Lofton turning in Pro Bowl worthy season

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH  -- Fan voting for the Pro Bowl closed on Monday.

The process for recognition as one of the NFL's all-stars shifts to the locker rooms and offices around the league this week, when players and coaches cast their votes.

The Falcons had two playes elected to the Pro Bowl last season in wide receiver Roddy White and running back Michael Turner.

About the only lock this season is tight end Tony Gonzalez, but White will likely get consideration, too. And there are the credentials of second-year middle linebacker Curtis Lofton, who just 30 games into his career has made people notice..

"His numbers definitely put him into consideration," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "It would be nice for a second-year player to be considered in that light. That's something that the fans, coaches and players will determine."

In a major change, this year the Pro Bowl will be played in Miami the week before the Super Bowl on Jan. 31, 2010. The teams will be announced next Tuesday.

Lofton is second in the league in tackles with 128, according to NFL.com stats. San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis leads the league with 138. Willis and Carolina's Jon Beason were the NFC inside linebackers last season.

"Coming into the season, I had goals of leading the league in tackles and making the Pro Bowl," Lofton said. "That's an honor to be considered in, making the Pro Bowl. You never know how that goes, but I'd love to make it. "

Lofton's play in the middle has helped the Falcons steadily improve in defending the run.

Since New England's Fred Taylor ran for 105 yards in the season's third game Sept. 27, the Falcons defense has not allowed an opponent to run for more than 100 yards.

"That was a game that set the tone, that we had to get back to what we are all about at the core. And that is stopping the run," Smith said. "Our guys have really worked extremely hard at doing that."

Lofton has been a big part of that improvement.

"He's got to be very active in defending the run," Smith said.  "He has done a nice job there in the middle."

Lofton and the defense shut down the league's No. 1 rushing attack in New York last weekend. The Jets were rushing for 169.1 yards per game and the Falcons held them to 99 yards on 33 carries.

Jets running Thomas Jones joined the list of backs the Falcons have slowed down. He had only 52 yards on 19 carries.

"I would just say that it's the attitude that we have," Lofton said. "We don't want anybody running the ball against us. Everybody is taking that personally."

The performance against the Jets helped the Falcons run defense move from 23rd (117.8 per game) in the league to 20th (116.5 per game), a sizable jump this late in the season.

"We want to shut down the run," Lofton said. "We've been practicing good at stopping the run and that's been carrying over on Sundays."

Last season, Lofton had 108 tackles, second in tackles among all rookie players behind New England linebacker Jerod Mayo. Lofton was named to the All-Rookie team by both The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.

The 37th player taken overall in the 2008 draft, Lofton is inclined to keep working hard even if he doesn't make the trip to Miami.

"Complacency is like a man's worst enemy," he said. "Once you feel like you're doing good, that's when somebody comes along and takes your position. For me, I'm always looking at ways to get better."

NOTE: The team elevated safety Eric Brock to the active roster Tuesday to replace Antoine Harris, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. The Falcons signed rookie wide receiver Andy Strickland to the practice squad.