The Rise Of The Falcons Safeties

by Dave Choate on Jul 7, 2011 8:00 AM EDT in Falcons News

Who needs depth when you have William Moore?

That's the basics of a breakdown from Scout Inc.'s Matt Williamson, who took to the NFC South blog at ESPN to talk Falcons' safeties. He likes Shann Schillinger as a special teamer and thinks Thomas DeCoud is a good starter—which he is—but saves his highest praise for Moore. To wit:

William Moore was a second-round pick in 2009. His first season in the league was a wash, but he made some strides last year. I realize that he has a lot of work to do in all facets of playing safety, I still expect Moore to really come on in 2011. He has very good size and plays to that size. Moore is a hitter and should become a tackling machine. He is a natural playmaker who picked off five passes last season. Injuries have been a problem for him, though. But if he's healthy, I expect a very strong statistical season from Moore.

Forgive the length of that quote, but I thought you'd be interested in seeing the whole thing. I don't actually agree that Moore has "a lot of work" to do in terms of playing safety. I think he just lacks a bit of discipline, something that good coaching and effort from Moore himself can negate pretty quickly. The raw talent is definitely there, and I agree that he's due for a big season.

Depth chart wise, Williamson is still recommending a veteran backup to spell both Moore and DeCoud, and that remains the likeliest free agent signing outside of a defensive end. I'm just not sure who it'll be, given Erik Coleman's departure.

Care to hazard a guess?

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Trade for Troy polamalu and switch to a 4-2-5

Solves our lb depth and cb depth at the same time!

…I wish

by FLA_Falcon on Jul 7, 2011 8:10 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I have no idea...

but I have to think Dimitroff has a plan. I was a little shocked that we let Coleman go, leaving us with such shallow depth (?). Could Franks play safety?

"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta

by TomQ on Jul 7, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

thats a fair point

If we have Moore, and DeCoud as our two starting safeties and Grimes and Robinson as our corners, who says we couldn’t have like Owens or Franks switching between safety and corner depending on the situation

Please read Turner_The_Burner and my Best case/Worst case analysis of the upcoming week

by dunlagh on Jul 7, 2011 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

is there another younger, faster, healthier brian williams out there?

if so he’ll be perfect. it would be nice to have a guy who could play all four defensive back positions like brian could.

by mr92687!!! on Jul 7, 2011 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

I don't understand why we can't bring Williams back as a backup safety.

He obviously knows the defense, he won’t be an every-down player (hopefully), and we all know how important he was to the defense last year.

by Fear Me on Jul 7, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

i don't get it either

versitle defensive backs are very rare

by mr92687!!! on Jul 7, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Is BWill gone for sure?

by mwalex on Jul 7, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe that I recall the organization saying that they

will not re-sign B. Williams

by Fear Me on Jul 7, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah he's done in atlanta

by mr92687!!! on Jul 7, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless he has an unknown injury

that makes no sense

by mwalex on Jul 7, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

The reason why Brian Wiliams will probably not be resigned

is the $5.3 million the Falcons would owe him if he played for us in the 2011 season

by ATL_Cdeez on Jul 7, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Brian Williams is a free agent

Whatever contract they came up with would only be for one year, like last year. He only made $1.6 million.

by Fear Me on Jul 8, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it would almost be easier to pick up Deandre McDaniel

He’s an undrafted FA who people thought would get taken around the 3rd round. He strikes me as a William Moore type player, granted not as good as C4. He got 12 interceptions in his last 2 years of college including 8 in 2009. He did beat up his girlfriend in 2008 causing him to get arrested, so maybe Falcons don’t want to deal with that, but from what I can tell he doesn’t seem to have any other off field/locker room issues.

This is his highlight from one game, he gets 2 picks but just kinda shows his general play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3avh5oHEGZs&feature=related

Considering the role we need and his situation I think he could come in as a solid, cheap FA to compete with Shillinger.

Please read Turner_The_Burner and my Best case/Worst case analysis of the upcoming week

by dunlagh on Jul 7, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

McDaniels is the guy I want for ATL to pick up!!

by mwalex on Jul 7, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He needs to learn how to tackle!!

MOst of the time he was staying upright and bearhugging the runner, or flat out armtacklling and getting lucky. He does seem to have good instincts for sure but, seems wary of contact though. I only saw about 2 good tackles technique wise.

Just my O.

Due to the lockout, I think this season will resemble last year a lot. I think the teams that were good last year will be good again this year. there will be a suprise team or 2, but I think this year kinda follows last years script, except of course the team that wins the SB will be different, since our Falcons will finally take that last final step and bring home the Lombardi trophy to the dirty dirty!!

by ATLsince1972 on Jul 9, 2011 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions

He looks raw

but seems to have some good ball skills and instincts. I think our coaching staff could work with his skills. He might be an option in the supplemental draft huh?

by BigFalcon84 on Jul 7, 2011 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope so

McDaniel’s draft analysis is very nice and the kid is a baller.

by mwalex on Jul 7, 2011 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't think he's eligible for the supplemental draft

It’s only for players who missed the normal draft.

by Mosugo on Jul 15, 2011 4:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Here's a list of viable Free Agent safties that could fill in with the Falcons

These are a list of some of the FA and there respective previous salaries to get some insight on how much we’re look at in terms of salary

Chinedum Ndukwe (CIN) – 4 yr / $1,675,000
Danieal Manning (CHI) – 1 yr / $1,176,000
Abram Elam (CLE) – 1 yr / $1,759,000
Gerald Sensabaugh (DAL) – 1 yr / $1,815,000
Charlie Peprah (GB) – 2 yr / $2,250,000
Husain Abdullah (MIN) – 3 yr / $1,160,000
Darren Sharper (NO) – 1 yr / $1,575,000
Deon Grant (NYG) -1 yr(s) / $4,000,000
Atari Bigby (GB) – 1 yr(s) / $1,759,000
Eric Weddle (SD) – 4 yr(s) / $1,675,000

I’m looking extensively at Deon Grant, Charlie Peprah, Eric Weddle and Abram Elam. These guys are not just good in run defense but equally as good in pass defense as well. If they come cheap enough we’ll be good

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jul 7, 2011 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

And Peprah has already spent some time under this coaching staff...

Would have less of a steep learning curve….

"It's called Thanksgiving for a reason. If I can give and people thank me for it, that's kind of the thing that makes me feel great inside." - Dunta

by TomQ on Jul 7, 2011 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I want Coleman back,

Seriously I thought we would have drafted a safety, I’d been saying all along we needed saftety help but I guess a kicker was more important.

I don’t know how much Coleman was making but just seems like they parted with him way too soon, he was a great guy IMO and heck I loved ( Rolling with Coleman ).

I think either of these guys would be good FA to bring in though.
Chinedum Ndukwe
Eric Weddle

by BigFalcon84 on Jul 7, 2011 1:31 PM EDT reply actions

He was making too much as a back-up at $3 million

I expect them to part ways with Chauncey Davis for similar reasons. He also is suppose to make $3 million this year. If we pick up a FA, I expect Davis and either Sidbury or JA98 to be out the door too.

by Fear Me on Jul 7, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

they might keep Chauncey but I agre on L-Sid and JA98.

by BigFalcon84 on Jul 7, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm on the Weddle train

Haven’t seen him play for the last season or two but I seem to remember him being pretty good in pass coverage(saw him make some pretty fancy-smancy int’s) and he’s from the Chargers, the last guy we got from them did alright

by birdwatch on Jul 7, 2011 1:35 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Weddle will be a starter

And will be on big money wherever he signs.

by Mosugo on Jul 15, 2011 4:06 AM EDT up reply actions

FA SAFETIES FOR 2011

Plan A) Sign Atari Bigby, Dawan Landry, Gerald Sensabaugh, Eric Weddle or Donte Whitner (i actually perfer donte whitner)

Plan B) We can sign one of New Orleans FA’s to rub it in their faces!!! :D

by PrimetimeMagic on Jul 7, 2011 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

I really like Landry and Sensabaugh

I don’t think we’ll sign them though. They’re primer Safeties in this league and I don’t know if they’re gonna be all to happy to be backing up William Moore. We’re looking for a reliable veteran presence at SS just in case of injury

Ron Artest = Ron (sm)Artest - He Is The Most Interesting Man In The World

by JoshChildressAfroIsCure4Cancer on Jul 7, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions