falcons mock. Winner, of course, gets bragging rights and we could even extend it to a brew at pre-season game or regular season game. Interested?
D3
April 11th, 2009
11:38 pm
Hello,
My name is Dawson Devitt and I am a huge Falcons fan. Even though I’m a relatively young fan, I’ve always been a Falcons fan and recently became a season ticket holder. I am writing to you today concerning the Falcons Fan Blog, which is currently done by The Bird Babe. With no disrespect to her, the Falcons Fan Blog has never been an engaging, enjoyable blog for Falcons fans. It definitely is a hobby for many of us, who enjoy discussing whatever topics are posted. After spending several months blogging, I can tell you that the interest is absolutely there. Many of us will post up to 5 or even more times in a night. We would love to have a fan blog in the likes of other home teams such as Bill King’s Dawg Blog and the Tech Blog by Chris Boggs, that’s engagine . Here are some ideas I could discuss, each topic representing its own blog posting both during the season and the off-season:
Pre-Season
OTA (Organized Team Activities): discussions on any reports of players attending, standouts, no-shows, areas for improvement. etc.
Mini-Camps: discussion of keys to look for, areas of improvement, strengths, weaknesses, and analyses of individual players and roster moves.
Pre-season Camps: daily discussions of reports from camp and how they impact the upcoming season, injury updates and impacts, standout performers, holdouts, and players progress and development.
Pre-season Games: several discussions throughout the week leading up to the pre-season game including keys to the game, candidates to make the roster, players on the bubble, and key opponent match-ups.
Post-game Wrap-ups: after each game an in-depth analysis of the game including starter’s performance, backup candidates performance, and bubble candidates execution. Also take a look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and problems that were gleaned from the game.
Final Roster: a look at the final roster analyzing each player who made the final cut and how they can contribute to the season.
Season
Game Week Analysis: several blog postings throughout the week leading up to the game including key match-ups, opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, possible game-planning and strategies, draft picks contributions, and keys to the game.
Game Wrap-Up: An analysis of the game including game-changing plays, great performers, player let-downs, overall game execution, preparedness, critical mistakes or great plays, and excellent or boneheaded coaching calls.
Other NFL Games: an analysis and discussion of other games throughout the league, taking a particular look at NFC South teams and how they affect the Falcons.
Off-Season
Combine: analysis of players performances at the combines, who’s stocks rising, who’s stocks falling, and possible targets of Falcons
Free-Agency (Falcons): potential Falcons targets, strengths, analysis of free agent needs, discussions of Falcons visits and actual pick-ups, discussion of Dimitroff and Smith’s strategies and how it will affect the upcoming draft.
Free-Agency (League): a look at free-agency signings around the league, how they fit and improve their team, and how they affect the Falcons.
Schedule Release: discussion of released schedule including a breakdown of each opponent, favorable match-ups, tough games, must-wins and potential losses. Predictions on games. Discussion of home and road games. Look at other NFL key games, particularly in the NFC South.
Draft: analysis of upcoming draft including a breakdown of needs by position. Each different post can be an evaluation of potential targets the Falcons could pick and their merits and negatives, and what they could add to the team. Also could have a mock draft competition among the bloggers for bragging rights.
Post-Draft: in-depth examination of each draft pick, their positives and negatives, ratings on the draft, how they will fit into the Falcons scheme, and the possibility they will have of starting or contributing.
Down-Time Topics
Topics that can be discussed when there’s downtime throughout the league
In-Depth Position Analysis: discussion and analysis of each position on the Falcons roster. Each position would represent its own blog topic, including both starters and backups.
Offensive Positions: Quarterback, Fullback, Running Back, 3rd Down Running Back, Split End Receiver, Flanker Receiver, Slot Receiver, 4th & 5th Receiver, Tight End, Red-Zone Tight End, Left Tackle, Left Guard, Center, Right Guard, Right Tackle.
Defensive Positions: Left Defensive End, Up Defensive Tackle, Down Defensive Tackle, Right Defensive End, Strong Outside Linebacker, Middle Linebacker, Weak Outside Linebacker, 3rd Down Linebacker, Left Cornerback, Right Cornerback, Nickel Back, Dime Back, Quarter Back, Free Safety, Strong Safety, Goal Line D-Lineman.
Special Teams: Kicker, Punter, Kick Returner, Punt Returner, Special Team Aces, Kickoff & Punt Cover Guys
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Dawson Devitt
dawsondevitt@hotmail.com
770-367-7145
D3
April 11th, 2009
11:40 pm
Letter I sent to DOL. Put in wrong box, please disregard. Man, ’bout sick of these technical issues.
Stirg d'Nahsif
April 11th, 2009
11:52 pm
D3, it ain’t just you. I’ve been copying, pasting and posting all night. Its a shame when you can’t get what you’re trying to say out there.
I’m feeling your mock draft. You already know that I’ve lobbying for tight end at “24″ but I wouldn’t be displeased with Clay Junior for our number one pick. Your mock covers our weaknesses and produces immediate starters. Either way, Pettigrew or Junior, I’m happy with either of the two for our number one pick.
D3
April 11th, 2009
11:57 pm
DOL – good stuff as always. You may have already answered this, but is there any nugget of truth to moving J.Anderson inside to DT or has that rumour been put to rest? Sent you an email about our Falcons Fan Blog.
tbhawks – like your picks of Vaugh, Taylor, and Morrah, but gotta depart from you on taking a Tackle with our second pick. The retirement of Weiner did hurt us depth wise, but we have Clabo and Baker as our starters, Ojinnaka and Butterworth (R – 6′7, 300 lbs) as our backups, w could always pick up a FA backup OL, and Smitty & Boudreau love to cross-train their OL. I can see new FA Romberg playing a little guard and tackle this year.
Ken Strick – you’ve been right on for enlightening us the entire time about the players on our current roster having a chance to step-up. Like the mock draft, but is Beckum worth a 2nd round grade? Like the Hamlin and Potter pick. You back on the Pettigrew first train? Has Stirg slipped something in your coffee? JK.
Stirg – whaddup home skillet? Man, love that mock draft. One of the best I’ve seen to date. No kidding. Questions: Will Brace last to #55, Sintim to the 3rd round, and Vaughn to the 4th? Dude, gotta totally disagree with you on ‘Leatherheads.’ Really disappointed. I thought football, Clooney, & Krasinski was a lock, but it was a huge let-down.
Resumption of the D3 Mock Draft after a brief hiatus. Here we go…..
Mock Draft Quattro.1
1)Clay Matthews, OLB
2)William Moore, S
3)Jared Cook, TE
4)Chris Baker, DT
5a)Keenan Lewis, CB
5b)Louis Murphy, WR
6)Zach Potter, DE
7)Ramon Foster, T
Ken Strickland
April 12th, 2009
12:08 am
I’ve read TE Pettigrew won’t get past the Eagles. Not only would he solve their TE problem, he’d help their weak rushing OFF with his excellent inline blocking prowess.
THE BAD-I don’t have a clue who we’ll draft with our #24 pick.
THE GOOD-There’s an abundance of talent at the positions we covet most, TE, DT, SS and LB/DE. A strong case can be made for drafting any one of the aforementioned positions with the #24 pick, depending on who’s available of course.
For my personal preference, I’ve decided we should draft a DE at #24. We need a dynamic pass rusher to compliment, and evemtually replace, DE JAbraham. Hybrid LB/DE’s like Sintim, English, Johnson, Maybin etc, would be excellent choices. They can start out as pass rushing specialist until they develop and/or bulk up to handle the DE position full time. Other than TE, we’re in pretty good shape except for depth at certain positions.
A DEF with DE’s CDavis & JAbraham, DT’s TLewis & JBabineaux, LB’s MPeterson, CLofton & SNicholas, CB’s CHouston & BGrimes/VHutchins, SS DeCoud & FS EColeman isn’t bad at all. It’s a whole lot better than last yrs DEF. Add a DT, TE, SS, CB, OLB, DE & OT from the draft, and we can talk Superbowl contender.
Stirg d'Nahsif
April 12th, 2009
12:47 am
Ken, normally I would have disagreed with your mock choice of DE at “24″; then I thought about it. And you know what? That’s not such a bad idea. A 3-4 OLB, like the ones you mentioned, would kill two birds with one stone, while allowing the player to mature as a defensive end. Wouldn’t Michael Johnson solidify this position?
