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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 04
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Falcons linebackers nice fit with Lofton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If the past is indicative of the future for Curtis Lofton, the Falcons will be just fine at middle linebacker. They’re already just fine on the strong and weak sides at linebacker. In other words, they are close to ranking as just fine at linebacker, period, and you know what?
The Falcons could be even better than that at the position.
It’s all about Lofton, a rookie from Oklahoma, with perennial Pro Bowl player Keith Brooking on one side and steadily rising Michael Boley on the other.
So what’s the early report? “Curtis is coming along pretty good,” Boley said of the second-round draft pick who zoomed by former Georgia standout Tony Taylor in training camp to reach the top of the depth chart. “He has picked up the defense quite well, and we’re looking for him to be one of the leaders on defense.”
Usually, the middle linebacker is the leader on defense, but that won’t happen for the Falcons for two reasons: Brooking and Boley. They’re leaders by example on the field, if nothing else.
While Brooking led the Falcons in tackles for a seventh consecutive year in 2007, Boley exploded toward stardom during his fourth NFL season by becoming omnipresent in games.
Said Boley, “It’s a matter now of trying to keep it simple and trying to get better. Just continue to work hard and to do the fundamental things.”
Boley was speaking of himself, but that also applies to Lofton, an impressive middle linebacker throughout his life. After high school in Kingfisher, Okla., he was named the nation’s eighth-best middle linebacker by ESPN.com. He didn’t start until his senior year for the always-loaded Sooners, but it didn’t matter. He ended with more tackles in a season (126) than any Oklahoma player in nearly 30 years.
Not only that, Lofton was a first-team All-America selection. He also was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Will Lofton become NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year? The Falcons would settle for Lofton as Falcons’ Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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