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AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 24 > Entry

Falcons address ‘safety’ concerns

By D. Orlando Ledbetter | Sunday, February 24, 2008, 05:37 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Indianapolis — One thing is clear about the Falcons’ offseason and that is they are going to address the safety position in either free agency or the draft. The Jimmy Williams move from cornerback to safety has been a failure. Chris Crocker is a free agent and Lawyer Milloy isn’t getting any younger. Daren Stone is a fine athlete, but isn’t like ready to run the defense. At the combine, the Falcons brass has been meeting with safeties. Notre Dame’s Thomas Zbikowski (yeah the boxer!!) and California’s Thomas DeCoud meet with the team Saturday night. “I had a pretty good interview with them,” Zbikowski said. I felt comfortable with the coaching staff actually.” The Falcons have a tie to Zbikowski. “Alvin Reynolds was the one who interviewed me,” Zbikowski said. “His son was actually at Notre Dame, so I had a good interview with him.” Zbikowsk, 5-foot-11, 211 pounds, had to explain his ragged Mohawk haircut. “I had to do it for a Under Armour commercial,” Zbikowski said. “I was in training so I didn’t really care after that.” DeCoud started his career as a cornerback and has solid cover skills. He’s also a big-hitter and good special teams player. He said he tries to play like Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins. “I like the physical kind of punishing safeties, those guys that can make plays against the run and in the passing game,” DeCoud said. “Guys like that, who are just imposing figures on the back end. You have to know where they are at all times.” Zbikowski would be a second-day pick, while DeCoud is consider one of the top safety prospects along with Miami’s Kenny Phillips, N.C. State’s DaJuan Morgan, Alabama’s Simeon Castille and Tennessee’s Jonathan Hefney.

Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Scouting combine

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By Jay

February 24, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

I am a Tennessee fan…Hefney is not a legit NFL starter.

 

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