A First Round Report On New Falcon DT Peria Jerry

by Dave Choate on Apr 25, 2009 7:01 PM EDT in Falcons News

Peria Jerry is going to generate some controversy.

A lot of us believed that a run-clogging defensive tackle had to be a priority, and in that light Jerry seems like a very strange pick. Like Babineaux, he's a penetrating defensive tackle who can be disruptive against the pass. He's likely even more athletic than Babineaux, and he may put up some surprising sack numbers as early as this year. If you're looking to address the defensive line needs, it's not a bad idea to do so with a guy who has some room to grow, is known to be a bright guy and a good teammate and can likely be coached on his weaknesses.

Jerry is a very solid pick who should upgrade our pass rush. He's battled injuries, true, and we'll have to address conditioning issues with him to make sure that doesn't continue to be a crippling problem. He can be coached against the run if he puts on 20 pounds, and so the injuries are really the only major concern I have. Clearly Dimitroff and Smith believe in his talent, and it's hard to argue that there were much better players hanging around at 24. I'm still surprised, but I'm willing to give Jerry the benefit of the doubt.

Your thoughts?

Poll

What do you think of the Peria Jerry pick?

I like it

219 votes

Haven't made up my mind yet

94 votes

I don't like it

24 votes

Shouldn't Jerry be his first name?

11 votes

348 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

its a good pick

fills a need and can be put into rotation immediately. while not a run stuffer he could be great and more pass rush will help the secondary.

but what does this pick mean about Trey Lewis?

by TheFranchiseis#2 on Apr 25, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

I like it

I know that his specialty is getting after the QB, but I’ve actually read he’s a pretty adept run stuffer too. He no Gravy Jackson for size, but he can play that position just fine for both needs. As FrankyWren notes, durability is certainly a concern. But if the Falcons handle him well, as they did with Abraham last year, they’ll be in a good situation.

Yasinskas says we came out the best of the NFC South with this pick, as he is the only immediate starter.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcsouth/0-10-136/Falcons-get-an-immediate-starter.html

by LetsGoFalcons on Apr 25, 2009 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

good pick

either him ziggy hood, clay mathews, or darius butler

by dunndada77 on Apr 25, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

Gotta say...

While I liked the pick, I was looking for Clay Matthews. Granted this is coming from someone who cursed like a sailor when Ryan was drafted (yes, yes, I was a Dorsey guy), but still I like the depth at D-line. Not sure, how this will pan out, but so far, I’m a fan. I’d like to see what a couple other notable Falcoholics have to say tho…

If my mother put on a helmet and shoulder pads and a uniform that wasn't the same as the one I was wearing, I'd run over her if she was in my way. And I love my mother.
-Bo Jackson

by Pregame with Pabst on Apr 25, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

The price of success

I have to admit that picking in the bottom ten is not quite as exciting as the top ten, but that’s the price for having a playoff season last year. I’d love to be forced to pick between the number one consensus picks of several positions but that simply isn’t going to happen if the Falcons have the kind of success we are all hoping for in the future.

Still, I can’t complain in getting the second highest rated defensive tackle in the draft especially since tackle was A) a position of need, B) is one of a few key positions where above average-to-elite play can improve eveyone else on that side of the ball, and C) is a position that Mike Smith has considerable expertise in coaching.

Now we have a young, talented trio of defensive tackles to build our defense around for years to come. No point in bulding a defese with first establishing a solid foundation.

by Leon07 on Apr 25, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

Didn't like it.

I did not like this pick at all. Babineaux is the same one gap player and did great last season and was signed to an extension so we are set at the 3 technique. If we honestly put Jerry at the 1 technique then our bad run defense gets worse. I just hate the idea of switching to an undersized Cover 2.

by Kevin71 on Apr 26, 2009 12:39 AM EDT reply actions

the way the Falcons did this is weird

a pass penetrating DT and a run stopping Safety…. guess they are going for the element of surprise with our defense. They did pull it off with our offense last season, and Mike Smith is a super defense guru… so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how the rest of the draft plays out and then how these guys perform next season.

I’m definitely in the, “let’s wait and see” category

by MentallyMIA on Apr 26, 2009 6:58 AM EDT reply actions

Coming from an Ole Miss blogger...

I think you’ll be surprised by his ability to stop the run. Obviously, he’s an incredible pass rusher at defensive tackle, but it’s generally because he has the ability to shed blocks so well, something that is beneficial in stopping the run as well.

Trust me… he’s going to help make your defensive line even more fun to watch.

by Juco All-American on Apr 27, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the input!

I’m less informed, obviously, but I do think he’ll need a little bit of work to be an elite run-stopper. Still, I think he’s got the ability to get there, and I’m excited to see it happen.

by Dave Choate on Apr 27, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions