Should the Falcons try to reunite Tomlinson and Turner?
How would LaDainian Tomlinson look in Falcons' red?
The Burner in his old powder blues.
GENERAL MANAGER’S VILLE — The San Diego Chargers released running back LaDainian Tomlinson Monday, after nine seasons.
The Falcons plucked away his backup, Michael Turner, two seasons ago in free agency.
Turner is currently backed up by Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling. Both are set to become restricted free agents. Norwood will be one if a labor agreement isn’t reach by March 1.
Snelling, who played strong last season, finshed with a 147-yard rushing effort against Tampa Bay. He’ll be a restricted free agent no matter what.
Tomlinson did not appear to have that same explosion over the last two seasons. He has rushed for 12,490 yards in nine seasons and rushed for 138 touchdowns.
Last season, he rushed for 730 yards and averaged a pedestrian 3.3. yards per carry.
Should the Falcons try to reunite Turner and Tomlinson?
10 small college players to watch at the combine
Birdland — There are10 small school players to watch at the NFL Combine always some players with interesting backgrounds from smaller schools at the NFL scouting combine each year.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah starred for the Indiana-Pa. Crimson Hawks. You know he's tough because he's an Omega Man!!!
There’s usually a decent group of players to track from small schools. Sometimes they are transfers who ran into trouble at their previous big-school stops. Some are just late bloomers, who were over looked by the football powerhouses.
In both of his drafts with the Falcons, general manager Thomas Dimitroff has ventured into the small college ranks for draft picks. In 2008, the Falcons selected defensive end Kroy Biermann out of Montana. Last season, they selected Lawrence Sidbury out of Richmond and William Middleton from Furman.
Some of the recent small school combine invites were wide receiver Miles Austin (Monmouth), offensive lineman Jahri Evans (Bloomsburg), tight end Kevin Boss (thanks to an endorsement from Dan Reeves who coached the Western Oregon product in an all-star game), linebacker Justin Durant (Hampton) and wide receiver Jacoby Jones (Lane).
Here’s a look at 10 players from small schools to keep an eye on at the NFL scouting combine which starts on Wednesday and runs through March 2.
1. Chris Bell, WR, Norfolk State: Started his career at Penn State where he played for two years before running into legal and academic troubles. He resurfaced with the Spartans, who listed him at 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. He was the fifth rated receiver in the nation coming out of Norfolk’s Granby High, according to Scout.com. Had 51 catches for 958 yards (18.8 yards per catch) and 13 touchdowns. Bell could be a good mid-round pick for the Falcons, who are likely to address the position in this draft.
2. Joique Bell, RB, Wayne State: Played in the Senior Bowl. Listed as 6-1, 223 pounds. Rushed for 1,152 yards on 185 carries and scored 15 touchdowns as a junior. Last season rushed for more than 2,000 yards and won the Harlon Hill trophy, which goes to the Division II player of the year.
3. Valdimir Ducasse, OL, Massachusetts: The Haiti native played in the Senior Bowl.
4. Junior Galatte, DE, Stillman: For the second year in a row, Stillman has a draftable defensive lineman. Defensive tackle Sammie Lee Hill was drafted by Detroit in the fourth round last season. Gallatte transferred from Temple after starting there for three years. He was dismissed from the team. Last season, he had 10 tackles for losses, 9.5 sacks in just eight games before suffering a broken leg.
5. Mike Iupati, OL, Idaho: Some are projecting him as a first round pick. He played in the Senior Bowl
Norfolk State's Chris Bell (a Penn State transfer) terrorized the poor D-backs in the Mid-Eastern Athletice Conference last season. (Stephen M. Katz | The Virginian-Pilot)
6. Preston Parker, WR, North Alabama: Started his college career at Florida State before transferring to North Alabama. He’s expected to run a fast time, but will have to explain to teams why he was dismissed from Florida State after alcohol, drug and gun related issues that attracted the attention of law enforcement officials in Tallahassee.
7. Torell Troup, DT, Central Florida: A two-time all-Conference USA pick from Salem High in Conyers. Served as a captain last season for the Knights.
