Report: Curtis Lofton May Be Two-Down Player In 2012

by Dave Choate on Feb 11, 2012 8:01 AM EST in Falcons News

Oh, forgot to put a caveat in my title. If Curtis Lofton is re-signed, then he may well be a two-down player in 2012.

Why, you ask? Apparently, Mike Nolan has gotten through a lot of tape from last season and has come away with the impression that Curtis Lofton is lacking in coverage. I thought he actually made modest strides forward in 2011, but there's probably a reason they're paying Mike Nolan a lot of money to be defensive coordinator and not me. For example, my name is not Mike Nolan.

This makes sense. Lofton is a truly elite run-stopping middle linebacker, but if the coaching staff isn't happy with his performance against the pass, they could move things around. Yahoo Sports! suggests that Sean Weatherspoon could move into the middle on passing downs, which would mean a free agent or someone like Spencer Adkins would likely move outside in nickel packages.

Regardless, this could have interesting implications for the Falcons. Lofton may be more reluctant to re-sign with the team if they're not willing to play him as a full-time guy, even if the Falcons are no less serious about re-signing him. It could give Weatherspoon more run in different roles, and it could lead to Adkins finally breaking into the starting lineup part-time, given that he's the only reserve on the roster who appears to have any coverage chops. But this is mostly conjecture.

One thing that is clear is that Lofton will have a bit of a different role if he returns in 2012, one that will play exclusively to his strengths. I'm inclined to believe that's a good thing, in the end. Let him destroy the world on first and second down.

Your thoughts?

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Dave your the man but

The link you posted is hardly a source. This guy opines without a shred of evidence to back himself. He mispelled Spoon’s name while pretending to understand Nolan’s intention. He’s also never heard of a paragraph apparently.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Feb 11, 2012 8:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Nevermind about the paragraph comment my phone was jacking up the text.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Feb 11, 2012 8:37 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Len Pasquarelli's been around forever

I don’t think he’s totally pulling this out of his butt. As dawg1060 says, his source might be wrong, but I’m willing to bet this is being discussed inside the organization right now.

I can’t believe how many people can’t spell Weatherspoon, though.

by Dave Choate on Feb 11, 2012 10:17 AM EST up reply actions

I know who he is.

Sounds like baseless fodder to me. No source.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Feb 11, 2012 10:20 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

If it is being discussed inside

which I doubt,anyone who discussed it or approved of it being discussed outside the confidence of the organization should be fired.

by dawg1060 on Feb 11, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

Why resign him? 2 down players make reading a defensive a lot easier.

by mr92687!!! on Feb 11, 2012 10:04 AM EST reply actions

at first I didnt like it but

Lofton plays too many snaps…. 2010 season he was playing through injury, and luckly he made it through this season healthy. He probably played more snaps then anyone on the d. I dont think he should be two down but more rotation with could make him better. Especially down the stretch. In some situations the man has to leave the field.

by DEMBIRDZCUZ! on Feb 11, 2012 10:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

When he's in there the offense would know the defense is more likely to anticipate a run play.

Making it easier to get killed by play actions, wide reciever screens, and reverses. Most starting middle linebackers are 3 down players, It’s like a slap in the face for Lofton.

by mr92687!!! on Feb 11, 2012 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

This is implausible at best

This is the 4th place I’ve seen this floated in the past 2 days.I’ve yet to see it sourced or the information in the form of a quote from anyone inside the organization.

If by chance there is a source inside the Falcons,that source should be fired immediately.There is nothing to be gained and harm can come from allowing anything like this to become public in February.

Finally,there is nothing wrong with Lofton in coverage that improvement on the line of scrimmage play wont substantially resolve.That will be evident to coach Nolan.

by dawg1060 on Feb 11, 2012 10:12 AM EST reply actions

you are correct

this article is so stupid “i cant believe its not butter”. Is there not a dog in a pond that needs saving somewhere?

by JustJones on Feb 11, 2012 11:01 AM EST up reply actions

I don't want to be misunderstood.

I’m not saying that there is anything wrong here.I’m glad it’s here and that we are discussing it, as this is my favorite place to talk Falcons.

All I’m saying is,if we’re going to discuss it,then lets discuss all of it.I think the real story here is,that it is not in the interest of the Falcons to allow its own self scouting to become public in February.Why would they float personnel analysis on Lofton that would piss him off,hurt their chances of resigning him,degrade his value in a potential trade,etc and so on?Well,there is no reason.No motivation for that whatsoever.Anything that there is to be gained,if the information is true,will be gained man to man,with the player.

So this is going to be all over local sports talk radio on Monday morning and the story that there is inside information on a player will spread like wildfire.When in fact,if there is any merit in the information,the real story should be the following:

1) Is someone inside the Falcons organization leaking personnel evaluations against the wishes of the management?
2) Is Coach Nolan pissed about it? Is TD pissed about it? Is Coach Smith pissed about it?
3) If it is happening,Falcons fans should be pissed about it and should want to know what the FO plans to do about it.
4)Or is there no merit to the information to begin with? Is it just another example of incestuous media outlets churning between themselves, hours and pages of untruths and useless info to sell advertising around.

Advertising will be sold related to hours of programming on radio next week ,around this subject and others like it.Will print,TV and radio deal with it? Or just use the original info for useless content to sell advertising around?

by dawg1060 on Feb 11, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

It’s worth asking those question. If you believe this is just made up speculation, as Ball Hawk does given the lack of sourcing, then it’s worth asking why it’s in a column where everything else is either reported or based on talk making its way around the NFL. It seems a little far-fetched to me that this is coming out of thin air, which then raises plenty of questions about where these reports are coming from.

It’s worth noting that almost every organization has these kinds of sources, guys who are willing to shoot off for complete anonymity. The question is how reliable these sources are. It’s entirely possible someone in the organization hears Nolan isn’t thrilled with the way Lofton played on third downs and, by the time it reaches Pasquarelli, it turns into Lofton probably not playing third downs if he’s re-signed. Plausible enough.

Again, I totally understand where you’re coming from if you’re skeptical about this, but it’s not entirely illogical. At least cutting down on the number of snaps Lofton takes on third downs would keep him fresh to arrest on first and second down.

If I see/hear something like this, I’m going to pass it along for discussion purposes. I welcome you guys to debunk/dismiss anything you feel has a whiff of rotten fish around it, and if you think I’m crazy for believing this has some merit, I’m also okay with that. I’ve been wrong way too many times to really get on a high horse. Also, it is fargin’ WEATHERSPOON.

Carry on!

by Dave Choate on Feb 11, 2012 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

That is a fair summary

of how these issues should be viewed through the filter of who has what motives,incentives and disincentives for alleged information to be public.

We can hope that there are reporters diligently digging for a look into what our organization thinks of itself.And we and also hope that the organization manages its internals with discipline and in its own best interest.

by dawg1060 on Feb 11, 2012 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

I kind of like WITHERSPOON as he...

makes offenses wither in fear.

by DenverFalcon on Feb 11, 2012 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I always thought it was Whetherspoon

Because he gives his opponents a choice between annihilation and mere death.

by Dave Choate on Feb 11, 2012 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Lol

by FLA_Falcon on Feb 11, 2012 5:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It could also be seen as an attempt

To drive down the demand (and thus, price) for CL. Or at least an effort to convince him he’s worth less than he wants.

Perilously close to a 2007 style depression.

by VaderX5 on Feb 11, 2012 10:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Maybe if we had a decent pass rush

Lofton wouldn’t be stuck covering WR’s so much. Many MLB’s benefit from having a good pass rush so their coverage skills aren’t as exposed as Lofton’s.

by leonw92 on Feb 11, 2012 11:21 AM EST reply actions

The source may be questionable

But the insight is not; Lofton can’t cover a tight end, or cover the seam route in a Tampa 2 look. Everyone loves Lofton for the right reasons: he’s a team first guy, a fantastic tackler, and makes our run defense pretty stout. But run stoppers are a dime a dozen, and guys who can cover slot receivers and athletic tight ends make your defense far less predictable. Look at the versatility Spoon brings, and tell me you wouldn’t want to have a guy like that (or even Spoon) in the middle. The nature of the game is changing, and base personnel (as Nolan has already said) is already statistically, across the league, playing a nickle defense most of the time. Dime is the new Nickle, and if you play with 4 down lineman (like we do) you don’t need to be paying big money to run stopping linebackers when you only have one linebacker on the field with increasing regularity.

At the very least, this makes what I’ve been saying all the long more plausible; Lofton will price himself out of Atlanta, and for what it’s worth, we don’t need to open the Scrooge McDuck vault and let Lofton hop on in.

by TheAreopagite on Feb 11, 2012 12:45 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Got To Resign Loften!!!

CL is one of the most consistant players for ATL. It would be nuts not to re-sign him! Even if Nolan puts him as a 2 down backer, you always know what ur gonna get. He’s not a trash talker, he doesn’t cry, he stays out the media, he’s not injury prone.. Hes a Monster on the field. Definitly the reason we are hell against the run. Dirty Birdz 4 Life!

by falcons825 on Feb 11, 2012 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Man the Witherspoon thing is annoying

It’s spelt exactly how it sounds, how anyone can get Witherspoon out of it is beyond me. Is it because of the actress?? Anyways not sure how much truth there is to this, I think it’s more of an educated guess. Either way a big improvement is needed on third down, I’m not sure where we ranked in the league for third down defense but I can’t imagine too many teams did it worse than us especially third and long.

by Hutch11 on Feb 11, 2012 4:21 PM EST reply actions

I think the main reason is because of this guy

http://www.nfl.com/player/willwitherspoon/2504980/profile

he has been in the league for 10 years, and lesser writers… well you get it

by DanishFalcons on Feb 11, 2012 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

CURTIS LOFTON is gone

he will not be sinned cus…
we will sine brent g and thats it… CL prob will get fran. and then traded. i wouldnt be shocked if we trade him to phily for asante and let grimes go….

by romyo58 on Feb 11, 2012 4:31 PM EST reply actions

Let he who has not sined cast the first stone

by Kushion on Feb 11, 2012 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

oh me.lol

U got me in bed rolling in laughter kushion

Been a falcons fan since the big starter jackets was in style

by turnj35 on Feb 12, 2012 8:06 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Samuels is a way better zone corner than man….while we’re not 100% sure what scheme Nolan will run, that is a major thing to look at as far as the trade. Also, why is everyone assuming Grimes will not be a good man-to-man corner??? He’s our best CB in zone…with his agility, I’d bet he’d be our best m2m corner as well. Just wondering where some of the evidence that you guys are basing your opinion of Grimes m2m skills is at.

by JC23 on Feb 12, 2012 8:08 AM EST up reply actions

The concern about Grimes in man coverage

Is his size…at 5’9" and change, and less than 180 pounds, he has trouble in press coverage getting a really good jam on a wide receiver. Without safety help over the top, his decent but not spectacular tackling and risky play (going for the pick) would make him a danger in man coverage.

Some of the best man corners are big guys, closer to 6’ and 200 pounds so they can be extremely physical. Of course, these are generalizations, and there are some smaller guys who press well and play man, but we just haven’t seen much of that physicality in Grimes.

by TheAreopagite on Feb 12, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

It doesn't take a defensive genus to see that Lofton is a SERIOUS LIABILITY in coverage, and he's a HUGE reason the Falcons' defense can't get off the field on third down.

Which two downs does Lofton play? The NFL is hardly a run on first, run on second, pass on third down league. It’s one thing to take out a linebacker in favor of a DB when it is third and ten, but what about when it’s second and six or third and two?

Lofton is a two-down player and is not worth three-down money, so get over it and say goodbye.

by DBFalcon on Feb 12, 2012 10:06 AM EST reply actions