Draft: Alex Mack?
by iRonin on Dec 9, 2008 11:17 PM EST
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PrintI'm looking over things, and it seems like our biggest need, DT, isn't going to be found in the draft this year. Sure a guy like Cody could come in and replace Grady Jackson on running downs, but where's the gap shooter/pass rusher? There's no Rod Coleman type in this draft.
My next thought would be to draft a TE. A blocker first, but with hands, kinda like Hartsock with Stick 'Em. There are a few, but most of the high round draft picks are going to be the receiving type, and the blocking types can usually fall to us in the second.
Other needs? Well there's Safety. Seems like Moore out of MO is the leading candidate there, who'll probably be gone by the time we get to draft. The only other possibility for first round talent is going to be Mays out of USC, if he comes out. The S class just isn't very deep. I'd like to see S and DT addressed in FA, unless there's some diamond we're looking for in the later rounds. Regardless, I don't think it's the right move with our first pick.
Well, I'm running out of needs that I think are crucial to the Falcons' growth. Only two left are 1.) New RT and 2.) New C. Apparently Mack is supposed to have not just the physical skills, but the mental skills as well, a la Jeff Saturday. A combination like that is tough to come by, but would make for a helluva line (Baker/Blaylock/Mack/Dahl/NEWGUY). While the draft is quite some time away, I thought I'd just throw this out there for discussion. I'm not firmly settling on the players or positions I want until closer to April, but I think this is worth keeping an eye as a way to maximize our pick's value and fill a position of need.
This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.
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This post is oddly familiar
BUT here are my thoughts:
I personally disagree about Cody. But it doesn’t matter. Because he is staying for his senior year. So … I’ll save that argument for a later time. As for getting a DT via free agency, Haynesworth would be my pick (I’m sure I’m not alone). But we’ll see whether we can afford him. Plus, with that temper, the good Comrade might not want to go that route. Tank Johnson and his new-and-improved attitude might work though. Depends on whether Jerry Jones busts out his wallet. I’m thinking he will.
So, truthfully, the draft might be our best bet. Especially if Grady can go another year (if only in a part time w/ whatever rook we could potentially draft). A lot of pundits have Marks out of Auburn (behind Cody) as the second best (potential) DT in the draft. Dude seems undersized though. Vince Oghobaase out of Duke and Dorell Scott out of Clemson are developmental DT w/ substantial size and respectable speed who have shown an ability to get to the QB at the college level. They’re both draftable in later rounds, so that might work out well for us.
PLUS, you can’t forget Trey Lewis!
As for a TE, I completely agree. Block and catch. Well. Please. Thank You. Pettigrew out of OK State would be amazing. But we’d have to get him late in the first round or in the second round. He’ll be gone by the third round. But dude is an excellent blocker (he apparently takes a lot of pride in his blocking), runs a decent route and has VERY good hands. If you are reading this Comrade (in my dreams), draft Pettigrew!
No thoughts at safety yet … I’ll let ya know though.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
Oh, and about Mack
Homeboy won’t go in the first round. There is too much LT talent. Which works for us. You’re right, he’s very smart and a great leader, in addition to his athletic ability.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
Mack
is being touted Eric Mangold but better by some sites. That would be hard to pass up. I agree with Iro on the fact that DT is gonna be a thin spot in this draft, and we may not get our man there. Trey Lewis coming back full speed would be a GREAT help.
Not to mention Mack would help move those fat DTs we get in the NFC South and beyond. He is a mammoth at C.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
Dont forget Iro,
when spelling out that Baker, Blaylock, Mack, Dahl, new guy lineup that CLABO can play G and maybe give us a bigger body for the RG spot!
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
Keith Brooking?
What about a potential replacement for ageing Brooking? i can’t see him keeping production up for much longer…
go hard or go home
TO Falcon
I think your right. Nicholas could play in his spot, but we definately need another LB or two if Boley and Brooking depart.
Look how good Loftons been this year. Rookie LBs can come in and have immediate impact.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
Linebackers
What’s the deal with Nicholas? Does anyone have ANY insight?
I thought he was probably one of Bobby Petrino’s best pickups, after Chris Houston and a healthy Laurent Robinson. Is he not getting playing time because of Brooking, or does this staff just not like him? I’m loathe to question the staff at this point on personnel decisions, and if he’s not what they’re looking for, then I guess it’s time to make a move, but hell’s bells, he sure looked solid to me, especially in a system that doesn’t seem to ask a lot out of it’s LBs.
I don’t have anyone in mind for a solid LB to take, and I’m not sure there’s someone that’ll be right for us with our first round pick, so LBs might be a later concern.
As for Clabo playing guard, I guess he’d make good depth, but I think Dahl has locked in his starting spot. Maybe if we need to run an overload set, and bring in guys like Clabo to line up at TE for a true power set, that’d work fine. Clabo’s good enough to backup these guys and flexible enough that he’s exactly the time of backup lineman you want. Weiner’s time, though well spent this season, has got to be coming to an end. For me, it’s all about developing line chemistry, and I’d like to see this team get the group of 7 or 8 guys (including the 5 starters) in here, in camp, and learning and gelling ASAP.
Here’s where I start drooling though: Manning and Saturday. We’ve already seen the impact Saturday has on the line calls in a no-huddle situation. Can anyone forget how Field General-esque Ryan looks out there in the no-huddle? Now let’s get him his franchise center, one of those West Coast boys (he and Baker can reminisce about what real beaches look like, until they can both go to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii the following season), and as Hunter S. Thompson says, “Res ipsa loquitur: let the good times roll.”
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
EDIT
When I say “I don’t have anyone in mind for a solid LB to take…” that’s an invitation and prayer for suggestions. I don’t imagine we’ll Laurenitis fall to us, so does anyone have some realistic linebacker possibilities for WLB?
I suppose a pertinent consideration would be whether or not Lofton is capable of being the “brains” of the defense. He’s got a nose for the football, but can he quarterback a defense? If so, I guess we just need talent, but if not we’ve gotta find someone who can fill ALL of Brooking’s roles.
We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.
Linebackers
I don’t have much insight but i seem to remember reading somewhere that Smitty wasn’t too keen on Nicholas because he’s slightly undersized.
ps. I have a man crush on Michael Boley and if he leaves as a free agent, you will see a man in his twenties crying like the day his girlfriend trod on his heart………….
go hard or go home
I'm tellin' ya
Weiners knees are going to explode. I hope it happens on the very last play of our Super Bowl win this year. That’d be a heck of a way to go out.
Think the res ipsa joke might fall on deaf ears. But nice try (hahaha) …
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
Iro
There is an OLB from USC that is late 1st 2nd material i think. A walk on if im not mistaken…
Clabo played some G for us before, just meant he could be a versatile guy to have play any position. To me, Dahl has got to cut down on the penalties and such.
Dont forget we drafted “the Beast” Robert James last year and hes already on IR. Hopefully he could step in, but i think he’s a SS\OLB hybrid.
FWIW, i saw nicholas a lot about 3 weeks ago and now nothing since.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
OK
I’m willing to rosterbate all day long, but if you don’t even know the guy’s name, why would you suggest him? Do a little research. It’s called Google, it freakin’ rules.
Also, you think Dahl needs to cut down on penalties? I don’t know what O-Line you’ve been watching, but Clabo is the one w/ penalty issues IMO.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
cushing
lb from usc, hes a real fiery guy and would fit into our system nicely. tapate the man your talking about is clay mathews who is also a good lb, little small for the nfl though i think.
by iloveroddywhite on Dec 10, 2008 7:47 PM EST reply actions
to add
i hope boley doesnt leave. he should see something special is brewing in atl.
by iloveroddywhite on Dec 10, 2008 7:48 PM EST reply actions
Boley
i sure hope doesn’t leave, although his production is way down from years past. Not sure why…scheme?
I have a job FW. Cant spend time googling some randar lb. But hey, you can!
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
Sounds like you have a crappy job
Takes two seconds to look up prospects. Nice try w/ the ad hominem. Must suck be uninformed. But hey, thanks for sharing your lack of knowledge.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
One day,
you two will just need to rent a parking lot and duel it out.
We’re all Falcons fans people. Keep it civil, please. No need for infighting, especially when we should be hoping our Birds make playoffs.
Besides, the draft business can wait until the season’s over, in my opinion.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 2:21 PM EST up reply actions
Hey
I’m w/ ya. Keepin’ it civil is all fine and good. But if we are going to talk about something, let’s do so intelligently people!
Draft talk might be a little premature for some people (i.e., you care to talk about other Falcons-related content or you haven’t had time to research the matter). If you fall into that category, no need to comment, at least not specifically.
For example. If you haven’t had time to research the matter, pointing out that we need some OLB help next year is completely valid. As I’m sure that fact is apparent to most of the posters on this site. Comments like “I think there might be a USC lb we could look at … I heard he’s a first or second rounder” (obviously that’s a paraphrase, but I think it’s accurate)" don’t add a whole lot though.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
I don't research prospects.
I let others tell me who we should draft because I am a lazy dude.
Also, I think we should draft the entire Alabama OL. And maybe Wolverine as a CB. We already have Iceman in the pocket.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
Which is totally fine
But there are people that want to have fruitful discussions about our draft prospects. You may think it’s premature … so don’t participate.
I totally get where you’re coming from. I don’t mean to be negative. Carry on good sir!
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
There's a reason I don't offer many opinions on the draft.
I don’t have any! Badump CSHHH!
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 3:08 PM EST up reply actions
You misinterpreted my meaning
utterly and completely. Serves me right for attempting a little joke, perhaps Barney Fife will lock me up for THAT.
Meh
You know a thing or two about football, but you sir are not comedian.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
Wow
That was an epic clash between the South Park generation and the Rocky and Bullwinkle generation.
Where has the subtlety gone?
And Franky, tom was actually making fun of me for trying to mediate your exchange with tapate50. He’s referring to me as doing the whole “citizen’s arrest” thing and butting into ya’lls argument.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
Appreciate you as a mediator ... You do it well
Guess I missed that one. Never really watched the Andy Griffith Show. Although Ron Howard is a kick ass director, IMO.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
No offense intended, tlozwarlock...
Barney Fife was always SO effective defusing volatile situations on TV, I was certain that his imposing visage would have an equally calming (and hopefully humorous) effect here! Nothing personal intended, by any means.
Toto, I guess we’re just not in Mayberry anymore. Cheers!
lol None taken tom.
I do a bang on impression of Mr. Fife, actually. Thank god I don’t look like him though. I’m more an Opie type, just with muscles. Got the freckles and red hair though!
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
To this day, it still cracks me up
when Barney gets excited and starts digging furiously in his shirt pocket for his lone bullet. Too bad Don Knotts pulled a Shelley Long, and left his signature role of a lifetime. He was the key that made that show work.
If the Falcons ever have an Andy Griffith Day, I’m going as Otis, my mentor and role model…
Well I'm Barney. That leaves Dave
to be Andy.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 11, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
WHAT an HONOR!
Dave must be on his knees thanking Vishnu for such unexpected (and unsolicited) good fortune! I just hope he can manage to stay humble about it all…
Gonna be HELL finding our Aunt Bee, I predict.
Who's Otis?
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 12, 2008 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
Wait, you are. So that leaves Gomer
and Aunt B. Any takers?
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 12, 2008 2:04 PM EST up reply actions
You people
Are completely insane.
