NFL DRAFT: Meet the Falcons third round picks
THIRD ROUND PICKS
83. Corey Peters, DT, Kentucky, 6-foot-3, 300 pounds: Was a three-year starter for the Wildcats at defensive tackle. He has 146 career tackles. Last season, he had 49 tackles (24 solo), 11 tackles for loss, five passes defensed and one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Was voted Kentucky’s most improved defensive player as selected by the coaches in 2007 as a sophomore. … In high school, he wrestled, played baseball and competed in track and field as a discus and shot put thrower. … Attended Louisville (Ky.) Central High. … Born in Pittsburgh.
Mike Johnson (Associated Press)
98. Mike Johnson, OG, Alabama 6-6, 312: Established a school record when he played against Texas in the 2010 BCS title game, as it was his 54th game for the Crimson Tide. … Has been practicing at center during the pre-draft process while working out with quarterbacks Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) and Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan). … Has already received his college degree. … As a starter, he recorded 264 knockdowns or key blocks, 39 touchdown-resulting blocks and 18 downfield blocks. … He had 98 knockdown blocks last season while paving the way for Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.
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176 comments Add your comment
Michael
April 24th, 2010
11:16 am
If we draft One More OL, I am done for this draft!!!!!!!!! This is truly mindboggling!
IceFan
April 24th, 2010
11:18 am
The picks aren’t sexy, but Matty Ice and Burner are licking their chops right now. TD is protecting Matt and busting open holes for Turner.
I still want them to take a weapon at some point though.
UgaMuthaFuga
April 24th, 2010
11:20 am
Seriously, aren’t there a boatload of OL that would have been better than this?
IceFan
April 24th, 2010
11:20 am
Michael,
Who would you have taken?
Gary
April 24th, 2010
11:22 am
I loved how everyone says we should have moved up to take this player or that player. To move up you need to have a partner willing to move down. How do you internet GMs know any team was willing to move with the Falcons? I am sure they looked, but found no interesting trade scenarios so they stood pat.
Marcus
April 24th, 2010
11:23 am
yeah, this seems puzzling.
T.J.MCcrary
April 24th, 2010
11:23 am
These picks will make a lot more sense if you guy’s look at the injuries we had last year.I think yall or forgetting that we had a lot of key players injured.You should also keep in mind that we gotta protect Matt Ryan because last year he had a slight let down because he was under pressure.If you look at our depth chart the backup tight end we have is better than the Tight ends that are avaliable right now.
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:25 am
Geno Atkins from UGA just got drafted going to the Bengals, they like UGA players over there. Good for him. I would have rather have him or Owens at DT than Peters from KY.
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:26 am
There will be no more legit TE’s, CB or WR left in rounds 5-6…Falcons will be fishing hoping to hit at best. Oh well, I guess there’s always next year.
Joe P
April 24th, 2010
11:26 am
Guys the reason Joe Hawley was picked instead of Matt’s backup from Boston College is because Joe and Todd Mcclure are very similar in size (around 6 feet tall and around 290 pounds) and would be a perfect fit in the falcons blocking scheme.
Michael
April 24th, 2010
11:27 am
@ Iceman……In the 3Rd Round I would have chosen James Graham TE – Miami; and Cam Thomas DT – North Carolina. In the 4th Round, I would have chosen Akwasi Owusu – Ansah – CB, PR, KR from Indian (PA); 5th Round – Danario Alexander WR – Missouri & Eric Norwood – LB – South Carolina; 6th Round – James Starks – RB – Buffalo; and Chris Scott – OL – Tennessee!
Richham
April 24th, 2010
11:28 am
I just don’t understand why we are picking goes that are so lowly rated. Several services had this last guy as a late round to undrafted free agent. We are passing on some really good players.
TD knows a lot more about scouting and football than I do, but everyone including the so called experts, coaches, players and services are scratching their heads. Did the Falcons decide football IQ was know the predominant factor in who they draft. Is talent and skill no longer important?
Did Rankin Smith buy the team back and start making our picks?
UgaMuthaFuga
April 24th, 2010
11:29 am
No problem with drafting an OL just don’t understand the choice. I don’t think Hawley was on ANYBODY’s radar. Why draft him?
Gene Okerlund
April 24th, 2010
11:29 am
2008 is starting to look more and more like a fluke for Dimitroff. This is an underwhelming, at best, draft so far. Really, really disappointing OL selections. Still cannot figure out why not a LT at 19 instead of an OLB which we could have gotten in the 4th or 5th round.
Playoffs are a neccesity for the Falcons’ this season, or all the “boy-wonder” talk about Dimitroff will become more and more of “Rich McKay wasn’t THAT bad” talk. Very disappointing weekend for the Falcons so far.
Michael
April 24th, 2010
11:30 am
@ T.J.MCcrary – You actually believe that Keith Zinger & Jason Rader are both better than the TE’s that we drafted in the 3RD Round? C’mon man!!!!!!
Poor 3rd round
April 24th, 2010
11:30 am
Certainly looks like TD is trying to prove he’s smarter than everyone else. The last 3 picks make almost no sense whatsoever.
Richham
April 24th, 2010
11:33 am
I would have drafted Norwood over Hawley with that 4th round pick. He could play linebacker and rush some off the end.
PlanB
April 24th, 2010
11:34 am
UtahFalcon, Big Ray. Learned alot in school but never became a teacher. When you listen to people in the know, you become more knowledgable. When a number of these people in the know grade football players and pass their knowledge on to us, we have learned. With that knowledge we communicate with others that have learned. Some of us are hoping these guys are going to be good but there are alot of qualified people saying they could have been gotten later or someone else would have been a better pick. We hope our guys are right but we will not give them our blind trust. We only give them a few years to do good or we get someone else. So far, they are doing pretty good. Hope this draft works out OK. I’m just saying, some of us are not myrmidons.
FalconFan85, Did you just not read Michaels post just before you?
We just picked up a center. Joe Hawley from UNLV. 35 reps on 225 lb bench press.
Jay
April 24th, 2010
11:34 am
Every Falcon draft pick has been a reach so far. i get, we are drafting players that fit our scheme, but atleast draft someone that is projected to go in the same round as the round we are drafting in. atleast one pick. please.
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:35 am
I would have drafted Norwood over Hawley with that 4th round pick. He could play linebacker and rush some off the end.
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Great pick for Carolina. I wish we could have drafted him…good upside and great football savvy.
Dawgs2010
April 24th, 2010
11:35 am
I have tried very hard to stay optimistic up to this point. I am disgusted with the last pick from UNLV. I understand getting OL depth, but this guy has gotten terrible reviews.
I feel like we may have dropped the ball in this draft. I pray not, but I don’t feel good about it.
This draft may be the end of TD.
IceFan
April 24th, 2010
11:35 am
Michael,
I thought they would have taken Graham (TE) also. Would have been a perfect opportunity to re-stock and provide aprenticeship under the great Tony G. I like the Peters pick because I grew up in KY and watch every game. But yes, it appears we reached on the last 3 picks. Let’s trust them and see how it plays out. You can’t give Matt Ryan too much protection………….thought we might take Bruce Campbell.
Richham
April 24th, 2010
11:36 am
I agree TD must believe he is a football genius because he seems to really be going out on a limb with some of these picks.
It’s the reaching for players that concerns me. He obviously sees something that no one else sees in these guys.
Da'reel
April 24th, 2010
11:39 am
I don’t know how some of you guys have problems with us drafting lineman. I guess some aren’t aware that games are won in the trenches and we need to protect our franchise QB.
drmondo
April 24th, 2010
11:40 am
Here’s what nfl.com says about Hawley:
Hawley is a good college interior lineman but lacks any singular asset that makes you think he eventually can become a starter at the next level. He started at both guard and center while at UNLV and understands blocking schemes and angles. He is not a natural knee-bender and struggles to leverage blocks, which allows him to be overpowered by massive nose tackles and three-technique tackles. He gets a good fit with his hands but lacks the heavy hands that can shock opponents and get them back on their heels. He projects as a quality free agent or late-round draft pick.
I have faith in TD and company, but since a lot of scouts rated our last few picks much lower than the Falcons did, I get nervous that TD has contracted the “I’m the real genius” disease that seems to afflict most of the Bilichek guys who move on.
Since the Falcons have a less than stellar record as a franchise, most of us (long time fans) always worry…Aundrey Bruce anyone? BTW, did anyone else notice that no Falcons were picked in either nfl.com’s or espn.com’s “Best Picks of all time” draft listings?
falcons pick(ed) spoon
April 24th, 2010
11:40 am
Im getting very concerned there will be no good WR left on the board…
Dawgs2010
April 24th, 2010
11:42 am
Dan Reeves must be in the War-room. These picks are awful! I am guessing only 2 survive training camp and make the team. Kind of like last year when we got almost zero contribution from our draft picks.
Chaulk this draft up as a waste. Everything went into the crapper with the bum from UNLV.
I am going to go cut the grass. What a waste of a good morning.
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:43 am
The Pats having another superb draft, at least on paper right now. They seem to always make good value picks in each round. Hernadez was a steal, he’ll be a stud TE.
John
April 24th, 2010
11:44 am
does anyone else feel like we are watching a Raiders draft?
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:45 am
Hernadez for the Pats is basically Ben Watson’s replacement in NE. Man those guys can draft…I can’t stand them but you’ve gotta respect them for that.
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:45 am
TD is screwing this draft up . he too full of himnself TRying to prove he he know more than everyone else.. we should trade down our 19 th pick to denver 24th they were offer a 2nd and 3rd to go with it… Even if he love these player he shuld trade then get them there not going anywhere
ryan
April 24th, 2010
11:45 am
Well if the Falcons needed a DT why did they not draft Dan Williams from Tenn. They could have drafted in the 3rd round Matt Tennat or Everson Griffen.
Supes
April 24th, 2010
11:46 am
does anyone else feel like we are watching a Raiders draft?
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No, b/c they ended up with Jacoby Ford, a lightning fast WR…while we ended up with oh what fresh hell is this!!!
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:47 am
John
this is worse than a raiders draft… he drafting like we were a superbowl winning team and all we needed was a couple back ups .. he epic fail
Da'reel
April 24th, 2010
11:47 am
Lol, I love seeing these idiots question our proven GM. Just because Mel Kiper has a guy ranked on his ‘Best available” doesn’t mean he’s on TD’s best available.
Dawgs2010
April 24th, 2010
11:48 am
This draft will set us back 5 years. These are the players we will be depending on in the future. TD is a sorry excuse for a GM.
Even a retard could have known to draft Matt Ryan and not screw up!
John
April 24th, 2010
11:49 am
So the Raiders are doing better than us at this point? great.. What about the Jags? are they still doing worse than us. or have they passed us too?
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:49 am
DA,reel name a good draft pick beside matt ryan that he has made ?
John
April 24th, 2010
11:50 am
Atleast we have the hawks tonight!
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:51 am
His 2 first pick last year were question because they could not stay health in collage .. both or on our IR BY SECOND game last year
Richham
April 24th, 2010
11:53 am
I have no problem with drafting lineman, we do need help on both sides of the ball. You can’t simply pass up guys though that could turn out to be really good pro players just to fortify a position.
You could have drafted Peters and Hawley much later and still added a really good value pick in between. You usually get burned reaching for players to fill a need versus trying to pick for value.
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:53 am
Everyone tht says TD doing good but cant back it with facts
drmondo
April 24th, 2010
11:54 am
I could care less about what Kiper says. However, when a dozen guys who make a living scouting players all say these guys are rated lower than we picked them (a LOT lower), then I listen. NE had a way of turning late rounders into great nfl players when TD was there. I HOPE that’s the case now. The Falcons have a history of screwing the pooch when it comes to the draft. I’m praying that this isn’t true now.
Michael
April 24th, 2010
11:54 am
IceFan,
I see what you are saying, but I am flabbergasted over not selecting ANY TE at all. Just doesn’t make any sense to me!
falcons fail
April 24th, 2010
11:57 am
it not only knowing who to pick but there draft value… this year they have no clue
Michael
April 24th, 2010
12:03 pm
@ Iceman,
Here is the CB that I would have drafted:
Mike Mayock, NFL Network
126 — Cowboys — Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
Back to back small-school kids, I love it. Ansah is one of my favorite developmental prospects in the draft from IUP. He’s a 6-1, 207 pound corner that run a sub-4.4 40 at the Ohio St. Pro Day. He may be raw, but he will provide immediate help on the Cowboys’ special teams. He had 7 return TDs and can be a gunner and a jammer as well. If he struggles on the corner, he’s big enough and physical enough to play free safety, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that wasn’t the plan for the Cowboys.
John
April 24th, 2010
12:04 pm
we have enough CBs.
drmondo
April 24th, 2010
12:09 pm
What was the trade we just made that got us the 4th pick in the 5th round?
Josh B
April 24th, 2010
12:11 pm
We just picked a cornerback
Michael
April 24th, 2010
12:11 pm
@ John,
The reason that I chose another CB is because Brian Williams had major knee surgery last season, and know one knows if he will be effective this year, so why not draft an insurance policy?