Mock Draft 5.0: USC’s Cushing falls to Falcons

This draft makes the most sense of any of your others. I think taking offense with our first pick would be a huge mistake. That said, I’d prefer any of the other defensive positions to linebacker if we’re absolutely keeping that first pick. So unless Vontae Davis happens to fall to us, I’d rather trade back for Delmas or Moore and get an extra pick to use on Hood or Smith or a LB.

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I think DT is a bigger need. I also think all this talk of taking a LB with the first pick is a smoke screen.

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I don’t think Peria Jerry will fall this far and if he does we should take him.

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Huge mistake by Detroit. If I were them, I’d let the draft clock run out so St. Louis could pick first.

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I am with STUCK IN SC. DL should be our priority, CB after that. We are fine at LB. I doubt if Cushing could beat any of our startersright now anyway. We need a player that will come in and contribute, if not start. A CB or a DT in rotation with Lewis and Babs would pay immediate, dividends unlike a player at a position that is pretty much already set (Peterson, Lofton, Nicholas). We do need LBs for depth, but they can be found in the later rounds. I say Peria Jerry, Malcolm Jenkins, or trade down.

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AMEN gdg73!

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FYI, Mel Kiper has Pettigrew ranked as the 7th best overall prospect currently. No way the Falcons can pass on that at 24 if we don’t do the Tony G. deal.

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Agreed…Andre Smith will be a beast.

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If he falls … I take Peria Jerry!!! I also trust 100% in whomever TD selects with our pick!!! He’ll do the right thing!!!

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I think that if Cushing falls down to the 24th spot, the Falcons should run to the podium with their pick. He fills an immediate need at the SAM backer. I know a lot of the bloggers on here think DT and CB, and I agree those are needs. BUT, at the 24th pick and the best available 1st round options for the Falcons biggest needs are:

Cushing at LB
Jerry at DT
Butler at CB
Pettigrew at TE
Delmas at S.

Out of that group, I think Cushing would be the best value at a need position.

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Let’s see who’s on that liost of steroids first…and if Cushing isn’t on it, then maybe think about it. I still think the TE from OKst is the ebst best…can block, has good hands, and gets the YAC. Plays much faster than his timed speed w/ shorts on.

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Our main weaknesses on defense last year were our inability to pressure the quarterback (especially up the middle), the inability to stop the run (especially up the middle), and suspect DB play outside of Foxworth (now gone) and Coleman. Now please tell me how Brian Cushing helps us get better in either of those areas.

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gd – I understand where you’re coming from bro’, but have you forgotten the play of Brooking in the pass(all due respect), and Boley’s disappearing act.

Edward & Willie – right in line with you guys!

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24th!

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Take Peria Jerry in round one and Cornelius Ingram in round 2.

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I say Jerry. In one pick the DL is legit. We have been pushed around long enough.

My biggest problem with the Cards playoff game last season was the way they manhandled our lines. If he’s good enough for the Ravens, he must be good enough for the DT starved Falcons.

Last season, nearly everyone was demanding Dorsey, D and more D. What did TD do? Ryan (brillant pick and moved up for Baker. That move might also start a trend in the NFL. Draft your Franchise QB and get a OT to go with him. Didn’t even pick a DT!

I don’t anticipate a repeat. Jerry, D and more D.

#24: Jerry DT
#55: Chung SS
#90: Barnes CB
#125: Maiva OLB
#138: Morrah TE
#143: Shaughnessy DE
#176: Vasquez OG

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They have already signed a center. The starter for the Rams last year.
Defense first/ no gonzalez, no pettigrew, defense!!!

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Romberg is a back up, he wont last all season. He wasn’t signed as starter. He Only started last year on the rams due to injury. He is not long term solution at Center. That is why they contacted Newberry also. But he is Knee is still not ready.

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JG, if Mack is the man then I’ll e-mail you a Red Stripe. If Barwin is the man then I just enjoy my 15 seconds in the sun!!!!

Go Falcons!!!!

Nuff respect everytime!!!

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39!

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Colts Take a Look at SEC Sacks Leader

By Ed Thompson

Posted Apr 25, 2006

Despite having lots of proven and promising talent at the defensive end position, the Colts couldn’t resist taking a closer look at Mississippi State’s Willie Evans this past weekend.

ColtPower has learned that the Indianapolis Colts worked out SEC sacks leader Willie Evans this past Saturday. The Mississippi State defensive end terrorized SEC quarterbacks last season, posting 15 sacks. That represented exactly half of his team’s total sacks for the year.

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After many heated discussions with my fellow (A)rm (C)hair (G)eneral (M)anagers, I have come to like using, a: 3rd or later round pick on TG or drafting Pettigrew at #24. Here’s a couple of reasons why. 1) We have no one to go across the middle consistently. No one at all. So a very good veteran TE or a potentially good rookie TE will open up the passing game so much more. 2) With a pro bowl WR, a very solid #2 option, and a very promising #3, plus a brusing & attacking rushing game, who/how do you defend this offense when add a dangerous threat at TE. The name of the game is scrore more points than the other team. LET’S AVERAGE 30+ A GAME. 3) MM offense will use the TE more when the Falcons get a TE that can open up the playbook or cause MM to draft plays designed for the TE. 4) The defense should not be that bad where as we can stop anybody. I believe MS is a master at getting the most out of the players he has. So who fields this team on defense when Sept. rolls around will come to play and will play hard for MS. IMHO I think we should complete the offense first with a serious threat at TE.

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Hey Tyger, Willie Evans is already on the Falcons’ roster. Where did you get the report that the Colts were looking at him?

The pick at #24 will be one of the following: Matthews, Laurinaitis, or Cushing and that person will be the season opening started at SAM.

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Dl should not be addressed in the first round unless you are sure to get Raji. Value is there later; Terrance Taylor is a major lug in the middle who feel off last year as a result of confusion by the defensive staff at Michigan. Roy Miller was a beast in the middle for Texas but was overshadowed by Orakpo. Personnally, I would love to see the size, strength, and nastiness of Taylor next to Babs on the line. That would open things up for Davis, Anderson, Abe, and Biermann.

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Here is my mock draft, rounds one through four. Most of my peers in here know that I was advocating for Patrick Chung to be my pick at 24 but I’m going to trust that DeCoud is ready to step in. With that key assumption, here I go:

1) LB James Laurinaitis (SLB); 2) CB Mike Mickens 3) LB Marcus Freeman (WLB), and 4) DT Terrance Taylor.

Speed, pass defense skills, versatility, and leadership are what have drawn me to the pair from Ohio State. Mickens has skills that are outstanding in either man/man or zone. Taylor is a beast and a load in the middle. Extremely powerful and will not be moved in the middle.

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There are several 3rd round or later DTs that will make an impact in the NFL. Ron Brace, Vance Walker, Darryl Richards, the guy from UGA, LSU has a DT, etc. I’d rather solidify 2 positions in this draft to effectively remove them from discussion in future years.

The DB draft is very weak this year so I would take those guys late. I would like to grab a TE and LB early. I’m up for a combination of Cushing or Pettigrew. If we get neither, then I prefer to trade down and pick up an early 2nd and 3rd selection. If we can trade #24 for (2) 2nd round picks, that is my preference. There is not a lot of difference in #24 and number #35 IMO. Our last 2 2nd round picks, Curtis Lofton and Blalock.

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But I will grant you this, JG. Given our desire to be a power running team first, I will give you center to check out. Alabama’s Antoine Caldwell. Big man @ 6′3, 310 and he is quite effective in both run and pass protection in the middle. He would be available in the middle rounds I think.

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Don Banks at SI has us taking Pettigrew, with Rey Maualuga going to the Ravens AFTER US at 26. Cushing has dropped out of the first round on his board.

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Nookah, we are on the same page with Cushings, except I think of Brian Bosworth. Take Pettigrew at 24 or try to trade out for an additional second and third round pick. The panic over the defense is understandable, but it is unlikely there will be a pick at 24 that will offset the needs on defense. Besides I think the defense is going to be in better shape than we think, we need to add a quality DT in the later rounds (Fili Moala or Sammie Lee Hill), a linebacker or two, and a small school stud corner that teams have shied away from because of competition level for development, anyone no of any. The defenses of the schedule this year are beast, and offense is the strength of this team at this point, a good ball-controlling offense, keeps a young developing defense off the field, Pettigrew completes the offense.

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D-Led, did you notice my post, we seem to be seeing the same thing in Cush, so why take him at 24, if Pettigrew, Jerry and even Matthews falls as you have it either would be a better pick, Cushing has bust written all over him and after watching tapes of USC, Cushing really doesn’t stand out as much as you want a game changing linebacker to do, which is why I think his stock is falling.

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WR, I feel ya. My man may be dropping but he will be the consistent play maker we desire. 1) LB James Laurinaitis (SLB); 2) CB Mike Mickens 3) LB Marcus Freeman (WLB), and 4) DT Terrance Taylor.

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I’m breaking right for a while; got to take the First Lady out for Chinese. One must keep peace in the valley right, LOL. I’ll check in on the posse later.

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SeminoleWarrior.. Thanks for the link.

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Wonderful Friday evening boys! The best part of the weekend. Brews, good food, and draft talk. Doesn’t get any better than this. Just a quick hit, and some good analysis later.

-Cushing will be gone
-Matthews gone to NE, at the least
-The Pettigrew Orange Kool-Aid has infiltrated the synopsis of my brain

Update: Buffalo traded T Jason Peters to Philly for their 28th pick.
So unless Buffalo packages a deal to move ahead of us, our boy Pettigrew should be there for the taking.

Just go to the podium, make it official, and put our young OFF into overdrive. Gem out D-Talent the rest of the way. TD has shown an innate ability to do that.

The Sierra Nevada Summerfest is pretty good, but didn’t quite meet expectations. Maybe because its not so D@– hoppy. Nookah, Red Stripe is still the shiz! And on that note………….

7 DAYS, 16 HOURS, 29 MINS, & COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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No Cushing! He has to be a juicer. Jerry would make me very merry.

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Football + beer + women + food = my falcons blog ( and golf..lol)

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D3, thanks for giving my beer some props. You know you the man!!!! Don’t like Cushing though, but we can agree to disagree!!!

Go Falcons!!! That’s what we all agree on!!

Nuff respect everytime!!!

