First Falcon pick will be defensive.

I think down the strecth they were trying to get the ball to Peele a lot. I bet they are planning on starting Peele in pass situations at least.

If Foxworth walks, the Falcons should make a play for Carlos Rogers. Like Foxworth, he hasn’t come close to reaching his potential, but he’s young and probably wouldn’t cost much now that the ’Skins have signed DeAngelo Hall.

LJ is the very much the kind of guy you hear as “more athlete than football player.”

He’s very quick and very athletic. However… He’s got bad hands(led the team in drops several years) and becomes a major liability when asked to block. Blocking is by far the weakest part of his game. He’s also been somewhat injury prone. This year, after being franchise tagged, he lost his starting job to Brent Celek…

LJ has has shown flashes of the kind of player we hoped he’d be. He’s had some really good stretches(esp early in a season) but at 29 has just never gotten himself over the hump. He has all the physical tools be an elite TE, but for whatever reason has just never put it all together.

I will say that his best stretches earlier in his career have come with a healthy Donovan McNabb. So there’s hope that if he stayed healthy and got consistent QB play he could be pretty productive again.

we do owe TD the benefit of the doubt for now…

Not quite sure what the signing of L.J smith is going to do when we have so many holes on defense. Now with Foxworth gone I really want to see defense and nothing but defensive players from here until the start of next year. I really hope the falcons score 570 points next year cause right now, we’re going to have a makeshift D.

I’m not online for 12 hours, and all this happens. My immediate thoughts: I don’t like that he can’t block. We’ve addressed this before, but this does nothing re: our predictability on offense.

Getting older, but he’d be a nice backup if we managed to lose Chauncey Davis.

Ravens just released him a little while ago.

I claimed right now they have a makeshift “D”. Even if their first 5 draft picks are all defense, they still wouldn’t have enough to fill the holes they have. Sorry, I just don’t find a signing of LJ Smith of any significance. The Falcons are a run team and he cant block.

he would be a GREAT fit.

As a receiver, Smith only improves our TE position by a half-tick . I assume White and Jenks are pleased with this signing, but I can’t imagine Ryan jumping for joy.
That said, I actually won’t hate this signing if TD also drafts a TE in the 4th or 5th rd. (We can’t draft one sooner, because we have no choice but to draft an LB, DT & S in the first 3 rounds.)

Another lot that doesnt believe me… LOL. Watch and see. Peele is going to be the man.

As long as it means they won’t be looking TE in the first round, its fine by me. Tight end was a need, but there are much larger ones that need to be addressed in the draft. Just think of Smith as an extra third round draft pick.

Brooking, Boley, Foxworth, Davis are gone. We have signed what many have called “an iffy TE.” It seems that our Comrade is definitely making room for something. Our defense is now, as Dave so eloquently put, as holey as a block of swiss cheese.

Here’s what I think is going on, and this may be the reason I’m not so worried at the moment. Dimitroff is formerly of The New England Patriots; ya know, the team that won three Super Bowls in less than six years. I feel that these moves are meant to bolster the team with more unsung quality players than flashy and sizzling playmakers. Dimitroff seems to be of the mindset that he would rather build a hardworking team out of consistent players rather than on-again, off-again prima donnas. I also think that TD has one hell of a draft plan. If he is half as successful this year as he was in 2008, then it will be a worthwhile draft.

My prediction: The defensive holes will be filled in the draft and, depending on how they develop, may even start in some cases (as Jackson did in the first NO game last year). The Comrade is building a team meant to be a dynasty. He’s trying to fill the ranks (to the best of his ability under a cap) with long-term contracted draftees, much like what was done in NE.

This season may not end up being our best but I think that the coming years are very bright if TD does indeed plan to build a team of long-term draft picks and consistent (if not average in some cases) FAs.

Considering I’m from Ma. I conclude that TD has built a team in New England that you never here any negativity about. Which is incredible if your familiar with Boston media and the globe. The most publicized figure of course (Tom Brady) is grabbing all the spotlight while there is hardly any drama with the media.

In my posts regarding the draft, I would love for the Falcons to grab a linebacker and a safety…1st and 2nd round. You guys are right, If they sign LJ Smith, its enough to save an early draft pick that they could use on defense and in the meantime filling a void at that position.

Not as if it matters, but PFT is reporting that the Giants have reached the basic parameters of a contract with Michael Boley.

I would watch out for Stephen Nicholas to win a starting spot. Unfortunately, I don’t know which side he plays on. Does anyone here?

i think hes brookings replacement but are problem isnt at the tight end postion we dont need a recieving tight end we need a blocker some one to pick up another block or 2 for micheal turner because of him not having that break away speed sure you can say weve got norwood but hes not the takle breaker like the burner peele would be a great te
in sure passing situations and

 on defense we need to outside linebackers omg ! in the draft second day of the draft pick up great athlete elerbe from georgia sure hes not the most durable but hes like another sure takler like lofton and the other one i think should be derrik brooks he’ll take what he can get but the draft shoud be 1st bj raji 2nd thomas jones third elerbe 4th should be a big db doesnt have to be the best but if hes big and the least bit a good cover that could be a lb on third down if derrik brooks cant handle it

has this actually been confirmed yet?

i dont think anything is happening tbh

why cant we get our cake and eat it 2? that is what a dual threat TE is. he and extra tackle who can go out and make the catch underneath which we desperately need cause sooner or later Roddy will get double teamed all day and i have NO faith in Jenkins and Douglas,while showing flashes, still has me worried over his durability. oh, is Laurent Robinson ever going to develop?