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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Trading up for Johnson a bad idea
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Flowery Branch — Like any other NFL general manager, there are two things you can count on from Rich McKay before a draft: 1) He is not going to tell you his plans; 2) If he does tell you his plans, he’s probably lying.
But when McKay twice used the word “critical” Wednesday when addressing the Falcons’ draft this weekend, it wasn’t smoke, at least not smoke emanating from a charred cornerback.
The last two Falcons teams started a collective 11-4 but finished 4-13. Consistent fizzles are never about one player, or one coordinator, or one head coach. It’s indicative of bigger issues. Questionable talent. A lack of depth. Bad drafts. Bad choices in free agency. Salary cap fumbles. Character. Especially character.
Yes, this is a critical draft for the Falcons. Because of that, the last thing that really makes sense is to package a bunch of assets to move up and take a wide receiver, even if that receiver is Calvin Johnson. It’s nothing against Johnson. He’s an amazing talent and an even better kid. But the only teams that should consider pooling picks and players to draft a receiver are teams that are fairly well set.
We don’t know what the Falcons are. We only know what they aren’t. Set.
Notwithstanding advances in offensive and defensive schemes by several creative football minds over the past 50 years, even the most egomaniacal of coaches will tell you the sport still comes down to blocking and tackling. The Falcons don’t do either particularly well.
Drafting Calvin Johnson wouldn’t change that. It would be like carpeting a barn.
They need someone to block.
They need someone to tackle.
They need someone to act as Michael Vick’s personal skycap, because, like, the dude has serious airport issues.
The Falcons may not be rebuilding as much as they are razing. The new coach, Bobby Petrino, wants to tear down any remnants of an offense that can’t convert a third-and-one. He needs bigger offensive linemen. Alex Gibbs, the departed line coach, seemingly was given more autonomy than his head coach (Jim Mora), and he convinced McKay to bring in smaller, quicker blockers.
Smaller they got. Quickness and blocking, not so much. Now, with Wayne Gandy, P.J. Alexander, Todd McClure, Tyson Clabo and Todd Weiner, the team has a line that can neither pass block nor run block with much efficiency.
The defensive line isn’t merely bad. It has become a punch line. Patrick Kerney fled in free agency. John Abraham was an icebag with ears last season. Grady Jackson says he wants to come back but he also wants a new contract and, oh yes, he’s suing the team. Right. Farewell, fatboy.
Jonathan Babineaux has a dead dog hanging over his head. If Babineaux wanted a tamer dog, he should’ve looked around the locker room.
Defensive tackle Rod Coleman has become the closest thing to a sign of stability, which is a problem because Coleman and stability generally do not intersect (see: legal).
Petrino says Jimmy Williams, who hasn’t proven his coverage ability is even good enough to play safety, will start at the more demanding position of cornerback. A safety is needed to replace the maligned Chris Crocker and support Lawyer Milloy. And somewhere along the way, somebody needs to remind DeAngelo Hall that his next stop actually may not be Canton.
Calvin Johnson? Great player. But this team needs more. Shouldn’t we frame a house before we decorate it?
Barring trades, the Falcons will have seven picks in the first four rounds, including four of the first 75 selections. They shouldn’t trade up for one body. If anything, they should trade down to accumulate more heartbeats.
This will be a telling draft for McKay. His reputation has taken some dings, especially since the departure of his personnel chief, Tim Ruskell, to Seattle. A team that’s further along can afford to leap for one star. But that’s not this bunch. McKay seems to acknowledge as much.
“We like the fact we have 10 picks,” he said. “We need to fill the depth on our roster, and this is a good year for us to do it.”
Because even before a draft, there are some things you just can’t hide.
Permalink | Comments (259) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Jeff Schultz
Shame on Vick, again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
According to Tracy McGrady, who is now two victories shy against Utah of leaving the first round of the NBA playoffs after five straight flops, he won’t answer his cellphone until his Houston Rockets are eliminated from the postseason.
It’s called focus.
Are you listening, Michael Vick?
Sounds like the Falcons quarterback shouldn’t answer his cellphone, home phone, e-mail, regular mail, beeper, faxes, doorbell or anything else until the end of his NFL career. Otherwise, he likely is to continue to make news for reasons other than his quick feet and strong arm.
This time, Vick missed a flight to Washington D.C. Monday night for a function he was scheduled to attend early the next morning. The function was to feature U.S Congressmen, along with more than 100 folks associated with an advocacy group to raise the awareness for funding of after-school programs.
Not good.
You add all of that to the water bottle thing and the Ron Mexico thing, and you have another disastrous PR thing for the Falcons involving Vick.
We’re back to focus - or the lack thereof, when it comes to Vick functioning as the face of the franchise.
Then again, two of these incidents involved airports (the water bottle thing and the missed-flight thing). So maybe Vick should consider driving or just go Greyhound.
Permalink | Comments (211) | Categories: Quick Hit, Terence Moore
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