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Hey Guys,
D-LED: I really like your mock, keep it up! Here’s my own that I’ve been constructing. Its got a few surprises and I’m sure that some people will not like the choices, but I’m just trying to shake things up.

Round 1 — #24: LB James Laurenaitis – Value has decreased because he came back as a senior, last year he would have been a top 10 pick. He has the versatility to play all three LB positions on all three downs. That has T.D. and crew (silently) salivating.

Round 2 — #55: CB Alphonso Smith – May not be around for us to snag, but I’m still dreaming. Has ideal size and adequate speed. Was the anchor of a weak defense and will give Von Hutchins tight competition.

Round 3 — #90: LB Marcus Freeman – Have to agree with my man, SeminoleWarrior here. Freeman has the same versatility as Laurenaitis. Those two can interchange on the edges depending on the situation the opposing offense displays. Add them with Lofton and you have a LB core!

Round 4 — #125: TE Cameron Morrah – T.D. finds our TE of the future here. Tons of upside with this kid. Great work ethic, lots of heart, lanky body, good hands for Matt Ryan, could be perfect with a little NFL strength training

Round 5 — #138: QB Graham Harrell – Call me crazy but I see us drafting a QB late. We only signed Redman for two years and DJ might be in a packaged deal sometime soon. If the kid can translate to the NFL, he could be a steal here later on.

Round 5 — #143: DT Myron Pryor – Here’s the big interior lineman we’ve been looking for. Had flashes of greatness in the tough SEC.

Round 6 — #196: OG Andy Kemp – 6′5” 315 lb., needs motivation which our locker room can provide

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Dacha, thanks for feeling me on the LB corps. It will be one of the best in the NFL in a couple of years if they go this route. I like Alphonso Smith but I think our CB need to be a tad larger, thus my choice of Mike Mickens or Jairus Byrd. K Strick and Big Ray have been high on Morrah; I personally like Nelson of USM. The Harrell pick is a little of a surprise; I think we will keep Redman for several years to come. He seems to have accepted his role and he knows that he is stable here for as long as he desires to be.

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Nookah, the KC trade deal is a dead issue. We will go the way of the draft and take a TE.

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Seminole, how sure are you on that? No chance of a draft day trade? Well, if that’s the case I guess I’ll have to review my picks. I defer to you my brother.

As I said before all we want to say is………

Go Falcons!!!

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STIRG,

So, you’ll see a run. I’m sure of it. Well, as sure as a layman like me can be…So, I’m breaking down our chances of getting a really good fit for our offense in my next post.

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Okay, plenty of teams will need receivers. There will be a run on this position, but whether or not it will be as strong a run as the linebacker position remains to be seen. So I’ll start at the WR position first:

Crabtree and Maclin will probably be the first to go, I think. As Ledbetter says, there could be a quick panic right after that. So, here come Nicks, Harvin, and Heyward-Bey. But you also cannot rule out Britt and Robiskie, though both guys might be 2nd round picks. Still that’s up to SEVEN receivers. You almost have to factor in Pettigrew here as well. Yes, I know, many of us want that guy, but consider why he may not fall to us: what do you go after when you already have a good pass-catching running back, but there are no receivers in sight that you want? You got it: the best-rated tight end in the draft. So, that’s really EIGHT guys that could push things. Well, we’ll scale it back to SIX, since two of those receivers aren’t necessarily really guys worth grabbing in the top 23 picks.

Next is the two quarterbacks, Sanchez and Stafford. Easy. You know they’re going early. The X-factor in this segment is undoubtedly Josh Freeman. Where does he go? Who cares! It will likely be 1st round, so it will be earlier than we pick. So, add THREE more guys gone before we pick. So now my theoretical total is up to NINE.

Offensive lineman. Jason Smith, Andre Smith, Michael Oher, and Eugene Monroe. All gone before #24, and here’s where a dark horse run could happen. Add just a pinch of panic, and you’ll watch Alex Mack, Max Unger, and Eben Britton go, too. Maybe even Phillip Loadholt. The reason? Teams who wish to protect their new investments at QB. However, I don’t really think this will happen, and if it does, then it will only be one or at most two guys who sneak into the top 23. So, my guess here is FOUR O-lineman go before our pick, bringing my total number of picks to THIRTEEN.

Running backs. Knowshon Moreno won’t last long. Beanie Wells might not either. I’m rolling with just the first guy, though. Total is now FOURTEEN.

Defenders. Again, this is dicey. There are guys who almost certainly stay up on the draft boards. Like Aaron Curry, Brian Orakpo, Malcolm Jenkins, B.J. Raji, Rey Maualuga, and Aaron Maybin. That’s SIX guys right off the bat. But then you have to add in other guys who are shooting up draft boards, both quickly and little-by-little. This is due in part to the changes of teams’ defensive schemes, and the specific needs that they have, as well as certain draftees that fit those needs. Add in a lack of depth in versatile positions in the defensive line segment, and suddenly certain guys come at a premium. Those guys include Tyson Jackson, Robert Ayers, Everette Brown, and perhaps Peria Jerry. Add that to the first SIX defenders I mentioned for a total of TEN. Now add THAT to the previous FOURTEEN, and where are we? At TWENTY-FOUR, and that would INCLUDE OUR PICK. So, one of the guys I decided to roll with as a sure pick would have to fall off that list. We’ll say it’s Peria Jerry, just for the heck of it.

So guess who’s left? Jerry, Matthews, Cushing, Vontae Davis, English, Laurinaitis….not a bad list, eh? And remember, I mentioned guys, but left them off the actual count. Consider that most of those guys weren’t linebackers from the list of 24.

Now, imagine a run at linebacker, AFTER the run at wide receiver, and the game is on. I really think the top O-line, receiver, and the can’t-miss/need-specific defenders that I mentioned will all go first. The only real “casualty” in that group for us is Pettigrew.

Guys, I don’t think we’ll be stuck with a bad pick at 24, assuming we keep the pick. I really don’t. I think it’s going to be better than we anticipate. The second round is where we might hurt a little. I want to see us take a safety, and I think there will be an early run on those. So if we’re going to trade, we might be best served trading up in the 2nd round, or trading out of it altogether for something that will really help. That something could very well be Tony Gonzalez. Or not. Just a thought…

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Interesting. I see DraftCountdown has us picking Evander “Ziggy” Hood at #24. And guess who our pick is in the 2nd round? Tight end Shawn Nelson. They have us taking Marcus Freeman in the 3rd.

I think they’ve been talking to Stirg over a few Red Stripes.

No seriously, go to the website (DraftCountdown.com). The explanation for these two picks are interesting reading. I won’t relate the whole thing (they say we’re high on Hood and Louis Delmas), but I wonder if it’s anything like the info/buzz that D. Ledbetter’s getting?

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If you guys want to see something interesting, SI.com has their draft grades up for all players. Its pretty interesting how they did theirs compared to most of the other draft sites out there. For example: in the OLB position they have Connor Barwin ahead of Clay Matthews, Jr. and only .07 of a point behind Cushing. In the S position they have Rashad Johnson rated #1. At TE. their top 5 is Pettigrew, Cook, Coffman, Nelson and Ingram with Morrah rated at #15. And one of the bigger surprises is at CB. They have Captain Munnerlyn ranked higher than Darius Butler.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/breakdowns/by_position/QB.html

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Cushing will not fall past New Orleans. Jay Payton has said many times he likes USC players and their experience with pro-style offense and defense and their readiness to play.

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Morning all looks like we’ve arrived at T minus seven. I don’t think I’ll speculate about what Thomas and Smitty are giving us for NFL Christmas this year. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to be surprised when I open the box. Last year I had wished for a brand new Dorsey. I was more than a little peeved when I opened the box and found this Ryan thing instead. Well that damned Ryan thing didn’t turn out so terrible after all. Not that the Dorsey wouldn’t have been a pretty cool toy. Just think of all the neat stuff you can do with a new Dorsey. You can blow up offensive lines, you can destroy pesky running backs and best of you can scare those sissy quarterbacks.

Speaking of sissy Quarterbacks can you imagine how disappointed I was to tear off the bows rip open the box and find this goofy Ryan thing smiling at me. What the hell can you do with a quarterback for the most part they hand the ball off and throw incompletions. Well Guess what? I was wrong a well functioning quarterback doesn’t just throw incompletions and hand off the ball till the punter takes over. In his first NFL regular season start this Ryan thing completes His first pass. It gets better; he completed It to a player wearing the same colored jersey he was wearing. Next thing I know this Jenkins kid that had caught the pass was dancing in the end zone. Some body told me that we’d had Jenkins for a couple of years. Funny why hadn’t we to thrown him before? Before the season was over Ryan finds Roddy White, Harry Douglas and lot of other guys that I didn’t know we had. I thought that a quarterback’s job was to hold onto the ball until the play broke down, and then run for his life. This new touchdown throwing version was a vast improvement over what I was used to. I’m even considering liking quarterbacks.

Well the dogwoods are blooming, Tiger’s swinging clubs and the ponies are about to run in Kentucky. That means it’s Christmas time again. This year I’m asking Santa Dimitroff for a brand new Matthews. Don’t forget the batteries please. In the event Thomas doesn’t see fit to give me my Matthews, I’m open to the idea that I might wind up liking what I get anyway.

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Top of the morning my brothers!! We have seven and a wake up as we used to say in my active duty days in the AF. What’s up Big Ray. I debated the Nelson choice for round two but opt for the bigger, more versatile CB at that position. But I can easily see where Nelson would be the pick in the second round. I just do not feel the TG trade thingy; we could stay with what we have and develop our own man for the future instead of a perennial all-Pro who could retire at anytime if he does not get what he wants. TG will want a large heading-out-to-pasture deal that I think would serve us better by developing a long term role like Nelson. We can work it out with Hartsock and Peele in the meantime. A big threat at TE has never been a major player with Coach Murlarkey anyways. See his resume at Pittsburgh where he had talent at the position. TE is a safety net at best and I think Peele is good enough to give us 3-6 TDs annually for the next two until Nelson is ready to assume the mantel. With that said, here is my revised mock:
1) LB James Laurinaitis (SLB); 2) CB Mike Mickens or TE Shawn Nelson 3) LB Marcus Freeman (WLB), and 4) DT Terrance Taylor. I’m still working the 5th and 6th rounds.

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Morning all. As I stated on another blog, I don’t think that Pettigrew will be there due to the recent Jason Peters trade. I could be wrong, but I think that there is at least a really good chance that Philadelphia takes him at 21.