Also, I read the article on Peterson and he expressed his natural ability to play Will. After a less-than-impressive run at strongside, do you think Nicholas can play outside of Will, his most natural position? Granted, Coach said the linebacker positions are interchangeable in his system but does playing out of position make our linebacking corps weaker? Considering all this, I think we should draft a hybrid LB/DE. We can wait to draft him after 24, however, use that pick on a tight end. That is the only position we cannot afford to draft outside of first round calibre.
marko
April 12th, 2009
8:22 am
Orlando’s stubborn insistence that we draft a three four linebacker with our first pick does present a pretty compelling case for trading out of the first round. The second round looks loaded. So much so, that it’s impossible for the bad guys to take away all of our toys. If we did the Baker trade in reverse, we could wind up with two very solid players with lower price tags. That’s a good thing. I’m a sucker for two for the price of one deals. If Orlando really wants Sintim that bad, we’d at least be selecting him in the correct round. Looking at the second round menu, we’d receive any two of the following, safeties Chung, Delmas, Moore, corners Darius Butler, Jairius Byrd, DJ Moore, defensive tackles, Ron Brace, Marcus Freeman, Guard Duke Robinson, Tackle William Beatty, tight ends, James Casey, Jared Cook and even Clint Sintim. I still wonder why Orlando’s so sold on Sintim. Connor Barwin is bigger, faster and not afraid of barbells. I’ve even seen him creep into the first round of a few mocks. Let’s assume Clint sent Mr. Ledbetter some candy and flowers. You guys know that I’m pretty well sold on Clay Matthews. Would I give him up for any two of the previous players I mentioned? That’s a good question.
richbrave
April 12th, 2009
9:43 am
In general stay away from USC players.
Edward
April 12th, 2009
11:29 am
D3 – love the mock draft, my friend. I do have to say I don’t think that Cook will still be there with our 3rd round pick. I have a feeling that he might be gone by then. I could see the Falcons taking Chase Coffman or Travis Beckum in that late 3rd to 4rd for the TE position. Another TE to look at in the late rounds or rookie free agent is Davon Drew from ECU. More of a blocker but became more of a receiver this past year.
My Falcons Mock..
1. Clay Matthews, Jr. LB
2. William Moore or Rashad Johnson S
3. Chase Coffman TE
4. Sammie Lee Hill DT
5. Joel Bell OT
5. Brandon Long DE
6. Brandon Hughes CB
I know I didn’t address the CB need early enough for some people and probably the Falcons will go CB higher in the draft. But since we spent a 3rd on Jackson last year and having both Hutchens and Grimes with experience and under contract for this season, I’d like to see how they handle training camp.
tbhawksfan
April 12th, 2009
2:02 pm
OK; I think I’ve got the draft that will please everyone; except the Brandon too slow Pettigrew at #24 people.
Chicago doesn’t have a first. We trade #24 and #176 for #49, #119 and #154.
That leaves us with two seconds, a third, two fourths and three fifths.
#49: Chung SS He will be a beast.
#55 Cook TE Much faster than Pettigrew, dazzled at the combine.
#90: Barnes CB 6′1″ and better than 4.5 speed.
#119: Shaughnessy DE A good talent selection, could be a steal.
#125 Taylor DT A run stopping NT that we sorely need.
#138 Maiva OLB He is exactly what we need at weakside LB.
#143 Morrah TE I like the double TE threat that Stig or someone was harping.
#154 Boone OT A real steal in the fifth.
Chicago would have to want someone, the trade is pretty fair as far as value.
We get everything we need and more. This would be a dream senario.
Ken Strickland
April 12th, 2009
2:03 pm
EDWARD-I don’t see Chase Coffman as a viable option for the Falcons. All of his scouting reports emphasize his lack of strength and blocking skills. In the OFF scheme he played in he was split out so he didn’t have to fight off LB’s to get off the line of scrimmage. That would pose a problem for him at the NFL level. He also has below average speed and is more suited to be an H-back than a traditional NFL TE. He’s not a good fit for the Falcons.
Travis Beckum is about the same size as Coffman but has much better speed. His scouting reports say he’s thin, like Coffman, and can’t add much additional bulk to his frame. More importantly, it says he’s not very interested in becoming a blocker. Isn’t that why we passed on former Eagles FA TE Smith? Cameron Morrah would be the perfect 3rd rd TE pick.
If TDecoud has shown the coaching staff he’s ready to step up and replace SS Mallor, and with AHarris and JFudge returning, we won’t need to take a safety in the 1st 3 rds. We can take a LB, CB or DT with our 2nd rd pick. We need another pass rushing DE, or a LB/DE hybrid more than we need a 4-3 LB. Besides, with more and more teams switching to the 3-4 DEF, the top 4 or 5 OLB’s will likely be gone before we pick. I agree with your assessment of our CB situation.
