Atlanta Falcons Column

By: Mike Sullivan

5/2/09

With the draft complete it is always time to sit back and grade each team's efforts. With this draft, you must include two big transactions made prior to the draft. With the free agent signing of linebacker Mike Peterson from Jacksonville and the trade for Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons leap to the forefront when mentioning NFC Super Bowl hopefuls. Peterson and Gonzalez fill huge holes vacated by the loss of Keith Brooking and the 2008 departure of Alge Crumpler. "Gonzo" give Matt Ryan another target to go along with wideouts Michael Jenkins and Pro-Bowler Roddy White. Combining an efficient passing game with the punishing ground game of Michael Turner and Jerrious Norwood, could mean the defense spends less time that it did on the field in 2008. Barring stupid NFL rules for hosting playoffs games (ATL 11-5, while ARIZ was 9-7) and a costly mental lapse by Keith Brooking on 3rd and 17 and the "Dirty Birds" could find themselves with a trip to Miami.

The defense was upgraded via the draft by selecting DT Peria Jerry from Ole Miss. Jerry was quite the dominant DT Alabama's Terrance Cody or BC's BJ Raji was, however this guy can play. His fits the Falcons scheme perfectly and can clog up the running game the way Grady Jackson used to. Jerry is no Jackson when it comes to size, but he uses his combination of strength and quickness to give double teams headaches. In round two Missouri's William Moore was selected to replace the departed Lawyer Milloy. Moore held a 1st round grade from several teams but others felt his hips were too "stiff" in coverage and he was too big to play SS. He reminded others of Thomas Davis when he came out of Georgia, as the Panthers converted him to a LB. The best selection on day two was DE Lawrence Sidbury from Richmond. The 6'3" Sidbury is an accomplished pass rusher and will be an upgrade from Jamaal Anderson on passing situations. Also, CB William Middleton from Furman, who is a thick corner that can really run. He can be used in nickel and dime coverages. Overall draft grade B-. Jerry and Sidbury are great values where they were drafted. Moore was a decent 2nd rounder, but I thought Rashad Johnson at safety made more sense. Next year's draft should lie heavily on offense with the line and possibly a WR to replace the free agent to be in Jenkins.

3/7/09

While many teams are spending heavily in free agency, the Falcons have played it close to the vest thus far. The team has re-signed several key role players and backups such as DE Chauncey Davis, LB Coy Wire, TE Justin Peele, OL Ben Wilkerson, and DB’s Antoine Harris and Brent Grimes. Perhaps the biggest of all the re-signs is S Jamaal Fudge. With the departure of Lawyer Milloy, Fudge will be a figure counted on heavily in the defensive backfield. While many fans are unhappy that management has not gone after some of the big names in free agency such as Albert Haynesworth, Ray Lewis, and TJ Houshmandzadeh, others just wanted long time Falcons stars to be retained. Defensive stalwarts Keith Brooking and Michael Boley signed with the Cowboys and Giants respectively. Although he had only one season in the ATL, Dominique Foxworth has quietly teamed with Chris Houston to form a formidable cornerback tandem. Foxworth joins an already talent rich defensive backfield in Baltimore. There are several high profile free agents following being released fro former teams. Terrell Owens, Tory Holt, Roy Williams, Marvin Harrison and Derrick Brooks are all talented, aging, and probably not on the Falcons radar. Owens is a locker room cancer, Holt and Harrison have lost a step, while Williams is oft injured. Brooks is the oldest of the group at 36 but stills plays at Pro Bowl caliber. With the loss of Brooking and Boley, Brooks could be a valuable leader in the clubhouse and is a viable sideline to sideline tackler.

Looking ahead at the draft, several theories have surfaced as to which way the Falcons will look with the #24 pick. In my opinion, Lb is the first area of need. With the emergence of Curtis Lofton at the Mike position, the OLB seems to be the pick. At #24, Rey Maualuga figures to be off the board, so all signs point to Ohio State head hunter James Laurinaitis would fit just fine. Much in the mold of Keith Brooking, the son of former WWE wrestler, Animal, a member of the Road Warriors, can fill the gap beautifully and can range sideline to sideline. A decent rusher off the blitz, Laurinaitis excels in pass coverage and has a nose for the ball. At 6’2”, 245 lbs. he has the speed to play outside and the bulk to play inside.

Other positions that need upgrading are TE, OL, DE, and safety. In round two TE Chase Coffman or Shawn Nelson, who had a tremendous Senior Bowl week could be the answer. If safety is the choice, Atlanta could pick up Alabama’s Rashad Johnson in round three.