8. Pat Paschall, RB, North Dakota State. The Chattahoochee High product started his career at Georgia Southern before going to junior college and then landing with North Dakota State. Has blazing speed. Ran a 10.6, 100-yard dash in high school. Check on the spin move on this 91-yard touchdown run.
9. Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale: He’s massive at 6-8, 315 and has nice footwork. Has played well in post-season all-star games. NFLDraftScout.com has a third round grade on Veldheer.
10. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, DB, Indiana-Pa.: A huge cornerback at 6-1, 205. The native of Ghana has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the team’s season finale. He has broken the 4.4 barrier in the 40-yard dash. He could be a good mid-round pick by the Falcons, but is still considered raw. Some have compared him to Arizona’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who came out of Tennessee State.
Over in THE BIRDCAGE, they are talking about which free agent cornerbacks the Falcons should pursue.
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110 comments Add your comment
West Coast Falcons Fan
February 22nd, 2010
10:16 pm
Crabapplejoe. The Chargers employ a passing offense, with minimal running. LT would be a good fit for a Falcons offense predicated on the run. No Chargers back has a good ypc average.
Filthy McNasty
February 22nd, 2010
10:17 pm
D-Led, you know the Falcons don’t need no old legs–old broke up legs at that. We going younger, faster, slashing runner. Then bring in Turner and beat ‘em up, wear ‘em down. LT might be serviceable for some team out there–just not the Falcons.
falcon21
February 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
Hell yes, if we could sign him for 2 mil. bring him here but I don’t see that happening.
AB
February 22nd, 2010
10:51 pm
What we really don’t need is craba$$joe……………………….
Dan
February 22nd, 2010
10:57 pm
I like him in fact had him on my fantasy team but I would rather see the money go towards Bolden, Dunta, Dansby or Peppers. I really hope we can get one of these but just scared when I read these stories of the Falcons not spending any money?
florida falcon
February 22nd, 2010
10:58 pm
Hell yes, we should go for LT, a player like him with give you all that’s left in his tank (kinda like Gonzalez). I mean we don’t need LT to carry the rock full time but he is a complimentary 3rd down back, catching balls out of the backfield, plus this would allow us to keep Norwood as a kick/punt return specialist. We can never have enough depth at RB, just look what happened last year! Plus we can get LT on the cheap, he made his dough and now would like to play on a contender making a push, and YES folks, we have a contender here in Atlanta! Dirty Birds all the way in 2010, OUR YEAR. You heard here first!
tddf30
February 22nd, 2010
11:00 pm
I go to IUP and would love for the Falcons to draft AOA, but they probably won’t because they almost never draft the players that I am really high on. It is just how it goes, you have 5-7 draft picks to sift through hundreds of prospects.
TennDawg
February 22nd, 2010
11:02 pm
Tomlinson in red & black would be way cool. But, Turner is #1 now, and Snelling / Stecker / Norwood give D’s something to consider without spending big $’s on LT.
If LT came to ATL, the Falcons luck would catch up w/ them, and he’d be out week 3 with some freak unfortunate season-ending injury, for $4M. As it is, we have 4 good backs.
Get DDDDDDDDD!!!
Justin Janssen
February 22nd, 2010
11:07 pm
We do not want to sign LT… he would cost too much money and is past his prime. Also the Falcons have much bigger issues to address than RB… how about defense… anywhere on defense
Joe
February 22nd, 2010
11:58 pm
Yeah I think it would be nice to have LT help carry the load at RB with Turner.
Big Ray
February 22nd, 2010
11:58 pm
Every time we have gone after a “used to be pretty damn good” speedster, be it at RB or WR, it’s turned out bad for us. Dickerson, Metcalf, etc.
Let Tomlinson go his way. Snelling worked hard when Turner was out, and who knows? Norwood might stay healthy. Besides, we can draft one, and that guy might turn out well for us.
I’m less concerned about another raw youngster in our secondary, now that Tim Lewis is in the fold. If we’re looking at a small school project that could be a real stud, then go for it.
Big Ray
February 23rd, 2010
12:01 am
I wouldn’t compare LaDainian Tomlinson to Tony Gonzalez. Gonzalez came here still playing at the top of his game. Tomlinson is clearly not near HIS top game, and running backs don’t get better at this stage of their careers.
That, and dude will want to be paid like he’s still good for 1,800+ yards, which he is likely NOT good for. If you think overpaying for guys like Albert Haynesworth and Dominique Foxworth was foolhardy, try overpaying for a RB who isn’t capable of breaking games like he used to.
singndablues
February 23rd, 2010
12:25 am
In answer to your headline – No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no………………….
Nookah
February 23rd, 2010
12:32 am
DOL, great blog my brother, great blog. Nice to read info on small school gems. I rather like 2 of the names, Chris and Joique Bell and the DB, Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
Unca’ Bob and Stirg, I’m missing you guys in the Cage. It’s all good though.
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect everytime!!!
Nookah
February 23rd, 2010
12:33 am
Big Ray, amen to your 11:58pm post!!!
travis
February 23rd, 2010
1:38 am
nice but i would like the other charger antionio cromatie wants out of san diego let trade norwood and one of our third round pick for him since we have two pick in the third rd we send that in a package with norwood for antionio cromatie he fast and six foot tall he can play cb with owens, and grimes
Marcus
February 23rd, 2010
6:17 am
@ Falcons71, according to DOL, the dude ran 10.6 in HS, too. Difference is .. he is a draftable prospect and you are ….????!?!? A poster on a blog on a local newspaper.
If he can ball, he can ball. Save the snotty attitude.
nash
February 23rd, 2010
6:23 am
there is a guy named coker or something that use to play at ten. acouple of years ago and word is he has chris johnson type speed and sence he is in the same situation as some of these other young men he might be the ” best unknow player in this draft “
The Real Falcon
February 23rd, 2010
6:55 am
If you read LT’s comments the Falcons do not fit his requirement of a championship ready team. At least not right now.
gt 97
February 23rd, 2010
7:29 am
LT’s Comments for a requirement are a joke. This is not the NBA! Build a good line, and plug in a running back. The running back has become one of the most stocked positions in football with most teams having (2) decent running backs and some have (3) like Dallas and Atlanta to an extent.
SimpleDawg
February 23rd, 2010
7:47 am
Signing LT will mirror the Braves old habit of signing fading stars just as they reach the useless point in their careers.
dean
February 23rd, 2010
8:15 am
A couple of made field goals, a couple of calls go the Falcons way and PRESTO, they would have been in the playoffs. If the Falcons were that close with all the injuries and buzzards luck of 2009, I can’t wait for the upcoming season.
WonderDawg
February 23rd, 2010
8:20 am
Has anybody watched LT “run” the last two seasons? Nobody has defined “mailing it in” more than LT. Content with sitting on the bench, even in the playoffs. TD and White won’t even consider him.
Kerri
February 23rd, 2010
8:22 am
Armanti Edwards…Appalachian State…read one draft review that said if he was just 2 inches taller he would be a definite first rounder…from a small school in the Socon…but he ran around (and all over) the 5th ranked Michigan defense as a sophmore…hope he gets a look.
Ricky
February 23rd, 2010
8:44 am
I’m with singndablues
February 23rd, 2010
12:25 am
In answer to your headline – No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,
RayDawg
February 23rd, 2010
8:48 am
Need to spend money on defense and resign Norwood.
Andy
February 23rd, 2010
9:04 am
No LT! Great player in his day…but retire and walk away!
DDawgDavis
February 23rd, 2010
9:08 am
OOOO- WEEEE: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Anytime there is a 6′1″ DB on the board you have to at least kick tires on him. If he’s there in the later rounds you almost have to take him based on the fact that we play New Orleans twice a year and Colston feasts on us.
RB: Let Norwood walk, sign Snelling, do not take LT (spend the Money on Peppers)
.
February 23rd, 2010
9:24 am
Doc=smart a@@
BigTimeTECHFan
February 23rd, 2010
9:27 am
Tebow should not change his motion that much, I saw video and it was major change. His from the hip action is a lot like dan Marino’s, who I think had one of the quickest releases I’ve ever seen. Sense this has been brought I’ve been watching a lot of NFL QB’s motion, a lot of them drop ball to the hip. Some mix it up like P Manning, quick drops he keeps it up high, long passes it will drop to hip. Farve from hip a lot.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
February 23rd, 2010
9:36 am
I wouldn’t sign LT for anything in the world. Period. That is an old ATL Falcons move…sign some fading star to put folks in seats. Remember when Eric Dickerson was a Falcon? Jeff George? It really has only worked with Warrick Dunn…and today, LT aint W. Dunn.
Forget LT…signing Snelling should be the top priority. He is the most versatile player on the squad. Chargers could only dream of having our #44 on their team. A running tandem of Snelling and Turner is really nice…if you get Snelling the number of touches he deserves. Plus, we have the BEST FULLBACK IN THE LEAGUE. The three of them should give us what a team needs in this current league: The prospect of picking up 4-5 yards on first down (sets up play action), and a 90% chance of picking up a yard on 3rd/4th and 1…all else is icing my friends.
As for Peppers…why sign him? Really, what does Peppers have to play for at this point? He is not hungry. Been to the Super Bowl. Well paid. Has not been dominant recently. I just don’t see the upside. He and ABE are about the same: Have been very good…still better than serviceable, but the arrow is trending down. Remember the equation for success on D:
Young, hungry D-Lineman + a mix of young and veteran LB’s + Veteran DBs = Solid Group Defense.
Don’t flunk the test Dimitroff…you get to take the exam with this cheat sheat.
FBD
IceFan
February 23rd, 2010
9:37 am
Hell No! Unless he would take what he’s worth. Great player and lock for first ballot HOF, but his productive years are over and he’ll probably command 5 times what he’s worth.
PMC
February 23rd, 2010
9:44 am
Why? LDT is a much better fit for a team that needs a guy to get short yardage carries and get into the endzone. That’s Philadelphia who can’t do that if thier life depends on it right now. Atlanta has absolutely no need of Tomlinson at this point in his career.
Marcus
February 23rd, 2010
10:06 am
@nash (6:23 am) – You are speaking of LaMarcus Coker, RB who transferred from Univ. of Tennessee to Hampton Univ (FCS school that plays in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conf.
)
J
February 23rd, 2010
10:09 am
Why did you not include all of the GT players? Talk about a small school that nobody cares about.
Richard Dawson
February 23rd, 2010
11:17 am
Used to love LT, but he is toast. His penchant for avoiding contact at the sidelines and scurrying out of bounds like a girl is particularly loathsome.
Gatorman
February 23rd, 2010
11:21 am
As of Vince Lombardi said, he wouldn’t sign a running back on his way down or a lineman with weight problems. Tomlinson would start demanding and his presence would remind Turner that had been LT’s back up. This is not a situation you want to get into, besides, you need to sign a young back that’s hungry and willing to wait his time, something LT wouldn’t do.
J: Are you talking about my little Bee buddies? Now talking about about a team that goes no where and does nothing, now that would be the UGA bull puppies.
Dentster
February 23rd, 2010
11:58 am
Two sides to every coin. Side 1: As close as Turner “The Burner” is to L.T., imagine the disappointment he could possible have if the Falcons signed L.T., the very man he backed up in San Diego. Turner would feel as if the Falcons had lost faith in him. Side 2: As close as Turner “The Burner” is to L.T., imagine the excitement of being able to play with his old team mate and the motivation that might come with being able to show everyone that he is better than L.T., at least now that is. We might see a 1600 yard year out of “The Burner”
kenny
February 23rd, 2010
12:30 pm
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, if we can get him in the fifth round or later want him in a falcon uniform
kenny
February 23rd, 2010
12:55 pm
If falcons want to reunite Burner and LT, i’m assuming they’re switching roles where LT becomes a back-up. Which I could see in theory, being that LT is still a great receiver and could bring his experience catching the screen pass. That was big part of the chargers offense and seriously lacking in ours. For me this is a long shot, we are trying to get younger and after succeeding with Gonzalez last year wouldn’t push my luck twice. Definitely need to resign Snelling, maybe even make him the #2 back?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm
(Here are some of the tweets that I received on whether if the Falcons should pursue Tomlinson. — DOL)
FSUBrad
I was happy w snelling, would like norwood back, but not if expensive, otherwise late rd project will do
FSUBrad
Absolutely not – nvr done a thing postseason, has weird smugness to him
Dsgb112
why would we do that when snelling is better than him right now
JordanSL
Unnecessary
FMV007
Couldn’t do any worse than Norwood. Give him a one year deal.
TheFalcoholic
Unless it’s for a year and incentive-laden, I say no. He looks to be running on fumes.
Falcons023
No way!!!!!
ATLBOI44
HELL YEA!!!!!!!!
Smyrna Jacket
February 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
LT is still fast enough to be our 3rd down back. Re-sign Snelling for our #3. Move Babs to DE (he is our best pass rusher and only 280 lbs) and draft Mount Cody.
Smyrna Jacket
February 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
Also get rid of the Arena League Unis.
J.J.M.
February 23rd, 2010
3:40 pm
last time i check LT said he wants a proven QB
Falcon Fan
February 23rd, 2010
4:09 pm
Everybody talks about Michael Turner as if he this big time great back! He had one good year and stayed hurt the second year of his contract so I say sign LT because it is not like the falcons have hall of fame caliber running backs that can’t be replaced!
2 ADE 96
February 23rd, 2010
4:09 pm
Thanks for shouting out the Omega’s D.O.!!!
LT = Warrick Dunn
February 23rd, 2010
5:06 pm
ATT YDS AVG LNG TD REC YDS AVG LNG TD FUM LST
Career 373 1987 5.3 78 7 95 903 9.5 67 3 2 2
Norwoods Career stats notice the 5.3 ypc average. LT is done he is worn out, it would be like bringing back warrick dunn at the end of his career, when Norwood was averaging almost 2 more yards per carry than Dunn.
tree rollins
February 23rd, 2010
5:08 pm
Falcons definitely need reinforcements at RB although I don’t know that LT is the answer. Michael Turner looked overweight and slow the entire season. He hit the holes so slow they usually closed by the time he got there. You will see he was a 1-year flash in the pan.
Joe Butler
February 23rd, 2010
6:03 pm
First of all, this article is bogus because Mike Iupati is not a
small school product. He played at D-1A Idaho who played Bowling Green
in the Humanitarian Bowl in January. Akwasi is a great looking guy
and is from my area but he is what I call an inverted corner. He is
not a pure corner and must perform as a safety/kickreturner. Probably
one of the best players not mentioned is 6′1″/248 DE/OLB Arthur Moats
from James Madison who flat-backed Jared Veldheer in a one-on-one drills
at Texas vs Nation practices. He fits the mold of a Steelers James
Harrison type player. By the way, Veldheer is a great looking physical
specimen who has lots of upside and athletic skills. Vladimir Ducasse
is a guy who could become a starter in the NFL at left tackle.
DawgDad
February 23rd, 2010
6:09 pm
No LT. Falcons need at least one more (and maybe two, depending on Norwood’s status) third-down type backs that can run the draws and catch the dump offs or stay in and block in max protection. I would spend a 3rd or 4th round pick and sign a veteran for insurance. Plan on ussing the top draft picks and big free agent money to shore up the defense and O-line. If a big-time playmaker is on the board at wideout I’d be tempted to bite with a high pick, but it would have to be someone projected to make a major impact very soon. Arizona, New Orleans, Indy, Carolina, and even Minnesota; these are teams loaded with weapons. I really like what Arizona has done with Fitzgerald, Breaston, and crew, and the New Orleans receivers can take over a game and cover for a whole lot of defensive deficiencies.