Falcons

By kg

April 2, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this

Im surprised that Petrino would declare that Williams would be a cb and thus signal the interest in drafting a safety. Although its widely known that safety is a need, why telegraph your intentions? McKay is very adept at playing the smokescreen game so I’m wondering if this is an attempt at trying to juke other teams into our draft intentions. I still feel that if Landry is not there at 8, the Falcons should trade down.

By Rick

April 2, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this

ok now, I get the first comment. I like the ideas I hear from Petrino so far. It sounds as we might have a real coach now and one less cheer leader(mora) I likie the idea of his handling Vick, hand him the team, the control, make him “DA man” and if he dont make , no excuses, if he does , and I think he will, we win ball games. The trade for Schaub was a no brainer, why give him away{next year} and not get something for him. Only houston is so dumb as to give so much. He was never going to start here. NEVER.We got somethiung for Nothing. Wish him well in tx.

By aqg

April 2, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

Laron Landry.

By JeffD

April 2, 2007 4:04 PM | Link to this

Thanks, Steve. We really appreciate the info.

Are you suggesting the Falcons are considering Peterson with the first pick?

I know you will discuss offense next week, but I can’t resist. Over the weekend, Mel Kiper indicated that the Falcons are the team most likely to trade with Detroit to take Calvin Johnson. I know the Falcons wouldn’t let anything like that go public, but to the extent you hear anything, we’d love to hear it.

I would rather the Falcons keep thier picks, but I wouldn’t be upset if they traded the two second round picks they got from the Texans. Then, the Falcons would have essentially traded Matt Schaub for Calvin Johnson. That’s not a bad deal for the Falcons.

Also, ESPN is reporting that Dunn probably won’t be starter when the season opens, and that Petrino likes Mike Bush. It’s no secret that Petrino likes Bush, and Dunn doesn’t fit the power running game. But I would hate to see Dunn lose his starting job.

By Keep it Real

April 2, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

We need the best defense player we can get and they must be in the attack mode. Size and speed matter. we need a huge body in the middle on the defense line. I am not sold on Keith Brooking and Jordan Beck as middle line backer we must look at Middle line backer too. Please draft DB that are at lest 6’+ that can hit and cover. There are some good DE in this draft. But we also must get some very good offense line to bar non!

By Daniel

April 2, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

I agree with kg. Annointing Williams the starter is a smokescreen.

The Falcons are really attempting to work a trade with Detroit. If Calvin Johnson is available at 2, the Falcons will make the trade. Bet on it!

By SC

April 2, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this

Thanks Steve, what are the Falcons early plans this year for Jordan Beck? So far, Demorrio Williams looks like the starting WLB.

By Andy

April 2, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Steve, great info. I figured the Cincy trade rumor made no sense. CB isn’t that huge a need for us.

Who would be our Nickel CB???

Based on the little I saw of him last year, Jimmy Williams looked like a safety to me. Hopefully, we don’t some of the awful play he showed playing CB in the season finale. Based on that game, I felt if he wasn’t moved to Safety, he may be a draft bust.

What are the April Mini-Camp dates?

Is the lawsuit by Grady serious or just a contract ploy?

Offensive stuff….could not resist…

I would think Dunn should be safe for this year. Isn’t it the last year of his current deal anyway????

I think a bigger story is that Weiner and McClure have been given the green light to get bigger. I always wondered the effect on a player when asked to get big so quick…I think David Boston with all his injury problems (along with HGH rumors)

Thoughts?

By dash

April 2, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Jeff D: I think that you are right. Unless we can get Calvin Johnson, we should keep the picks. We will have 4 high 2nd round picks, which could translate into one or two starters one day. Also, we should be able to pick up Landry in the 1st round, if not Okoye or Anderson. Peterson does sound intriguing as well. If Landry is gone, there should be one or two safeties left on the board by the 2nd round, maybe Meriweather, Rouse or Griffin. We need another DL(Woodley or Spencer) or OL. We should also spend one of those 4th round picks on a receiver so that we can give Roddy White a seat on the bench. A couple more pieces to the puzzle and we just might make the playoffs.

By dash

April 2, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

Jeff D: I think that you are right. Unless we can get Calvin Johnson, we should keep the picks. We will have 4 high 2nd round picks, which could translate into one or two starters one day. Also, we should be able to pick up Landry in the 1st round, if not Okoye or Anderson. Peterson does sound intriguing as well. If Landry is gone, there should be one or two safeties left on the board by the 2nd round, maybe Meriweather, Rouse or Griffin. We need another DL(Woodley or Spencer) or OL. We should also spend one of those 4th round picks on a receiver so that we can give Roddy White a seat on the bench. A couple more pieces to the puzzle and we just might make the playoffs.

By Steve Wyche

April 2, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this

Great stuff so far. I love the fact that you guys are so adept at the smokescreens and gamegs coaches/gms play before the draft.

This time of year, they say things so people like me can report them and then they actually go the opposite way. However, when it comes to top 10 picks, things typically don’t vary too much from most of the mock drafts.

I do think Jimmy Williams will get the chance to start at right corner. Petrino scouted him heavily when Louisville was going to play Virginia Tech and Petrino thought he was a heck of a player. Petrino also said he discarded last season since Williams didn’t get much of a chance. I believe him, for the most part. I’m sure he watched tape of him in practice and got some idea of whether he could play corner or not.

As for Adrian Peterson, if for some reason he slips to No. 8, he would be an option. The Falcons won’t trade up to get him. As for Calvin Johnson, I’ve spoken to several people who have said that as much as the Falcons would like to have him, they don’t want to get rid of a slew of draft picks to move up to get him. Their first and both No. 2s won’t be enough, by all accounts.

They have a lot of needs to address and if they can find impact guys with at least half of their 10 picks, they’ve done a good job.

I would not expect them to move up in the top 3 to get Calvin, especially because a top 3 pick costs so much money, something the Falcons don’t have a lot of.

By kaye

April 2, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

i think JeffD is right. if the raiders dont pick CJ, the loins are willing to move down anyway. and the falcons have to think, you dont want him to go to Tampa. but Landry would be a great addition to this team. if we can get CJ by not giving up to much then i say pull the trigger, but the falcons can really build something here in the next two years with these high picks. with the WR signed so far, if CJ is drafted, someone has to go (Roddy White to detroit….lol). but i think if landry is not there, trade down no more than 4 or 5 spots, maybe even 6 or 7. but with the 8th pick in the draft, and DT is to high to pick, just move down

By Matthew At The SLC

April 2, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

I cannot believe that Mel Kiper Jr, he of Big Hair, would say the Falcons are most likely to move up to select Johnson for a few reasons. They don’t have the cap room for a top-3 pick. They also have way too many holes to fill, and would have to give up their 1 and both 2’s (at least) to get Johnson. Now, for a team that needs starters at important posisitions (O-line, D-line, Secondary), why trade what will most likely become 3 starters for one? Doesn’t make any sense.

Also, Steve, why are people so sure that we’re going to take Landry? We can get a good free safety with one of our second round picks. There are very talented FS’s in this draft. What we need is talent on the lines. Specifically, if this team passes on Levi Brown, a guy who would become a 10 year mainstay on the line, then that would be the dumbest move since drafting Michael Booker (Who? That’s right) in the 1st round. Seriously, Steve, if Levi Brown is there they need to take him, even if Anderson or Landry are both there. Protecting Vick has been the biggest problem on this team for the last three years. The last (crappy) coaching staff thought that they wouldn’t need an effective pass blocking offensive line because of Vick’s ellusiveness. That’s why the last staff were a bunch of dumb@$$es and were fired. Vick has shown, that with enough time to throw he can be just as accurate as we and Petrino want him to be. So drafting Brown is the only pick that makes sense. If he’s gone, then I say draft Landry. But ONLY if Brown has already been picked.

You pick Brown, and either move him to LG until Gandy retires, or you cut Gandy, or move Gandy’s big butt inside. I cannot stress how important picking Brown would be for this team. Don’t just say you want to make Vick better. Don’t just pay that old chesnut (hello Little Jimmy Mora) lip service like the old staff did. Actually do it by protecting Vick. A QB that has protection is a good QB (see Tom Brady; Peyton Manning). This goes for Vick as well, as he’s shown us.

Picking anyone else besides Brown at No. 8 if he’s available is a huge mistake that the Falcons need to avoid at all costs. Vick cannot throw near 60% if he’s on his back the whole game.

By Cairo

April 2, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

This is the Steve Wyche I can appreciate. Thanks for the insight.

By CMS

April 2, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

O.K. if the Falcons make the trade for C.J., I won’t be mad. But we do need to address the defense. With that in mind it does make sense to draft a safety as oppose to a defense lineman with your first pick.

The reasoning behind that is simple, safeties are far more flexible to adjust an overall defensive package for as oppose to a lineman. You can put the safety in the box as an extra LB or drop him in coverage as an extra CB. Either way the Falcons have pretty much garunteed a good draft with the off season trade of Schaub.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 2, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this

Free safety is one of the deeper positions in this year’s draft — even if the Falcons miss out on Landry and Nelson they will still have a shot at Michael Griffin, Eric Weddle or Brandon Merriweather with their early second-round picks, all of whom are solid coverage safeties. On the other hand, after Jamaal Anderson, Adam Carriker and Gaines Adams the defensive ends get lighter and more specialized (with the exception of Charles Johnson, who probably won’t last until the 2nd round). A lot of scouts are looking at some of these 2nd-tier DEs as possible 3-4 outside linebackers, which leads me to believe they wouldn’t be great as every down DE’s in a 4-3 scheme (particularly in run defense). Chances are it would be harder for the Falcons to find an immediate contributor at DE in the second round than at FS.

I’d rather see the Falcons use the #8 overall pick on Anderson, Adams or Carriker and then use one of their 2nd rounders on a safety, and possibly the other 2nd rounder on a DT or OT. If they don’t pick a DE with the #8 pick, I’d like to see them take Levi Brown. As good as LaRon Landry is, the Falcons may have a better draft overall if they wait until the 2nd round to pick a safety. Not that Chauncey Davis is that bad, but he’s probably better used as a part-time player.

I don’t think it’s a terrible idea for Jimmy Williams to get the CB job for now over Jason Webster, who should be cut. I think if Williams had gotten more playing time last year, and hadn’t been injured, he would have performed better in the final games of the season. But the Falcons have to bring in some competition for J-Will. It would be foolish to hand the CB job without competition to a relatively unproven 2nd-year player. Trading a 3rd-rounder for Deltha O’Neal doesn’t make sense, but the Falcons should try to bring in a veteran CB in free agency and/or use a mid-round draft pick on a corner.

And finally, the more I have seen of the defensive prospects in the first round, the less I like the idea of trading up for Calvin Johnson. The Falcons have holes at pretty much every position other than QB, TE, and punter, and it makes sense to keep as many draft picks as possible to improve this roster. As much as I like Calvin as a player, it doesn’t make sense to trade up to get him, given the number of picks the Falcons would have to give up. Same with Adrian Peterson — even though he’s an outstanding prospect, it wouldn’t make sense to use the first-rounder on him even if he slips to Atlanta. The Falcons’ current RBs are much better than their current FS and DEs.

Thanks for the update, Steve.

By Chris J

April 2, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

yes Landry is the answer i dont know what is the falcons problem if you want effective defensive players draft from the SEC i mean its not that hard you get the players that face the toughest competition those will always be the best players sure theres exceptions some times J.peppers(ACC), B. Urlacher(MWAC), E. Reed(ACC) but man those Sec boys are always good defensive players with the exception of jonathan sullivan of course

By TC

April 2, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

We were 29th in the league against the pass last year which mean Chauncey Davis, Josh Mallard and Paul Carrington didn’t put enough pressure on the Qbs to protect or secondary. We screwed up in last years draft when we didn’t take Tamba Hali in the first round. The guy had 62 tackles, 6 force fumbles and 8 sacks as a rookie. It took Chauncey, Josh, and Paul combine to get 8 sacks. We have a chance to redeem ourselves by taking Gaines or Jamaal Anderson in this years draft.

By Edgar

April 2, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this

LaRon Landry is a good choice to complete a secondary that’s needed work for the last 4 years. I still believe that Crocker and Milloy were just temps to kind of do what we could until we could get it fixed. Rossum needs to go. If I see him in the secondary again this year it’s going to be comedy time. I love Adrian Peterson and Omobi Okoye and my mouth waters each time I think about either one of them in a Falcon’s uniform but it’s not to be. Calvin Johnson is everybodys pick for number one but that just ain’t gonna happen. I also hope we take a look over in Athens at those two DLs that are ready to play. I know they’re raw talent but we just can’t let them get away from us. We’ve let too many players from UGA get gone and then watch them go somewhere else and become all pro. Maybe this year it’s different.

By Tony

April 2, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this

We were 29th against the pass last year which mean Chauncey, Josh and Paul didn’t put enough pressure on the Qbs to protect our secondary. We screwed up last year when we past on Tamba Hali. The guy had 62 tackles, 6 force fumbles and 8 sacks as a rookie. It took Chauncey, Josh and Paul combine to get that many sacks. We can redeem ourselves by taking Gaines or Jamaal Anderson in this years draft.

By Bob Dylan

April 2, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this

Whats all rave about Calvin Johnson. The Falcons don’t need a wideout. Coach up White and Jenkins and barring injury Joe Horn and Finerman will get the job done. If the Falcon brass get off their behinds and do their homework a wideout that can catch can be found anywhere anytime, ask the Saints and they’ll tell you they got Marquse Colston from Hofstra with last pick. You got do your homework and get out of the mindset that only D-I players can make your roster. Do your homework McKay and get some ballplayers.

By Bob Dylan

April 2, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this

Whats all rave about Calvin Johnson. The Falcons don’t need a wideout. Coach up White and Jenkins and barring injury Joe Horn and Finerman will get the job done. If the Falcon brass get off their behinds and do their homework a wideout that can catch can be found anywhere anytime, ask the Saints and they’ll tell you they got Marquse Colston from Hofstra with last pick. You got do your homework and get out of the mindset that only D-I players can make your roster. Do your homework McKay and get some ballplayers.

By long time falcon

April 2, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this

Everbody gets to caught up in the draft hype. Landry is not even the best safety in this draft, that would be nelson. Landry is not as fluid as nelson and from his scouting report sounds like another roy williams. We need a guy who can cover the deep middle and I’m worried that landry might srtuggle in pass coverage. The falcons should draft levi brown in the first and look to snag merriweather from Miami in the second. Some scouts have compared the Miami kid to ed reed. We should play to the stregth of the draft and that is safety and defensive end. Which means we should use our two second round picks at those positions. If we are serious about rebuilding our offensive line then brown should be our pick in the first. Landry is the “sexy” pick but brown will be a force at tackle for the next decade.

By long time falcon

April 2, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this

POOP, I didn’t even read your post before I blogged but we are thinking the same way bro. When the draft is deep at certain positions you are supposed to wait while filling needs at the weaker spots. I think Landry is one of those boom or bust type players so I would feel much more comfortable grabbing a guy like griffin or merriweather in the second. I just feel like we need to grab brown if he is on the board because we have ignored the offensive line for so long.

By Ken Strickland

April 2, 2007 7:26 PM | Link to this

We need to follow LSmith, and the Chicago Bears, blueprint for success. Their 1st 5 picks were DEF players, and 1 of their 2 FA signings was a CB. They rode that DEF to the SB. They had all kinds of OFF problems, and their OFF didn’t lead the NFL in rushing, passing, or anything, except maybe frustration.

The 1st line of DEF is always the DL. A good DL should be able to stop, or control the run and pressure the QB. Our DL has done neither the last 2yrs. Drafting FS Landry will not improve our poor pass rush, nor our poor DL play against the run. Our LB’s are better at making plays sideline to sideline, than taking on OL and plugging gaps. In other words, we need to concentrate our draft on fixing the foundation and the roof(DL), before we start watering the lawn(FS).

Why waste our #8 pick on APeterson? We already have 2 game breaking RB, Dunn, Norwood, and a power blocking FB. You also know Petrino is going to draft RB Bush in the 3rd rd if available. It only makes sense to draft Peterson if we intend to use him to acquire additional picks from teams below us that are desperate for his skills.

Although I am advocating we draft DEF 1st, I can’t argue with MATTHEW FROM THE SLC about LBrown. I wouldn’t be upset if we took him to replace TWeiner at RT. Then drafted either Blalock from Texas, or Grubbs from Auburn, to play LG. That would give our own OT Omiyale another yr to get bigger, and stronger, to replace Gandy.

But my overall preference would be to go for DEF in this draft, then go for OFF in next yrs draft. We’ll have at least one 1st rd, and 2 2nd rd picks in the 2008 draft.

By larry w.

April 2, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this

My choice would be to draft Adams or Anderson with the #8 if they are still available. I agree with long time falcon and Najeh, good safeties will more than likely still be available in the 2nd round, in particular Meriweather. I’m not sold on drafting an O-lineman that high. This is not a strong draft for OTs. But there’s a strong possibility Blalock could still be available with the 44th pick. He should be able to come in and challenge for the starting left guard position. But with defense being the strength of this draft, I think this is an ideal opportunity to strengthen our suspect defense considerably.

By gdg73

April 2, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this

The Falcons should pick Adrian Peterson only for the purpose of trading him to either Buffalo or Green Bay. Both need a RB. Jacksonville and Carolina need a safety almost as bad as we do. I like three safeties in the early part of the first round, Landry, Nelson, and Merriweather. If we trade down with the Bills or Pack, we will get one, along with an additional pick.
To be honest, we need the best coverage safety in the draft if we are going to play Zimmer’s press coverage defensive scheme. I don’t care what the combine numbers say, Nelson is the best safety and I believe McKay knows this as well. He loves Florida (the state) boys. He will not let the media dictate his draft. Also, let’s hope that the big bully (Charles Johnson) is there in the second. Just as I type this, they project Nelson going to Carolina on the NFLNetwork.

By gdg73

April 2, 2007 8:02 PM | Link to this

Also, we need to pick one of the following ofensive lineman in the second: Arron Sears, Ben Grubbs, or Justin Blalock.

By Straight$$$$Homie

April 2, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

Thanks for your column and update Steve. With 10 picks in this draft, we only have 1 choice. We have to do whatever’s necessary to draft CJ. This may seem drastic, but desparate times call for desparate measures. Offer Detroit our #8 and next years 1st rounder (cap reasons), which would hopefully be in the high 20’s or low 30’s for their #2 spot this year. Even throw in a late rounder next year. Whatever we do, has to make Millen look like a genius (so the Detroit fans don’t try to lynch him). The bottom line is we cannot afford to let him go to Tampa. Do you want to face him twice annually? Calvin is a difference maker. I’m not sure if LaRon will change the way we’re gameplanned for, but Calvin will. This is a chance to get Moss+ like talent without any baggage. He would open up the offense for everyone. Sometimes you’ve got to bite the bullet. If we don’t get CJ, Rice or Meachum better be selected with one of 2 second round picks. Imagine an offense that features Vick, Dunn, Norwood,Crumpler, CJ, Horn (slot), Jenkins. It becomes more complex than stop Vick. This will enhance your lines performance because you just can’t send everyone. CJ commands a double, Horn can still beat most corners, and Crumpler in the seam is unstoppable. I truly believe that Mr. Blank has authorized McKay to get CJ by any means necessary. Regardless of what fans think, Mr. Blank does want to win and put the best available players on the falcons sideline. We can only pray Millen has another brain cramp and trades out of the number 2 slot….

By OddJob

April 2, 2007 9:03 PM | Link to this

For me if we came out with Okoye and Griffin the Texas safty I’d be happy as could be.Michial Bush might be a good investment for the long haul and if Charles Johnson can be had with a 2nd I’d go for him.

By OddJob

April 2, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this

gdg73 You look at one game like too many people and decide Nelson is the best safty.Griffin was the best safty in college ball for two years,plus he has all the measurables, good chararter and bloodline.How you could rate Merriweather ahead of Griffin is well beyond me.

By FALCON30901

April 2, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this

Landry is the number 8 pick if he is still on the board. A 4 year starter in the SEC. A guy that started on a championship team as a freshman in the SEC. A guy that runs a 4.3. A guy with NFL family ties. A guy with huge size and guns. 2nd round defensive end offensive lineman.
In the 3rd i would work on corner backs or start earlier if we can find good value with one of our other picks. Forth thru 7th round i would concentrate on linebacker, corner, and safety depth. Guys that can step in on special teams and work their way up too the 2nd team or starters next year. If Landry is gone i would go with Levi Brown or a stud defensive end. Trade down for a late 1st and a late 3rd is also a option. we need bodies and i trust McKay with the 2nd thru 6th rounders alot better than his 1st rounders. With good coaching and a support group i think that White will have a break through year. He really stepped it up with big time catches after getting booed in that dallas game. If we can get a Safety, corner back and defensive end i would be happy. speed smarts and size always wins the game. We weren’t that far. If we hadn’t lost both of our guards and had bad coaching we would be picking 29 thru 32.

By Hannbird

April 2, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this

1st off is have the so called QB restructure his contract. 24 mil. is way too much to pay for an average QB. I mean his salary alone is just a little less than half of the Bills total team salary. Come on, get real people. No one is worth that much. Besides, if Peyton Manning can do it, Vick should be willing to also. Next I would definitely trade up to get Calvin Johnson. The offense needs playmakers, particularly someone who can catch a football. The defense was on the field entirely too long and the offense could not sustain drives (i.e. The 2nd Carolina game when Carolina’s offense held the ball for 42 minutes, 42 MINUTES!!!!!!) No defense should have to go through that. If a deal cannot be worked out with Detroit or some other team, or if Johnson is unavailable, then I would go with Landry at safety. Mid 4.3 speed for a safety is incredible and he says he can run faster. Wow! If neither of these 2 guys is available then I would draft a DE or DT, move Williams to Safety and try to work out a deal with Cincinati for Deltha O’neal. Just my opinion though. I have faith in Petrino that he can turn this team around. GO BIRDS!!!

By NumbaOneFan

April 2, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this

This is what needs to happen in this years draft for the Falcons to be abe to say they addressed their needs and make up for the bonehead signings from J Mac over the last 2 seasons’

By Ken Strickland Why waste our #8 pick on APeterson? We already have 2 game breaking RB, Dunn, Norwood, and a power blocking FB. You also know Petrino is going to draft RB Bush in the 3rd rd if available. It only makes sense to draft Peterson if we intend to use him to acquire additional picks from teams below us that are desperate for his skills.

By gdg73 The Falcons should pick Adrian Peterson only for the purpose of trading him to either Buffalo or Green Bay. Both need a RB. Jacksonville and Carolina need a safety almost as bad as we do. I like three safeties in the early part of the first round, Landry, Nelson, and Merriweather. If we trade down with the Bills or Pack, we will get one, along with an additional pick.

Forget CJ from GT boys……..it’s just not going to happen. They signed Horn have Finn, Roddy, Jenkins… how many money receivers does one team need. White and Jenkins need to be coached up and held accountable. These guys have talent abd with the new scheme we will see how quick they come around. I really do believe that the last coaching staf never had the full respect or the attention from the team. I can almost see where these players gave up and did not put out 100% mostly due to the buddy up pat in the back attitude from the coaches, maybe even forcing the ousting of Mora and his pack of dummbases. For christs sake everyone knew what play was coming both from the offense and defense side of the ball. The oposition feasted on the ridiculous and sublime play calling of take a Knapp and Donatelli… these guys are idiots. Petrino was the right choice and quite a few of us will be able to see acompletely different Falocn;s team this year. How far and how quick we progress as a team will depend on if the Falcons p ull offwhat Ken and gdg73 pointed out

By kg

April 2, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

Here’s a pretty far fetched idea, but one that I think would work. I agree with the previous posts that good safeties and OL can be had in the second round. How about if Peterson is there at 8, trade with Buff at 12, pick up a third. Then draft Willis, MLB from Miss, move Brookings to OL, trade D. Williams for a second. We would then have 3 second round picks to draft a safety (Weddle, Rouse, Piscatelli), a DE (Crowder, Spencer) and an OL (Grubbs, Staley, Ugoh, Blalock). Michael Bush will probably still be there in round 4 or 5 because of his second surgery. I like the idea of drafting Ilaoa from Hawaii in the 5th or 6th. Huge guy who can make the short yardage plays.

By destin

April 2, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this

Davenpoop - You sure hit it on the head. I especially agree with the fact that we would be less likely to get a quality DE in the second round than FS. Abraham is good, but he’s not the biggest or most durable DE around, and after him, we’re threadbare.

By mountain_jim

April 2, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this

Good column and info Steve - thanks!

I also think Dline in first and safety in 2nd makes sense with where the talent is deeper.. Maybe the CJ trade-up price drops on draft day but if not I hope Oakland keeps him from Tampa Bay.

By Straight$$$$Homie

April 2, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this

People are still p** at the Schaub trade, huh!! I told you all several weeks ago that it was going down. Mr. Blank is backing his original investment in Vick. He’ll continue to do so by drafting CJ. In return (Hannbird), Mick will restructure to enable the signing of a real #1 receiver. I’m sure it’s already being discussed. See ya at the DRAFT…

By Mike

April 2, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this

I for one would love to see Calvin Johnson in a Falcons jersey, but it is not going to happen. They do need one more reciever in order to open things up, but I do not think they should give up two or more picks to get one. They need to go D first. The best everyone can hope for is for the Raiders to pick up Carr and draft Calvin first…keep him out of the hands of Tampa. I like Landry, Adams, Anderson, and Okoye. Assuming they take Landry as most people expect, I look for them to take Harrell or Tyler in the second along with Sydney Rice. Harrell and Tyler either one would compliment Colemans speed, and Rice would be a good addition to our reciever corps. He does not have breakaway speed, but he is very physical with excellent hands. In the 3rd they could have choices at DE between Crowder, Moses, and Bazuin. Some mock drafts have Bush falling to the 4th or 5th round now due to another surgery on his leg. If they can snatch him in the 4th that would be great, if not Wynn would be a good pick up. I also think they need to pick up a kicker in the 6th or 7th. I like Medlock out of UCLA if he is still available. I do not believe Morten Anderson has any desire to return next year.

By DeezNutz

April 2, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this

LEVI BROWN. Petrino wants the big boys and he starts with this one.

By Ken Strickland

April 2, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this

KG, there is nothing far fetched about your idea. In fact, is shows damn good foresight. The only problem is trying to trade DWilliams. He’s had a contract on the table for some time now, and has yet to sign. He is obviously trying to go elsewhere, rather than come back to a possible backup. Let’s take your suggestion a step further.

I’ve mentioned before how we could trade Weiner, and one of our(3)4th rd picks, to Oakland for their #33 pick, and we swap 3rd rd picks. That move, along with trading DWilliams, would give us (4) 2nd rd picks. Draft APeterson with our #8 pick and use him to trade down and get another 2nd rd pick. That would give us 5 picks in the 2nd rd.

We could then use the #33 pick, and the 2nd of our(3)4th rd picks, to move into the 1st rd. That would give us(2)1st rd picks, and(4)2nd rd picks. We could draft an OT, OG, DT, DE, FS & MLB. We’d still have picks in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 2 in the 6th. Nothing wrong with dreaming.

By NumbaOneFan

April 2, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

This is what needs to happen in this years draft for the Falcons to be abe to say they addressed their needs and make up for the bonehead signings from J Mac over the last 2 seasons’

By Ken Strickland Why waste our #8 pick on APeterson? We already have 2 game breaking RB, Dunn, Norwood, and a power blocking FB. You also know Petrino is going to draft RB Bush in the 3rd rd if available. It only makes sense to draft Peterson if we intend to use him to acquire additional picks from teams below us that are desperate for his skills.

By gdg73 The Falcons should pick Adrian Peterson only for the purpose of trading him to either Buffalo or Green Bay. Both need a RB. Jacksonville and Carolina need a safety almost as bad as we do. I like three safeties in the early part of the first round, Landry, Nelson, and Merriweather. If we trade down with the Bills or Pack, we will get one, along with an additional pick.

Forget CJ from GT boys……..it’s just not going to happen. They signed Horn have Finn, Roddy, Jenkins… how many money receivers does one team need. White and Jenkins need to be coached up and held accountable. These guys have talent abd with the new scheme we will see how quick they come around. I really do believe that the last coaching staf never had the full respect or the attention from the team. I can almost see where these players gave up and did not put out 100% mostly due to the buddy up pat in the back attitude from the coaches, maybe even forcing the ousting of Mora and his pack of dummbases. For christs sake everyone knew what play was coming both from the offense and defense side of the ball. The oposition feasted on the ridiculous and sublime play calling of take a Knapp and Donatelli… these guys are idiots. Petrino was the right choice and quite a few of us will be able to see acompletely different Falocn;s team this year. How far and how quick we progress as a team will depend on if the Falcons p ull offwhat Ken and gdg73 pointed out

By E.Hill

April 2, 2007 11:31 PM | Link to this

We have one defensive line player that played every game last year, and he might not be back for this season. We need to draft two defensive linemen. This will assure a new tradition in Atlanta.

By really

April 3, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this

What’s with Atlanta fans? It’s draft time, give me a wide receiver and a large fry to go. Atlanta fans will be screamin’ for a wide receiver as long as Vick is here. Vick is closer to Trent Dilfer than Joe Montana, just let the Falcons win by getting a dominating, suffocating D, Vick is not Peyton Manning and he’s not gonna throw for 40TD’s and 4,000 yards, so Arthur Blank, get us a great D cuz we’re stuck with your 137 million dollar Trent Dilfer.

By Quint

April 3, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this

Wow!!!!! D-Hall and Jimmy Williams plus Laron Landry Solid secondary. Don’t be suprised when the Falcons draft Michael Bush later in the draft and possibly Dwayne Jarrett with the early second round pick. If you didn’t notice what Petrino did at Louisville you’re gonna be in for a treat, he get’s the most out of his playes especially the quaterback………..

By Matthew At The SLC

April 3, 2007 1:45 AM | Link to this

When will you people get it through your thick skulls that the Falcons DO NOT HAVE THE CAP SPACE IN ORDER TO DRAFT AND SIGN A TOP 5 DRAFT PICK!!!

For crying out loud people! Do y’all know nothing about football, and the era of the salary cap that’s been around since the mid 1990’s? Are you the same people who could not understand that there is no way the Falcons could trade Vick because of the many of the same reasons? Just freaking forget it. It’s not going to happen. It makes no sense for the Falcons to trade a bunch of picks they absolutely need for a wideout that they cannot afford to sign.

God, some of you people are so insistant in your stupidity that you give me agita.

By Jamie

April 3, 2007 2:30 AM | Link to this

I see the Falcons drafting Laron Landry at pick #8, a lineman like Tony Ugoh, Joe Staley in round 2 with the pick from Houston and with our own pick a solid DE like Tim Crowder of Texas, maybe Charles Johnson or Quentin Moses of UGA, or Dan Bazuin DE out of Central Michigan (side note he compares favorably to Patrick Kerney, a high effort, high energy DE in Round 3. I think we will get either Michael Bush of Louisville or Tony Hunt of Michigan in Round 4. Bush will fall a great deal because of his second surgery on that injured leg and if healthy would represent outstanding value because he is a top 20 pick any other time. The Hometown Boy I am want to see us Trade up and get Calvin Johnson of GT and get a safety later on like Aaron Rouse, Tanard Jackson, or Eric Weddle. Let me know what you guys think

By cj

April 3, 2007 3:35 AM | Link to this

round 1 calvin johnson, adrian peterson, laron landry, amobi okoye or levi jones, Patrick willis (wildcard)

round 2 (barring trade) sidney rice, aaron rouse (safety v. tech), tackle from ND (I forget his name), tank tyler (dt from nc state), whichever cb falls from round 1

round 2 second pick lamar woodley, jason hill, guard from usc, defensive tackle from utah, corner from tennesse

round 3 michael bush, chris henry (rb arizona), jon abbate, (or middle linebacker from louisville w/ 4.40 forty), Jacoby Jones (wide receiver lane), or the kansas state kick return specialist (wildcard)

round 4 quarterback from stanford, corner back from cincy, fsu middle linebacker buster davis, corner from tennessee, safety from arizon state, or vincent marshall (wide receiver/kick return specialist 4.34 speed)

By cj

April 3, 2007 3:50 AM | Link to this

or brandon meriwether w/ first second round pick

By CQ

April 3, 2007 7:21 AM | Link to this

The falcons need to take Landry. That guy is a monster and will start from day 1 with the Falcons. He could be the next Ronnie Lott. There are pleanty of DE’s that could be picked with the second round pick.

The 3rd pick has to be O-LINE. In fact I think at least 2 O lineman need to be drafted.

By CQ

April 3, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this

Get off this Calvin Johnson talk. The Falcons are not going to trade 3 top draft picks to get him. Thats crazy.

To many holes to fill on this team. C. Jonson cannot play offensive live, defensive line and Corner and saftey at the same time.

Think before you type.

By Michael

April 3, 2007 7:37 AM | Link to this

Here’s who I like the Falcons giving a hard and realistic close look at: 1. Levi Brown - OT 2. Brandon Merriweather - FS 2. LaMarr Woodley - DE 3. Justin Durant - MLB 4. Chris Henry - RB 4. Jacoby Lane - WR 4. Eric Wright - CB 5. Justin Medlock - K 6. Cory Anderson - FB 7. Stephon Meyer - OT

What do you think Steve? I believe this is manageable, and it more than addresses our needs!

By Eternal Optimist

April 3, 2007 7:45 AM | Link to this

KG and ken strickland, i was with you all before you started talking about trading D Williams. He is our future at outside LB. He’s much faster than Brooking, he makes more plays. Remember he was second in tackles while playing backup alot of the time. He’s a play maker. Williams and Boley outside with an as yet un-named middle LB (need).

By Georgiaboy

April 3, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this

Listen up everybody this is what we need to do. 1st round draft Landry. If he’s not there, draft peterson and trade him to Buffalo or Green Bay for Reggie Nelson and pick up an extra pick maybe 3rd round. 2nd round, trade the 3rd pick we picked up from the peterson trade and our original 2nd round pick to another team ahead of us to draft Charles Johnson. If he’s gone pick the best OL. With the 2nd round pick from Texans pick Moses or best OL, depending on what you did with the prior pick. And 3rd round pick, draft Bush. 4rd round, draft LB or CB. Draft OL,DL, and WR with the rest of picks.

By bwale09

April 3, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Does anyone notice that the big power back that Petrino speaks of is playing in Washington, or that the guy we traded him for is in S.F. ( T.J. Duckett and Lelie ) Unless we can get Johnson, take Landry ! Get one of the UGA ends later, and let Petrino get Bush.

By NB

April 3, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Josh Mallard is a cheap and GOOD solution to our DE issue. He has a motor… kinda like Kearney. He did have four sacks and two forced fumbles last year in his limited play (pretty much 3rd downs). I’d say that’s pretty good. Worth a shot, for sure. I’d say he can and should be the solution.

By destin

April 3, 2007 9:00 AM | Link to this

I would love to have Levi Brown — the problem is, we at least have two servicable OT’s and there are way too many holes on the defense that need immediate attention. I still say DE with the first pick, but if they do go with Landry, then they should somehow make a deal to get another 1st rd. pick and get Carriker at DE. We need to keep DWilliams. Brooking will have to play the middle until we can groom a replacement.

By aqg

April 3, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

no way we trade up for CJ. not only will it not happen but i hope it doesn’t. as mentioned we have way to many holes to fill to be trading away picks for one player. i like landry in the 1st and a WR and DE in the 2nd. if michael bush is there in the 3rd i could see us drafting him and then going OL and DL the rest of the way.

By Loafer

April 3, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this

Hey Eternal Optimist, check your stats. Brrokings has led the team in tackles two out of the last three years. I don’t like him in the middle but he’s fine on th eoutside.

By Mike

April 3, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

Round 1: Amobi Okoye Louisville Round 2: Eric Weddle Utah Round 2: Justin Blalock Texas Round 3: Michael Bush Louisville

By Mike

April 3, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

Falcons do not want Meriweather; too many character issues.

By dash

April 3, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

To really, stay off the blog and go watch the NFL channel. You don’t know football.

Vick is not all of the problem, he also has made the Pro Bowl 3 times.First, The West Coast, Greg Knapp offense was not suited to Atlanta’s personnel. Second, Defense wins games. We gave up too many rushing yards and too many big plays. Your defense can not rank at the bottom and your team still win games. Third, the WRs dropped too many passes. A runnning team throws the ball only so many times in a game, usually in critical situations.You have to catch it! A good receiver gains separation to give the QB room to throw and catches the ball when it is thrown in their zone. Our WRs tended to do neither. Finally, you must protect your quarterback. The OL gave up way too many sacks.They also got pushed around way too many times by more physical teams. The Falcons gave 120M to a QB but has never spent a 1st round pick on an offensive lineman. What sense does that make???

I believe that we have enough picks in the draft to build a good team. Cap room is still an issue but we still have wiggle room. I believe that Jimmy Williams at CB is a smoke screen. Although, he does deserve a chance to see what he can do. He was a player at Virginia Tech but his cover skills are little lacking(he is still better than Webster). I think that if we get a S or DL in the 1st round, a DL,S, OL, or WR in the 2nd round and a OL, RB in the 3rd round, we will have had a successful draft. Also, I would love to see Taylor from Georgia in a Falcons uniform, he is a playmaker!

By Glenn

April 3, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

If Tampa drafts Calvin Johnson, it will take a new safety AND a top-notch D-lineman on the Falcons defense to even try to stop the Tampa offense.

On the other hand, if Vick works on his contract to free cap room, and Atlanta can pull the trigger on CJ, it will affect how every other team tries to play them.

A great offense will put more points on the board, especially in the Red Zone, and when they stall, they will have stretched the field, giving the D more green behind them, as well as keep them rested.

In my opinion those three items are more important than any single player on the D side of the field. In other words, Calvin Johnson may be the best defensive player the Falcons could draft.

By falcon guy

April 3, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

Look, I understand that people are wary of the cost of trading up to obtain Calvin Johnson. But I think when a team has the opportunity to draft a local player who is a once in a generation player, then they’d be fools to not to at least try/consider the move. The Falcons don’t have to surrender all their top draft picks this season, they can use their 1st rounder from next season as a bargaining chip as well. The Falcons have had squat for receivers around here for a decade and here they have a no brainer lock of a top tier WR, who also happens to be a local kid and a model citizen and hard worker and they think it would cost too much to get him. What a crock. They traded up to draft Michael Jenkins. Very rarely are there sure things in the NFL draft, especially the deeper you go (2nd, 3rd, 4th rounds), so the Falcons should not use their 2nd round picks to obtain him, why, because they might draft some flop who’ll be released in a couple seasons anyway? Good thinking. Drafting CJ would get them to the Super Bowl faster than some backup DE or a S would. He propped up Reggie Ball for 3 seasons for God’s sake, enough to keep a 45% passer from losing his job because they won more games than they lost. I know lots of people don’t think Vick is very good, but he’s a winner who can complete 58-60% of his passes to a receiving corp that no one would mistake for being very good, and if you gave him a target like CJ, the team and Vick would immediately improve on offense. Put up more points and keep the other team off the field, and that has a positive impact on the defense. CJ is a red zone beast, a place the Falcons struggled to put up points. In my opinion, all signs point to CJ being EXACTLY what the Falcons need.

By Michael

April 3, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

People, I love CJ almost as much as I love Michael Vick, but the world will not end just because we don’t draft him! I mean ask New Orleans how much their team improved with their 7th round draft pick Marques Colston, or ask Denver how badly did they feel drafting Terrell Davis in the 6th round. All we need is a receiver that will catch the dang ball (sorry Keyshawn). He doesn’t have to have blazing speed, or have moves like Orca, just catch the ball and fall on the ground for the first down. All jokes aside, fellas, there are some very talented players out there in this draft. Yes, I would love to have CJ in a Falcons uniform, but I frankly believe that Jacoby Jones is another wide receiver that can make us proud; just as there are other safeties in the draft besides Landry. We are all so tired of losing in Atlanta that we forget that there are 31 other teams out there that will do everything they can for their franchises as well. It’s the nature of the business. It’s up to the Falcons braintrust to finally come out with the right ingredients to make this the most disciplined, entertaining, gifted, and most importantly, productive team in franchise history! It’s there, but we just have to look beyond all of that glamour and glitz and finally get the TEAM that stands the best chance of taking us to the Super Bowl. Long live the Atlanta Falcons, and may THIS be the year that make us all proud to wear that Dirty Bird and talk plenty of trash.

By Blech

April 3, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Q: What do you get when you cross an illiterate gorilla with a contract worth millions?
A: Michael Vick

By really

April 3, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

DID I OFFEND DA WITTLE MAN HANGIN ON DA NUT SAKS? I’M SO SOWWY, LITTLE BOYS, YOU JUST GO RIGHT BACK TO HANGIN ON DA NUT SAKS. VICK IS AVERAGE AT BEST ALL YOU JOCK SNIFFERS, I’M A FALCON FAN BUT I’M REALISTIC TOO, I’M NOT HANGIN’ ON THE SAK OF A AVERAGE OR BELOW AVERAGE QB.

By KB

April 3, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Steve,

I am glad to see that the Falcons seems to have a coach who knows what he is doing (with apologies to D. Reeves.) It is going to take a while (possibly next year or two.) The talent on this team is miminal. Giving up draft picks to get CJ would be foolish. Landry would be a great pick if we can get him. Play Beck. You paid a third round for him. If he doesn’t work out, then blame McKay. If he doesn’t, great. Get some defensive and offensive linemen with the two no.#2 picks you have. You can find a bigger back in the waiver wire after the draft. You might want to trade Brooking too because he backup is faster and less expensive. Either way, Petrino looks like he knows what he is doing and its up to fans to support him….

By Ken Strickland

April 3, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

ETERNAL OPTIMIST, it’s not a matter of wanting to trade LB DWilliams, it’s a matter of maybe not having a choice. So far, he’s refused to sign the offer that’s been on the table for a while. He’s the one that seems to be trying to engineer a possible trade, or get a team to offer him a FA contract. He obviously doesn’t want to return to the Falcons as a possible backup.

We have a 1st, and 2 high 2nd rd picks in this yrs draft. We will have the same situation in next yrs draft. We should concentrate on improving our DEF 1st. There are only 2 DT’s that are rated as impact players. The most talented of the 2 overall is Okoye. We start there, and look for the best option at FS with our #39 pick. We will certainly have either Griffin, Nelson, Merriweather, or Weddle, available when our #39 pick comes up. Griffin is rated as the best pure FS in the draft, but not the most athletic. Merriweather’s character issues keep him from being rated just below Landry as far as athletic ability. Nelson is a hybred type who’s talents and instincts are more SS than FS, although he has the talent to play both. With a solid pass rushing front 4, and solid cover CB’s, any one of these FS’s would make an impact from day one.

We should then look for our best option at DE with our #44 pick. DE CDavis, who is as solid as PKerney against the run, but not the pass, will be our other starter. We draft a pass rushing specialist, which will be in abundance in the 2nd rd, to replace Davis if passing situations. This also give us insurance if we lose our other pass rushing specialist, JAbraham, to injury.

We will then have a solid, athletic, quick, fast, and physical DEF capable of attacking any type of OFF. We use the rest of our picks to such for gems at LB, WR, RB, DB, DL, and OL. We go with what we have on OFF until next yrs draft. We use those 3 picks to address/upgrade our OL, and possibly WR. Remember, our basic OFF problems last yr was poor 3nd dn, or short yardage situations, and redzone scoring. With better play selection, better implimentation, and a bigger, stronger FB, HB, OG(Fonoti,350+) we can overcome those problems.

By KB

April 3, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

Mr. Strickland,

I could not agree with you anymore. This team has some major holes that needs to be address. This is not an one year fix job. This going to take time to get the right personnel and we the fans needs to be patient.

By Quint

April 3, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this

Nobody knows what the Falcons are gonna do in the draft and Calvin is a great local talent who they realize they can move up to get. Remember: You same wishy-washy Atlanta fans didn’t think they would draft Michael Vick either so just relax……

By CQ

April 3, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this

Why would the Falcons give away 3 picks to get K. Johnson?

If we were in the same shape as the Saints then i would make the move because they have less holes to fill. What good is K. Johnson going to do if the Defense cannot stop anyone?

This is not college football, the NFL have corners just as talented as Johnson. Ex. Champ Bailey

By Danny

April 3, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

It really seems as if the Falcons are positioning themselves to trade up. But I hope that’s not the case. We have too many holes to fill. We need to grab a FS, OL and DE with our first three picks.

I hope we draft Landry or Levi Brown with the first pick; Merriweather or Blalock with the second pick; a DE with the third pick; and Bush with the fourth pick. Then, we’d have a great draft!!

By gizmox329

April 3, 2007 1:16 PM | Link to this

The Calvin Johnson deal sounds great but the Falcons can not afford to sign him. Plus, I believe a first round swap with Detroit and two second round picks may not be enough booty for Detroit. The Falcons have so many needs to fill they are now in a good position to improve the team. A lot of players will be needed to change to Petrino’s scheme. Right now the biggest needs are at S,OL,DL,CB,WR. Laron Landry definetly fills the first need. He is fast, strong,has great cover skills, and is a hammer against the run. The other positions could be filled with the remaining choices or by including a second round and some of the 4th round picks to move back in to the first round to get quality O linemen such as Justin Blaylock, Ben Grubb, Ryan Kaliel, or a nose tackle such as Tank Tyler. Either way the Falcons have a really good chance to improve the team. Let’s hope they take full advantage of it. As a thirty plus year follower I hope this is the beginning of a winning team.

By Marcos

April 3, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

The idea of trading up to get calvin sounds good, but i do not think that the falcons have the money to sing him, unless vick is willing to restructrure his contract as payton did with the colts. If we can get calvin, the we should draft the best player availabe at #8. I this year the falcons have an opportunity to do well in this year’s draft.

By Blech

April 3, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

Vick is below average, he is over hyped, over paid, and under educated. The ape can not even speak English. He is a sorry criminal who can’t play ball, His real claim to fame should be evelutionary proof of the missing link, not football—-Blech

By Dominique

April 3, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

Why is everyone sold on LaRon Landry as both the falcons pick if they do go with a safety & as the best safety in the draft. Reggie Nelson is a playmaker from the safety position, a future pro-bowler with the potiential to be an Ed Reed type of safety, which is exactly what the falcons need. We have one probowler and playmaker in the secondary in D. Hall, but the addition of Nelson, who can run, cover, and hit only makes since. LaRon Landry fell off last year in production & Nelson thrived & Nelson has not even reached his full potiential, so why is he not even mentioned or ever selected for the Falcons in mock drafts when selecting a safety?

By Blech

April 3, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

Blech,

You have a few issues you need to deal with yourself. Regardless of what a player doesn’t on the field, you have no right to express your views as a complete fool you portray yourself in being. Racism is very ugly (white on black, black on white, and whatever and whomever) thing. Please stick to the critique of the player on the field, not the individual off it.

By Ken Strickland

April 3, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this

What’s the matter BLECH, are you upset that a, so called, illiterate gorilla is so much more successful than you? Wait a minute, now that I think about it, what other way could it be when compared to an ANAL MINDED MORON like BLECH, never mind.

FALCON GUY, it would require a minimum of 2 1st rd picks, and at least 1 of our 2 second rd picks to draft him. Then, we’d have to release a number of veteran contracts to clear cap space to sign him. Then, we’d have to release more veteran contracts in order to sign our other picks. You’d have your beloved CJ, along with an OFF, and DEF, still full of holes, and a bench full of rookies and undrafted FA’s. We’d still need to upgrade our starting DEF at DE, FS, and DT. How may quality starters do you expect to find below the 3rd rd? Remember how our DEF collapsed, the last 2yrs, when hit by injuries? Look how our vaulted running gm collapsed when we lost Forney and then Lehr. There was no quality, or experience, on our bench to compensate.

What happens if CJ suffers a serious injury? We will be forced to compete with far less than we had last yr. You can’t build a playoff caliber DEF, or OFF in 1yr, with 3nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rd picks. THIS IS FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SUFFERING FROM LIMITED COMPREHENSION. I, AND MANY OTHERS, HAVE POSTED THIS SAME INFORMATION NUMEROUS TIMES ON THESE BLOGS. NFL RULES PROHIBIT ANY TEAM, OR PLAYER, FROM RESTRUCTURING HIS CONTRACT MORE THAN ONCE OVER A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. I WANT YOU ANAL MINDS TO READ THIS SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY, OR GET SOMEONE TO READ AND INTERPRET IT FOR YOU. MICHAEL VICK RESTRUCTURED HIS CONTRACT LAST YR SO WE COULD FIT JOHN ABRAHAM’S CONTRACT UNDER OUR SALARY CAP, AND ALSO SIGN FA’S LMALLOY, AND GJACKSON. OK, DID YOU HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING THAT?

By Jeff Jones

April 3, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this

Let’s not pass on the best option out there which is Quentin Moses from the University of Georgia!!!!!!!!!!

By Quint

April 3, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this

You guys are just repeating on what the media say, remember Jim Mora was not a head coach but a secondary coach running a talented football team our defense isn’t as a bad as you make it seem. D. Hall, Keith Brooking, Rod Coleman, John Abraham(Health issues), Demarrio Williams Should’ve started over that Hartwell guy, Jimmy Williams should’ve started(what was Rossum doing on the field), Michael Boley, Lawyer Milloy etc…… Stop sayin what you hear U guys live in this city and know what’s wrong with the team keep it real please!!!!!!!!

By CMS

April 3, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

I know I stated that trading draft picks to get CJ would be half way cool, but after further thought and realizing the Falcons couldn’t possibly sign a top three pick we just need to stack up with legitamate playmakers in the draft.

By destin

April 3, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

Strick - I think you’re exaggerating the cost to move from #8 to #2. Most people have DET taking OT Thomas — there world not be that much of a drop-off in talent if they were to take Levi Brown at #8. Also, I think Blank has done due diligence to learn the intricacys of NFL finance in general, and the salary cap in particuliar.

By Darrin "The Vent King"

April 3, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this

Reggie Nelson baby! How can you go wrong picking a Gator!

Go Gators!

Go Falcons! (and get that Gator)

By Kevin

April 3, 2007 3:34 PM | Link to this

Quit drinking the kool ad with cj. The falcons need to take landry and a de in the 2nd round and someone like sidney rice who will be just as good if not better than cj.

By Straight$$$$Homie

April 3, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

Glenn & FalconGuy actually get it. I’m not saying we don’t need players etc.. but, difference makers like CJ, don’t come along every year. You can’t think about injuries or you’d never draft anyone (especially Peterson, whom I like). Give Detroit what it takes to get Calvin home instead of Tampa. Two divisional losses will hurt any playoff run. Give up next years #1 and a 3rd rounder this year to swap. Talk to the vets to restructure and the money saved from not having to sign a #1 plus additional league dollars will help in free agency to sub for draft picks traded away. Unless you can GUARANTEE me that our first 3 picks become world dominators in their first year, then we go after CJ with whatever we have. Then get DL / OL help the picks. Detroit would be crazy to turn down the opportunity to have 2 number 1’s next year. That’s how the Pat’s rebuilt 2 out of the last 4 drafts after winning Super Bowls, they had 2 first rounders each year. It’s bait that I think Meathead Millen would bite…

By Ken Strickland

April 3, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

QUINT, damn good observation. That’s why I’m convinced that upgrading our DEF is the best way for us to be competitive. A quality DT, like Okoye, a quality pass rushing DE, and a quality FS, will turn what we already have into a solid SB caliber unit. With DT’s Babineaux, Bryant, Shropshire, TJackson and maybe GJackson, and DE’s Carrington, Mallory, and our 2nd rd pick, our bench will be solid at those positions. We’ve already signed a veteran CB and OLB with starting experience. With the proper acquisitions, our DEF will be potentially dominant, with enough veteran backup to withstand injuries.

On OFF, our biggest needs are a quality LG, and quality replacements for OT’s Gandy and Weiner. Forney will be just fine once he hits the weights and gets stronger. He already has everything else he needs to excel. Our starting OFF is pretty much set otherwise. Whether we are a serious SB challenger in 07, depends on how strong our DEF is this yr. However, with the proper DEF upgrades this yr, and proper OFF upgrades next yr, we certainly will be in 08.

By Ken Strickland

April 3, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

DESTIN, there is no exaggeration in my statement. Detroit will extract a premium price for giving up a chance to acquire a premium OT, or the QB they need. You seem to forget, if we move up and draft CJ, Tampa Bay will have to address their need for OL help. After Arizona drafts Thomas to replace LDavis, TB will draft Brown. Detroit will be left with what. If Minn drafts Quinn, Detroit will be unable to fill its 2 most pressing needs with the # 8 pick. For that kind of risk, I guarantee you it will cost us 2 1st and at a 2nd, minimum.

By Jameyan

April 3, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

I have to agree with my man Quint. Please quit repeating what the media is saying. Last year this team started the season 5-2 well on their way to win the division but until injuries and bonehead coaching they finished the season 3-6. The same thing happened the year before. Started strong and injuries flared up and poor coaching once again 8-8. Watching a Falcons game in the second half of the season is boring beacuse the opposing teams make adjustments and know what the Falcons are doing. Well Mora didn’t make any adjustments so if Petrino can trade up and get Calvin Johnson GET HIM. Look at the trend of hometown here. Josh Smith- Hawks, Brian McCann and Jeff Francouer- Braves. Atlanta teams could be on the rise again. But if you cannot make the trade then with their draft choices. Draft Laron Landry,Sidney Rice,Ben Grubbs, and Michael Bush. Bottom line anyway you go its a A+ draft.

By reginald short

April 3, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

The falcons can trade down in several instances and also trade a few players and in the end you can end up getting starting DT, DE, LB, CB, FS and OLs.

By kingfish

April 3, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

What a tragedy to lose Matt Schaub; we’re in for another year of dropped balls, fumbles, errant passing and childishness on the playing field from vick. We had a chance for the superbowl with Schaub and now all we have is another of year of blown chances. Will we ever get it right? Schaub will probably win 10 games with Houston and we will lose 10 games with another lackluster circus performance with mike vick. Petrino isn’t going to fix anything, you can mark that down and take it to the bank. And Jimmy Williams at safety, give me a break! I guess Deangelo Hall will be the fullback! What a mess. Please, no more of these VA TECH players!!!

By Larry

April 3, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this

that’s funny right there, I don’t care who you are

By JerrySeinfeld

April 3, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this

IMAGINE JERRY SEINFELD VOICE: “what are yuuuu doin’? A quarterback should have one skill…what could that one skill be? I don’t know, you tell me? could that skill be running? NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO, that one skill should be passsssssing, what is Arthur Blank thinking? Call me crazy but if I paid someone a 137 million dollars to be a passer, I’d want him to do that best”

By JerrySeinfeld

April 3, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this

“WHAT IS GOIN’ ONNNNNNNNN”

By MarkusVick

April 3, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this

“man, I tried to tell yall, he’s dumber than I am”

By OJSimpson

April 3, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this

Man, get off Vick, it’s not like he killed someone or somethin’

By KordellVick

April 3, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Drafting CJ for Vick is like takin Richard Simmons to a strip joint

By dumbatlantafan

April 3, 2007 5:23 PM | Link to this

“YEAH, GIVE ME A WIDE RECEIVER AND A LARGE FRY AND BIGGIE SIZE THAT”

By OJSimpson

April 3, 2007 5:27 PM | Link to this

….or two people

By Falcons Fan

April 3, 2007 6:08 PM | Link to this

Asking Falcons fans to stick to the subject is like asking Kordell Vick to describe his social life.

By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers

April 3, 2007 6:12 PM | Link to this

we need to do a lot better on 3th down on offense and defense. When we win at getting 3th down made and on defense 3th down stopped on defense we will be a good team. Receivers knowing where the down marker is and making the first down and same on defense stopping the first down. 29th on defense is not good this is the mind game we must win at. If this team had been rank 15th in defense we would have been in the play offs. Defense is the key!

By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers

April 3, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

They are not real Falcons fans the are a$$ holes and most are Dawg fans that tells you they have $hit for brains!.

By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers

April 3, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this

#61 Matt Lehr is in tampa. That’s great Tamps is clueless ! They are hurting!

By Fans with $hit for brains and sport writers

April 3, 2007 7:00 PM | Link to this

Larry thecableguy is a pure UGA DAWG FAN!

By Straight$$$$Homie

April 3, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this

To the idiot using other bloggers’ monikers, get a life. Hopefully, people know the truth, but obviously, you’ve got a Michael Vick fixation. Perhaps if you CAN actually read, you should ask the twin idiot to drive you for some professional assistance. We were having a decent exchange of draft ideas until you began the onslaught. Get over the fact MV7 is driving the car and there’s nothing you can do about. Oh, he’s also getting paid an obscene amount of CASH to do it too. Makes you want to vomit, doesn’t it?

By FalconsFans

April 3, 2007 9:59 PM | Link to this

Don’t believe rumors. We can all guess as to who the Falcons will draft and what their offseason strategy will be.

I’m happy that we have four picks on the first day and three picks at the beginning of the second day. Seven picks that if recent history repeats should translate into seven new faces on opening day.

Our immediate needs are replacements for Kerney, Lehr, depth at CB, LB, and RB. We should be able to accomplish all of the above with the picks we have.

By rob

April 3, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this

McKay will probably sign Feidler to a 4 year deal with a multi million dollar signing bonus. He is good at signing washed up bums. FIRE McKAY!! He has taken an average team and is making them poor.

By Najeh Davenpoop

April 4, 2007 2:21 AM | Link to this

Fiedler would be a stupid signing. His arm strength was already questionable before shoulder surgery — I really doubt he’s going to be able to make all the throws now. He’s a poor man’s Jake Plummer. Anthony Wright would be a much better signing.

Nice to see that Matt Lehr signed with Tampa. Rod Coleman’s path to Chris Simms just got a little easier.

By destin

April 4, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this

Somebody explain to me why RB seems to be a priority for some people. I understand wanting a big back for tough yardage situations, but how many carries a game are we talking about? We had trouble getting Duckett the ball enough with Dunn the starting RB. Now, with Dunn AND Norwood, how would the carries be divided up with a third back? I don’t mind grooming a ‘big back’ to have for short yardage plays and to have ready when Dunn is gone, but I would probably wait until round 4 for this selection - let’s fill the many immediate-need holes first.

By Eternal Optimist

April 4, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this

Straight$$$$Homie, Thanks for taking care of the two idiots. I say we draft Landry 1st round. Second round picks D tackle or D end and Olineman. Other picks should be used on MLbacker a big back and possibly even another corner.

By big tone

April 4, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

DESTIN I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT,BRO.

By terrell barron

April 4, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

THE IDEAL DRAFT FOR THE BIRDS IS AS FOLLOWS; ROUND 1. OKOYE DT FROM LOUISVILLE; WHERE HAS ROD COLEMAN DISAPPEARED TO? GRADY JACKSON IS GETTING OLD AND SUING THE TEAM. ROUND 2. MERRIWEATHER SAFETY FROM THE U OR SAFETY FROM TEXAS WHOEVER IS STILL ON BOARD; COULD LEARN FROM MILLOY,MOVE CROCKER TO NICKEL; 2ND PICK RD 2 JUSTIN BLALOCK OL TEXAS; COULD BE STARTER. EVERYONE KNOWS WE HAVE TO GET BIGGER UP FRONT. RD 3 MIDDLE LB. BROOKING IS NOT THE ANSWER IN THE MIDDLE, GREAT OUTSIDE BUT NOT IN THE MIDDLE. THER SHOULD BE A LEGIT MLBACKER IN THE THIRD. I GUESS I CAN TRUST MCCAY ON THIS ONE, BUT WITH HIS DRAFT HISTORY, THATS HARD TO DO. 4TH RD RB MICHAEL BUSH FROM LOUISVILLE HE WILL STILL BE THERE, TRUST ME. WE NEED A BRUISER LIKE THE ONE MCCAY SENT TO WASHINGTON FOR ASSLEY LELIE. CB DE AND OL SHOULD BE ADRESSED WITH REMAINING 5 PICKS YOU COULD FIND AT LEAST 2 FUTURE STARTERS IN THE LATER ROUNDS

By Keep it Real

April 4, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

we must win a 3th down this year on both side of the ball! Our defense was rank 22nd over all and 29th in the pass we need Defense bar non!

By terrell barron

April 4, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this

WE MIGHT WANT TO TRY AND GET A RECEIVER IN THE LATE ROUNDS

By Ken Strickland

April 4, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

DESTIN, the only way we’ll draft a RB before the 4th rd will be if we draft Peterson. And even then I hope it’s to trade down for extra picks. Bush is Petrino’s favorite big back, and he just had a pin in his leg replaced. He will almost certainly drop to the 4th rd now.

Did you see where TB signed our worst pass blocking OL, MLehr. Like I said, if CJ comes off the board they’re going for OT’s Thomas or Brown. This whole CJ thing could all be for naught, if ADavis decides to sign, or trade for a QB. There are several availible, like Carr. GB has offered their former #1 pick, and backup version of MSchaub, for RMoss. That move would give ADavis his QB, and the cap needed to sign an OL or two to protect him. The possibility of this happening is so strong, some mock draft boards are projecting CJ as the #1 overall pick to Oakland.

NEJAH DAVENPOOP, the Falcons are bringing these QB’s in because they need an experienced QB that will accept a low ball contract. DT IScott spent extra time interviewing with the team because he was very interested in signing, but not for what we were offering. That’s why we opted for Bryant, off the waiver wire. AWright is our #1 choice, but other teams are also interested in him, and will likely offer him a better contract. The Falcons will be strapped for cap room until after June 2nd, when they can defer any cap hit on released contracts.

FALCONS FAN, I don’t think replacing DE Kerney is our #1 priority. Remember, due to his injury, he was effectively replace last yr. Malloy and Carrington, rotating and playing part-time, matched, or exceeded, most of Kerneys 05 production as a 16gm starter. Last night I read where Petrino is making a special effort to get Fonoti’s wt down, and his conditioning up, and he was very pleased with his progress. Just like the starting CB slot is JWilliams’ to lose, the starting LG slot is Fonoti’s to lose. As far as LB is concerned, we desperately need a starting MLB. Under Petrino and Jackson, JBeck just might get his chance to start. This will be especially critical if DWilliams is successful in getting a contract offer. If Beck isn’t ready, I’d sign a vet MLB to a 1yr deal to get me to next yrs draft. With 2 2nd, and a 1st next yr, we can get a quality MLB and a couple of quality OL. If DWilliams leaves we’ll get another 2nd rd pick, which would allow us to draft a MLB, or an OL like Blalock, or Grubbs.

With 6 picks below the 3nd rd, 3 in the 4th, we can get enough quality backup that we can develop. Oh, one more thing. I also read on a Falcons site where OT TWeiner, and C TMcClure agreed to bulk up to playing wt’s of 300lbs or more. They said they’d been required to keep their wt down to be more effective in the Zone blocking scheme. I’m certain Forney will follow suite, since he is already rehabing.

By Georgiaboy

April 4, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Fire Billy Knight

By CMS

April 4, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

DRAFT BOOBIE MILES!! IF YOU WANNA WIN LET BOOBIE SPIN!! … OH YEAH GET WATERBUG TOO!!

By kordellStewart

April 4, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

Insensitive comments? Whatchoo talkin’ bout Willis?

By Falcons Fan

April 4, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this

I registered a complaint with ajc as well. I got a typical generic response, that further leads me to believe that ajc is not concerned with this issue that projects their website as amateur and unprofessional. I tried to respond again, and my email was returned to me because it contained certain “keywords” that are banned by the email system. That makes this blog even more of a joke, and futher leads me to believe that ajc is not interested in fixing this problem. Perhaps if users flood the server with complaints they will at least open up one of these terrible blogs and see how ignorant and hateful they are.