Stabbing Guessward: Falcons Starters, Attempt Two

by Dave Choate on Jul 6, 2008 10:09 PM EDT in Falcons News

Our second guess returns after a couple months worth of observations and beats out training camp, which will give us a much clearer idea of how this is going to shake out. As always, feel free to disagree or praise my methodology.

After the jump, check-check-check it.

QB Chris Redman

RB Michael Turner

FB Ovie Mughelli

WR Roddy White

WR Laurent Robinson

TE Ben Hartsock

LT Harvey Dahl

LG Justin Blalock

C Todd McClure

RG Kynan Forney

RT Tyson Clabo

DE John Abraham

DT Jon Babineaux

DT Kindal Moorehead

DE Jamaal Anderson

OLB Keith Brooking

MLB Curtis Lofton

OLB Michael Boley

CB Chris Houston

FS Erik Coleman

SS Thomas DeCoud

CB Brent Grimes

K Jason Elam

P Michael Koenen

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Comments

Hmm...

I almost feel like you put that roster out there to spur controversy…er, I mean, invite worthwhile discussion.

Two positions where I absolutely disagree:
Milloy and Coleman will hold down the safety positions. DeCoud is the future (which isn’t far off), but he’ll contribute most on special teams.

Dahl has a lot of moxy, but he won’t beat out Baker. Baker might not start at LT, but he’ll start before Dahl will.

I would justify the aforementioned conclusions, but traffic on this site is a little weak right now (meaning I will wait until someone responds to my comment to get into it). Plus, Dave didn’t justify his roster choices. So there!

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

by jamesrael on Jul 7, 2008 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

Thoughts on Dahl, DeCoud

I am inclined to agree with James; I do not beleive that either Dahl or DeCoud will be starting. I have a feeling Baker will get the bulk of the snaps (thats what starter means to me, who plays the most). Milloy will still get on the field due to his experience and the need for a field general out ther to direct the young corners.

I also think you should list two starting tight ends, because I think Smith’s gonna feature the 2 TE set quite a bit, and the teams best chance at success hinges on the bookend tight ends taking pressure off the offensive line.

That being said Hartstock and Milner will be on the field ALOT.

by Hamburger on Jul 7, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Our Day One Starters

Offense:
WR-X: White
LT: Clabo
LG: Blalock
C: McClure
RG: Forney
RT: Foster
TE: Hartsock
WR-Z: Robinson
QB: Redman-(Shockley is waiting; Harrington should be looking for a new job)
FB: Mughelli
RB: Turner

Defense:
LDE: Abraham
LNT: Lewis-(2 nose tackles!)
RNT: T. Anderson-(That’s right 2 nose tackles! Remember the Ravens Championship D-Line!)
RDE: J. Anderson
WLB: Brooking
MLB: Lofton®
SLB: Boley
LCB: Grimes(Is the front-runner but Irons is not far behind him. Also, watch out for the rook, Jackson)
SS: Milloy
FS: Coleman
RCB: Houston
K: Elam
P: Koenen

But to be honest, Ryan better start ($72 mil/$34 mil guaranteed)!!! He is the highest paid QB ever, therefore he should play like he’s the highest paid ever. If he is to get Manning, Brady, or Palmer money day one, then he should play accordingly. But it’s not Ryan’s fault that he has an owner that will pay him more than any other rookie player eventhough his talent does not clearly outshine his competitors: Brohm, Woodson, Henne. That is a lot of pressure to put on a first year player.

FREE MIKE VICK!

by THE ICON KING E on Jul 7, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

Day one Starters

This is the lineup that will start and win the first game (Detroit) !

QB Redman
RB Turner
FB Mughelli
WR White
WR Robinson
TE Hartsock
LT Baker
LG Blalock
C McClure
RG Forney
RT Clabo/Weiner (If Healthy)
DE Abraham
DT Babineaux
DT Lewis
DE Anderson
OLB Brooking
MLB Lofton
OLB Boley
CB Houston
FS Coleman
SS Milloy
CB Grimes or Jackson
K Elam
P Koenen
Kickoff Returner Norwood
Punt Returner Douglas

by remoley on Jul 7, 2008 9:38 PM EDT reply actions

Dahl, DeCoud

I think I can make a much stronger case for DeCoud. This is a team building for the future, and Milloy is declining and plays at a position where at least two young guys (Stone, DeCoud) are arguably better than him right this moment. I think DeCoud’s lack of off-the-field trouble and ability to learn quickly may well get him a shot at starting Week 1. I will acknowledge that Milloy’s the only guy with more than five years of experience in that entire secondary, which means he could stick. I’ve just got a hunch that the coaching staff likes DeCoud more than they’ve let on.

For Dahl, it’s simply based on fairly recent reports that the coaching staff likes him and thinks he can survive at LT. I don’t expect him to be there very long if he starts (because of Baker), but I think he could. I don’t really have a great defense for that pick.

Football is not a contact sport. It's a collision sport. Dancing is a good example of a contact sport. ~Duffy Daugherty

by Dave Choate on Jul 7, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Milloy

It will be Milloy starting, at least to begin the season. The money being paid and his experience almost demand that he start over DeCoud. That’s always the trend in professional sports. Plus I think you want Milloy back there at the start of the season because of his experience. We need someone out there who can teach the younger guys on the field, while a game is going on. Players tend to stick to players and I would be willing to bet that the younger players would listen more to what another veteran player is telling them than some new coach they don’t know.

Now, that doesn’t mean that he could lose the starting job if he blows coverage a lot and I think DeCoud will get his fair shot sooner rather than later.

by Jesse28 on Jul 8, 2008 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions