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DEL.ICIO.USKiper: McFadden not quite Peterson
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is getting his vocal cords in shape for his big day on April 26.
Earlier this week, he took calls for an hour and half from scribes from across the country, prepping them on what to watch for at the NFL Combine.
“I think this draft will be good at certain spots,” Kiper said. “Quarterback is going to be pretty deep. Offensive tackle is very good. Cornerback I think is very good. Running back is OK. Wide receiver is OK. Defensive back is OK. Linebacker is just average, and safety is not really good.”
LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, Virginia defensive lineman Chris Long, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Michigan offensive lineman Jake Long and Southern Cal defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis are the top players in the draft.
“In terms of the elite, those six guys are a little bit of a cut above the rest,” Kiper said.
If the Falcons elect to address the quarterback position later in the draft, McFadden looks like a keeper after Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey go to Miami and St. Louis respectively. Of course Friday morning’s coin toss will determine their spot — third, fourth or fifth.
“The only question that I have is that he had some fumbling issues this year,” Kiper said about McFadden. “There were times as a kickoff returner and a running back that he put it on the ground. Ball security is critical in the NFL.”
Kiper doesn’t believe McFadden can have the same type of instant impact that Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson had last season.
“He’s not the violent, aggressive runner that Adrian Peterson is,” Kiper said. “Not many running backs are. To me, he’s not the tackle breaker. That’s not his forte. But he’s certainly worthy of being a top-five pick.”
The Falcons will have to address the quarterback position, and this is a good year to go mining for one in the later rounds.
“There are going to be at least 12 quarterbacks who have chance to be starting quarterbacks at some point in their careers,” Kiper said.
Some of the prospects include San Diego’s Josh Johnson, Delaware’s Joe Flacco, Michigan’s Chad Henne, Tennessee’s Erik Ainge and Colorado State’s Caleb Hanie.
Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson, once considered a first-rounder, may slip into the second.
“That delivery is going to cause concern,” Kiper said. “He’s in that second- or third-round mix.”
Louisville’s Brian Brohm’s stock has also dropped as Kiper believes that Ryan is the lone quarterback worthy of a first-round pick.
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By David Duke
February 21, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
GOD, THERE ARE SO MANY STUPID AND UNINFORMED FALCON FANS.
Well, now we’ve done it! Queen Ken Strychnine doesn’t want us expressing opinions that diverge from his own. Queen, i think I speak for many when I say,”Screw you!” Better learn to lump it boy! Your opinions are those of a simpleton. Stick to contributing to that gay blog of yours! Just because you hang out in the Men’s restrooms at the Dome doesn’t mean you are an expert on football!
No, Duhangelo Hall is not to blame for the forty years of the Falcon’s storied history. However, he is to blame for much of the mess this pasty season and for the sorry showing the past three years. Crumpler was dropped from the roster, not because he’s not a capable player, but due to his sorry attitude and for his participation in the sorry salute to Mike Vick, an admitted felon, on national television. Hall and White should be dropped for the same reason. White is only a fairly good receiver and his attitude has an unproductive effect upon the team. Hall.s attitude has a destructive effect. He, singlehandedly, threw a game to the Panthers last season and then got in the faces of his position and head coaches. He needs to go! He can’t shut up long enough to shut anybody down. Opposing offenses love seeing that pygmy out there. They know they are going to roll on that turd.
Queen, thanks for typing in all caps! IT MAKES YOUR ILLITERATE PRATTLINGS SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE! See ya later Sir-Suck-A-Lot!
By St. Bernard
February 21, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
I’ll take McFadden with the first and Brohm with the second!
By Chris
February 21, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
Nowhere in this article did I see the word, overrated concerning McFadden…
By Bk Hawk
February 21, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
I don’t really care for McFadden, to many problems. I like Ryan but he will be gone before Falcons pick.If Falcons can get Dorsey, Chris Long, J.long are Ellis with 1st pick I’ll be happy. Pick QB with 2 or 3 pick. I believe Dimitroff and Smith will get it right and then trade Hall for another pick in 1st or 2nd round. Go Falcons!!!
By Ron Roberts
February 21, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
I think it’s telling that our new head coach comes from Jacksonville, and his first round of cuts included a former Jacksonville QB.
We have a (still fairly) young Joe Harrington on the staff, and Chris Redman looked like nothing worse than a quality backup, maybe even worthy of starting, himself. Both those guys would perform well behind a better offensive line for the time being.
I seriously think the OT needs to be our first round grab, if he’s available for us.
Kiper believes (and I agree) that we can get a quality QB in the later rounds, and frankly, with what we have, and with DJ Shockley returning from injury, we don’t need to address the QB position as much as we need to address the offensive line.