This time last yr, we were in desperate need of a DT, and with 11 picks we didn’t take a single DT. With the emergence of DT JBabineaux, the return of DT TLewis, and the presence of last yrs FA DT signees KMoorehead and JJefferson, how big of a priority is DT in this yrs draft? With the return from IR of VHutchins, last yrs #2 top FA signee and projected starter, BGrimes, his replacement as starter, CJackson, who had a very solid rookie campaign, and DIrons, how much of a priority is CB in this yrs draft? With MPeterson replacing KBrooking, with CWire possibly becoming SNicholas’ backup, and with RJames moving into Nicholas’ backup role, how much of a priority will OLB be in this yrs draft. With DE JAbraham’s history of injuries, and our lack of a pass rushing from LDE, how much of a priority will acquiring another pass rushing DE be in this yrs draft.
THIS IS HOW I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION WE’LL LIKELY DRAFT A DE OR DE/OLB HYBRID WITH OUR 1ST PICK.
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
April 12th, 2009
2:29 pm
STIRG: Didn’t try that raw egg deal.
D3: Jamaal Anderson played some DT last season. Don’t think it’s a full-time switch. But he’s going to play some DT and DE. He played end on running downs and went to tackle in passing situations last season.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2009/02/15/Falcons_defense_line.html
D3
April 12th, 2009
3:07 pm
Happy Easter Boys! Beautful sunday for a little Braves & Masters watchin’. Even though Tiger’s out, it looks to be a good finish with so many people so close. I’m pulling for a Chad Campbell – Kenny Perry duel, call me nationalist, but I always like to see an American win the Masters and US Open. Anyway, I digress……
Ken Strick – good point on Philly. It definitely is a possibility of Pettigrew going there, especially because of their blocking. They most likely are going to spend one of their picks on an tackle due to their loss of Tra Thomas. But, they may have someone on the roster ready to step up like us. The question is would they take Pettigrew when they could draft a Tackle and Moreno? Who knows. I like your points on OLB/DE like Maybin or English with our #24. I think Sintim would be a reach. Barwin could be a possibility if we were to trade back. I’m still sold on Matthews if he’s there. Gotta disagree on Michael Johnson. He is a project IMO, and has A LOT of bad tape, which I know TD & Smitty doesn’t like. I think he would be a great second round pick to take a chance on, but he’s a pure DE to me. English(6′2) & Maybin(6′4) have a better chance of covering with being able to turn their hips and run. I haven’t seen any OLB’s that are 6′7. But, as always, I could be wrong.
Stirg – I was under the assumption that Nicholas would play Will and Peterson would play Sam, especially since Peterson’s such a big hitter and run stuffer. Could be wrong for sure.
Nookah – love the soccer midfielder analogy with Pettigrew. I will definitely be happy if we take him for sure and he’s the heart pick, but the brain pick thinks we’ll go DEF. But as Stirg says, I will be happy with Matthews or Pettigrew. NOT Hood, any CB, or SS though.
marko – great minds think alike my friend. Sold on Matthews as well, he was the pick I wanted when I first started getting my draft board together and after some lapses have come back around to him. If he or Pettigrew are either there (me thinks at least one will be), than I say take ‘em. If not, trade back at all costs because even though the first round’s not loaded with talent, the 2nd and 3rd rounds are LOADED.
Edward – ‘preciate the props on the mock. Yeah, I agree with you on Cook. I think he’ll probably be gone as well, I just used him since I figured Shawn Nelson would be gone, but I will definitely be happy with Coffman or Casey. Not as high on Beckum, though. That’s the exact order I think its gonna come to with switching Tackle and CB, and making a surprise WR value pick.
Wait a second…….Mickelson is on FIRE! Did you just see that hook shot behind a tree, landing two inches from the hole! WOW. Tiger and Mickelson in the same pairing. Nice.
12 DAYS, 20 HOURS, AND COUNTING!!!!!!!
Edward
April 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
Mr. Strickland, I agree that Coffman or Beckum don’t really fit what we need in a complete TE. However, apart from Pettigrew (who most people believe is too slow) there isn’t really a good to great quality TE in this draft. My reasoning for Coffman or Beckum was that the Falcons already have decent blocking TE’s and needed a receiving or more complete TE.
With regards to selecting a DE (or a rush OLB) with the top picks, my other question is who gets let go? At DT they have: Lewis, Babineaux, Moorehead and three others. I can see a top draft pick for DT (particular NT) to help inside. Unless Jerry drops I don’t think there is another DT to be selected that high.
At DE they already have: Davis, Abraham, Biermann, Anderson, plus two others. I can see a DE selected in the 2nd-4th rounds somewhat if the plan was to move Anderson inside (similar to last year) on passing downs. I just don’t think the Falcons would pick a situational DE with a early pick
The same applies to the OLB argument wither its Cushing, Matthews or whoever. They can go with the players they already have versus a top draft pick at that position. But IF they can’t trade the pick, OLB is a need and its the deepest position in the draft. They can get great talent at the 24th selection.
D3 – According to the ESPN interview with Peterson, he is supposed to be the Will. I think Wire and Nichols are slugging it out for the Sam.
SeminoleWarrior
April 12th, 2009
3:46 pm
Happy Easter all!!! Good to back in the fold. Got some news here that shocked me big time and may impact the entire draft for the Falcons if it is true. Has anyone heard the speculation that we may trade our second round pick to the Chiefs for TE Tony Gonzalez? WOW!! I like TG but he’s been around a while. Something to ponder I guess.
http://ownersedge.fanball.com/player_notes/nfl
Anyways, I do not agree with giving up picks unless we are gaining more picks later. More on my mock draft later…Good to be back with my brethren here.
SeminoleWarrior
April 12th, 2009
3:55 pm
Trying to figure out the Duke Robinson situation. There are a lot of OL personnel on the roster so I do not see why we would be looking at a player that high in this draft. Robinson is definately first or second round material; Clabo and Dahl are under RFA tenders but I think they can get long-term deals done with them both. If they are looking at Gonzalez, I would say that is not the move to make. Why not grow your own fruit (Pettigrew or Nelson) instead of re-planting an older tree? And there is a lot more value to be gained with the pick in the 2nd.
Edward
April 12th, 2009
4:02 pm
A Tony Gonzalez trade rumor would be news to me. PFT or any of the other sites I visit hasn’t said much of anything concrete. Mostly just Pioli saying that Tony hasn’t requested a trade and “sources” close to Tony say that he would be welcome to it.
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/03/26/pioli-says-gonzalez-didnt-request-a-trade/
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-chiefs-gonzalez&prov=ap&type=lgns
I don’t know how I feel about that. part of me says that its a good idea to get a perennial Pro Bowl TE for a 2nd round pick. But on the other hand, at 33 yrs old he would be at best a temporary solution and I’m not sure that’s a good use for that pick.
D3
April 12th, 2009
4:09 pm
Alright fellas, here is a question I have then: if Peterson is slotted to play WILL then it would make sense to understand that Nicholas and Wire will be competing for SAM, so would we draft a Cushing, Matthews, or English to compete for SAM or WILL?
tbhawks – love that trade scenario. Big props bro’. Chicago would be the absolute perfect trade partner because, as you know, they have 8 picks but none in the first round and they desperately NEED a WR and that would put them in position to take a Hakeem Nicks, Darius Heyward-Bey, or maybe a Percy Harvin. How ’bout instead of Chung, Cook, & Barnes then maybe a Barwin, Cook, & Vaughn? Just food for thought.
Seminole – good to have you back brother. That has to be one of the biggest reaches I’ve heard of in terms of trading a pick for a second rounder. What is TG, like 33? If we were a TE away from being a Super Bowl contender, that would be one thing, but we’re not there yet.
Ken Strick – gotta depart from you on this one. If we take a TE, I would much rather take someone with more upside like a Coffman, Casey, or even Ingram before Morrah(assuming Nelson and Cook are gone). Morrah may be more complete, but doesn’t have near the upside as some of the others. Technically, we don’t have any glaring needs assuming Chevis Jackson, Stephen Nicholas, Trey Lewis, and Thomas DeCoud all step up. So the issue is between what draft class position has the deepest, best grade between OLB, S, CB, & DT? Besides Raji & maybe Jerry @ DT, the answer is emphatically OLB. A Maybin or English would definitely make sense, but a pure DE like Michael Johnson wouldn’t make as much sense, IMO.
Edward – right on brother. In complete agreeance with you on our first pick. We gotta just say NO to Hood as our first pick. The OLB class grades out as A or B and the DT class grades out as a D. Good points all around.
Come to the conclusion that we should grab Pettigrew, Nelson, or Cook because of their immense upside and talent. So on that note….
Mock Draft Quattro.2
1)Clay Matthews – OLB
2)Shawn Nelson – TE
3)Chip Vaughn – S
4)Chris Baker – DT
5a)Keenan Lewis – CB
5b)Louis Murphy – WR
6)Zach Potter – DE
7)Ramon Foster – T