Save Our Cornerbacking Corps, David Irons!

by Dave the Falconer on Mar 16, 2008 1:14 AM EDT in Falcons News Comment 6 comments

Photo Credit: 49ers.com

The D-Hall trade to Oakland isn't yet official. If we do launch our #1 cornerback out of a cannon and send him on his way, the Falcons will have a variety of options to fill his spot. The most likely one at the moment is that Chris Houston will be thrown forcibly into the fire, which seems appropriate given how badly he's likely to be burned. While Houston takes his lumps and tries to grow into the role, the Falcons will have to line someone up opposite him. If you read the title of this post, you can guess what I'm advocating.

David Irons for #2 corner!

Wait, you say. Isn't this the same David Irons who had his size and speed questioned coming out of Auburn last year? The one who was a late round pick? The one who hardly got into the game under Petrino's watch? Foolish, you say! Blasphemy, you cry!

Hell, though, there's a lot to like. Irons was pretty successful in a big-time college program at Auburn, for one thing. At 5'11 and about 190, he's not as tiny as he's made out to be, though he and I could probably switch places and no one would be the wiser. He's also got good speed and has a knack for getting to the ball, with plenty of knockdowns in college. Irons also tackles well and by all indications is a willing worker out on the field. On a lot of teams in the league, all of that wouldn't be enough to propel him to the #2 slot, but I'd rather see him there than the prospect or two we're sure to draft.

The way I see it, the Falcons can line up Houston, Irons, Von Hutchins and Brent Grimes/rookie in that order and have a reasonable facsimile of a cornerbacking corps. While I expect growing pains out of what will pretty much have to be a young unit again, I have high hopes for Houston and Irons. If the rumors around the team are true, the Falcons brass is seriously considering giving Irons that run. I firmly believe he won't disappoint.

Thoughts?

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Worth a look

Irons had a pretty fair amount of buzz when he was drafted last year. Afterwards, I don't remember much further news about him. Was he hurt, or did Petrino not give him a chance? The Falcons certainly can't deny him an opportunity to compete for a starting job this year.

With 11 draft picks, I hope they take at least one or two DBs. The team's needs are pretty broad.

A good pass rush can compensate for a lot of problems in the secondary, though. Remember Van Brocklin's great defensive teams in the early 1970s with Claude Humphrey and John Zook at DE? The DBs were pretty average, but the pass rush usually dominated. Hope that The Comrade prioritizes the defensive line in the short-term.

by tom slick on Mar 16, 2008 2:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

GOOD!

Get the hall on up the road...

I predicted and failed that Kyle Turley would eventually wind up in the Black Hole, but this move makes sense...

The Raiders covet & hoard malcontents and he'll quietly go away to an oblivious end to his overrated career. (Unless of course, Lil Mora coaches elsewhere next year and M goes with him)

Glad to see the new regime doing what they said they'll do and that's get rid of whining players and the over-the-hill gang. (Having said that, still not sure why Brooking's still there...)

2 draft picks....not bad.

by btcvsolo on Mar 16, 2008 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With or without Hall, its gonna be a rough year

The draft picks will be more helpful in the long run, and this could help speed up the maturation of Irons and Houston. Its not like having two second year corners will be the one factor this team out of the playoffs. The team would likely be best served by the two of them learning by experience this season.

by SG Standard on Mar 16, 2008 10:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or...

We still have the option to trade down to the middle of the first round and try to pick up Aqib Talib and maybe even pick up another pick later during the trade-down. A worse idea would be to snatch in with the third pick but that would be ungodly stupid so let's hope not. At this point though, the whole reasoning for trading down just seems like such a moot point that even I am starting to not consider it, unless of course some team is dying to pick up McPadre or Ryan, then maybe.

I am now officially changing my tune and saying that we should pick up OT Long followed by any combination of Dorsey/Ellis/Long depending on who's there when the time comes. The draft can't come soon enough.

by Jesse on Mar 17, 2008 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!!

For all his talking and all his off the field athletism he never translated that into "shutdown" corner play.
We've all seen him get burned by #2 WR's and he's a elite corner?? Did the meaning of "shutdown" change into almost can cover a #1 WR??
With all the Tampa 2 defense being played is there a real need to pay a corner 70 million??
I'm just saying the Pat's don't have one the Giants don't have one and the list goes on and on.
My point is a CB is a hard position to paly anyone with football knowledge will agree to that but to pay a guy that got outran by a palyer with one shoe off and flaps his jaws to the point of getting flagged for it the type of player you want to pay that kinda money to??
Guess thats why he's still a Falcon as of 2:00pm on March 20th.
I hope the Falcons unload him and whomever takes his place has a pro bowl year just to give him the "bird" one last time!!!

by gasportsfan on Mar 20, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs