2009 NFL Draft Retrospective: Defensive End Lawrence Sidbury
by Dave Choate on Feb 2, 2010 8:00 AM EST
in Falcons News
11 comments
This is the fourth entry in a series of articles examining players from the 2009 NFL Draft. The Falcoholic will also be putting together a retrospective on the 2009 season when the collective brain trust has sorted out just what happened this season. We've started with quarterbacks...but tomorrow, the world.. Next on our list, fourth-round defensive end Lawrence Sidbury.
Quietly, very quietly, so quietly that a man with hyperacusis would strain to hear it, Lawrence Sidbury had a pretty good rookie campaign.
You'd be hard pressed to find that in his stats, but remember that it's all about perspective. A fourth round rookie defensive end on a team that has depth, if not superior talent, at both end spots isn't guaranteed any playing time. If he manages a sack, a fumble recovery and a touchdown in his limited playing time, then that's even better. So while there isn't a lot of playing time to go on with Sidbury, he's shown some flashes of ability that make me optimism for the future.
Like Chris Owens, it was just enough that he may be in line for an increased role in 2010. The team isn't guaranteed to keep Jamaal Anderson and Chauncey Davis, John Abraham is showing his mileage and Kroy Biermann won't play 100% of the snaps unless he's the last defensive end on the team. No less an authority than Mike Smith said that if El-Sid is in control of his own destiny; if he continues to mature as a pass rusher he'll get more time in that role, and if he bulks up a little and shows the proper dedication he could become a full-timer down the road. Couple that factor with the lack of concrete statistical evidence and we've got a real enigma on our hands, but one that I think is going to be a real success story in the NFL.
What is clear is that there's potential. Sidbury could post double digit sack totals one day, and he's quick enough to simply go around offensive linemen, forcing teams to account for him off the edge. My hope is that he'll pick up a couple of starts and some extended playing time in 2010, collecting a few sacks and generally being a royal pain in the ass for everyone else. A formal prediction, you say? Three starts, scattered playing time all year and seven sacks in total. Yup, good things ahead for Mr. Sidbury.
Final Draft Grade: B-
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As a fellow programmer...
I’m really pulling for Sidbury. Plus I really hope the TD method of drafting smarter players overall pans out.
Sid Vicious
He might have been a higher pick if he had come from a BCS school. That being said we got a great pick. He was the best end from a non bcs school. This kid is a sleeper. Time will tell.
by Ball Hawk on Feb 2, 2010 10:19 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Showed signs...
of being capable of becoming a solid NFL player, even though his role was very limited. He already has more promise than JA98. I am looking forward to good things from Sid.
Check my band out on iTunes. The band name is Legend Has It and the album is titled "Driven." Let me know what you think.
YES I like El-SID too.
I think he will eventually be Abe’s replacement on the d-line. And will be a good player, possibly even very good in the end. But listen to this… I heard Adam Shefter for Espn say today on mike and mike that julius peppers will probably leave carolina and the top team he thinks he will go too is Atlanta!!! New england is 2nd team. Now I have promoted, since early December, that we should go after osi yumenyora of the giants to give us a dynamic duo of pass rushers with him and Abe, but I would definitely take peppers tag teaming with Abe as well!!!!
Lets just hope we get either one of those guys, and if we do I think you can put us into the playoffs and depending on other factors maybe even more, cuz with an improved pass rush, which was all we were missing on defense really in 09, our secondary instantly becomes better, cuz we don’t have to cover receivers for 5-7 seconds anymore, more like 3-5 seconds, which our guys can handle. Especially wth another year of experience.
C’MON TD GO GET OSI OR JULIUS PLEASE!!!!!!
LETS GO FALCONS!!
Your right that would be an awesome duo and could carry us deep into the playoffs next year
The Picture Will Prove The Braves Future
by Braves are god of the ATL on Feb 2, 2010 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
If we can land ourselves a motivated Julius Peppers
then I’m all for nabbing him. And to be honest, Coach Smith won’t put up with him slacking off, either. John Fox isn’t a fiery type of coach like Smitty is, and that’s why I’m glad Smitty’s ours!
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
Making a name.
If we can get a big name this offseason like Peppers we will become more relivent. If we are gonna be a team that everyone talks about we are gonna need the personel to match the wins. Lets pay the man.
Yeah, that fumble return TD was pure awesome.
"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, time on his side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham
Dave - ever the optimist
Seven sacks??! I guess if he makes the same kind of improvement from year 1 to year 2 as Biermann, it’s possible. But I would really be happy with simple progress. More playing time (and a clear role in the rotation), maybe a couple more sacks, etc.
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein
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