So the Falcons are now preparing to wash the stink of yesterday off of us. With a number of picks still to go, the Falcons must address weaknesses on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary, with a side of tight end. If they don't, I'm going to go all Boston Tea Party, except it'll be more like an Atlanta Coke Party because I hate tea.
Let's now screw this up, Falcons!
6:49 p.m.: That's all she wrote. The Falcons have what now looks to be an average draft that ignored many needs, but we'll see how it plays out later on. For now, let's welcome our 2008 Draft Class! Woo and stuff!
5:59 p.m.: Falcons wrap up the draft with the selection of TE Keith Zinger, who will have the best nickname of any Falcon, bar none. He has a chance to help out rotationally with Martrez Milner in his first year, too. I like the pick to end up, despite having no defensive linemen.
5:01 p.m.: The Falcons select Wilrey Fontenot at corner, clearly spelling doom for Brent Grimes. Fontenot isn't huge, but he's a pretty talented guy, and I actually like this pick quite a bit. Again, however, I must ask that we at least use our last pick on a lineman of some sort. Please, good sir!?
4:47 p.m.: There is no way in hell that Pierre Garcon is a real name. The new Colts receiver is clearly an undercover French agent.
4:00 p.m.: And it's come to this. Little, difficult offseason-having Colt Brennan goes before Woodson. That poor bastard.
3:44 p.m.: Poor Andre Woodson is falling to the very end of the draft. I expected him to drop to the 3rd or 4th round, but this is extremely surprising.
3:41 p.m.: Exhausted by this draft. Thomas Brown at RB? I guess Snelling is gone, then. If this draft was a flavor, it would be vanilla. There's been no picks outside of maybe DeCOud that have jumped out and impressed me. I'd love it if this turns out to be 1000x better than I think it is, but I'm just not sold.
2:36 p.m.: The Falcons draft another OLB in Kroy Biermann. I'm at a complete loss for words here. They must really love our lines, I guess.
2:19 p.m.: Okay, now that I've finished throwing a tantrum, I'm ready to talk. I've managed to talk myself into most of this draft, at least enough to tolerate it. I do not--and perhaps cannot--understand picking Robert James here. The new regime talked about drafting for need over and over again, and yet we've taken two linebackers so far. You may not have noticed this if you've been living in a cave somewhere, but the linebacking corps is the best part of this team. Yeah, we could use some depth, but what the hell is this team's plan? If we don't plan to move to the 3-4, then it doesn't seem like we've got one at all.
1:48 p.m.: That's it, I fucking give up. Robert James at OLB for the Falcons?! WHERE ARE THE FUCKING LINEMEN!?!
1:47: Red Bryant went off the board a while ago to Seattle. Once again, we could've used him. Just sayin'.
1:44 p.m.: Took the fourth round off, but I'm back now. Atlanta on the clock and picking... 12:43 p.m.: And off goes Anthony Collins and DT Dre Moore. Great job, guys.
12:03 p.m.: The picks are flying now. I would've liked the Falcons to pick up Justin King at CB, but what the hell. Our chances of getting Red Bryant at this point are slim to none, and I'm kind of pissed.
11:44 a.m.: Thomas DeCoud! The Falcons aren't picking at a position I expected, but I knew they liked DeCoud and I can't argue with the pick. He ought to step in and start during his rookie season. Awesome pick!
11:24 a.m.: I love how they talk about scouts and GMs having intimate knowledge of 300 pound men. I may vomit.
11:23 a.m.: TE Jermichael Finley is a pretty talented dude, but I never expected the Falcons to pursue him. Green Bay gets a solid pick here.
11:21 a.m.: I'd just like to note that one of the most highly rated players out there is an offensive tackle by the name of Anthony Collins. Either Collins or Red Bryant would be an excellent pick here at the end of the third.
11:19 a.m.: Steve Slaton is an excellent, excellent pick for the Texans, whose running back depth rivals that of a shallow pool of rainwater. One of the better picks of the third round, certainly.
11:08 a.m.: Those of you who love Red Bryant better hope he makes it to the bottom of the round.
11:04 a.m.: The NFLN guys are talking about Mario Manningham's rapid fall. I'd love it if the Falcons gambled on him in like the sixth round, but before that...some other team can knock itself out.
11:02 a.m.: The Falcons pick up WR Harry Douglas out of Louisville. Douglas is a guy I happen to like quite a bit, but once again the Falcons chose to ignore a more glaring need at defensive tackle. At the very least, however, this gives the Falcons three young, talented guys in Roddy, L-Rob and Douglas. Not an awful pick, but I'm hoping the Falcons are looking DT next.
11:01 a.m.: The hated Bucs pick OG Jermay Zuttah. Solid pick.
10:59 a.m.: Matt Ryan interview. He got a call from Dimitroff, Smith and Blank, which sounds about right. I'll say this for Matty Shark Attack: he's got the kind of smooth media relations skills that will serve him well playing for the Falcons. Hopefully he doesn't hold out.
10:45 a.m.: The Patriots continue to ignore other needs and draft linebacker Shawn Crable. Two very talented linebackers, yes, but couldn't they use some help elsewhere?
10:43 a.m.: Brad Cottam is the first odd pick of the weekend for the Chiefs. Not a top tight end, and not one I particularly like. Still, tight ends are starting to jet off the board.
10:36 a.m.: The Niners make a great pick, too, grabbing Reggie Smith as a hybrid corner/safety. Teams are getting a lot of value out of their third round picks, thus far.
10:36 a.m.: Not to mention that they got CB Charles Godfrey. They're having an underrated draft thus far, these Panthers.
10:33 a.m.: The Panthers get one of the steals of the draft thus far in Dan Connor. This guy was a projected first round pick, and the team just get him in the third. That's not only insane, but it speaks well to the patience of the Panthers. Well done.
10:23 a.m.: Some picks go by and I barely noticed. Chevis Jackson is consuming my thoughts.
10:18 a.m.: The Falcons pick up cornerback Chevis Jackson, whose lack of speed might mean he projects as safety as the NFL level. He might also be an effective Cover 2 corner, but I wasn't aware we were rolling out a cover 2 next year. If the Falcons don't manage to get Red Bryant or someone similar, this pick is going to look worse by training camp. Still, we had a need at corner.
10:16 a.m.: The NFLN guys just compared Matt Ryan to fine china which needs to be locked in a cabinet. I don't even have a joke here.
10:12 a.m.: Kendall Langford goes to the Dolphins. I honestly couldn't tell you the first thing about him. That's not the first time this is going to happen today.
10:07 a.m.: The Lions kick us off by selecting Kevin Smith at running back. The last generically named Kevin worked out so well for them, too.