Big Ray- Not too sure about the prospect of so many WR’s going before we pick. I would agree that four or five may go in the first round all together. But I will say that there is also a chance that more RB’s go before we pick than many of us anticipate. Cincy, NO, SD and Philly are all possibilities with Moreno, Wells and Brown rated as first round prospects. I wouldn’t rule the Jets out with Jones hitting 30 and his hold-out pending. Your thoughts?

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I think that the TG trade is a worthy deal if for nothing more than the development and maturation of MR. Besides, the great ones like TG often do play those longer careers, and he does still have three years left on his contract in which I’m pretty sure compensates for his production. Also, I don’t believe that he would bail because this guy wants to compete for a chance at a ring.

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I’d love to see the draft day trade go:

TG / #67 for #55 and a third next season. This gives us TG without losing a player this season. the draft could go something like this:

#24: Maybin OLB
#67: Robinson OG
#90: Barnes CB
#125: Taylor DT
#138: Maiva OLB
#143: Pegues FS
#176: Bennett DE

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BIG RAY-since English appeared on our mock draft, he’s moved from a 2nd rd possibility to a 1st rd possibility and might not get past New England at #23. It’s been said they really like him.

There are HC’s and GM’s who focus primarily on finished products, or players with more skills than talent rather than players with more talent than skills. This type of player is often called “A REACH” when considered in the middle to high 1st rd. However, if he has the intangibles, the work ethic, desire and self motivation to repidly develop the needed skills, you could easily end up with a JPeppers, RHanesworth or RWhite. That’s why we can’t ignore very talented and athletic players like DE’s English and Johnson. It all depends on the confidence you have in your coaching staff’s ability to coach players up. And last yr, our coaching staff successfully coached up an awful lot of 1st and 2nd yr players, as well as some vets.

That’s why I like English as the first choice. He can develop into a solid SLB, or DE, while providing a strong outside pass rush opposite DE JAbraham, or replace his production if he’s injuried. That would make the next most important acquisition a run stuffing DT. A PASS RUSHING DE/LB AND A RUN STUFFING DT WOULD SOLVE MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD LAST YR WITH STOPPING THE RUN AND DEFENDING THE PASS.

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A better TE trade deal would have been earlier in the season when Owen Daniels was out there. Houston tendered him with a second round pick. He has since resigned with them. But that would have been a great pick up and opened up the seam in the passing game. Daniels is much younger but just as athletic as TG was in his prime. And he has good blocking skills as well.

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K Strick, I’m with you on the run-stuffing DT. And that is why I think we will get a steal in the fourth or fifth by taking Terrance Taylor or Roy Miller. Huge men in the middle that clog the interior and handle the position. They need a little work on their foot work but Sugar Bear can handle that. And this rotation, Lewis/Babs and Taylor/Anderson at the tackle positions would solidify that line, opening up Abraham, Davis, and Biermann to do their thing. An occasional blitz, to keep teams honest against us, could come from Laurinaitis, Freeman, or even Lofton and/or Coleman. What do you think bro?

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All this redd stripe talk is making me thirsty….. to bad im at work, Im a guiness stout man myself. Guiness good for what ales you………………..

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Seminole Warrior, I do think it will appear that we will be blitzing more this year, simply because we will be able to put more pressure on the opponent’s DLine, because we will be bolstering the middle through Trey Lewis and whoever we use as his backup, whether it’s through the draft or from the development of players on our current roster. This will force the QB out of the pocket and we will be putting the pressure on from outside. However, I think we need that extra rush from the other side (other than John Abraham’s side). Also as someone mentioned in a previous post, JA can get injured. Apart from that we are going to nned some rotation at the “bbokends” to keep the rush fresh at all times.

I MUS WRITE, I am not a Guiness man, but have you tried your brew with Red Bull? After one of those maybe you could rush tha passer!!!!! Do you think that’s what Cushing and Matthews are on? Just sayin’

Go Falcons!!!!

Rastaman vibration yeah, Positive, live if you wanna live…..I & I vibration yeah……(Robert Nesta!!)

Nuff respect everytime!!!

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Cushing would be a big risk. His heart is in the right place but if you take a look at the injuries over the years you want to look at another choice. His eating habits are somewhat questionable plus his upper body strength lacks what it takes in the NFL. I have no doubt his “highlights” are loaded with some great looking stuff but that can sway a GM or Head Coach down the road of doom. The steroid rumors are just that, rumors. Look at his injuries and durability and that tells you what you have. If I was going to make the pick I’d go with Clay Matthews or Clint Sintim. Matthews still has that raw talent and desire and Sintim can fit right away into the 3-4 and also because of his bulk could stay on the field for passing downs. Now about Braylon Edwards. He’s dropped a few that he should have pulled in. That tells me he hasn’t had that mentor or a wide receivers coach to make him one of the elite WR in the NFL. He needs a change of scenery to get him to the next level. It took a hands on approach from (believe it or not) Bobby Petrino to get Roddy White to leave the drive thru windows at McDonald’s alone and to follow the direction of a dietitian. He had to stop lifting quarter pounders and hit the weight room and start lifting the equipment there.

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I know, I know, I know, but I think this is going to be Jamaal Andersen’s breakout year, or I give up. For a DE who hasn’t played the position much, this should be the year for him. He went to Arkansas as a tight-end, he grew and was switched into a DE, he was one of the best in the SEC, which is the reason the Falcons drafted him, and is the same reason why they have been so patient with him. If everyone can remember, Kerney was the same way, he was a lacrosse player who started playing football late in his Virginia career, he blossomed in college and with a few years learning from Chuck Smith and others, he turned into a beast, Andersen looks and has the measuerables of a beast, its just time he puts it all together and unleashes the beast within. As far as OLB and DE hybrids, the birds have that with Davis and Biermann Aaron Curry at the weakside backer would be ideal, not going to happen, so get a Freeman late who will be allowed the opportunity to grow and learn from veterans ahead of him, the corners looked shady but Jackson looked good last year and as much as people might try to deny it, I believe Houston is coming around. I kind of feel sorry for Grimes because he’s such a fighter, but I recently ran into this guy and he’s probably 5′7 at best. Pettigrew is the man at 24, or make a trade with Detroit for a 2nd and a 4th. Build the D, with the rest of the picks, grab a couple of FA offensive line players and the birds will be on their way.

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Who pays people to pretend to be drafting players for the NFL? Make it worth my time and I’ll announce my own mock draft. Geez. Get a real job.

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K Strick, I love the analysis on Sammie Lee Hill. Talked to a partner of mine in Birmingham that is a Stillman alum and he loves the kid. He and Taylor could become a nice rotation with Lewis. I’ll take him or Taylor in the fourth. I think that Hood or Jeery could work on the outside but neither Brace or Raji would work there. And as you may recall, I once suggested (during my extended selling of Patrick Chung) that we may be looking at Ziggy Hood (recall mark Bradley’s blog). DT will be addressed next Saturday or Sunday.

Barring a run on DTs, I’m going to go with it being a fourth or fifth round pick; Taylor, Hill, or Miller. Are we still cool K Strick?

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WR, I like the Kearney and Anderson reference. It did take PK a few years behind Chuck to arrive but d>>> if he did not arrive with a bang!! The Sugar Bear will help the kid come along even further this season. And if we can get another 10-15 pounds on Biermann, we will have a nice rotation at DE. SLEEPER ALERT…Babs can also move outside to DE. His size is similiar to that of Dwight Freeney. I’m not saying that Babs is Freeney but it does give Smitty and Sugar Bear another dimension to ponder if and when they move Anderson inside.

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I, too, am now drinking a Red Stripe (thanks to this blog’s endless endorsement of this brand). I heard a mock draft on ESPN radio today on which (again) Todd McShay pegged the Falcons with Pettigrew. Can this many mock drafts be wrong? I have a feeling Pettigrew is going to be a Falcon. Talk me down.

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Freeman and Lauriniatis are my choices D3. Versatile as Smitty wants. But much better production in the pass coverage game than the USC corps. And given our MAJOR shortfalls there last season, I give the OSU group the advantage. All other facets are even other than the ESPN press coverage of the USC ‘backers.

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Stirg – the closer we get to the draft, the more you’re moving away from it and towards the Hawks? What’s up with that brother? JK. What do you think the possibility is on Philly taking our boy Pettigrew? Personally, I think they will take Moreno in a heartbeat, because Westbrook will be 31 next year, and we all know what happens to RB’s over 30. I asked my buddy at work who’s a Philly fan about TE, and he said that they were pretty happy about developing Celek, who was a rookie and outright replaced LJ Smith by the end of the season. If Moreno is gone, then maybe we’re in trouble, but the only RB I see going before that is maybe Beanie Wells to the Saints.

tbhawk – haven’t seen hardly any drafts having Maybin slipping even close to our range. He’s too much of a specimen to pass up, especially for all those 3-4 teams picking in front of us.

I.MUS – I used to think Cushing was the man too, but I took a look at his injury history, lack of experience, and how his “workout warrior” status rarely translated to the field. I wouldn’t be upset with a Cushing pick, but I’ll take Sintim, English, and Matthews over Cush. Guiness, one of my all time fav’s and best beers out there. As they say in Ireland, “Sweet as a nut.”

Seminole – tearing it up my brother. You and Big Ray are rockin’ the house. You tore up so many good topics, no idea where to start. I gotta depart witcha’ on Laurinitus. As many people have mentioned on Cushing or Matthews, just not feeling him. He strikes me as more of a MLB, which we have and as I mentioned earlier, Sintim has passed all OLB’s on “my” board and Cushing has dropped. It’s easier to take a gamble on a guy with “huge upside” like Cushing or Matthews, but Sintim has rocked the s— for all four years, getting better each year. Gotta great work ethic and a team leader. Good stuff man.

Big Ray – great research and analyses my man. Like your list of who will be there. I would be happy with any of them, but be more happy with the guys that are “rising” in my mind this week. Pettigrew, Sintim, English, and Matthews I would prefer in that order.

Ken Strick – English has moved ahead of Matthews and Cushing on “my” board, but I still like Sintim as a little more “now ready” than the others. The work ethic and enormous consistency for four years makes him a stud that could fit great in our system. Good points on English.

WR – you got it. This is Anderson’s boom or bust year. 3 years is the time frame for DE’s, and if he doesn’t show out this year than he might could officially be labeled…..well, we all know. Pettigrew it is, IMVHO. And maybe they could trade and still get Sintim, but I’m starting to doubt it.

Ken Strick – where do we take Sammie Hill?

Order of preference for our #24:
1)Pettigrew
2)Sintim
3)English
4)Matthews
5)Cushing

Man, how my beliefs have changed over the weeks. Reasons for the changes to come late. Wow, I’m like Vontae Davis in front of a mirror. And on that note………..

6 DAYS, 18 HOURS, 10 MINUTES, & COUNTING!!!! Under the week mark, YES!

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Seminole – you know you’re my boy, but gotta disagree on your picks, respectfull of course. Honestly, I would take tons of guys before Laurinitus. I think he’ll be a good player, but I think he fits as more of a 3-4 ILB than a 4-3 OLB. I’m all up for Freeman, but under the assumption that we take Pettigrew with our first. Speaking of Pettigrew… Sometimes there are smoke screens from GM’s and teams, but not in every case. Mularkey’s offense calls for TE’s to block first and catch second, but I guarantee you that he will find ways to get Pettigrew the ball. He’s been of TE reverses in the past when he’s had the players.

And on not necessarily needing him, also got to disagree. Our offense worked great last year, but it could reach a new level with Pettigrew. There weren’t many games where our OFF got stuck, but the ones where we did (Arizona, TB#1, Carolina#1, etc.), it was mainly because Turner never got going. As much of a stud as he was, if he was tip-toeing to the line we sure could have used a TE to get us those 3rd and 7’s. JMO, of course.

Great to be so close to the draft. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m going to need some methadone after the draft to help me with my withdrawals.

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If Cushing is there he is the pick.Dimitroff is a very smart guy and will not pass on him.Two of the first three picks must be def.You can draft a good TE in the 4th or 5th round and be just fine.You have got to shore up your run def to win.Cushing is a great pass rusher off the edge and excellent in pass coverage and very good against the run.VERY AGGRESSIVE.This will be a great draft by the falcons.

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SEMINOLEWARRIOR-I know I’ll have a moment. I remember when the Chicago Bears held a televised memorial at Soldiers Field in honor to the late great Walter “Sweetness” Payton. I struggled to hold it together as one after one of his former teammates and opponents stepped up and praised him as a man, father, businessman and friend more so than a football player. But when one of his former teammates stood up and said he wanted his son to grow up and be the man Walter Payton was, and would be just as proud if he grew up to be half the man Walter was, I broke down and had to walk away from the tv. The same inner spirit that motivated and inspired Walter Payton apparently dwelled within Derrick Thomas. Both the Alabama and Kansas City communities held him in equally high esteem for what he did for them off the field. I’ve always felt a personal loss when we lose persons of high character, motivation and/or great contributions.

You might be right about the possilility of Jerry and Hood being able to play outside. But with Sammie Lee Hill, there’s no reason for doubt or wonderment, since he actually played DE his senior yr. Part of his scouting report was based on him playing DE.

We would have an outstanding draft if we could end up with the following:
1-DE LEnglish
2-TE TD and Smitty’s choice
3-DT Sammie Lee Hill
4-CB CMunnerly
5-OG TGreen
5-OT Lewis, Cornelius(Tenn State)he transferred to Tenn State from Fla State where he was good enough to start 3gms before being dismissed from team.
6-DT TD and Smitty’s choice

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K Strick, I feel ya on the the Sweetness rememberance. I’m alifelong Falcon fan and I grew up in Thomasville admiring William Andrews at our high school. But the back I always wished to be like was Sweetness. My career never took off (thus my USAF career of 20-plus years) but I own enough Sweetness memorablia to make one think I am a Bears fan for life.

Doing more research on Sammie Hill and I will admit, I’m beginning to flow with it. I think Sugar Bear can and will address the minor issues in his game. I still like Terrance Taylor of Michigan. He is going to be a STEAL for someone I’m telling you.

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Great comments today my fellow bloggers, haven’t had the time to blog as much today, coach keeps showing up and now coach has decided she wants to go out for dinner. Funny how I can sit around all day and do nothing and never hear from the coach, the minute I sit down and start to do anything I enjoy, coach just appears. She should be the falcons number one draft pick, no one will be allowed to get open, and they would run into the opposite direction of her mouth. Mostly kidding coach is a pretty good woman, but I think most men get my point when it comes to untimely times to show up.

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Nookah, I’m checking your man out right now. Seem to be a nice package and has a great skill set. 6′6″ would make an excellent target in the red zone for sure. Nothing but raves about his blocking. Does not look like he can stretch a defense though? Where would you pick him up?

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SEMINOLEWARRIOR,

I’m guessing on the wide receivers. No way to tell for sure, but I think there will be an early run on them. As for the running backs, you may well be VERY right about that, and to be honest…I hope you are. It does the same thing for us in the draft that a run on receivers does. And you know how it gets when people all of the sudden get all antsy about skill positions on the offensive side of the ball.

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STIRG,

Not schedule strength, not a lone superstar player. Those days are over. The time of the TEAM has returned. And with that, success. Haters beware.

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MARKO,

Of course, that does NOT mean that it’s not going to happen now. And I agree that Pioli has to be thinking that he’s not getting a 2nd rounder out of such a trade. But still, you never want to set the bid too low, especially on the possibility that there’s a team out there desperate or stupid enough to go for it. I’d give a 3rd rounder for him. And that may be exactly what Dimitroff does, if he’s still interested. I’d have to think Pioli would go for that…

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Big Ray, respect is due.Thanks bro.

Seminole, if there is no TG trade I’d take Gronkowski in the 5th round. Obviously if there is a TG trade (I hope we give up no more than a 3rd or preferably 4th) then we won’t need to draft him.

1st round: Clint Sintim/Derrick Thomas Jnr. (Larry English) whoever is available
2nd round: Conner Barwin/Michael Johnson – either one I’d be cool
3rd round: Sen’Derrick Marks
4th round: Roy Miller
5th Round: Dan Gronkowski

D3, Ken, Stirg, where you at?!!!!!

Go Falcons!!!!

Nuff respect everytime!!!!!

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D3 is shiznit good? Big Ray, I was up for giving KC our two. YOU know I’m on board if we can work the deal for a three. The Patriots and the Browns both have two Two’s. I’d give our one to either of them for there twos. Think what Dimitroff could do with three number twos. That’s too many twos for one paragraph don’t you think?

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If the lb your going for is only going to compete for a starting spot you might as well accumulate some second round picks because honestly the ones that you have bandied about for a month aren’t that great any way. If you look at most rosters you find that second and third rounders are the ones making up most rosters.

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Moving right along folks!!!!

Go Falcons!!!

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SLEEPER ALERT: TE Ryan Purvis of Boston College has reportedly worked out with his former BC teammate Matt Ryan back in the greater Boston area? Could there be a post-draft free agent signing in the making?

D-Led, did any of your source hear of this..any truth to this web posting?

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My Mock Draft. I challenge all including you DOB. A point for every direct hit. Winner is the most GM-Ready Falcons Fan.

1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia. If they were smart they would go tackle and wait for next draft for the franchise QB, but they are the Lions.

2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor.

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest.

4. Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. They can pick up a project Qb later this round or next year, Crabtree will make an immediate impact as a first rounder should.

5. Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas.

6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. Bengals love players who have crappy attitudes and have freakish talent.

7. Oakland Raiders: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. I would pick Raji but Al Davis is a sucker for the skills positons.

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: B.j. Raji, DT, Boston College. They need a WR but they can get a good one in the second. Raji is too good to pass on.

9. Green Bay Packers: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. This is far in most opinions for him to slip but I think the Jags are smoke screening on him. They made Garrard the man and paid him they have to live with it.

11. Buffalo Bills: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. Just traded their LT to Philly.

12: Denver Broncos (from Chicago): Everette Brown, DE, FSU.

13. Washington Redskins: Brian CUshing, LB, USC. Dan Snyder love big names and Cushing has been getting hyped by NFL network and ESPN.

14. New Orleans Saints: Malcom Jenkins, CB, Ohio State.

15. Houston Texans: Knowshon Moreno, , RB, UGA. Great addition to Steve Slaton.

16. San Diego Chargers: Michael Oher, OT, Missisippi.

17. New York Jets: Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State

18. Denver Broncos: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. Great compliment to Champ.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Michael Johnson, DE, GT. Reportedly had a great workout with them.

20. Detroit Lions (from Dallas): Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State. With the elite tackles gone assuming they dont trade up they will address their pass rush with the best player availible.

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. We won’t even have the chance at him which is a relief to me.

22. Minnesota Vikings: Rey Maualuga, LB, USC.

23. New England Patriots: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennesee. Looks like the Peppers deal is dead.

24. Atlanta Falcons: Peria Jerry, DT, Missisippi. Who needs Glen Dorsey?!!! We got Matty ICE.

25. Miami Dolphins: Percy Harvin, WR, Flordia. Versitile, I can see him in the wildcat for sure.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Hackeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. Clayton is progressing and Mason is gangsta but not getting younger.

27. Indianapolis Colts: Darrius Heward-Bey, WR, Maryland.

28. Philadelphia (from Carolina): Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State.

29. New York Giants: Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State. Hopefully he won’t shoot a hole in his leg before pre-season.

30. Tennessee Titans: Evander Hood, DT, Missouri. Do their best to replace Haynesworth.

31. Arizona Cardinals: Donald Brown, RB, Conn.

32. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darius Butler, CB Conn. Lost Bryant McFadden in free-agency.

Please mock me and my mock draft as much as you see fit. I’m interested to see what everybody’s thoughts are.

As for the rest of the draft

Pick 55: Sean Smith, CB, Utah. Our secondary should be OK with the return of Von Hutchins, and the hopeful emergence of DeCoud and Chevis Jackson. Smith is raw but has HUGE upside which we can develop over time.

Pick 90: Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State. Our LB core will be in great shape with this pickup.

Pick 125: Emanuel Cook, SS, South Carlina.

Pick 138: Cameron Morrah, TE, California. Touchdown MACHINE.

Pick 143: A.Q. Shipley, C, Penn State.

Pick 196: Troy Nolan, FS, ASU BABY!! Watch out for him and Robert James. Remember who you heard it from!

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Correction on the Number 4 Seattle pick: A project Qb can be picked up later this draft (not round) or next year.