Though my love of Matlock implies that I am, in fact, Andy.
by Dave Choate on Dec 16, 2008 12:02 AM EST up reply actions
WOW.
http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/olb/Clay-Matthews.php
I have a great job, but between putting in apps, and rating up new accts, leaves a few minutes of mindless internet babble to my time, so i look when i can… if not, no big whup. Its called being productive. Sorry i couldnt pinpoint a guy that ive heard\seen good things from… it will never happen again, id hate to make you go on another tangent. We all would im sure… Thanks for pointing out my error.
" No, I think I'll sit in the balcony " - Abe Lincoln
Dude
I understand you have a job. I’m a student, so I obviously have more time than you. All I’m saying is that your generalized comment about “some linebacker from USC” didn’t add anything to the convo.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
it added
a suggestion which was then researched. So i say he did a lot. You wouldnt have been talking about him is he hadnt of said it.
In fact i don’t understand your point a single iota.
go hard or go home
Fair enough
Look … I’m not trying to bash on tapate50. I am trying to encourage worthwhile discussion. Maybe you and tapate50 should go start your own thread and talk about meaningless crap if that is what floats your boat.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
What is the need for this 'meaningless crap'
I think you sir have posted more meaningless crap in this thread than either of us have the whole site.
This site is relatively small and needs the hit stream to get advertising money, besides the fact its petty and pathetic, what is the point in being hostile to other posters?
He did add something to the conversation, and no one else has a problem.
Stop being pathetic and wasting everyone elses time and try not posting unless you have something meaningful yourself.
Im surprised Dave hasn’t stepped in already.
go hard or go home
Friend
“What is the point in being hostile to other posters?”
That wasn’t my intent. My intent was to get tapate50 to put a little more effort into his comments.
I’m not trying to argue w/ you or anyone else for that matter. Let me go ahead and preemptively apologize. I think my desire for fruitful, meaningful, informed dialogue has led me to be, well … somewhat rude.
If a fellow Falcons fan is too busy, preoccupied, etc. to engage in meaningful dialogue about a particular topic, who I am to judge? Tapate50 … until you have time to research our potential draft picks, feel free to add whatever cursory thoughts you may have. You won’t hear another peep from me.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
ALSO
Have you considered why there are so few posters on this site? Might it have to do w/ some of the quality of what is being posted (excluding what Dave posts of course)? I am guilty of posting a useless/meaningless post or two … as are you. I’m just saying: If we all put a little more effort into researching our posts (as opposed to treating this like some kind of dysfunctional social club), this site could grow, prosper, etc.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
the point of a forum
is he can post what he likes. I resent being posted to in the manner you did (“Maybe you and tapate50 should go start your own thread and talk about meaningless crap if that is what floats your boat.”)
I feel that while i may not agree with what someone has to say its my duty to defend their right to say it (cant remember where that is from :p couldnt be bothered do any research ; ) )
As far as to why the site is little…..
1. its the largest one of the SB nation forums
2. Its to do with traffic and exposure, rarely content.
3. Usually with the “meaningful”, in depth posting comes elitist mentalities and smaller site, same as any situation where you get more specific and exclusive.
4. Have you ever been on the Atlantafalcons.com forum, i have never seen so much nonsense and irrelvent posts in all my life, but boy do they have a large membership. Exposure.
The more we bad mouth each other the worse it gets, people feel intimidated and leave, people see intimidation and don’t want to join because they feel they wont be ‘go enough’ to participate. surely all bad exposure.
go hard or go home
I'm w/ ya
No need to intimidate people. I would never recommend or endorse that. I again apologize for being rude (as I did above). I think there’s a healthy balance that can be struck here. Tapate50, if you have time to read this, I am sorry. Please don’t let my criticism discourage you from posting here in the future.
"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
That's one big check.
And I ain’t talkin’ a Publisher’s Clearing House job either.
"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."
by Adam Schultz on Dec 12, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions
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