Where Will New Falcons Linebacker Akeem Dent Play?

by Dave Choate on May 6, 2011 7:15 PM EDT in Falcons News

Ever since Akeem Dent was drafted in the third round last weekend, philosophers and soothsayers alike have attempted to figure out where he's going to play.

I posed that question to the Twitter community at-large and got back a handful of interesting answers. The answers were split between believing he'd be a solid backup and a starter, with more than one suggesting that he might play the "Stephen Nicholas memorial role" as a backup both outside and inside.

My belief is that he'll eventually start outside, but in the meantime he appears ticketed for a backup role. There have been suggestions that Dent will back up Curtis Lofton, freeing Coy Wire to go outside and play passing downs for Mike Peterson (?!?!?!), but the Falcons seem likely to use Dent all over the place when they need a thumper. Dude's also supposed to be a special teams ace, for what that's worth.

I'd like to hear from you. Where and how often will Dent play in 2011?

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Like just about everything roster-related this offseason, it depends on Free Agency

Most conservative guess:
Falcons keep Peterson or Nicholas for another season, Dent plays backup to all 3 LB positions and takes over for Bierman on ST.

Most ambitious guess:
Peterson and Nicholas walk, Dent takes over at SLB, Falcons sign a utility veteran LB for a backup role

Hopefully if/when we get some OTAs in, what we should expect from Dent in his first year will be clearer.

by Leon07 on May 6, 2011 7:37 PM EDT reply actions

Somewhere...

between the start of the game and the end of it…..me only kidding…..couldn’t help myself… :)

All kidding aside though…special teams and backup at LB. Hopefully he learns, develops and can become a starter in 2 or 3 years. Everbody says he has a good motor, hope he puts it to good use.

by Joseph K. Houston on May 6, 2011 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

Special Teams Ace

He might get some PT if someone gets hurt or tired, but it certainly won’t be at MLB where Lofton plays pretty much every down on the year. His future is at OLB, so might as well let him get his feet wet there. Who knows, maybe he will surprise us and become a starter as a rookie (a la Owens and Peters).

"He has lived up to the legendary billing... And the legend is born in Calvin Johnson!" -Wes Durham

by sportsfan4life2012 on May 6, 2011 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

With Spoon and Lofton, I think that leaves Dent the SLB spot in the future. This season he’ll be the man off the bench for all the LB positions and a special teams slobber knocker.

by Caviarhound on May 6, 2011 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Hopefully he will back up all 3 LB spots

But never play. If we keep Nicholas and weatherspoon stays healthy this season.

Hoping for him to be a force on the coverage teams so we don’t have to have our starters running wind sprints at the beginning or the game/half or after every score.

by FLA_Falcon on May 6, 2011 9:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Eventually starting at OLB

maybe late in the year barring injuries and losses to FA. Until then playing ST’s and getting experience as a back up LB.

by mwalex on May 6, 2011 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Review

Destined for inside due to height and speed. Back up to Lofton and special teams. Hope that Spoon can play this year, OLB could be a problem if Nicholas goes away due to FA and Spoon still have problems.

by Whopper Dawg on May 6, 2011 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Won't be a problem. It's just the next step in Dimitroff's plan to get everyone on our roster under 5'10"

by Leon07 on May 7, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Of course Dent will get some play time as the Falcons really have only two linebackers that will still be playing in 3 years Lofton and Nicholas. Sadly linebacker remains our weakest position that should get adressed again in 2012. All other Falcons LBs should be traded or retired.

by JCush on May 6, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

Why won't Spoon be playing in 3 years?

by Leon07 on May 7, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Because he will be to awesome and the league will banish him?

by FLA_Falcon on May 7, 2011 12:12 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

by Leon07 on May 7, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha

Where do you guys find these pictures?

by FLA_Falcon on May 7, 2011 1:22 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So

Despite Weatherspoon being impressive and adding a lot of speed and urgency to our defense and being our 2nd best linebacker last year he will be out of football in 3 years?

by Mosugo on May 7, 2011 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't waste your time

That was a typical JCush post.

by mwalex on May 7, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Yea don’t listen to JCush he’s a moron, thinks everyone drank the Spoon 1st Round Kool-aid.

But Mizzo players are known to be slow and just need a kick to get going. Hopefully for the Falcons, Spoon pulls a Moore and starts playing to at least 3rd Round potential.

Dent vs Spoon in 2011, will be fun to watch who develops first.

by JCush on May 7, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Spoon has already developed

He was our 2nd best linebacker last year. I don’t really see what agenda you have against our 2nd best linebacker.

by Mosugo on May 7, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

If you know that then why go

on and on and on about Spoon being a bust.

I didn’t say you were a moron, not by any extent. It’s just that you’re post follow a consistant pattern and nothing on this board is going to change your mind.

by mwalex on May 7, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope this is sarcasm. Please be sarcasm.

by orion12 on May 7, 2011 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?

Now, what I’m seeing here is that most people HOPE that Dent will eventually take over one of the LB spots in a few years and this is pretty disturbing. Are people basically saying that instead of getting a possibly better (or at least higher rated) DE, or maybe even a CB, Atlanta used it’s 3rd round pick on a backup LB? Hell, why not even pick up a TE since everyone knows that this is Gonzo’s last year, Jordan, Stocker, Williams and Green were still on the board. Now this wouldn’t have been so bad if we had our 2nd or 4th round pick, but to pick up an LB and not have a clear idea where this guy will play is pretty idiotic.

by Gibby2010 on May 7, 2011 2:57 AM EDT reply actions

It's the fans that don't have an idea where he will play

I’m pretty sure the team knows. I highly doubt there were any rookie DEs available at the end of round 3 that are better than Biermann, just as I doubt that a rookie DE could beat out Owens/Franks/Williams for the nickel back slot. Most 3rd round picks will start off as backups. You simply don’t regularly get rookie starters there.

Stocker and Jordan went in late round 4, Williams went at the end of round 5 and Green went in round 7. So we should have used our 3rd round pick on these guys and over drafted them by more than a round?

Also, you are complaining about our 3rd round pick being a backup. But if we picked a TE then he would also be a backup.

by Mosugo on May 7, 2011 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

HEY!!!

Common sense is not allowed here! If you want to exercise common sense go to the Falcoholic!

O wait, this is the Falcoholic. Sorry…been reading up on what the Saints and Bucs fans have been deliriously saying on their sites.

Dont cloud the issue with facts!

by muuzilla on May 7, 2011 5:08 AM EDT up reply actions

CB would be a backup too...as would DE

No 3rd round guy is going to start over Abraham or Biermann…(Or Ray Edwards/Charles Johnson if we get ’em.)

by ndnpride8806 on May 7, 2011 5:11 AM EDT up reply actions

No...

3rd rounder drafted would have started…they usually don’t (for the most part, usually an injury would force this to happen). I would agree though that we needed a TE but I am thinking TD and Smith have a plan for this (I hope).

I didn’t like giving up draft picks either but it’s done now…I think we are still in really good shape if FA answers a couple of questions for us.

by Joseph K. Houston on May 9, 2011 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Correction

Just because you or the rest of us fans don’t know exactly how Dent will be used doesn’t mean the coaching staff doesn’t have plans for him. Wow! Anyway’s Dent’s a great pick we really need help at LB depth and like most know in FA the Falcon’s have pretty much commited to filling the rest of their needs.

by FalcNole on May 7, 2011 3:23 AM EDT reply actions

If

Nicholas comes back I don’t see Peterson coming back. Dent will play backup MLB and spell Lofton to stop him from having to play every snap.

If Nicholas doesn’t come back I think Peterson does. Peterson and Dent then compete for the WLB job, with the loser backing up all 3 LB positions.

by Mosugo on May 7, 2011 3:34 AM EDT reply actions

I honestly don't think either Nicholas or Peterson will leave the Falcons.

I think the Front Office is high on Nicholas, since they kept him around even though he was iffy before with his kid and all, saying he had high potential. Also I think he might want to just remain in ATL anyway, just easier.

Peterson is not really going to get many offers from people, so why not keep him as a mentor for the LB’s and instead release Coy Wire, since Dent and Peterson are back-up LB’s with Dent on ST’s.

by ChickenLay on May 7, 2011 4:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I see Dent playing ST

And only ST this year if we avoid the injury bug. I think Nicholas or Peterson is coming back. (I’m assuming Nicholas in this scenario.)

I wouldn’t mind if he outperformed Nicholas in camp, but I doubt that he will. In a few years he’ll start.

This year, he might come in on goal line plays or short yardage because he is good against the run, but I expect him to be our Special Teams ace.

by ndnpride8806 on May 7, 2011 5:13 AM EDT reply actions

ST for sure

Peterson or nicholas are gone, most likely pete, just because of age alone.And dent will cut his teeth being a backup to all 3 positions all year long. I just like the idea that in 2012 there’s gonna be a hell of a competition at the LB spot in OTA’s!! Might even be one this year if Pete or Nick walk, then Dent will compete with the other for the position, but probably lose out, unless he just blows the staff away with his play.

Georgia Native, Indiana Resident, and Falcon Loving S.O.B.
Yeah, thats me.

by ATLsince1972 on May 7, 2011 7:34 AM EDT reply actions

I think he'll split time with Mo Pete

He’s not ready to be a full-time starter at this point. He improved throughout college, but he’s still a little bit “raw” and could use some seasoning. Keeping mo Pete for another year will help with his transition to the NFL.

But he’s a great player who has that Curtis Lofton factor- he always seems to find the ball on almost every play (in the SEC nonetheless!)

"My parents do a lot of things behind the scenes that go unnoticed"- Cam Newton, Heisman acceptance speech.

by TurnerTheBurner on May 8, 2011 5:49 PM EDT reply actions