Bradley’s Buzz: Would Evander be the real deal for Falcons?
Gettin’ Ziggy with it?
Having monitored mock drafts closely the past few months, I can report that not much surprises me. I know most of the names, and I have some notion as to where they’re supposed to go. But Pat Kirwan of NFL.com stumped the Buzz band in his latest mock by throwing out a name — and it’s a good name — as the Falcons’ No. 1 pick.
He’s Evander Hood, a defensive tackle from Missouri. His nickname is Ziggy. (Me, I don’t know why a guy named Evander would need a nickname, but that’s just me.) As NFL.com’s scouting report notes, Ziggy had a tepid senior season. But he had a good Senior Bowl and an even better pro day, according to Frank Cooney’s NFL Draft Scout, and of such things are 24th overall picks sometimes made.
OK, so you’re asking: Why Ziggy? Dave Henry of Amarillo.com — Hood is from Amarillo, which rhymes with “pillow,” sort of — writes that Hood’s grandmother dubbed him that because he reminded her of the pillowy comic-strip character. This apparently is the same grandmother whom David Ubben of the Columbian Missourian reports will send Ziggy articles about himself via the Internet.
A confession: I don’t know what Thomas Dimitroff is apt to do come Draft Day. (And neither do you.) But I do know that TD has told me more than once that he and Mike Smith value defensive tackles immensely, and I could see the Falcons spending their first pick on a DT more readily than I can them picking a marginal linebacker or even a tight end. (Peyton Youmans of the Bleacher Report expresses a similar sentiment.)
Plus, I just like the idea of a 300-pound lineman who goes by Ziggy.
More Baby Braves
Esteemed former colleague Gordon Edes, writing for Yahoo! Sports, chronicles the spring rise and the many inspirational tattoos of center fielder Jordan Schafer. Gordon — who was known as either “Hack” or “Slash” at the ol’ AJC for his merciless editing of I.J. Rosenberg’s copy, which occasionally warranted it — also reports that Schaefer spent $90,000 of his bonus money not on a new car but on a computer-driven batting-practice machine. Why, I have one of those in the back yard!
According to Scout.com, though, Schafer is only the 103rd-best prospect in baseball. Tommy Hanson is No. 5 on the list, and Jason Heyward, not to be confused with Justin Hayward, is No. 9. And Julio Teheran, a pitcher from Colombia, is No. 16, which surprises the heck out of the Braves blog Talking Chop.
Michael Vick, noted author
Gossip writers Rush & Molloy of the New York Daily News inform us that a certain former Falcons quarterback is seeking a ghost writer for his prison memoirs. The same Daily News informs us PETA is already irate. The same Daily News wonders if any Vick book would violate the Son of Sam law, which holds that a criminal cannot profit from a written account of his crimes.
Is he Billy G., as in “Georgia”?
Writing for the aformentioned Bleacher Report, Robert Holland suggests the Bulldogs should turn to Billy Gillispie, who just got fired after two winning seasons at Kentucky. The same Mr. Holland also lists five reasons Georgia is poised for an immediate rebound
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Not to be a negative Nelly, but I’d disagree on both points. Gillispie got canned because he was a terrible ambassador for Kentucky basketball, and Georgia needs a salesman as much as it needs a coach. And the Bulldogs could hire Mike Krzyzewski and they’d still stink next season. Holland notes that Georgia’s returning roster is young. With the exception of Trey Thompkins and perhaps Dustin Ware, it’s also remarkably untalented.
A guess: Georgia will do well to win 12 games in 2009-2010, which is precisely the number the 2008-2009 team won.
Nope, he’s Billy G., as in “gone”
Speaking of the former Kentucky coach, here’s a rather hilarious video of him being chased through the halls of Memorial Coliseum by the legendary Alan Cutler of WLEX-TV on the day Gillispie became the former Kentucky coach.
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125 comments Add your comment
TommyP
March 30th, 2009
10:30 am
No chance Gillispie should end up here. He has so much baggage and we no longer are holding it for coaches.
Anderson would an ideal coach for the Dawgs.
Ahhhh….Mike Vick. He’ll probably end up on Celebrity Apprentice in a year to make sure they have an athletic train-wreck following Rodman.
Not gonna focus on names in the NFL draft….I trust Dimitroff and will support whomever he nabs.
Great job as always, Mark.
marko
March 30th, 2009
10:31 am
Ziggy would’nt come as a total shock. We already know that Dimitroff drafts players without asking Mel Kiper what he thinks about it.
DawgGirl32
March 30th, 2009
10:34 am
I think that Dustin Ware is pretty talented but besides him and Trey Thompkins, I agree that I don’t see a whole lotta hope for next year talent-wise. At least Swansey and that other kid are leaving. No offense to them, I wish them both the best, but it does free up a couple scholarships.
Hairy Dawg
March 30th, 2009
10:36 am
I think Dustin Ware is a keeper. He had a pretty good freshman season. Other than Thompkins and Ware, it does get pretty dicey. Getting more out of Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price will a huge key for the next head coach.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
10:40 am
Thanks, TommyP.
And I’ll concede that Dustin Ware had some moments.
marko
March 30th, 2009
11:08 am
Bradley, all I know is what I read in the funny papers. Still if the great pig skin pontificators know their stuff, twenty-four is a few picks early for Ziggy. If he’s the Falcon’s guy, I’d think that they’d try to trade down a few picks and gain a pick or two.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
11:10 am
If I’m going by the funny papers, I’d draft Judge Parker. Or Dagwood Bumstead.
frank
March 30th, 2009
11:11 am
no kentucky teams in the final four this year mark! they should just cancel it.
I say Mark Bradley for UK Basketball coach!
marko
March 30th, 2009
11:15 am
Dagwood Bumtead was a better player than Aundrey Bruce. Do you remember the moves he put on Mr. Dithers?
Mac
March 30th, 2009
11:16 am
You’re right, I have no idea what Dimitroff will do. It’s much easier after last year’s draft to sit back in peace and trust the Falcons will choose wisely.
I’ll ghost write Vick’s book for a flat $60,000 fee (because I think it’ll quickly move to the discount bin, no matter how well I write it) and the stipulation I get to use a pen name. Just have his people call my people.
All that matters is that Jordan Schafer is the No. 1-rated prospect for the Braves centerfield job. I think it will be his sooner than later. Unless, of course some team can figure out how to trade us Len Barker for him.
Cameron
March 30th, 2009
11:31 am
If we draft Ziggy Hood, then we are not doing our homework. Missouri had three All-American type defenders on their defense according to the experts. William Moore, Ziggy Hood, and Sean Witherspoon. If you watched them, you would know that is not true. No way a team with a future NFL top talent at each level of the defense can have such a bad defense. You said it yourself that he had a horrible senior season. I think he is overrated. 2nd round pick at best. I don’t care how well he performed at the Senior Bowl or at the combine. All that tells me is he performs when he wants to, mainly when money is on the line. I would not draft him if it were me.
I with you about UGA Bball. Thompkins was a five-star recruit, Dustim Ware a three-star, Jeremy Price a four-star and they all showed promise. Albert Jackson and Chris Barnes are solid rotation guys. Travis Leslie and Anyorah have talent they have just been ijured so far. I think Sawnsey is a good shooter that can be utilized if he stays. If not, that leaves us with an extra scholarship. The right coach can turn things around very quickly, especially if he can convince a top recruit to switch (Favors from Tech). In todays college basketball world you can turn things around in one year by signing one recruit (Beasley and K-State). To say that we are way to far off is wrong. If Capel, Jay Wright, or Anderson are hired, we will be in the tournamne within two years.
Nique
March 30th, 2009
11:42 am
Ziggy will not & SHOULD NOT BE THE SELECTION! If you understand our Defensive scheme, we already have two of our upper echalont players who will be playing & filling the role of UT, Bab & Anderson. The position of need from the tackle perspective is NT, which Hood doesn’t play. He is to small to play this position & is a penitrating DT much like Bab, so this makes no sence at all! Why would we draft a player in the 1st round which plays the same position as someone who we just signed to a 5 year contract? We wouldn’t! This doesn’t fill one of our needs on D & our 1st round selection HAS to address an area of need!
Atlanta Falcons Talk » Blog Archive » AJC’s Mark Bradley: Falcons Eyeing DT Evander Hood?
March 30th, 2009
11:43 am
[...] AJC’s Mark Bradley: Falcons Eyeing DT Evander Hood? [...]
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
11:47 am
So does what I’m hearing from y’all mean there’s zero love for Ziggy?
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
11:48 am
Why, thanks, Frank. And I am a Kentucky grad, which is what a slew of Kentucky folks seem to prefer.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:04 pm
What’s up all. As most of the regulars know, I have been on the Patrick Chung at 24 bandwagon for weeks. But I’m going to make a dramatic shitf here and go with the Ziggy Hood pick. Why you may ask? Two reasons. First, one of the best defenses in football, (division rival mind you), has thrived over the last ten years with smaller, quicker DTs. As a matter of fact, this unit has finished in the top 10 in defense against the run and top 15 against the pass. The likes of Sapp, Culpepper, McFarland, and Hovan have held up well. What was the one advantage they had…HIGH quality defensive coaching. Additionally, I am moved to this pick by comments made by Coach Hamilton last year as he was evaluating the defensive line at that time. I think it set a possible precedent. Check out Coach Hamilton last year in training camp:
“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. “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.”
Hood and Babs would give us a pair of tackles that would emulate what Monte Kiffin used over the past ten years to make Tampa one of the most consistent defenses in football. I think Hood makes more sense now if you check out “Sugar Bear’s” words and Smitty’s philosophy of aggressive line play. Thoughts??
marko
March 30th, 2009
12:06 pm
Bradley, I’ve been trying to make sense out of your rather terse response. It occurred to me that you thought that I had said Mark, all I know is what I read in the funny papers, Bradley. You seem to think that I’d bestowed you with some sort of honorary title. What I said was Bradley, all I know is what I read in the funny papers. In this case I is me not you. My intent was to show a little humility, and to suggest that I don’t take myself too seriously. Some people are so thin skinned don’t you think? At any rate I find your existing title, village idiot, adequate and would dream of improving on it.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:09 pm
Nique, if one looks for defensive models and consistency, Brad’s pcik here makes sense. I am using the model of the defensive line of the Tampa bay team from 1999 – 2008. This line was the anchor of a top ten defense 8 of the last 10 years. And they thrived with undersized tackles that were quick, penetrating, and aggressive.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:11 pm
Marko and Nique, you both know that I have been championing Patrick Chung at 24. But check out this statement from last season by DL coach “Sugar Bear” Hamilton. It lends credence to the possibiity that Hood could be taken.
“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. O-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.”
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:13 pm
Philadelphia uses a similiar approach with its defensive tackles. And they too have been very effective against the run.
marko
March 30th, 2009
12:14 pm
Seminole, You’ve hit on something I’ve been thinking for awhile now. This defense is looking more Tampa than Jacksonville.
Reno 911
March 30th, 2009
12:17 pm
Vick assumes that his fans can read?
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:18 pm
Exaxtly Marko…over that 10 year period, Buc tackles averaged 6″1, 303 pounds. And put an average of 35 tackles and 4.5 sacks each. Of course, Sapp lead the way for several years with double digits.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:22 pm
Hood reminds me of Saints rooke tackle Sedrick Ellis. All Ellis did last year, as a 6′1″ 305lb tackle, was get 31 tackles and 4 sacks. That would have been tops for Falcons DTs last year.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
Let’s not get huffy, Marko. It was just a little joke. Smile, I say!
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:26 pm
Another point. We could go with the quicker aggressive approach but take a second DT (Roy Miller or Terrance Taylor)in round five. Both of them are bigger, run stuffer type tackles.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
12:39 pm
My thoughts, Seminole Warrior, are that you make more sense than Mel Kiper Jr. ever has. Seriously.
marko
March 30th, 2009
12:39 pm
I’ve got run , good stuff guy’s. Mark, when I write these things I try to to think that having a couple of beers with my buds. Any and all sarcasms are good natured fun. If you detect a pompous tone, it’s a sure sign I’m joking.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
12:44 pm
Thanks, Marko. Come back anytime.
But I should warn you: If I ever sound pompous, it’s usually because I am being pompous. I can do that now and again.
BJohnDawg
March 30th, 2009
12:44 pm
UGA Basketball is a mess right now. We need a top flight coach to sort it out. Gillispie not the guy for the job.
Falcons if they want Ziggy should trade down. But they need a NT.And a linebacker and a cornerback.That should be the priority.
Drew
March 30th, 2009
12:46 pm
Hey Mark, Mizzou fan here. Those stats are actually wrong. If you check Mizzou’s site heres what it lists.
62 Tackles, 7 TFL and 5 sacks 2 PBU’s and 2 Fumble recoverys, 1 blocked kick
He’s a manbeast and great character guy.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
12:51 pm
Whoa. You’re right, Drew. I’ll adjust above.
Thanks much.
BJohnDawg
March 30th, 2009
12:53 pm
That video is great. The reporter in better shape than the coach.
If he cannot handle Lexington’s media, The Lexington report was ready to follow him into the bathroom if necessary.
I dont think he would be in a position to handle Atlanta’s. Although he probably would be in better shape then a few like Steak and others. Atlanta guys would not chase him, they would just say ” he had no comment.”
TROTTINGHOMETUDD
March 30th, 2009
12:56 pm
Not even a rumor about Georgia’s coach selection.
No wonder no one wants to come here.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
12:57 pm
Mark B, thanks for the compliment. Drew is dead on about Ziggy Hood’s production. And he did all that with increased focus on him by other Big 12 teams.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
12:59 pm
About Alan Cutler: He was working in Lexington when I was covering Kentucky, which was in the early ’80s. He was — and apparently still is — rather aggressive. He once reported on a Friday night newscast that there was “a rumor going around the Paris football game that Joe B. Hall had a heart attack.”
Joe B. was then the Kentucky coach, and that year he and I were still on speaking terms. So I called his home. He answered the phone. I said, “Did you have a heart attack?”
He said: “Don’t think so.”
Drew
March 30th, 2009
1:12 pm
Seminole is correct. Ziggy saw a constant double team. He missed his buddy Lorenzo Williams this year. Another thing about Ziggy was he was a 2 star DE coming out of high school. Came to campus at 245 Lbs, and just exploded in the weight room with Pat Ivey. Played as a true freshman at DT at probably 275 pounds and continued to grow. Has a very good spin move that he showed at Senior Bowl. Should be a solid 4-3 DT in the NFL.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
1:16 pm
If I could only figure out a way to get both Hood and Chung in the first two rounds for my beloved Birds?
KUfan
March 30th, 2009
1:21 pm
Ziggy Hood is a nightmare on DFence. He was the only one playing good defense when we played them. He Tore us up from the floor up.
Winkies.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
1:24 pm
OK, KU Fan, consider yourself alerted: That line, “Tore up from the floor up”? I’ll be stealing that soon.
Glenn
March 30th, 2009
1:56 pm
So let me get this straight…
On one hand, we have “Ziggy” who had a bad Senior season but a good Pro Day and is moving up the Draft charts.
On the other hand, we have Michael Johnson, named first team All-American (AFCA); a first team All-ACC selection; a member of most of GA Tech’s special teams; one of three of GA Tech’s Team Captains last season; he led the team and ranked third in the ACC in tackles-for-loss (17.5) last season; he ranked third in the ACC in sacks (9.0); he forced three fumbles; he recovered one fumble; he had one interception return for a touchdown; he had one blocked field goal; he was credited with seven pass break-ups; there are only 10 players in NCAA history who have blocked more career field goals (3) than him; he had 31 career tackles-for-loss, which ranks tied for 16th in Tech history; his 19 career sacks rank seventh in Tech history; he caused 10 fumbles during his career; he three of his tackles were for loss, including two sacks, and he forced a fumble against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl ; AND Michael had a great Pro Day.
Please tell me why Michael Johnson is considered a “risk” and “Ziggy” is considered someone worthy of being selected in the First Round ahead of Michael.
Glenn
March 30th, 2009
2:00 pm
Oh, and Michael was double teamed most of the year and Eugene Monroe, from Virginia, the Offensive Tackle that is projected to go somewhere in the Top 5 of the Draft, said that Michael Johnson is the toughest player he ever went against in his entire career.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
Glenn, 62 tackles and 5 sacks at DT is not a bad year. The stats on the NFL website as well as draftscout.com are in error. The dish does not lie and I saw some of Hood’s games. He is definately what he appears to be. Johnson reminds me too much of what we saw three years ago when the front office fell in love with Jamaal Anderson. I’m not saying that he is but we are set at DE. Davis will emerge as a surprise to many this season as he becomes a full time starter. Prior to this year, the team did all it could to justify drafting Anderson in the first round and it just has not worked at DE. Davis will garner at least 5 to 7 sacks this year and with improved interior play, lead by Babs and Hood, the 2009 Falcon defensive front will shock the league in the manner the 2008 Falcons offensive line did.
SeminoleWarrior
March 30th, 2009
2:19 pm
Most of Johnson’s “dominance” came against bad teams; a stark reminder of what happened in the SEC West when Anderson had his “breakout”. Do not get me wrong; I wish him the best and hope that he lives up to the incredible potential he flashes. I just do not see us going that route with Davis, Anderson, and Abraham already on board at DE with Biermann in certain pass-rushing roles when needed.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
I understand your question, Glenn, and it doesn’t seem fair. But scouts like what they like, even if sometimes what they like doesn’t make sense to us lay people.
laxman
March 30th, 2009
2:24 pm
ESPN’s scouting report on Hood is not accurate. He had a very good senior season; their stats are nowhere close to accurate. They list him as having 23 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His real stats: 62 tackles, 7 for loss, 5 sacks. Still not out of this world, but pretty darn solid for a defensive tackle (tough to really pile up stats at that position when teams are always passing, too).
I have no clue where they got their numbers from, but they are not accurate.
laxman
March 30th, 2009
2:27 pm
Actually I just discovered the source of their numbers: they list the stats from his true freshman season. He was not even a starter at that point.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
2:29 pm
Bloggers, I salute your fact-checking abilities. You certainly did it better than I did. (Though I’ve since corrected things.)
Thanks for the input. I mean it.
Glenn
March 30th, 2009
2:36 pm
SeminoleWarrior, why don’t you go back and ask Eugene Monroe who HE thinks the toughest Defensive Lineman he’s played against in his 4 years of College ball?
If he warrants being selected as one of the top 5 picks in the Draft, in one of the most critical positions for an offense (the one that protects the QB), then I’d say he’s probably a pretty good judge as to whether Michael is a slacker or not.
If you had been watching any of GA Tech’s games, you would have seen that Michael was double teamed most of the year, and as the season progressed and injuries took their toll on Tech’s linebackers and defensive backs, Michael was used in a wide variety of different ways in which to cover for the inexperience on Tech’s defensive side of the line.
Michael often time used his massive reach to have a slow rush to one side of the field to take away passing lanes and allow safeties and linebackers to shift towards the center and other side of the field. In other words, Michael was able to funnel plays to the strength of Tech’s defense just by his presence.
Most people don’t realize that GA Tech was so decimated by injuries and lack of scholarship players that Michael was playing virtually every down on defense and special teams. In spite of all that, Michael never complained and his personal statistics increased during the course of the season (as the temperature cooled).
brewdawg
March 30th, 2009
2:39 pm
Here is my opinion on why Damon Evans apparently had so little interest in Coach Grant: it would mirror the Felton hire too much. Meaning hiring a young, promising coach that has had success at a lesser Division-1 school to lead a “major” program. I personally don’t think you can go about business with that mindset, and maybe I’m wrong, but it’s the only reason I can think of.
Now, as far as Billy G is concerned, I’d be okay with it. In fact, I actually believe he will be the next coach at UGA. Now, that isn’t to say he’s going to be Evans’ first choice by any means. However, at best, both Capel and Anderson would be making a lateral move by taking the UGA job, but realistically, both would be taking a step down. I can’t see why either would leave their current position for the UGA job.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
2:42 pm
I think you’ve read the situation accurately, BrewDawg, with one caveat: I don’t think Billy G. will coach Georgia. I don’t think he’ll coach anywhere next season. He’ll take a year off and hope people forget what just happened to him.
brewdawg
March 30th, 2009
2:52 pm
Hey your guess is as good as mine Mark. I just don’t have any idea what the back-up plan is if/when Capel and Anderson say “no thanks.” I’d think the next best candidate, according to Damon Evans criteria, would be Billy G. And I think we disagree here, but I think it would be a good fit. He’s demonstrably a good coach. He just wasn’t the right fit at Kentucky. And after dealing with the icy Felton for so long, even Billy G will seem like sunshine and rainbows to the media here. (Let me also state that I think Felton is a good coach too. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out. I hope he finds another job and does well).
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
3:11 pm
I understand your thinking, BrewDawg, and you make sense. But Billy Gillispie is one cold fish, and I don’t think that’s what Georgia needs. And you should ask the Kentucky players how much they liked — or didn’t like — playing for him.
Mac
March 30th, 2009
3:29 pm
Certainly Oklahoma and Missouri are right now better programs than UGA. However, a boatload of cash and the opportunity to turn UGA basketball into something could get an Anderson or Cappel to Athens. I think Evans is ready to spend what it takes.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
3:30 pm
He’ll need to spend a ton to get either man, Mac.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
3:57 pm
Update: With John Calipari going to Kentucky — don’t know about that fit, either — Memphis is apparently interested in Missouri’s Anderson.
Ted Striker
March 30th, 2009
4:45 pm
Things Gillispie should have said while being chased by WLEX-TV & pretending — badly — to be talking on his cellphone:
“Sarah, this is Andy. Get me Texas A&M.”
“There’s gonna be hell to pay when I get those pics of Mitch Barnhart & that goat out of my safe deposit box!”
(overheard on his phone: ‘You have reached the voicemail of Jeanine Edwards of ESPN. Please leave a message…beep) Look Jeanine, if you’re going through with having this baby, I’m at least demanding a paternity test. And my child support figure is dropping, you beach”
“Since you’re my agent, I just wanted to run this past you. How about if I say ‘Tough times don’t last but tough people…’ What?!? WHAT?!!!? — You’re telling me that piece of paper I initialed wasn’t the real freakin’ contract??? ”
“Tubby, dude, this is Billy G. Like I know I said I wasn’t interested in hearing about those ‘job fairs’ but….”
Feel free to make your additions.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
4:54 pm
And here I was just guessing Billy’s realtor had put him on extended hold.
Ted Striker
March 30th, 2009
5:01 pm
I’m familiar with the “I’m on the cellphone” trick to avoid a uncomfortable conversation. My girlfriend once busted me for talking into the Wii remote.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
5:04 pm
Your girlfriend, Ted? The flight attendant?
Falcon 8211
March 30th, 2009
5:31 pm
profootballtalk.com is reporting that rodney harrison may becoming to the atl?
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
5:36 pm
If that’s true about Rodney Harrison — and I don’t know that it is — that would seem another reason to draft a linemen in Round 1. Would it not?
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
5:45 pm
Oh, and here’s the Rodney Harrison link from Pro Football Talk.
YuleeFalcon
March 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
I think that would mean we are going to focus on a cover corner to make up for Harrison’s degraded cover skills. I’m not trying to offer up any hate-or-ade about Harrison, but he is not a guy wee need in the back field on 3rd and 15. Just saying.
Paddy
March 30th, 2009
5:46 pm
Even if Michael Vick does write a book, who would buy it??? One ghost writer may not be enough to get his points across. do you think?
falcon fan
March 30th, 2009
5:48 pm
This guy looks mean. I think DT Should be the first pick. The falcons do need a better pass rush up front to help out the secondary and give abraham some well deserved help. Sign him up!
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
5:55 pm
I think a Vick book would be a tough sell, Paddy.
And Yulee, I seem to remember a similar situation — third-and-16, actually — arising on the Falcons’ last defensive series of the 2008 season.
Ted Striker
March 30th, 2009
6:29 pm
Elaine and I parted — amicably — because of understandable relationship stressors from my “drinking problem.” Constant spills were an inconvenience to her many silk blouses (talk about dry cleaning bills!) but the final straw in the camel’s haystack with a missing needle with angels dancing on the head of the pin — was when I spilled a mohito into her limited edition Lebron James Gucci purse.
“Love conquers all, but a $4899 purse has it’s limits” (Deuteronomy 34:24, Stardate 245765.234, Captain’s Log, Michael Vick IIV, Peoples Equitable Treatment of Tribbles reporting)
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
6:32 pm
More’s the pity, Ted. She always seemed such a sweet person.
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
But I’m sure you and Shirley are very happy.
Ted Striker
March 30th, 2009
7:08 pm
You’d think that Shirley & I might be happy — until you learned the sad truth. Shirley turned out to be Dr. Rumack in a dress. Not good.
Changing the subject, Ryan Motes of the Houston Texans is a class act. I watched the unedited video of his traffic stop, I listened to an at-length radio interview shortly thereafter, I’ve kept up with the story. Motes was rightfully upset but hasn’t exacerbated the situation. He hasn’t badmouthed the cop or generalized about the police department — he’s simply said that what happened with them wasn’t right. Latest word is that he and his wife accepted a (much deserved) apology from the police office who was clearly — if you watch the unedited video — on a power trip. I didn’t know much about Motes but observing his tone and demeanor in a stressful situation — as well as hearing him afterward really impresses me. It deserves to be said again: he’s a class act.
Also: Some ado has been made by some over Mike Singletary’s “negative comments” about Matt Stafford. That’s overblown. Singletary is likely far more complimentary of Matthew Stafford than many would assume. If a person listened to his entire interview with KNBR when Singletary made his comments, you’ll understand that Singletary was being badgered by the DJ about Kurt Warner and “why not this, why not that”, “coulda-shouda-woulda” — constantly.
The comments about Stafford were far less about Matt Stafford and more of an effort to bring the discussion about players on Singletary’s ROSTER — as opposed to guys not on the roster, be they free agents or prospective draftees. I don’t think Stafford liked the psychologist-interviewer but I’d be surprised if Stafford and Singletary didn’t get along fine in the same room. Ask either one and you’d probably hear that.
Nique
March 30th, 2009
7:16 pm
SeminoleWarrior
Ok, I’ll give you that & add the Bears to that list, so I could see the logic, but for every D that you can find which is able to be successful with that model, I can find another that wasn’t. ie the Colts, Broncos, the lions (prior to there new coordinator)all of who haven’t had a guy over 315 at the position the past couple of years in their DT rotation.
But you also have to consider the holistic Defense that these teams have, Chicago with their LB core, They Eagles with their cover corners (They had 4 players who had been to the pro-bowl within the last 3 years in their secondary) which allowed them to play in those exotic blitz schemes, & Tampa with Monte Kiffen’s system which he obviously perfected & once again, a secondary which is far superior to our, thus allowing them to play in this system. When you can leave your corners man to man, you can bring 7 or 8 each time to stop the run with no problem, thus leaving you open to having a system where you don’t have/need a NT who occupies 2 blockers & allows your LB’s to run free to pursue the ball carrier. But when you have the corners that we have & a void or unproven player at SS, not a Brain Dawkins, or in Tampa’s case last year a proven vet in J. Phillips, a average LB-ing core, & a Right DE who is already undersized in Abraham & doesn’t particularly play the run well to start with, the idea of playing two small DT’s isn’t a recipe for success. We don’t have the proper personal for that & it would be a BIG MISTAKE! Smith said he wants to build this D like the Jags, which not only had one huge run stuffer up the middle, but two! I hope he holds true to that & doesn’t deviate to this theology/scheme that ya’ll are discussing! I mean heck, look at how we got shredded on the ground the last couple of years when we didn’t have effective NT play. We need a Big hog who can occupy two blockers & free up the LB’s, Hood would definitely be the wrong pick for us!!!
Of the top 15 D’s last year, only two subscribed to this theory Philly & Bears, & as i noted above once you look at their entire D’s, to what we currently have they are constructed totally differently, thus allowing them to opportunity to play this style of D & not us.
1 Minnesota
2 Pittsburgh
3 Baltimore
4 Philadelphia
5 Chicago
6 Tennessee
7 NY Jets
8 Washington
9 NY Giants
10 Miami
11 San Diego
12 Dallas
13 San Francisco
14 Jacksonville
15 New England
brewdawg
March 30th, 2009
8:37 pm
Mark,
Is there any fit anywhere that you approve of? Geez!
chuck
March 30th, 2009
9:00 pm
well i’m not sold on HOOD being worth the 24th but with the needs we have. maybe we should trade out of the 1st picking up an extra pick or two.then take a shot with Hood,or even Michael Johnson because i’m not as down on him as the rest of you might be, i say take one and yes i’m leaning towards GT. with J. Abraham getting older he could take him under his wing and teach him how to be a player. you see with Trey Lewis back and C. Davis moving J. Anderson inside we’ll be alright. now with the rest of the pks, arn’t you tired of getting all those lil DBs with D. Foxworth leaving do we have another DB 6′0 or better now it will be ashame if we didn’t get one or two CBs like, Vontae Davis, 6′1 4.40-4.45 Illi. Domonique Johnson, 6′2 4.34-4.40 Woodny Turenne, 6′1 4.45 Louisville, Kevin Barnes, 6′0 4.40-4.43 Ohio St. Malcon Jenkins, even Jahi Daniels is 6′0 nothing against small people playing but with all these 6′4 and up WRs we gotta have one at lease their are a lot of big safties in this draft to man we gotta look at them, Utah Sean Smith, Missouri William Moore, Oklahoma’s Nic Harris, Wake Forest Chip Vaughn and Clemsin’s Michael Hamlin. I’m just saying the WRs are too d### BIG FOR OUR SMALL CB…
Seminole Warrior
March 30th, 2009
9:08 pm
Nique, I’m simply suggesting that we may be moving in that direction. A review of the DTs on our roster at this time seems to support the chance. It will be an interesting prospect to watch unfold.
Seminole Warrior
March 30th, 2009
9:13 pm
Chuck…if Anderson moves inside, then we are playing with smaller tackles., i.e., the Tampa 2 scheme. I got blasted earlier for my comments on M. Johnson. Glenn, I will admit that I was overzealous in my critique of him. Your reviews were correct. I will admit that he has been productive but I still stand by my lack of consistency remarks.
spotts
March 30th, 2009
9:45 pm
Hagar the Horrible for me
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
10:12 pm
Something about Singletary’s comments always sounded odd to me, too, Ted. Rip a football player over his parents’ divorce?
Seminole, I think the Falcons are indeed moving toward a Jacksonville model, with a heaping helping of New England thrown in.
And BrewDawg … surely you know by now that I hate everything.
chuck
March 30th, 2009
11:10 pm
WELL WHAT YU THINK
Seminole Warrior
March 30th, 2009
11:12 pm
M-Brad: Abraham, Babs, Ziggy or Brace, and Davis. Has the makings of a nice front line if you ask me. Have a good night bro…been a long one. I’m off to the teepee for some rest. Back in the saddle tomorrow. Laters!! GO FALCONS!!
Ted Striker
March 30th, 2009
11:21 pm
I don’t know that Singletary will turn out to be a successful head coach but if you hear him out — and not just his selected sound bites — he makes more sense than say, Jim Mora, Jr. (That and $4.80 will get you a Big-Mac meal at the Prince Ave Mickey Ds in Athens)
Mark Bradley
March 30th, 2009
11:32 pm
I’ve been to that McDonald’s, usually for an Egg McMuffin on the morning of a Georgia game. I am one exotic individual, as you know.
And good night, Seminole Warrior. You’ve done yeoman’s duty here today. Many thanks.
Big Ray
March 30th, 2009
11:50 pm
Bradley,
I’m okay with Ziggy as the pick if TD and Smith thinks he’s the guy. Besides, I wouldn’t want everything at that position to hinge on either Trey Lewis (returning from injury), Jamal Anderson (light for the position, and has been playing DE anyway), and uh….not much else. Unless of course, they think they can get a good DT in the later rounds.
No, DT is a position they upgrade immediately unless TD and the crew figure they can get sigificantly more value at another spot (most likely on the defense).
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
12:17 am
Big Ray, you make big sense.
Monty Cash
March 31st, 2009
7:33 am
Probably just me, but I think Damon Evans is in way over his head. If you know what you are doing you don’t need a search consultant to find your next head coach. Damon was lucky to inherit a tremendous athletic program that was already built. I predict he will screw this up.
ugabball
March 31st, 2009
7:51 am
When I saw the headline, I thought Oh no Evander Holyfield is going to try football! He just won’t retire will he.
Jack
March 31st, 2009
10:55 am
Give us MORE Falcons news. You guys need to get some inside dirt or something…I am bored with it already
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
10:59 am
Yes, I’ll admit the headline — which I happened to write — was kind of a trick.
Tron5000
March 31st, 2009
11:22 am
Man, I had a crappy morning, but that Billy Gillespie video just brightened my day a bit. Thanks, Mark.
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
11:22 am
Espn reporting that UGA has offered anderson (sorry I am no good at links). Why he would take it, other than having “sec ties”, I have no idea. I mean, he is just getting started at Missouri. Why would he want to start all over with less talent at UGA? And if he does accept, what happens in 2 years if someone bigger comes calling?
Tron5000
March 31st, 2009
11:28 am
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4029709
There’s that link, brewdawg.
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
11:29 am
Thanks Tron
Tron5000
March 31st, 2009
11:32 am
A $700,000+ cherry on top of the $1.3 mil the article claims Missouri is offering would make it difficult to turn down UGA, I would think. If I were Evans, I would certainly discuss a buyout clause if Anderson left for another job within a certain time period (ideally, length of contract).
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
11:33 am
You’re welcome, Tron. I’m having a bad day myself. And thanks for doing my job and supplying the Mike Anderson link.
Tron5000
March 31st, 2009
11:47 am
That’s how I roll, Mark. And I should’ve said, “$1.3 mil sundae Missouri wants to serve Anderson,” but my brain isn’t working correctly.
I’ll admit, I’ve had my mind stuck on Michael Johnson, mostly ’cause I have Tech tickets and have seen in person his abilities an potential for the last few years. I think MJ playing opposite Abe would be murder on opposing lines and QB’s; can’t double both of them. And Jamaal Anderson…well, not so high on the young fella, I’m afraid. But I’m starting to entertain the thought of going elsewhere with the pick. I’ll have to check into this Ziggy character.
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
12:09 pm
I still stand by my prediction that Billy G will be the next head coach at UGA.
scott
March 31st, 2009
12:20 pm
Somebody mentioned earlier that Mel Kiper Jr. does not make much sense, or words to that effect. I concur with said opinion. Perhaps Mel doesn’t think clearly because he has a dead cat curled up on top of his head?
http://thesportshernia.typepad.com/blog/images/2007/04/29/mel_kiper_raging_hair_helmet.jpg
or
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sportshair.com/images/kiper_new.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sportshair.com/mel-kiper.htm&usg=__PU09LRTSQza0ZYR-aqQTHrAw4A4=&h=218&w=175&sz=8&hl=en&start=41&tbnid=xjgm46KeCS9KaM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=86&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmel%2Bkiper%2Bjr%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D40
Mike "THE REAL MEAL DEAL" Vick
March 31st, 2009
2:19 pm
Would you like… uh,… you know…. fries with that, Sir?
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
2:27 pm
Duly noted, BrewDawg.
I like Michael Johnson as a person and a player myself, Tron. But scouts, as I’ve said before, are a funny bunch. (Not to be confused with the Redskins’ Fun Bunch of 1982.)
And I’m probably too hard on ol’ Mel Kiper Jr., who obviously knows something, but he takes himself so seriously.
Ted Striker
March 31st, 2009
2:55 pm
Brew — I may eat my words but I’d surmise that “Gillispie being UGA’s next coach” would fall into the following category.
“I’m not going to be the Alabama coach.” — Nick Saban, 2006
“We don’t like their sound and guitar music is on the way out.” — Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.
“Drill for oil? Drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy.” — Drillers who refused Edwin Drake when he tried to enlist to their services for a drilling project in 1859.
“Whatever happens, the U.S. Navy is not going to be caught napping.” — Frank Knox, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, on December 4, 1941
“I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not me.” — Gary Cooper on his decision not to take the leading role in “Gone With The Wind.”
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
“The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives.” — Admiral William Leahy, U.S. Atomic Bomb Project.
“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
“The abdomen, the chest, and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon”. — Sir John Eric Ericksen, British surgeon, appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to Queen Victoria 1873.
“$100 million dollars is way too much to pay for Microsoft.” — IBM, 1982
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
2:57 pm
Having been wrong about pretty much everything, I read those lines and weep.
Ted Striker
March 31st, 2009
3:13 pm
I’ve never been disciplined enough to avoid going on record. Many of my friends have been as wrong as I was, it was just less obvious.
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Ted, as I’ve stated, I do have some reasoning behind my prediction : I just can’t see any reason for Anderson or Capel to come here, money be damned. The next in line criteria-wise seems to be Billy G. If I’m wrong, rest assured I’ll be the first to post saying so. This is just a friendly prediction anyway, not a “You are all idiots, Billy G is 100 percent coming to UGA”. If you want to see me make some more, ah, assertive remarks, please wait until the next article Mark writes about John Smoltz.
Voice of Reason
March 31st, 2009
4:48 pm
drafting a DT in the first round is moronic. Way too much money to an unproven non-”skill position” player.
Ted Striker
March 31st, 2009
5:16 pm
Brewdawg: All is well, my brother. I’m pro-brew, pro-dawg. (By extension, I’m pro-brewdawg!) We might occasionally differ in the nuance of our opinions, but — we’ll never be on opposite sides, so long as brew or dawgs come into the equation.
I’ve known Damon Evans for years and know him fairly well. He plays things exceptionally close to the vest when it comes to discussing specifics of his job but he’s crystal clear on certain things. His first qualifier for being a coach at UGA is this: a coach should represent the university exceptionally well. If a coach doesn’t do that — there’s a problem. Translation: If you’re a coach and you’re a poor ambassador, you won’t get a second look regardless of any other skill set.
Based simply on that, Billy Gillispie isn’t a guy Damon Evans is considering, not short list anyways.
Disclaimer: Damon may hire Gillispie, Mars may attack Lawrenceville, and the Braves may trade Chipper to the Falcons for Vick and 500 soccer balls. — Ted Striker, over and out.
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
5:37 pm
I just wish UGA would’ve fired Felton around the time Tubby left Kentucky. I’m pretty sure we’d have welcomed him back with open arms and vice versa.
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
6:33 pm
The Tubby-to-Minnesota jump happened so quickly it caught everyone by … well, not surprise but by total shock. Tubby decided he’d had enough at UK and told his agent to see what else was out there. A day later he was headed to the Land of 1,000 Lakes. Minnesota was stunned itself.
Tyger
March 31st, 2009
7:51 pm
Ziggy Hood had a whopping 1.5 sacks in 2008
brewdawg
March 31st, 2009
8:40 pm
Let’s assume, for fun, that Anderson takes the now open Memphis job, Capel says no, and Billy G is not a target for UGA. Where does Damon Evans go from there? And at what point does Bob Knight re-enter the discussion?
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
8:45 pm
After Ron Jirsa turns the job done, I’d guess.
Oh, and Ziggy Hood’s senior stats as listed on several Internet sites are apparently incorrect, Tyger. We went through this Monday
Ted Striker
March 31st, 2009
9:10 pm
Not saying I’d have hired him then but Lon Kruger was a guy I thought about when Dennis Felton was brought in. Ditto when I heard Felton was fired.
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
9:16 pm
You know, I threw out Lon Kruger’s name the day Felton was canned. Georgia could do a lot worse, especially now that Mike Anderson has chosen to stay at Missouri.
I’ll give you one more name to mull: Oliver Purnell of Clemson.
Ted Striker
March 31st, 2009
9:42 pm
I’ve always enjoyed your views, even if the planets didn’t align to make them agree with the majority of your readership.
Hadn’t heard about Anderson — thanks for the link.
Call me naive (just don’t call me Shirley) but I’m still not worried about UGA’s hire. I dunno about Oliver P. but I might be biased because of one thing. Regardless of sport, Clemson has a way of embracing the pooch when it’s crunch time.
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
9:46 pm
Thanks again, Ted. And, from Georgia’s perspective, you have to wonder why Purnell’s teams are in the habit of starting 17-0 and then crashing in the NCAA tournament. That would trouble me.
ugabball
March 31st, 2009
10:06 pm
Would Jay Wright be completely out of the question? Probably yes but it would be great.
Mark Bradley
March 31st, 2009
10:12 pm
I like Jay Wright a lot. Indeed, if I were king of all hoops and I were looking for a guy to coach my team for the next 15 years, he’d be that guy. But I can’t see him leaving a Final Four program to coach Georgia.
Might he leave Villanova for UConn? That’s something else entirely.
V-103 Listener
March 31st, 2009
10:41 pm
MY HATERZ MAKE ME STRONGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ugabball
April 1st, 2009
8:07 am
Dear Mark and the AJC. The Atlanta Hawks are the home team for Atlanta. The city in which your paper is published. You can stop treating them as being located in Pigs Knuckle Arkansas. You would have no idea they had a game last night by the front page of the online sports section today. There is not even a headline about them. I dug in the website and did find that they lost. I guess seeing a bride and groom cut a wedding cake is a bigger sports story.
Kyle
April 1st, 2009
8:56 am
If I’m the Falcons, I am talking to Denver right now. Hold on its not what you think. The Broncos are having to trade Cutler so they need a QB… And the Falcons just happen to have this guy named Vick still on the payroll.(technically) so trying to think ahead of the curve, if the birds brass can ship him out and maybe get a little something in return or help work out a three-way deal that would be awesome. and I’m sure laudable by all, well, except PETA. But seriously Vick to Denver, Culter to wherever and few guys and/or draft picks to Den and Atl?
frank
April 1st, 2009
11:58 am
How about them cats mark? Calamari is definetly an upgrade.
truth-serum
April 2nd, 2009
5:18 pm
Attorney: Vick to work construction after jail
Imprisoned QB likely to testify in bankruptcy hearing in Va.
By JEREMY REDMON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Newport News, Va. – As former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick quietly watched in court this morning, his team of bankruptcy attorneys made substantial progress in settling objections filed by key creditors.
Michael Blumenthal, Vick’s lead attorney today, outlined proposed settlements with the Internal Revenue Service and the Virginia Department of Taxation. The two taxing agencies, which filed objections to Vick’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy, have said Vick owes $696,930 combined in back federal and state taxes, penalties and interest.
Michael Vick at the 2007 press conference where he apologized for his role in dogfighting.MORE ON MICHAEL VICK
Michael Vick is banking on return to NFL
Vick is expected to testify either today or tomorrow. He has already been offered a job to work at a local construction company for an hourly wage 40 hours a week once he leaves prison, Blumenthal said.
“He is going to turn a new leaf,” Blumenthal said. “He has learned from what occurred in his life.”
According to the Associated Press, Vick plans to work for $10 an hour at one of W.M. Jordan Co.’s 40 commercial construction jobs, said John Robert Lawson. His father, Robert Lawson, helped start the Newport News company.
Lawson, 57, said that he has known Vick for more than 10 years and that they have been involved in charitable work together. He said Vick’s representatives approached him when he was turned away by other employers.
“I believe all of us make mistakes, and once you’ve fulfilled your commitment and paid the price, you should be given a second chance,” Lawson said in a telephone interview with the AP.
“He’s not a bad person. He made some bad choices,” Lawson said
Peyton Youmans
April 9th, 2009
3:06 pm
Mark, I’ve been reading your columns for decades, so having you reference my article on Bleacher Report is exceptionally freaking cool. Thanks.
Mark Bradley
April 9th, 2009
3:39 pm
You’re welcome, Peyton.
Bradley's Buzz: Danger, Jair Jurrjens! Danger! | Mark Bradley
April 13th, 2009
9:01 am
[...] drafts, shouldn’t I be able to flip-flop one measly time?) Don’t know if it’ll be Evander (Ziggy) Hood, but I wouldn’t gripe if it [...]
A very special Bradley's Buzz: The inaugural all-draft edition! | Mark Bradley
April 23rd, 2009
7:05 am
[...] Lombardi opt instead for the Missouri defensive tackle Evander (Ziggy) Hood, about whom Buzz has written already. Pete Prisco has them taking Darius Butler, a cornerback from Connecticut. Clark Judge goes with [...]