Falcons Make Fans Happy, Sign Grady Jackson

by Dave the Falconer on Jul 28, 2008 6:46 PM EDT in Falcons News Comment 4 comments

For reasons I don't entirely claim to understand, many of you have been desperately clamoring for Grady Jackson. I like the idea of having the guy on as a stopgap starter or depth, but it's unclear just how much is left in the tank for our friend Grady. His size has always been his chief asset, and when that weight meets advanced age he's going to cease to be effective at all..

Still, it makes a lot of sense with reports that Trey Lewis might miss the rest of the year. The team chose to go into training camp with the ultimate platter of mediocrity and now is left with the prospect of Jon Babineaux (maybe) and a lot of guys who have never been more than serviceable. Jackson is at least a vet with a proven track record who can probably give us value at nose tackle in front of our powerful corps of linebackers. I wouldn't pencil him in ahead of guys like Montavius Stanley just yet, but he's got a very good shot to end up there.

Just don't expect miracles from Grady Jackson.

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Welcome back Grady!

I love this signing. With Trey Lewis out we desperately needed a NT because we are loaded with a roster full of 3 Techniques. All Grady has to do is not get pushed backwards and I will be happy, our other 3 lineman will be able to generate the pass rush.

by Kevin71 on Jul 28, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's why

Grady has experience and he’s freaking huge and in the least will be able to slow any attempts to run up the middle and give our better than average linebackers more a chance to stop the run altogether. Sure, he’s a little old, probably a little slow, and he won’t get us five or more sacks, but he’s smart and strong. Plus, with Trey Lewis injured, there is absolutely no reason we don’t make this signing. Heck, he even played seven games in Jacksonville last year, so he knows Coach Smith’s defensive scheme better than anyone on the team and that to me is a valuable asset because you don’t have to spend so much time teaching and waiting for a younger player to get it all. He goes from being a student to a teacher’s aid on the field, if that makes sense.

Another point is that it’s a very easy and cheap addition to depth. What happens if we don’t make this signing and Babi gets hurt? Who do we throw in then? I can promise you it wouldn’t be pretty and then we would all be clamoring and whining that we didn’t do this before the season started.

by Jesse28 on Jul 29, 2008 7:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hit the nail on the hammer, or the hammer on the nail...whatever

Exactly! Experience and he provides some quality depth. I mean, he might be old and really really really fat, but he’s gotta be better than Montavius Stanley!

"You never know what I'm going to do..."
- Michael Vick (Palm Beach Post 11/6/2005)

by jamesrael on Jul 29, 2008 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jabba the Hutt returns!

Even with his limitations, he’s a valuable addition to our underperforming DL. Nothing against the man, but I hope we have enough talent in a few years that we don’t need him. In the meantime, hope Grady stays healthy and watches his cholesterol.

"There's no such word as 'quit' in swamp buggy racing, Marigold"

by tom slick on Jul 29, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs