I too have been inspired by pierre02 and now mwalex's mock drafts. It's interesting to know what other Falcon fans are thinking when we are playing GM. In my previous post (which is a good read), I have outlined two O-linemen, Anthony Collins(LT) and Jeremy Zuttah(OG), who would be great younger and cheaper signings to sure up the offensive line.

First let me start out with a list of Free Agents I think would be great for Atlanta to sign:

1. Jeremy Zuttah- Offensive Guard - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Anthony Collins- Left Tackle - Cincinnati Bengals

3. Brandon Carr- Cornerback - Kansas City Chiefs (Assuming Brent Grimes leaves for FA)

This is a surprise FA signing that will definitely cause a great discussion.

4. Mario WIliams- Defensive End - Houston Texans (Assuming Abe is not resigned and the Falcons don't resign Curtis Lofton who Mike Nolan has come to believe is only a two down LB).

Now for my Mock Draft:

2nd Round: Josh Norman- 6'2, 190lb CB- Coastal Carolina - Norman had an excellent East West Shrine Game where he showed excellent cover skills. His impressive play also go him a late call to the Senior Bowl where again he showed he excelled against stiffer competition. Norman has natural fluid hips and has a natural burst to the ball. He can play great in zone coverage, but he shines in man press coverage. He is physical and pushes receivers off their routes. Has a bit of character concerns but should hold him back from being drafted high. I would love to get him in the third round as a value pick but he wouldn't make it that far.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1RwYJwinc

3rd Round: Brian Quick- 6'5, 220lb WR- Appalachian State -Quick is a big and physical receiver who is a former basketball player. He displays a nice burst of speed in tight space. Even though he doesn't have great speed, he shows enough to be able to stretch the field. His route running needs improvement but he has great body control and uses his size and height to shield off smaller corners. He has been compared to Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers and also has be called a poor man's Brandon Marshall. Two names that I'm sure he doesn't mind being compared to. He would fit in and benefit greatly from leaning from Roddy White, Julio Jones and Gonzo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh5X0_c1DZo

4th Round(Compensatory Pick): Ladarius Green - 6'6, 236lb TE- Louisiana-Lafayette-Green is a tall TE but a bit undersized for the position. So with the disclaimer mention, Green is an excellent receiving tight end. He has great hands and uses his body to shield off smaller defenders. He has very good speed for a tight end which allow him to get open in the middle of the field. The only knock on him is he will need to improve on his blocking and getting off the line better when he is not split out wide. That's something I'm sure he can learn from playing with the greatest TE of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIY2E556BdY

5th Round: Bernard Pierce - 6'0, 218lb RB - Temple - Pierce is a physical specimen at 6'0 218lbs with his great ability to cut and great inline speed. He reminds people of Matt Forte and James Starks. He doesn't have Forte's 4.4 forty but as a former track guy he can burn defenders in the open field. He runs hard which will remind you of Starks. Has had a huge career with Temple rushing for over 1,000 yards in two of his three seasons. He has to improve on his pass catching skills but with coaching will be an asset in any passing game. Coaches are weary of the level of competition he's faced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgLQdGi7fM

6th Round: Adrian Hamilton - 6'3, 255lb DE - Prairie View A & M - Hamilton is a DE who pops out on film. He's faster and stronger than the competition he faced this year. But don't let that fool you. Hamilton had signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma State to play but they wanted to grey shirt him. So he went to Texas Tech as a walk-on and played with players like Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell. The only reason he didn't continue playing for Texas Tech is because he couldn't afford the school anymore. Hamilton is a speed edge rusher who has been compared to our own John Abraham. He amassed a staggering 20.5 sacks as a senior. I don't care what level of competition, it's had to get 20.5 sacks in a year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XU34I3duRw

7th Round: William Vlachos - 6'1, 300lb C - Alabama - Vlachos is a two-time National Champion with the Crimson Time. He has started 35 consecutive games. He plays with a low base/pad level which allows him to get under defenders and gains leverage quickly. He snaps the ball and gets hands on the defender quickly in one motion and is as technically sound as any center in the game and remains very coachable. The only knocks on him is his height which is a problem sometimes for taller QBs when they get under center and he has short arms and doesn't excel is space. He's been compared to Jeff Saturday and our own Todd McClure. If he can play to either of their levels, then he would be a steal in the 7th round.

Sorry because I can't find highlight film from William.

Well there you have it. I'm sure some player's stock will go up after the combine. I eager to hear what you all think.

This is my second go round with off-season projections for Atlanta. The biggest changes come with our FA additions. I did a bit of flip flopping in the draft based on FA. I also added a "key departures" section which may be controversial to some. I also kept the Turner trade from my last mock but added a new potential trade partner.

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Hey, all, dbcouver from TST here. As most of you probably know Director of Player Personnel, Les Snead accepted a job with the Rams as our new GM. Personally, I haven't got any idea how good or bad any of our prospects were before hiring Snead. He had to accept knowing his authority won't be absolute. Fisher will have an expanded, though as yet undefined, role in personnel decisions than most head coaches.

Just wondering what the fans here at your fine establishment have to say about Snead. I'll link this Fanpost over at TST to share your input. Thanks guys.

I have enjoyed pierre02's drafts and I thought I'd take a shot at one. It won't be nearly as good as pierre02's though.

To start off I am going to assume that ATL will address any LT/RG issues through free agency.

1st pick - 2nd round: Ben Jones, C, UGA. McClure is getting to the end of his road and we all saw how poorly the OL played without him in the lineup. I don't feel that ATL has a sucessor to McClure on the roster. Jones is a good pass and run blocker that played very well for UGA and had 35 starts.

2nd pick - 3rd round: Ladarius Green, TE, La-Lafayette. This is TG's last season. Palmer appears to be a good backup but not 1st string caliber in the current NFL passing schemes. Green has good size at 6'6" and 237 pounds and runs a pre-Combine 4.64 forty. He has good, strong hands, runs routes well, is hard to bring down one-on-one and moves well in the open field. He could be a steal in the 3rd round.

3rd pick - 4th round, compensatory pick: Robert Turbin, RB, Utah State. The RB corp needs to start evolving this year. MT is in the last year of his contract, Snellings one year deal is up and Quizz is ready for the future. At 5'9" and 216 pounds Turbin runs a 4.57 40. He tore an ACL in 2010 but came back this season and rushed for 1416 yards and 19 TDs. The year before his injury has had 1296 yards on 209 carries. Both seasons he averaged slightly above six yards per carry. While in college he also caught 66 passes for 838 yards and 11 TD's. His draft analysis looks very good.

4th pick - 5th round: Emmanual Acho, OLB, Texas. Nicholas is not the long term answer at OLB and fs ATL goes to a 3-4 next year they need more athletes at the OLB position. Acho has good size, 6'1", 235 pounds and a 4.79 40. He plays well against the run and against the pass. He is a good tackler and can rush the QB.

5th pick - 6th round: Damien Jackson, FS, Mississippi. He is a bgs FS at 6'2" and 210 pounds. His size would be a compliment to Moore. He is a violent hitter but needs work in pass coverage.

6th pick - 7th round: D'Anton Lynn, CB, Penn State. A tall DB at 6'0" with decent speed but needs work in improving his pass coverage skills.

Alright guys, let me know what y'all think.

Hmmm... something is happening in the Atlanta franchise, that just doesn't seem quite right...

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William Vlachos may not be a celebrity in Georgia, but head one state west and he's a household name. The center from the University of Alabama has been the man in the middle on the Crimson Tide's offensive line for several years now, and has seen plenty of success during his tenure.

Todd McClure turns 35 next week, and with his need for a new contract looming, the Falcons might decide to look elsewhere this time around. McClure has been with Atlanta for a long time. It would be nice to see him officially retire in a Falcons' uniform. However, no matter how much we talk about how wonderful it would be to keep all of our favorite players around, it's not always plausible.

If the Falcons decide to venture elsewhere in regards to the center position, Vlachos could be a great late steal. He draws several comparisons to our guy now, and even if McClure is retained, it wouldn't hurt to have someone in preparation for the future. Take a jump and have a look at the center who has been a part of two National Championships for the Tide.

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I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this. I need more words so forget this.

The Offseason:

Preseason:

The Season:

The Playoffs:

After watching the weeks of post-season football following Eli Manning and his Giants cruise past the Falcons my roommates were quick to dismiss Matt Ryan of any quarterbacking ability. They talk about how he constantly looks to the check downs, refuses to take the big risks, and has no pocket comfortability or awareness. While most of that has to do with the porous play of the offensive line, I believe there is reason to be concerned with the last point, pocket awareness. One thing that Eli Manning seems to have gotten extremely good at is sliding around in the pocket and buying more time for his talented receivers. He is in no way, shape, or form close to being the leagues most athletic quarterback(sound like someone you know???), but always seems to be able to extend the play long enough. That seems like it was the extra step he needed to make the transition into the upper echelon of quarterbacks.

In a league were almost every defensive line(except for some reason the falcons) has athletic freaks that excel at getting to the quarterback even decent o-lines are going to struggle. It seems as if to be successful in this day and age at quarterback you need to have a sixth sense about what's going on around you. For further proof think about the debacle at the dome against the Packers. How many free rushing blitzers did Rodgers simply side step and avoid??? An unbearably high amount. Could you imagine if the situation was flipped and Matty Ice had Spoon mercilessly flying at him. I'm guessing the situation would have been a bit different. I'm not saying Matt Ryan is going to have to become as elusive as Brees or Rodgers, but he has to get better at extending the play.

There were times last year when Matt showed he is capable of doing just that. (My favorite coming on Snelling's 20 yard bruising TD reception against the saints in ATL) But there were to many occasions where it seemed he was to unathletic to scramble away from Andy Reid(For instance the good old plant the ball on the ground move that left Urlacher with a far to easy scoop and score week 1). If you look back to his Draft Profile Mel Kiper considered him deceivingly sneaky in the pocket, but I have yet to see much of that translate to the NFL. He has the accuracy, the work ethic, and the brains to become elite, but the question is does he have the pocket presence?

How's it going fellow Falcoholics. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading other fan post to see what other fans are thinking. Reading Pierre's mock draft has inspired me to attempt my own mock draft. But first I want to discuss a list of potential free agents that might not break the bank for the Falcons and allow them to sign some of their own free agents.

During Super Bowl Week on radio row, General Manager Thomas Dimitroff interviewed with 680 the Fans Buck and Kincade. He acknowledged that were currently have 18 free agents on the team and they will focus on 8-10 to try to sign. Assuming Brent Grimes and John Abraham will not be signed and Curtis Lofton will be the number one priority to resign, here are some players who would fill in some of the holes the Falcons will have but might not cost a boat load of money. Keep in mind this list might feature quantity over great quality since they also need depth at positions.

Free Agent Signing:

Jeremy Zuttah: He's a 6-4, 308lb Offensive Guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who would be 26 by the time training camp starts. He has been holding down the left guard position for the Bucs for the last 4 years. He became the full time starter in his second year and has played multiple postions on the line. That's something Dimitroff and the coaches love. He plays with a mean streak with the Falcons need on the O-line. He needs to be judged by his full body of work in the league not just last year. The Bucs O-line was horrible but Zuttah was not the problem.

Anthony Collins: He's a 6-5, 315lb Left Tackle for the Bengals who would also be 26 by the time training camp starts. He has been a part time starter since coming into the league 4 years ago. During those starts he has played well. Of course not well enough to take over the starting position full time, but that could change if given an opportunity on another team. He has good footwork and hand placement and can keep up with some of the league speed rushers of the edge. He can come a cheap price and could become a staple at LT for years to come.

These two O-line signing could fill two needs and make the O-line younger.

Brandon Carr: He's a 6-0, 207lb CB for the Kansas City Chiefs who will be 26 by the time training camp starts. He has started every game since his rooking year. He would fit well into the new DC scheme. He has played man and off coverage in KC and has the size to match up better with taller receivers. He regressed in 2011 but could benefit from a change in scenery. He's not being a coveted as some of the other corners on the market like Grimes, Finnegan, and Rogers. He could be one of the biggest steals during the free agency period.

Terrell Thomas: He's a 6-0, 191lb CB for the New York Giants who will be 27 by the time training camp starts. He missed the entire 2011 season due to torn ACL injury. He suffered this injury in August and should be ready by the time training camp starts. This would definitely be a risky signing but could pay off if he could return to his former self. The injury will definitely lower his price tag but he would bring great experience and play to the team if completely recovered.

One of these signing could bring help bolster the CB position with the assumed departure of Brent Grimes.

Mark Anderson: He's a 6-4, 255lb Defensive End who will be 29 by the time training camp starts. He is coming off a Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots. He wasn't the starter in the beginning of the year but took over after Andre Carter was put on injured reserve. He amassed 10 sacks this year as his career was revitalized. He career started in Chicago where he was thought to become a great edge rusher but his progress stalled in later years with Chicago and also in Houston. Hopefully the Super Bowl appearance doesn't drive up his price.

Jeremy Mincey: He's a 6-3, 270lb Defensive End for the Jacksonville Jaguars who will be 28 by the time training camp starts. I know, I know. Another connection with Coach Mike Smith and the Jacksonville Jaguars. This might be another connection that would work out well. He's a local from Stateboro, Ga. He finished with eight sacks this year which is a great feat considering how the Jags were mostly trailing in games with teams trying to run out the clock. He has versatility playing both end positions. He might be the priciest potential signing along with Brandon Carr but shouldn't garner a max contract as elite talent like Mario Williams or Cliff Avril.

Signing one DE who is younger and provide the same production would fill the void with Abe potentially leaving and the coaches not wanting to turn over the reigns to Lawrence Sidbury.

These are my thoughts of potential free agents the Falcons could sign without breaking the bank. Signing both O-linemen and one CB and DE would be ideal. This should also leave enough money to sign their own free agents. So I hope this read will be as fun and interested to you as it has been for me to write out my thoughts as a Falcon fan. Looking forward to reading your responses.

My Mock Draft will be coming soon.

6’5″ 265 pounds, 4.7 est. 40 yard dash

Branch, a first-team Atlantic Coast Conference selection, was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.

With 16 tackles for loss, Branch is classified at Clemson as a "bandit end’’ who is apt to drop back in coverage, as well as pass rush.

Took over against Virginia Tech back in early October, helping the Tigers upset the Hokies on the road with 11 tackles and a ridiculous four sacks.

Atlanta's first choice in the 2012 NFL draft is the 55th pick. So why do I believe he could be a future Falcon?

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