An improved O-line improves our QB play, our passing game and our running game. I’ve said all along one of Petrino’s biggest goofs was switching from the slant/zone blocking scheme that was better-suited for our undersized linemen to a more conventional scheme - without getting the bigger bodies needed to block conventionally. We were out-bodied at the line and it killed our offense.
Improve our offensive line and our offense improves. Improve our offense and our defense is better as a result. Let’s remember, folks, our defense wasn’t all that bad last year til they got worn down from being on the field so damned much.
By Najeh Davenpoop
February 21, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this
Jake Long, Glenn Dorsey, Chris Long, Sedrick Ellis. One of them will be available when the Falcons pick. The Falcons have to pick one of them. Solidify the line for years to come.
By bulldog
February 21, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
Just as Kiper and other experts have said, Offensive Tackle is the position that is the strongest and deepest in this year’s draft. Which just happens to be the Falcons greatest area of need. If the Falcons are smart, they will choose a right and left tackle with their first two picks. Those two would be the cornerstone of their offense for years to come.
By neckville redneck
February 21, 2008 6:32 PM | Link to this
dorsey or jake long !QB in the frist round Atlanta would be real fool!
By PostseasonBlues
February 21, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
If you put Mel Kiper Jr.’s brain in a parakeet, the parakeet would fly backwards. Thickons Melvin!
By BeachGaBulldog
February 21, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
F* Kiper! I have never liked that SOB. What makes this guy such an “expert”. I will GLADLY TAKE MCFADDEN! Kiper and that idiot, Chris Berman are the 2 main reasons that I never watch the draft.
By LAFalcon
February 21, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
My vote is to get Ryan, even if it means trading or whatever to get him. Start Redman the first half, but they HAVE to cut Harrington. He’s incapable of looking at more than one receiver even with time to throw.
By cj
February 21, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Trade Trade Trade DeAngelo Hall to day for WR Calvin Johnson.Calvin Johnson is
to good he is a great WR he well love the Falcons. His height 6 5 and weight 235.DeAngelo Hall is not that good he has speed but that is it. Then we trade down are first pick and draft Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie he replace DeAngelo Hall.with are 2 pick we draft OL Gosder Cherilus and with are 2 pick draft LB Philip Wheeler and with are 3 pick draft TE Martin Rucker.
By Billy
February 21, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
If Ryan’s gone, ATL should wait on a QB and address either the Off. or Def. line in the 1st. I certainly don’t want Brohm.
By Paul Hamilton
February 21, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
I have to agree, the falcons need to focus on lineman. I might be tempted to draft Ryan, but I would definitely pass on McFadden. McFadden is going to get killed behind our offensive line! Then when he gets hurt everybody will be b*** about how bad our offensive line sucks for the umptenth year in a row. I’m tired of the quick fixes!
By Skip
February 21, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
I think Chris Redman can start and do a good job for this team with an improved OL. Jake Long would be a good first pick and could be the LT for years to come. Darren McFadden is a good RB, but he is not a power back, he is more like Norwood with speed and cutting ability. We already have Norwood, we need a power back with speed.
By ed
February 21, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
McFadden, Hmm!! The best Rb in the best conference (SEC). All the guys he goes against in the SEC will be there in the NFL. Finished 2nd in the Heisman 2 years in a row! People thought Peterson was not an impact player, and we see how that worked out. Mcfadden is not Peterson, but he is close. Picking a QB will be foolish, McFadden, Jake long, or Ellis!
By MARCOS
February 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
PICK MCFADDEN WITH THE THIRD PICK, TRADE DESEASE-HALL FOR A FIRST ROUND PICK,USE THAT PICK TO DRAFT BRIAN BHROM.
By travis
February 23, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
Guys, what do ya think of this…Falcons trade their #3 pick to Dallas and get their 2 1st round picks and then trade D’Angelo FALLS for another 1st round pick…that would mean that we would have 5 picks out of the first 50 picks. We would have 3 first round picks and we have 2 second round picks. Shore up that O-line first!! Or the D-line. With 5 picks you could do both!! Thought???
By FalconFan
February 23, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Take McFadden at #3. What happened the last time we passed on a stud RB (we traded picks with San Diego and took #7, they took #21). I know McFadden is not LT (but who is) but he is going to be a pro bowl RB. Trade our so called pro bowl corner for a first and second round pick this year. OL, DL and QB are very deep. We can get quality linemen late in the first round and early in the second. Take a quarterback late second round/third round. I like Henne out of Michigan. How many quarterbacks taken in the top of the draft in the history of the league proved to be worth it ? Not many. How many middle to late round QB’s turned into Hall of Famers or atleast Super Bowl winning quarterbacks? Alot. I believe we have a GM and a head coach in place now that will make the right decisions. We just have to be patient because it will take time to build the team we all want.