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Here we go, I hope this will happen. the Gaints in bad need of a wr needs to pick b4 Baltimore and Miami fan give 24th and 5th round, for 29 2nd round and there 7rder. when picking 29 detroit wants this pick to move b4 tenn to get that de they give up 2 2nd ,3rd, and 7th so here are my picks at 33 s Louis Delmas 55te jared cook, 60 olb clint sintin 65dt derrick marks 90 cb macho harris how that?

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MARKO,

Oooooooh, sounds interesting! I wonder if that means anything? Oh, the suspense…

FALCON DEVIL,

Nice mock. I can’t knock anybody that takes the time to do all that.

D3,

I see the anticipation is killing you, too. My wife is going to banish me to the confines of the den upstairs (which doubles as my lair, and where I want to be for this anyway) just so she won’t have to watch me acting like a drug addict on draft day, LOL!

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T minus six and counting. Morning all, Orlando Might be on to something. He’s a bright guy and a snappy dresser to boot. Were starting to see the final mocks and the linebackers are falling a bit.

Some factors that seem to be in our favor us are that wide receiver is looking like this year’s offensive tackle. Last year a boatload of OT’s went in the first round. This year’s feeding frenzy could be at the wide receiver position. If so, good, we‘re already pretty well stocked at the position.

Quarterback, as many as three could be gone by the time the Falcon’s pick. So what, we already have ours.

Running back, not a popular first round position these day’s, but I find it difficult to believe that Knowshon and Chris Wells are still on the board when the Falcon’s pick. At any rate, lots of teams could use a good running back. Just not us.

Offensive tackle, hey, they haven’t gone out of style. As many as four could be gone by twenty-four. I happen to think that we will select an OT earlier than most suspect. Just not at twenty-four.

The three four affront to God, lots of teams are playing three four defenses these days; most are picking ahead of us. Does that tell us something? Three four teams don’t use traditional outside linebackers. They favor tweeners, too big for linebacker and too little for defensive end. This means that many of the teams that are in the market for a new linebacker, won’t be kicking the tires of any of the guy’s Thomas would consider ideal fits for us

. Let’s not overlook stupidity, Two or more teams will do something bone headedly stupid. It happens every year. Why should this one be any different?

Do the math, please I’m not very good at it, Twenty –four picks into the Draft and we’re looking to select a guy that’s rated in the top two or three at a position of need. Did somebody plan this? This Dimitroff guy is looking better everyday. Hell, I’m even starting to like his haircut.

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Remember the name Darius Butler, CB/S from UConn. He’s showing up as a late 1st in several recents mock drafts. Assuming Cushing, Matthews and Jerry are all gone at #24, I could see TD moving back to the late 1st/early 2nd round. Guys like Butler, Hood, Sintim, Delmas, Alphonso Smith and Kruger are similar to what we’d get at #24 so may as well move back and add a pick. Hopefully someone like Josh Freeman or Moreno will be available at 24 and someone feels motivaetd to move up to our spot.

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Good morning my brothers…Marko, D3, K-Strick, Big Ray, Zup, D-Led, etc. If I forgot you, don’t fret…nothing but love for the posse. On a OJ bing here, someone bought out all the Red Stripe!!!

Falcon Devil, your mock is fine..we are actually in agreement on a few picks. However, if the Birds are looking at DT in the first, the choice will be Ziggy Hood…bank on it!! I can see it happening but my mock is based on what I see as the Falcons’ most pressing need, improved talent and play in the linebacker corps. It was the linebackers that failed more times than naught last season. DL play was not sterling but it was not as bad as the LB corps, especially in the intermediate pass game. We have got to improve that area and my selections do just that. Thoughts and opinions always welcome. So here is my Sunday update:

1) LB James Laurinaitis (SLB); 2) CB Mike Mickens or CB Coy Francies 3) LB Marcus Freeman (WLB), 4) DT Terrance Taylor, 5a) DT Sammie Hill, 5b) TE Brian Mandeville 6)SS Otis Wiley or Courtney Greene.

Post draft F/A signings: K Graham Gano (FSU), SS Troy Moore (Troy), G CJ Davis (Pitt), C Antoine Caldwell (AL), QB Stephen McGee TX A& M), TE Ryan Purvis (BC), TE Bear Pascoe (Fresno St.)

Speed, pass defense skills, versatility, and leadership are what have drawn me to the pair from Ohio State. Mickens and/or Franccies have the skills that are outstanding in either man/man or zone. Taylor and Hill are beasts with the capacity, under Sugar Bear’s guidance, to dominate in the middle. Mandeville has been under the radar but those with the dish are not surprise. He has been compared time and time again to the Giant’s Barvaro and current TE Kevin Boss. Not bad company I think. Last, I take Wiley and/or Greene. Physical guys with special team potential and a facet for making plays.

I’m ready for the challenges that are sure to come. I’ve heard all the pro and con arguments. The passion of which my brothers have for the team and the game is deep and I love it!! We have waited too d***ned long but TD and Smitty seem to have this thing moving along. I’m so hjungry for that parade down Peachtree and that Lombardi Trophy in ATL for not just one season, but several seasons. So let’s get it on!! GO FALCONS!!

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Nookah and D3, I’m in. I will work on my full mock today. Will attempt to release it by 6pm or so. Have to do that quality time thingy with the First Lady today. This brother is no fan of sleeping on the couch…LOL.

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Seminolewarrior: You are a nut. Antoine Caldwell will go in round 3 at the latest and Stephen McGee will go in 3-4..Need to do some research, my man..

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Good sunday afternoon ‘boys! D@–, where’d the weekend go? Well, on the bright side we’re finally into the homestretch this week. Never felt like this week would get here. Hopefully, it won’t go by at a snails pace if we keep rockin’ out the good thoughts, analysis, and mocks. Got to finish this GD, MF, BS paper today, so some good posts and first round mock will have to wait ’till later.

Bird-Cage Mock Draft Competition

Rules
1)simply post your first round mock and Falcons entire mock before noon on sat. Any changes that need to be made, just write it in and I’ll replace any mocks or make any changes as needed.
2)I’ll copy and paste everybody’s to a document and re-post a couple hours before the Draft @ 4pm.
3)Most direct hits wins.
Any changes needed or thoughts on the competition? Excited as H— bros.

Falcon Devil & WR, I got yours, but if you need to change it, I’ll repplace the old one with your new one.

Get it going gents. Good stuff later. And on that note……………

5 DAYS, 21 HOURS, 11 MINS, & COUNTING!!!!!!!!

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WR, I share the thoughts on the toughness of this draft. And you have one d**ned good set of picks there. We could have easily had a lot of the same choices. Falcon Devil already got props from the Teepee. Good luck brothers. D3, hope you got my “mock constitution”…sorry I was so long-winded.

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Doing some crash course research on Aaron Maybin. He could be the hybrid DE/OLB that unexpectedly slips to the Falcons. Cushing, Maybin and E. Brown are in that group. English is still in the mix, too.

Wonder if Buffalo got the 28th pick so that they can get Pettigrew.

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WR: Nice job with your mock.

DOMINIC HUGHES: McClure’s agent said the report was “untrue” and an “over-dramatization.” Otherwise, not worth of fulling up with a report.

BIG RAY: You have a few very good posts.

Time to start “tailgating” on the deck of the Hawks playoff opener. Stirg I don’t have and red stripes, but I like to jump over the Blue Moon.

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To date I have WR’s, Falcon Devil, & Seminole’s first round mocks saved on a document for the Bird-Cage Mock Draft Competition. Be nice if some brew were involved, eh?

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D3, I feel ya on going against the norms. I was too shocked to take the ‘Noles any further than the sweet sixteen. Can’t be a homer all the time. As far as the mock, I’m torn but going to trust the gut over the heart. Good luck with the paper bro….I certainly do not miss those days at all. HAWKS by 6 tonight!!!

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Dacha is feeling what I’m saying about the LB corps and rolling with the Warrior!!. Mad props to him for having more guts that the Chief of the Teepee to actually select JL at 24.

As the posse knows, I’m on that ride in my personal ATL mock, but I think TD and Smitty will roll with Ziggy. Got to earn the point so that I can get the grand prize as well as the Red Stripe (LOL) that goes with the win.

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Seminole, thanks for the eye on my 28 to many red stripes or rather too many Margaritas with the misses last night (LOL). At 28 I have Buffalo taking Sintim, I will revise my draft later to reflect this error in judgement or extreme case of hangover, apparently, I can’t hang like I used to back in my Buckhead days. Man I’m not even old and looking at buckhead now and saying things like back in my buckhead days, I feel an odd sense of father time sneaking behind me.

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First part of the five-part Falcons draft series is up online. Will be in Monday’s papers. We start off by looking at the linebacker position.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2009/04/19/falcons_draft_preview_linebacker.html

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80fcd013

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DOL..I’m with D3. You are doing fine work my man. I truly want the Birds to place a premium on the LB corps in this draft. Though I am onboard with Laurinaitis and Freeman, I can learn to quickly live with Sintim. Keep it rolling my brother…you are the man!!

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Why is there such a call for the Falcons to draft Laurenitis? Has he ever performed in a big game? Can you recall any big play made by him that was in the hole or backfield? In both championship games, he didn’t make any game changing plays. Against LSU he was exposed as a LB with no coverage skills and #71 for LSU was consistently pushing him into the defensive backfield. And against USC he was exposed again. He is a product of the WEAK Big10. I would take a reserve SEC or ACC LB before looking anywhere close to Laurenitis. He may be a serviceable NFL LB but he is definitely not worth a 1st round pick.
And last but not least, with his dad being a former WWF wrestler, I’m sure that steroids are in his past so there will be a considerable drop-off of performance in the NFL. If the Falcons use a 1st round pick on him, they are screwed.

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L…really,
You make a good case, bro, and although I definitely agree with you on the weakness of the Big Ten when compared to the SEC, I obviously disagree with on Laurinaitis not being worthy of a first round draft pick. If he had elected to come out early last year, he would have been an absolute lock for a top ten selection. However, he felt obligated to his teammates and coach to return for his senior year. I respect that immensely. Laurinaitis was also a three time All-American and his production was always better than the previous year. All in all, I can see the hesitation concerning him. He is absolutely not as flashy as Matthews or as explosive as Cushing, but I think that overall he is by far more of a football player at heart. And to make a small note of his tendency to “disapperar” in the big games, I go back to point of the weakness of the Big Ten. Even the best LB is only as good as the d-line in front of him allows. But who am I to say that Laurinaitis is what we need? He could be a bust for all I know, I’m just glad that I don’t have to make the decision!
Check this article out with more info that I felt intriguing:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9472206/7-Points:-Don‘t-overlook-OSU’s-Laurinaitis-?MSNHPHMA

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D. LEDBETTER,

I don’t know if we’d pick him over a guy like Cushing, but whoever gets this guy is going to get a high-character, fundamentally solid football player who will always help, never hurt, the defense.

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L-really, eighteen tackles in a championship game is nothing I guess. While the entire OSU team did look bad against LSU, three turnovers going for 21 points will change a game big time. Against USC, the man still had six tackles in a losing effort and again, there were the turnovers. In the 2009 Fiesta Bowl, the man had 9 tackles in that game. So what is the point here? We can nick-pick any player at anytime. I recall that last season, while I sat there and watched it, our young QB Matt Ryan threw TWO crucial interceptions against the Panthers in a loss at Charlotte. Both turnovers led to scores. Did that cause Smitty to throw him under the bus. No. He learned from it, kept working hard, and progressed. The vaunted Glenn Dorsey did not look great in his KC debut last season after DOMINATING the SEC.

Find me a player, any player, or team that has not struggled at times. Mighty LSU struggled this past season with a supposedly loaded team. Alabama went down to an “overrated” non-BCS Utah team. Mighty OU was not match for the Gators. And the Arizona Cardinals, according to all the “experts” were the worst division winner heading into the playoffs this past season. Ask the Steelers were they that bad of a team.

Mindless chatter about a kid who just plays the game until the last whistle. They all have good and bad days my friend. The difference is that a winner keeps fighting. And it is the FIGHT in the BIG DAWG that determines the difference between a competitor and a champion.

I’m not saying that James Laurinaitis is the answer to all the Falcons defensive problems. I am saying that he is a safe pick, a guy with no baggage, a hard worker, disciplined and coachable, and plays his heart out. But yet, so do all these kids when they can. Perfection…I guess that is what you want. Well, the Falcons have never given us that. I personally will be VERY content with increased consistency. And as a long time fan, I see that coming into play now with Smitty and TD. And if Laurinaitis, Hood, Sintim, or anyone else can bring it to the table, I’m all for it. Laters, bro.

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D3, hope you got the paper done bro. Big Ray, I just think this kid has the heart of a warrior that will not quit.

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Hey guys, not to worry, I’ll post my mock but I’m under some pressure here. Got some other very important things to take care of but will certainly meet the deadline. You know I won’t backdown from a challenge. Man this is exciting!!!!

Keep it up guys I really enjoy the posts.

D3, you’re large!!!! Nuff bigups!!!

Go Falcons!!!!

Nuff respect everytime!!!

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Marko’s Mocko

1 Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB Georgia, Calvin Johnson meets Stafford and a long painful nightmare ends in The Motorless City.

2 St. Louis; Eugene Monroe OT Virginia, or Jason Smith? Flipped a coin and Eugene’s a Ram. .

3 Kansas City: Jason Smith, OT Baylor Pioli Hopes that he never has to pay out this kind of money again. OT’s are considered the safest picks. And not even NFL owners enjoy throwing away thirty million dollars.

4 Seattle: Mark Sanchez, QB USC, We’ll see what Mora can do with a real west coast quarterback. The first Trojan leaves the nest. Many more to follow.

5 Cleveland: Aaron Curry, LB Wake Forest, No one should have to live in the mistake by the lake let alone the countries best player. If Sherman had burned down Cleveland, they’d have left it burnt.

6 Cincinnati: Andre Smith, OT Alabama, Some have questioned his character. What does that matter? He’ll be right at home with the Bengal’s.

7 Oakland: Michael Crabtree, WRTexas Tech, San Francisco’s arm pit gets the best wide receiver in the draft. If Randy Moss couldn’t help them, do you really think Crabtree can.

8 Jacksonville: BJ Raji, DT Boston College, Dry your eyes Smutty your ex gets custody of the Raji Man.

9 Green Bay: Brian Orakpo, DE Texas, Brian welcome to the town Lombardi made famous. They got a lot of chubby girls that are dying to meet you.

10 San Francisco: Jeremy Maklin, WR Missouri, Why not? They haven’t had a decent receiver since Terrell left them. Jeremy, they have a lot or pretty, pretty boy’s that are just dying to meet you.

11Buffalo: Aaron Maybin, LB DE Penn St., and No I didn’t name the same player twice. The last Aaron was a Curry. The only similarity is that I’m putting all the Aarons in hell holes.

12 Denver: Josh Freeman, QB Kansas, It’s hard to bring down a mile high city, but this one ought to do it. Denver used to have a QB, but a coach old enough to be Culver’s older brother traded him away to da Bears. Thus, providing me with my only opportunity to comment on the windy city. If Chicago is windy, the breezes were produced by bean eaters

13Washington: Robert Ayers DE Tennessee, The Redskins take the nations tried and true approach to everything, identify a problem, and throw money at it.

14New Orleans: Everette Brown, DE FSU, Strange as this may sound, I think the Saints got it right. Don’t worry they won’t make a habit out of it. I’ll leave it at that; those good folks have suffered enough.

15 Houston: Brain Cushing, LB USC, Trojan number two leaves the nest. The first landed in a city cold and rainy. This one gets hot and smelly.

16 San Diego Rey Maualuga, LB USC Look out folks it’s raining Trojans. Good news Rey you’re a millionaire. Bad news Rey you’re going to need it to buy a small condo. Could be worse Houston could have taken you instead of Cushing.

17New York Yankees: Tyson Jackson DE LSU, This is really the Jets pick, it’s just that all damn Yankees look alike to me.

18Denver Peria Jerry. DT Mississippi, No folks the names not backwards His first name is Peria and his last name’s Jerry .With two picks in the first round It’s nice that the worst defensive team in the league got to use one on defense.

19 Tampa Bay Larry English, LB DE N. Illinois Tampa really wanted one of the quarterbacks, but they didn’t suck quite bad enough to deserve one. Some scientists suggest that global warming might some day cause Tampa to submerge beneath the waves, I guess every dark cloud has a silver lining.

20 Detroit Knowshon Moreno, RB Georgia, The Lions have spent so much money on wasted number one picks, that they lack the funds to scout multiple schools therefore they once again take the best available Bulldog.

21Philadelphia: Brandon Pettigrew, TE Oklahoma St., Somebody told the Eagles that on distant planets tight ends actually blocked. They decide to give the radical new idea a try. Really, what more can you say about a city that gave the world John Kincaid.

22Minnasotta Eben Britton OT Arizona, Football scholars, do the Vikings or the Bills hold the record for losing Super Bowls? Actually they make pretty good beer in Milwaukee; drink enough of the stuff and the place doesn’t seem so bad.

23 New England: Connor Barwin LB DE Cincinnati, the Pats wanted to take Connor in the second round, but I suggested that they reconsider. Can you believe that they’re actually stupid enough to listen to me? The only good thing that ever came out of Boston currently works in flowery Branch.

24 Atlanta: drum roll please, with the twenty-forth pick the Atlanta Falcons select Clay Matthews, LB USC, once long ago, God created the perfect city, and he called it Marthasville. The locals, knowing that God had also created the duck billed platypus, didn’t have complete confidence in his judgment they renamed the place Atlanta. Anyway after Sherman punished us for our sins, God forgave us. On April the twenty Fifth, he’s sending us a shining knight with long flowing golden locks to keep evil doers out of our end zones. The faithful will rejoice.

25Miami: Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois, The Tuna selects a pretty good player. You’re pretty good old Tuna, but Dimitroff out picked you last year and he’ll do it again. On top of that, he’s loyal. You don’t seem to be able to commit to anyone for more than two or three years. Consider retiring.

26Baltimore. Percy Harvin WR Florida, Twenty-six picks and we finally get our first Gator. This seems like pretty slim pickings coming from a national champion. What more proof do you need for a playoff system?

27 Indiana: Evander Hood, DT Missouri, if you came from Lower Siberia, you’d probably find Indianapolis a pretty cool place. Coming from the show me yours and I’ll show you mine state, Evander might feel the same way.

28 Buffalo: Chris Wells RB Ohio State, Some of you might remember that I predicted that Chris would be gone by Atlanta’s pick at twenty-four. Well I guess this shows what I know. Giving the Bill’s two picks in the first round just doesn’t seem like any way to treat innocent young men.

29 New York Giants: Kenny Britt WR. Rutgers Seems to me that the giants might need a wide receiver, I suggest that they deniy him his second amendment rights for a decade or so.

30Tennessee Darius Butler CB Connecticut You’ve just lost a giant on your defensive line, it only seems logical that you’d replace him with a Munchkin in the backfield.

31 Arizona Donald Brown RB Connecticut, I really don’t figure three running backs going in the first round. Frankly I’m surprised that I made this pick. Wait a minute I predicted that somebody would do something stupid. I bet that this is the one.

32 Pittsburg: Max Unger OT Oregon when you’re tired and you really don’t know why you’ve picked a given player, Just rember to say that it’s a value pick. That a pretty good cover up for brain pharts both large and small. If we lived in a perfect world, this would have been our pick.

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SeminoleWarrior,

Moore is the real deal, and has possibly the most size/hardest hit at the position. Whoever picks him up will be pleased.

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Coach Smith, I’m sorry. it looks like I missed my i key and called you smutty by mistake. Ihad meant to type Smitty. My comment makes a little more sense that way. Besides we all know that only your wife calls you Smutty.

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seminole – gotta disagree with you brother. From what I’m hearing they’re pretty happy with Celek, especially since he was only a rookie last year. He was the reason that LJ Smith became expendable. Also remember that Correll Buckhalter signed with the Broncos and Westbrook is over 30 and has been injury prone the last couple of years. I’ll agree with you that if Moreno is gone then its a good possibility, but he is the perfect replacement for Westbrook: tough runner, great out of the backfield, and a good blocker.

nookah – no rush brother. Got ’till saturday @ noon.

JJ – H— Yeah, I’m done with that D@– paper, maybe the worst ever, but its DONE!!!!!

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marko – got your mocko. nice job man, but remember the Lions drafted Kevin Smith last year at RB, so I don’t know about the Moreno pick.

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Marko,

It doesn’t matter if you’re right about Laurinaitis. All that matters is that we get the right guy. Having said that, I don’t think you’re wrong about him succeeding in the NFL.

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Man, everywhere I look…..everybody and their cousin has us taking Pettigrew if he’s available at our pick. Buuuuuut….other mocks have him going to Philly.

Then, it’s either Peria Jerry or DJ Butler they have us taking. Interesting.

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there are no great player in this yr draft just good one that will make team better.

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Morning all, I sincerely hope my mock didn’t offend anyone. It was intended as fun. In the event that I did offend somebody I’m sorry. Consider it paybacks for thirty years of Alabama jokes.

D3, you’re right man I forgot all about Smith being in Detroit. The truth is I’m a Falcon fan first and a football fan second. When I do these things I more concerned about who will be off the board when the Falcon’s pick than where they actually land. Once they’re off the board, they’ve joined the forces of darkness. My focus is on who Dimitroff will select to defend us from these evil fiends.

Big Ray thanks for the gap stuff. Over the years line play has evolved in complexity to the point that you literally have to check out a nose tackles Wonderlic scores. By the way I wouldn’t be too worried about looking foolish On occasion. I’ve survived third degree embarrassment more times than I care to remember I think it was Nietzsche that said the stupid stuff we do that doesn’t kill us, makes us smarter. I’m not really sure Nietzsche said that. It might have been Homer Simpson.

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Okay, I’ve had my OJ and am fully alert. Mike & Mike on the tube. They will have McShay live in an hour; that should be interesting. Going over the mock to see if I want to make any adjustments. Personally,I’m still with JL but in my quest for the UBR heavyweight title, I’m going to stay with Ziggy Hood. D3, I want my title belt to be as big as the WWE belt, golden letters with “SEMINOLE WARRIOR” surrounding a diamond football….LOL. Heck, I may even get me a “Ric Flair” like robe and some honies, strut out on the GA Dome floor, and declare my win.

Ok, I’m a nut, it’s early on a Monday and not much going on today in the world of Meteorology. Catch the posse in a few.

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Whats up everybody, Nooka -I have never tried Guiness and redbull but I will put that on my list. Guiness is good for male labido-Now putting Redbull on top of that…..Wow my lady probably wont let me oput of her site LOL…….

Big Ray Whats going on my man- Yeah they got me working like crazy right now- I been outta town as well, but i have been reading the posts when I get a chance….
I took a 24hr road trip to SAV to see my new neice, the nex time im down there for more than a day we gotta hit wild wings for sum brews

Lots of intresting scenarios about the draft- Ive read so many mocks that my brain is fried -im ready for the real thing .. I dont know who we will get at #24 and Its not really a big deal as long as we get sum Big boy’s up front and a solid linebacker like Z Follete.

Im so readt for nex saturday, i think im gonna leave work early HAHAHA. Torn between first love and my mistress….. Atlanta Hawks(playoffs)——- Falcons(Draft)…… I guess i better enjoy it because there is a long boring summer on the horizon with baseball on every channel……. UUUUUUGH

BOW TIE- Whass going on – Best mock to date -

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Good AM Gents! Finally, in the last week before the draft. Definitely the most exciting as we are only days away from one of the best events of the year. Will there be any moves this week that will affect our mocks? We’ll see. Got some good responses for our mock draft competition. Got dacha, WR, Seminole, Marko, Falcon Devil, and mine saved.
Ken Strick, I,MUS., Nookah, JJ, Tyger, Big Ray, and anyone else I missed where you guys at? Got ’till noon on saturday.

Seminole – I say go with the Goldberg Title Belt if you’re declared champ. You know you’ll get your props if you take home the title. You got a good mock going on, but all your trade scenarios kind of box you in a little. But if you pull it off, we’re going to hit vegas!

WR – thanks for catching that mistake. I had Robiskie going to the Giants originally, but I subbed in Laurinitus to Baltimore. Offical change below.

Hollywould – agree with you on going DEF first, but the only exception to make is if Pettigrew is available. Our offense will be taken to another level for years and years to come.

I.MUS – Man, agreed. I would say I’m mocked out, but like you I know what’s around the corner. Besides the post-draft analysis buzz, the snippets from training camps and OTA’s, its the long drag of baseball and boredom with a couple of golf majors thrown in the mix. Love going to The Ted to see the Bravos, but baseball TV watching is so slow.

Big Ray – thanks for the refresher on DT’s and techniques. I finally had to learn the bones about techniques when I started coaching on the middle school level, where I teach.

Below is a ‘Just for Fun’ DEF first mock for the Falconi’s (Still thinkin’ and hopin’ its my boy ‘Grew).

1)Clint Sintim – OLB
2)Shawn Nelson – TE
3)Chip Vaughn – SS
4)Roy Miller – DT
5a)Keenan Lewis – CB
5b)Zach Potter – DE
6)Lydon Murtha – T

**D3 Mock Change Alert**
As WR pointed out, I have Kenny Britt listed twice. Keeping Kenny Britt going to the Giants, but now have Darius Heyward-Bay going to Miami.

5 DAYS, 0 HOURS, 27 MINS, AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What’s up y’all? Well it’s about that time. I’ve mulled over this enough, and what the heck, I’ll give it my best shot.
1) Lions – Jason Smith 2) Rams – Eugene Munroe 3)Chiefs – Aaron Curry 4)Seahawks – Stafford
5) Browns – Orapko 6) Bengals – Andre Smith 7) Raiders – Maclin Jags – Crabtree 9) Pack – Raji 10) 49ers – Micheal Oher 11) Bills – Cushing 12) Broncos – Everette Brown 13) Redskins – Mark Sanchez 14) Saints – Chris Wells 15) Texans – Clay Matthews Jnr. 16) Chargers – Maualuga 17) Jets – Josh Freeman 18) Broncos – Tyson Jackson 19) Buccs – Peria Jerry 20) Lions – Fil Maola 21) Eagles – Knowshown Moreno 22) Vikings – Heyward-Bey 23) Patriots – Larry English 24) FALCONS – CLINT SINTIM 25) Dolphins – Sean Smith 26) Ravens – Kenny Britt 27) Colys – Robert Ayers 28) Bills – Brandon Pettigrew 29) Giants – James Laurinitis 30) Titans – Percy Harvin 31) Cardinals – Donald Moore 32) Steelers – D.J. Moore

Falcons Picks:
1) Clint Sintim LB
2) Marcus Freeman OLB
3) Roy Miller DT
4) Woodny Tureene CB
5a) Dan Gronkowski TE
5b) Sammie Lee Hill DT
6) Garrett Reynolds T

There you have it buys. That’s my stab.

Go Falcons!!!!

Nuff respect everytime!!!!

I don’t wanna wait in vain………..Robert Nesta!!!

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HMMMMMM…. intresting D3, If these predictions come to light then give me Chip Vaughn,Ziggy Hood and Fili Moala. Thats the start of sumthing special…

We need a combo of Sammie Lee Hill- Jarron Gillbert -Roy Miller…..2 of the 3 would make me a happy man.

I think Jason Snelling should get more carries this year, he is a horse and runs with power.

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I Mus., I agree with you. I would love to see Snelling get more carries as to take some of the pressure off of Turner and have him ready just in case. As I have said here previously, I love “Tiptoe” Norwood’s speed and hands, but he can not hit the hole with the power and strength that Turner and Snelling can. My brothers here tell me that Brown is a secret weapon…I’ll defer to their judgement. But I think that if he is given the chance to show his stuff more, Snelling is going to surprise people.

Looking good Nookah…

WR…our man D3 is not going to give up on Pettigrew. I’m going to send him a twelve of his favorite if it is the ‘Grew.

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Quick hit @ work, more later:

WR – I’ve been on the Pettigrew wagon for about a week or so now, but I have been all over the map in recent weeks for sure. I’m taking my stand in the Pettigrew concrete, with a close second going Sintim.

Nookah – nice mock. I got it saved. Hey, I’ll be happy with Sintim OR Pettigrew, but more happy with my boy.

I.MUS – yeah, you better watch out for the blog-eating monster. He’s hibernating right now, but can strike at any moment. I could see us taking a 2nd DT only if we get more picks. I definitely could see us grabbing one the post draft, FA route instead.

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Here’s what bugs me. I see players that are projected as 1st rd picks, like the USC LB’s, that might be products of a system and benefiting from being surrounded by a wealth of talent. Then I see players that are projected as 2nd and 3rd rd picks, but they’re just as physically talented, if not more so, with more upside and/or potential.

One of the problems all of us have when we try to decide who we want the Falcons to draft is not knowing what kind of DEF scheme we’ll be expecting them to play. Acquiring the #1 rated cover CB in college or the NFL will be a waste if we expect him to play primarily zone DEF, expecially cover 2 zone. A cover 2 CB like Tampa Bays RBarber might excel at the position, but not if he’s asked to play man coverage. Only one of our current CB’s is rated as a cover 2 CB, VHutchins. All of our current CB’s are rated as much better man coverage defenders, and none have been rated high for their zone coverage skills.

We currently have 6 interchangeable safeties on our roster(TDeCoud, EColeman, AHarris, JFudge EBrock and MPaschal) and I just don’t see us using a high pick acquiring another safety. I don’t think TD and Smitty had any intention of resigning SSLMalloy, which is why they drafted TDeCoud. It doesn’t appear DeCoud has done anything to make them think they made a mistake in drafting him last yr. I just don’t see us using a high pick on another potential starting SS just to replace the player that was drafted last yr to be a potential starting SS.

I don’t see any one man wrecking crew type DT’s in this draft, but there are definitely some very good potential playmaking types, as well as some roadblocks types.

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NOOKAH,

Peace!

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Guy’s I’m at a total loss, I’ve beaten my brains, such as they are, half to death. Both Smitty, and Dimitroff came on board stressing the need for Strong interior lines. They were talking about both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. I was sure that Smitty would build huge interior lines like the ones he coached at Jacksonville and Baltimore. Now year two the closest thing I’ve seen to an interior monster that the Falcons have shown even polite interest in, is Duke Robinson the offensive guard. Great kid, but on the wrong side of the ball to suit our needs. I’m confident that we can land quality LB’s And DB’s But who are the interior defensive linemen that are supposed to anchor our defense? If you count every name we’ve run up the flag pole, we’ve covered just about every defensive lineman likely to be drafted. Our Guy or guys are hiding in that list somewhere I just don’t have a clue who they might be seriously considering. As far as I know, Fili Moala is the only DT they’ve worked out. If you guys have any info I’ve missed, feel free to share it with me.

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Feeling you Marko which is why I think Coach Hamilton’s quotes from a year ago are so telling as we approach this draft. I shared them with the posse a couple of times but I will repeat them again here. It is also why I choose Ziggy Hood with the pick at 24.

This quote from defensive Line coach Sugar Bear Hamilton: 7/17/2008

“You can get the job done with smaller guys but you have to be a very disruptive defense in order to stop the run,” said Hamilton, who coached Pro Bowl defensive tackles John Henderson (325 pounds) and Marcus Stroud (306 pounds) in Jacksonville. “Offensive lineman are big, fat hogs that hold you if you let them. That’s why it’s tough for defensive linemen to come into the league and be successful if they don’t have a good coach to teach them how to use their hands and keep offensive linemen from holding them.”

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Marko, if your synopsis is correct, then it would appear that we are moving towards a Tampa 2 style defense which would be contrary to Smitty’s montra. Speed on defense is plentiful in this draft to support such as scheme but as K Strick assessed earlier, we do not have the secondary to support it. A very interesting situation….comments, all?

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SeminoleWarrior,

Mystery, mystery, mystery. Just more suspense added onto what we already have, lol!

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On target as usual Big Ray. Could be a prelude to a 3-4 transition. Which really has me going off into space. But, indulge me here for a minute, my brothers.

Recall that TD was previously the Patriots director of college scouting. And recall, the Patriot way is to be very careful in free agency, trades, and the draft. It is all about filling needs.

With that, I’ll add this little nugget. One of TD’s prize finds during his time with the Patriots is coming available next year as a UFA. This young man has five years experience in the league as of this year and is emerging as one of the league premier NTs. TD knows him, scouted him, drafted him, and will definately go after him. TD will easily convince both Smitty and AB that THIS is the guy to complete the transition to the 3-4 scheme. Additionally, the Birds should have some final resolution to the Vick contract situation by then, freeing up needed cash for this signing.

My brothers, I present to you, a preview of next season’s top free agent signing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vince_Wilfork

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Seminole – what’s the word money-T? I think you may finally have gotten me over to your side on one of your OSU boys, that being Freeman. Do you think there’s anyway he lasts to the 3rd round if we take Pettigrew first, then safety next? BVG will be great. He was the absolute MAN when he was at UGA. Trust me, we still regret the day he left, but at least he’s with our Falconi’s.

Ken Strick – good point on safety depth. Did DeCoud get hurt or something last year? I went back and realized that we drafted him in the 3rd round, so he should be on the same level as Chevis Jackson and HD since they were drafted in the same round. Any possibility of moving Robert James to S due to his size(5′10, 219)? I could see us drafting one anywhere between round 2 to round 4.

Big Ray – you got it on the first pick. It really will change the whole draft, IMO. If we lock up Pettigrew first, then we obviously will focus on the DEF the rest of the way. If we go DEF first, there’s a number of ways we could go. Is used to think that we could wait until the 3rd to pick up a good TE, which is quite possible. But I’ve come to the conclusion that Nelson and Cook have more of an upside than Coffman or Casey, for example. So if we go DEF first, I’d say we should go TE next to ensure we get Nelson or Cook. BTW, I’ve tried to lobby DOL and lead people at the AJC to get us a quality Falcons Fan Blog and I didn’t receive one email. I emailed like 7 people. Any advice?

DT seems very deep in middle round talent(Roy Miller, Sammie Hill, Terrance Taylor, Sen’derick Marks, Chris Baker, etc.), as well as safety (William Moore, Chip Vaughn, Rashad Johnson,Michael Hamlin), and even CB(Jerius Byrd, Keenan Lewis, Sean Smith, Brandon Underwood, Sherod Martin). OLB seems to not have near the middle round depth that these other positions have. Cushing, Matthews, English, Maybin, Barwin, Sintim will all be long gone. Marcus Freeman & Cody Brown( compared to Shaun Phillips) is about the last big time talent and it seems to take a pretty big drop down to, say Kaluka Maiva & Jonathan Casillas. In other words, if we want a big time potential contribution @ OLB, we gotta spend a 3rd round pick on one, IMVHO.

Marko – good point on our D-Line. I’ll say that since this draft is pretty deep with big run-stuffers. Between Ron Brace, Roy Miller, Terrance Taylor, Sen’Derrick Marks, Fili Moala, Sammie Hill or Dorell Scott, I think we’ll find our perfect complement to Babs/competition for Trey Lewis.

darrelstark – nice mock. I used to be the biggest geeked out freak for Cushing, but after doing a little research, he’s really on the same level as Matthews and I’d much rather take someone like Sintim who may be a hair slower, but bigger, tougher and more experienced. That being said, I won’t be that upset if we get Cushing. Even though he’s my boy from UGA, Allen in Round 3 is too high, IMO.

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Mock Draft Competition
* – Indicates change
1)Detroit – Matthew Stafford, QB; Lions go Falcons route, get T later
2)St.Louis – Jason Smith, T; Big T to pave way for Steven Jackson
3)Kansas City – Aaron Curry, OLB; Great building block for new 3-4
4)Seattle – Eugene Monroe, T; Signed Housh, addresses Walter Jones inj.
5)Cleveland – Brain Orakpo, OLB/DE; OFF in decent shape; Rebuild DEF
6)Cincinatti – Andre Smith, T; The run on T’s begins
7)Oakland – Michael Crabtree, WR; Desperately fills need
8)Jacksonville – Jeremy Maclin, WR; Still WR after
9)Green Bay – BJ Raji, DT; Great DT starts conversion to 3-4
10)San Francisco – Mark Sanchez, QB; Smith/Hill/O’Sullivan era over
11)Buffalo – Michael Oher, T; Need to replace Peters, grab DE later
12)Denver – Tyson Jackson, DE; Stick with Orton for now, rebuild D
*13)Washington – Everette Brown, DE; Stacking DEF continues
*14)New Orleans – Malcolm Jenkins, CB; OFF not the problem in ‘08
*15)Houston – Brian Cushing, OLB; Focus on DEF begins again
16)San Diego – Rey Mauluga, LB; Paired w/ Merriman….Watch Out!
17)NY Jets – Josh Freeman, QB; Fills obvious need w/ Favre gone
18)Denver – Aaron Maybin, OLB; Converts to OLB after drafting Jackson
19)Tampa Bay – Peria Jerry, DT; Replaces Jovan Haye
20)Detroit – Eben Britton, T; Keeps Falcons route, gets T to protect QB
21)Philadelphia – Knowshon Moreno, Westbrook will be 31
22)Minnesota – Percy Harvin, WR; Perfect complement to Berrian
23)New England – Clay Matthews, OLB; Replacement for Mike Vrabel
24)Atlanta – Brandon Pettigrew, TE; Easy decision
*25)Miami – Larry English, OLB; Tuna refuses to draft WR in Rd.1
*26)Baltimore – Clint Sintim, OLB; Perfect 3-4 replacement to Scott
27)Indianapolis – Ziggy Hood, DT; Nice help to Freeney & Mathis
*28)Buffalo – Robert Ayers, DE; Defense starts rebuiding
29)New York – Kenny Britt, WR; Good replacement for Burress
30)Tennessee – Darius Butler; Vontae Davis too much of a risk
*31)Arizona – Beanie Wells, RB; One of top 2 RB’s drops to them
32)Pittsburgh – Max Unger, T; Drafting for need

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Its almost here bird-cagers! And on that note……………

4 DAYS, 11 HOURS, 37 MINS, & COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I agree with seminole, if Falcons expect Jerry to be there at pick 24, take him instead. Now if the trade was made I would be more willing to trade the first and a third because the falcons could still pick up a Jared Cook in the second and possibly move back into the third round with the multiple picks they have in rounds 5 and 6. I would give Jamaal Andersen another year before making him expendable, like I said, I believe the bird cagers are in for a pleasant surprise from Andersen this year.

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The idea of Micheal Johnson slipping into the third round would change my falcons mock draft. I couldn’t see the birds taking johnson in round one or two but in the third I see something special and heres my thinking process. Johnson is 6′7 266lbs and runs the forty in the high 4.5 to mid 4.6 range. As a project you turn Johnson into a pure linebacker he has the speed and height to man up on tight-ends without any need for over the top safety help, no other team or player offers the same combination set, teams usually put a LB or safety on the TE and 99% of the time the TE always has a height advantage even in perfect coverage which is why teams use over the top safety help, Johnson eliminates that option which would only make a defense that much better. Imagine a LB who drops in coverage on a TE without the need of safety help, you would have two safeties roaming the secondary with two corners on receivers in a normal package, in a nickel you have 3 corners with the two safeties. A defensive coordinator could use some wild imagination in his blitz package because a player or players have been freed up to come from any angle. In the variety of sound blitzes defenses use Johnson would help offer a monster of choices. If Johnson is truly slipping into the third round, the birds take 1.Jerry, 2.Cook, 3.Johnson, 4.Moala if he’s there if not Sammie Lee Hill. Johnson at 3 looks pretty good. Your thoughts anyone?

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A change is oming in my personal Falcons mock as doctors have advised my second pick in the fifth round, TE Brian Mandeville, to not pursue a NFL career due to a heart condition.

Best wishes to the young man. He has skills, was compared to Kevin Boss of the G-men, and would have been a nice late round steal I think.

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Keep in mind, we still have option of trading a very flawed, and yet very talented Michael Vick. Also, in QB hungry league, Shockley is a waste as a bench-rider, and J Anderson might actually fit into someones defensive scheme somewhere (I type with straight face, no less). Look for one or all of these options to be exercised. Drafting Pettigrew would signal a return to the brain dead decisions that represent the history of the Falcons. If not interested in bringing Justin Peele along (quite talented and servicable, affordable without dropping ones pants), then wait for Jared Cook (as good as Pettigrew in all aspects). Considering our needs, squandering the first pick on a tight end would be moronic.

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Falcons should definitely land Cushing (if he’s still on the board). The guy is a workhorse with lots of talent. Also, there’s no way that sumo slug Andre Smith should be a top 15 pick, he’s grossly overrated. Finally, James “Lil’ Animal” Laurinaitis, & SC’s Clay Matthews Jr should go in the 1st round. There both ball hawks & are getting the shaft on this mock draft.

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TOP OF THE MORNING TO U TOO……. U F**KEN H*MO

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