The Falcons Could Lose Two Defensive Linemen

by Dave Choate on Feb 16, 2009 8:00 AM EST in Falcons News

In a lot of ways, maybe the Falcons would be smart to let Grady Jackson walk. He's way overdue for that weight to catch up with his knees, and he was solid if not super effective last year. The fact that there's been no discussion about retaining him means we probably just aren't interested. I wish our behemoth good luck elsewhere, if that's the case. We're definitely going to need a free agent tackle or draft pick to pick up the slack, though I'd love it if Trey Lewis came back and performed well.

Of greater concern for our currently weak defensive ends rotation is the potential loss of Chauncey Davis, who apparently believes he can be a starter elsewhere. While Davis is undoubtably a quality lineman, there aren't too many teams out there who are going to be able to give him a job outright. If he just wants to be able to compete for the job, they should get Jamaal Anderson ready to move around on the line and let Davis have a real shot at it. Letting a young, talented lineman take off with no compensation isn't my idea of a great time.

If the Falcons do manage to lose both of them, it's going to take a superlative effort to improve the line without throwing way too much money at a couple of players. Thomas Dimitroff and Co. have earned the benefit of the doubt, but I can't see too many scenarios in which we replace those two with guys who will provide an immediate upgrade to the line that we need.

Poll

Who should the Falcons try to keep?

Grady Jackson

44 votes

Chauncey Davis

370 votes

Both

121 votes

Neither

42 votes

I wasn't aware this was a keeper league

19 votes

596 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

My Thoughts

Davis is an asset, but Grady needs to go. I’m not entirely sold on Davis being a starter, although I do like the idea of him/Biermann as our backups in the near future.

Keeping Grady around is a viable option if, and only if, he’ll take a discount. He hasn’t had a quick first step since “Hot in Here” was a top ten hit (circa 2002ish). To that effect, our rush D was 28th in the league last year. Now, I understand we rock the 8 man rotation, but some of that has to fall on Grady.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 16, 2009 1:54 PM EST reply actions

I'm a big fan of Chauncey Davis

So I would rather the Falcons found a way to keep him. If Jamaal Anderson doesn’t develop any further in his third year, the team owes Chauncey a real chance to start.

by Dave Choate on Feb 16, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

Meh

I think he’ll find the FA market to be luke warm at best. Plus I think we can do better (see: Bertrand “I’ll Eat Yo’ Face” Berry).

He’ll come back, he’ll play where we want him to, and he’ll like it!

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 17, 2009 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

Keeping Chauncey

Davis is a solid contributor, but he doesn’t strike me as the kind of lights-out sack machine that would command top dollar on the free agent market. If I were TD, I would make him an offer in line with his status (which is to say, not Julius Peppers money, but an amount of money that wouldn’t be an insult), and make noises that the DE position opposite Abraham would be open for competition in camp. If we can get any kind of push up the middle, the DE rotation ought be be able to up their sack totals.

Unfortunatley, I agree on Jackson. He’s lost a step, and he’s due for the wheels to start coming off (the price that lineman pay for playing so heavy), if not this season, then next.

by OkieFalcon on Feb 16, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions

Let them both go...

…if we can’t get them at a bargain price.
I like Jackson, but he can easily be replaced by a combination of (1) a healthy Trey Lewis and (2) a cost effective free agent pickup like Kedric Golston.
I also like Davis because he is a slightly better than average utility player, but he can’t take us to the next level and we’ve already got an expensive utility player in J. Anderson. We should consider letting Davis walk and drafting a stud DE like Larry English, Paul Kruger or Michael Johnson.

Falcon Fans UNITE!

by Blue Falcon on Feb 16, 2009 6:09 PM EST reply actions

I was not aware that Grady is a High Priced Player.
Grady has a solid Dollar Value and I do not understand
what all the fuss is about, other than he needs to have his
knees cleaned out during the off season.

by karst41 on Feb 16, 2009 8:00 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't say he's high priced

But I think the Falcons should be looking to get younger at defensive tackle. Grady’s done a lot of very good things in Atlanta, but like Lawyer Milloy, he’s a guy we shouldn’t be counting on to be upper echelon any more.

by Dave Choate on Feb 16, 2009 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

Davis wants to start?

This is what I think TD should commit to when negotiating with Chauncey Davis and his agent:
1) Passing downs: Abraham & Davis at DE, the USS Babineaux and Anderson at DT.
2) “Running” downs (goal line situations, third & short, etc): Anderson at DE
3) #1 on depth chart: To be decided at training camp/preseason

Tell his agent that we recognize Chauncey is a skilled player, and we we think that he MAY be starting material, but we don’t know for a fact. Tell them that we’ll sign him to a 1-yr deal for moderate money, and if he earns and performs as the starter, we’ll give him an extension during the season.

BTW, if Davis beats out Anderson for the starting DE spot, Anderson might need to get moved to pass-rushing DT or somewhere else.

by BigManChili on Feb 17, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

I like this idea

And I love the USS Babineaux nickname. I think I may add that one to the primer.

The key is to convince Chauncey that he has a chance to start here, and I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch that he’ll get that chance.

by Dave Choate on Feb 17, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly my thoughts about Chauncey.

BTW, USS Babineaux originated with Wes Durham. It’s just one of the many reasons I love that man.

by BigManChili on Feb 17, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly!

You could be more right, unless Anderson moves inside permanently (which I’d be fine w/). But Chauncey’s role stays the same (as in your scenario) either way.

"He's getting better, but he's not there yet ..."
- Bobby Cox (talking about Boyer)

by FrankyWren on Feb 17, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions