Meet A New Atlanta Falcon: LB Spencer Adkins

by Dave Choate on May 4, 2009 8:00 AM EDT

I imagine getting hit like Spencer Adkins is a little bit like being smashed by a meteor. Put more eloquently, it probably hurts.

Adkins is an athlete, pure and simple, and from a basic football objective standpoint of pursuing and knocking people down, he's ready for the NFL. As a sixth round draft pick, he'll need coaching in a lot of other areas, but there's potential galore here. Hopefully he can live up to my confusingly elevated expectations.

Make like a lemming and follow me to after the jump!

History: Adkins started exactly five games in four seasons in Miami. Last season, he only had 17 tackles, but 6 of those were for a less and he had 4 sacks. That's what we call making the most of your opportunities. Adkins was a highly touted linebacker/defensive end prospect coming out of high school. He dropped 20 pounds before his 2008 season and put up some nice workout numbers. Injuries aren't a real concern, but awareness may be. Check below.

Pros: Freakishly athletic. Look that phrase up and you'll see a picture of Adkins, which will jump out of your computer and beat you senseless. He's a fundamentally sound tackler who has more positional versatility than I originally realized, as he was used some as an edge rusher. He's fast enough to make that work, but powerful enough to potentially stay on the field when the ground attack is rolling for opponents. Seems to be a bright, humble kid.

Cons: Adkins pretty clearly isn't ready to see significant time on the field. There are real concerns about his awareness, lack of starting experience and fundamentals. Some concerns have been expressed about his lack of height, but the Falcons have had some success with linebackers around six feet (Demorrio Williams), so that's less of a concern than awareness in the passing game. Some of that can be coached, but it's not going to happen overnight, relegating Adkins to a project role.

Role: If Adkins makes the team, he'll be buried on the linebacker depth chart and have a real chance to contribute on special teams. If he sees the field at all defensively in 2009, it'll be in games that are out of hand to get him a little experience. It's unclear if he'll be asked to man the middle or the edges, but he would seem to be a potential upgrade over Tony Gilbert behind Curtis Lofton. Look for him to start making noise in 2010 or later.

Final Thoughts: Maybe I'm just a sunny, optimistic soul, but I see real potential for Adkins to contribute in the long-term. I like when teams occasionally take a gamble on a high-upside guy like Adkins, particularly when it's so late in the draft. You'll likely forget about him next year, but success may come earlier than we think.

Poll

What will Spencer Adkins offer in 2009?

Somehow he'll be a starter

62 votes

Backup material

331 votes

Practice squadder

110 votes

He'll offer something to another team

8 votes

A great deal on this new car!

35 votes

546 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Ha

I find it interesting that, as of this posting, four people think he will end up selling cars before being traded to another team. I also find that hilarious for no apparent reason.

"If Woody were Captain of the Titanic, he'd argue the boat sinking speaks to how effectively they put rich people in life boats and lock the poor folks below."
-jrauch commenting at Hoopinion on Woody's (non)logic in his post-game comments

by Jesse28 on May 4, 2009 10:28 AM EDT reply actions

This kid was a stud out of high school...

All his problems can be attributed to the coaching changes on def at the U. Let his get with NFL coaching for a year, and look out.

"We're not maxed out, ... The best is still ahead of us."

Bobby Bowden

by NaGaNole on May 4, 2009 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

great article Dave

I just think you are going to have to remind me who he is the first time he steps onto the field one of these days… like if Lofton goes down for a quarter and they say, “Adkins is taking the field,” I’m gonna be like, “who the hell is that guy?”

know what you believe in and why you believe in it

by MentallyMIA on May 4, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

i think he really isn't out of the race for starting

i mean he truley has more potintial than coy wire and if he buckles down and works on this hands and feet he and coy could share the outside linebacker spot

by mistab50 on May 5, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

We'd have to bring him along slowly

But he has the physical tools to do it…It’s just a matter of coaching him to read the play and react in time to use that athleticism.

Maybe if we put him in for Wire on obvious downs, he won’t have to process as much information as on a 1st and 10 (where there’s equal threat to rush or pass), and he’ll get a little more experience. We’ll see how Smitty plays it.

As an aside, I wonder how much wisdom Peterson is going to be able to impart onto our linebackers. He’s been an elite linebacker in the past, so I’m excited to see what Nicholas, Adkins, and even Lofton can learn from the veteran.

by BigManChili on May 5, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

rufus

Rufus Alexander OLB 6’1 228 Oklahoma 4.7

Alexander was young freshman and a reserve on the star studded Sooner teams that made title appearances, but he had made a name of his own the past two seasons in Norman. As a sophomore, Alexander had 74 tackles, seven for loss, with two sacks and an interception on his way to 2nd team All Big 12 honors. That was just the beginning though, as he took a big leap as a junior, finishing the year with 102 tackles, 17 for loss, and five sacks to go along with one interception. Alexander had another outstanding year as a senior, finishing with 100 tackles, 12.5 for loss, two sacks, and an INT.

Rufus Alexander is a very active and intense linebacker. He flies all over the field, and is in on every play. He is not content taking a play off, and has to be in the middle of the action on every down. He plays with excellent instincts, and has the speed to run plays down sideline to sideline. Alexander is a playmaker in every phase of the game: getting into the backfield and stopping the run, rushing the passer, and dropping into coverage.

Alexander is a tad undersized for linebacker at the next level. With his lack of stature, he can be taken out of running plays by a blocker, and does not hold up at the point of attack well.

There are not many linebackers that are as big a playmaker as Alexander is, but he may be limited in what he can do at the next level. His size may limit his effectiveness in some defenses, and he will have to be utilized in the right scheme.

tore his acl in a preseason game in ’08 moved from practice squad to practice squad afterwards but he was just cut by the colts, just throwing it out there

by gritzblitz on May 6, 2009 3:23 PM EDT reply actions