AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 02
Monday, April 2, 2007
Pre-draft chatter about defense
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey folks,
Before I get started, the Falcons announced their preseason opponents today - the Jets, Bengals, Ravens and Buffalo. The only game with a set date is the Aug. 27 home game with Cincinnati, a Monday night game that will be nationally televised by ESPN.
Atlanta opens at the Jets and plays at Buffalo the next weekend. It closes out the preseason with the Ravens. Dates are forthcoming. The regular season schedule will be announced this Thursday.
Moving on, I spent much of last week at the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix, hearing about new commissioner Roger Goodell’s player conduct policy. Word among many of the football types there is Goodell is very concerned about the league’s image and is trying to remedy the situation in a major way before sponsors and fans start applying some pressure.
Goodell meets with Pacman Jones and Chris Henry Tuesday and I don’t think either guy is going to come away feeling too good about being allowed to play in all 16 games next season. Goodell said he’ll take up to 10 days before levying punishment for both players’ repeated off-field run-ins with the law, but the thinking is that Jones and Henry will receive suspensions, with Pacman probably having to watch more than half the season on TV.
In terms of the Falcons, coach Bobby Petrino was very insightful about some of his plans and goals as well as how he’s going to use personnel. This week, I’d like to address defense. Next week, as the Falcons prepare for their pre-draft mini-camp, we can look over the offense.
Jimmy Williams is going to have every chance to retain the starting right cornerback job that is being awarded to him, Petrino said. Jason Webster seemingly doesn’t fit into the team’s plans and could get waived, maybe after June 2 to defray salary cap costs until the 2008 season.
The decision not to move Williams to safety clearly leaves open the likelihood Atlanta will draft LaRon Landry to start at free safety.
The Falcons seem prepared to use last year’s free safety, Chris Crocker, as a nickel back and backup to Lawyer Milloy at strong safety. Crocker was strong in run support and is a decent ball player, as long as he doesn’t have deep coverage. So not bailing on him and playing to his strengths seems like a wise move.
Petrino also said Chauncey Davis is the guy to replace Patrick Kerney at left end, for now. However, there is no doubt the Falcons will draft a defensive end with one of their 10 selections. Though Josh Mallard and Paul Carrington were pretty effective having to play as many snaps as they did last season, Atlanta is looking for somebody to groom as the starter on that left side.
I’d also expect Atlanta to draft a nose tackle. There are some mock drafts projecting the Falcons taking 19-year-old Louisville DT Amobi Okoye in the first round, but that might only happen if Landry, Adrian Peterson, Levi Jones, Jamaal Anderson and Reggie Nelson are gone.
With NT Grady Jackson suing the team for allegedly releasing his medical records to some media last summer, that marriage appears to be unhealthy and the Falcons need to add somebody who can play and acquire someone who might be able to be an anchor on the D-line for years.
On a sidenote, don’t pay much mind to the talk about the Falcons trading for cornerback Deltha O’Neal. Cincy is not trading him. Plus, he is a left cornerback, where the Falcons’ already have a pretty good one in DeAngelo Hall. Petrino did say Atlanta likely will add a cornerback, but most likely through the draft.
