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Friday, February 22, 2008
Choice might fit with Falcons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Indianapolis — Georgia Tech running back Tashard Choice is on the Atlanta Falcons’ draft-day screen.
He met with Atlanta personnel at the Senior Bowl, he met with them again at the NFL Combine on Thursday and is set to interview with some more Falcons officials on Saturday.
This draft is deep at running back and Choice does not have ideal pro size. (His official combine measurables: 5 feet, 11 inches, 215 pounds.)
Choice is projected to go in the fourth round by NFLDraftScout.com, but Choice’s productivity at Georgia Tech — back-to-back 1,400-yard campaigns — can’t be ignored.
He plans to complete all drills and tests at the combine. Choice, a Lovejoy High grad, hopes to run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.
“People think I’m a 4.5, 4.6 guy,” Choice said. “Last week, I tested at API (Athlete’s Performance Institute) on an electronic timer and I ran a 4.48. I want to run a sub 4.4 time and actually boost myself up in this draft.”
Playing in a pro-offense under Chan Gailey at Tech has helped Choice in his interviews at the combine.
“They know I understand the game of football and the different things I had to do on the board,” Choice said. “So when we are going through the interview process, to actually know what’s going on has helped me tremendously.”
Gailey, who was named the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, is at the combine, too.
“I just saw Coach (Chan) Gailey this morning for the first time,” Choice said. “He’s happy. He seems well. He came down to the Senior Bowl and spoke to me.”
Should the Falcons make a move for Choice in the third or fourth round?
Permalink | Comments (109) | Categories: Draft, Scouting combine
Falcons finally catch a break
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Indianapolis - Maybe the Mojo is about to change.
New Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff called “tails” in a coin flip tiebreaker with the Oakland Raiders at 7:30 this morning to land the No. 3 pick in the April 26-27 draft. Oakland will select No. 4, Kansas City, which shared 4-12 records with Atlanta and Oakland, will choose fifth.
Miami has the top selection. St. Louis is at No. 2.
The few Falcons’ folks on hand at the second floor ballroom at the Westin Hotel here were all smiles, realizing the No. 3 pick is far more appealing than 4 or 5. Atlanta could have a shot at Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey or Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long.
It could be a hard choice since Atlanta has so many positions to fill but the feeling that’s been given off by some team officials is that the Falcons would rather bolster their lines than add skill positions high in the draft. Long or Dorsey very well could be up. That said, it could be hard to bypass McFadden or Ryan, especially if they interview and workout well here at the combine.
In a side note, I spoke to someone close to Dorsey who said he might not work out here but instead will hold a private workout in a few weeks.
Of some of the top prospects, the only one I’ve seen in person is Long. He had not gone through workouts yet but he is about as physically imposing as any player you could see. A legit 6-7, 313 pounds.
In other developments, outside linebacker Michael Boley and his agents, and cornerback DeAngelo Hall and his agent, have been speaking to the Falcons about their status with the team.
Boley, a restricted free agent and the team’s leading tackler, is moving closer to an extension but that might not get done for a few weeks as the Falcons are still massaging ways to clear salary cap space to sign free agents and lock up some of their current players.
As for Hall, there have been more talks lately about his status but it was made clear to me that Atlanta is listening to trade offers.
Permalink | Comments (104) | Categories: Draft
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