Sunday Football Fever

Instead of boring you with full blown draft analysis, I’m only going to concentrate on the Falcons. Because that’s the only NFL team I really care about. Plus, you can get total draft analysis at ESPN, SI, etc.

With the 3rd pick in the draft, the Falcons selected QB Matt Ryan. I’m torn on this pick. On the one hand, he reminds a lot of Ryan Leaf, in that he had one really good year and is suddenly the top QB in the draft. Plus, it’s really hard to pass up Glenn Dorsey. Imagine a line featuring Jamaal Anderson, Glenn Dorsey and John Abrahm. That would be an immediate improvement for the Falcons D. But, on the other hand, if things go well for the Falcons this year, they won’t be drafting at #3 in the next draft and there really aren’t any franchise type QB’s coming out next year (at least not yet). So they had to take Ryan because you just can’t win with Joey Harrington, DJ Shockley and Chris Redman as your QB. I just hope that they don’t rush Ryan into service. It’s going to take several years to rebuild the Falcons, so they should give Ryan plenty of time to adjust and not throw him right into the fire.

The Falcons traded up into the last half of the 1st round to make thier second pick, OT Sam Baker. They needed a lineman badly. It would have been great if they could have traded up a little higher and taken Otah or Williams, but Baker will be solid. His stock dropped a bit due to an injury this past season. So the Falcons at least got some value at that pick. And you really can’t understate how badly the Falcons needed a good OL.

The next two picks filled needs for the team: ILB Curtis Lofton and CB Chevis Jackson. Outside of Keith Brooking and Micahel Boley, the Falcons don’t have any play-makers at LB. Lofton should give them some depth and playmaking. Lofton will be one of the CB’s used to replace DeAngelo Hall. He’s solid, but not spectacular. He’ll likely be used in Nickel and Dime situations to start.

Harry Douglas adds depth to the WR corp. He’s going to be more of a possession receiver and you’ll likely see him going across the middle as opposed to stretching the field. Thomas Decoud (safety), Robert James (OLB), Kroy Biermann (OLB), and Wilrey Fontenot (CB) all add depth to a depleted defense.

Thomas Brown adds depth at the RB position. He may get a few carries but will start the season no better than 3rd on the depth chart. Keith Zinger will join the rest of the Falcons TE’s in the unenviable task of making the fans forget the production that Alge Crumpler provided.

Overall, I think the Falcons did well in the draft. Again, it will take years to get the Falcons back to legitimate play-off contender, but the draft has me excited about the prospects of this team.

Filed under: NFL Draft

Tags: alge crumpler, atlanta falcons, chevis jackson, chris redman, chris williams, curtis lofton, deangelo hall, dj shockley, espn, glenn dorsey, harry douglas, jamaal anderson, jeff otah, joey harrington, john abrahm, keith zinger, kroy biermann, matt ryan, NFL Draft, robert james, ryan leaf, sam baker, si, thomas brown, thomas decoud, wilrey fontenot

Rumor has it that the Falcons have received offers for he 3rd pick in the draft.

Should they trade the pick?  It’s hard to say.  On the one hand, there is no one player in this draft that will make enough of a difference for the Falcons to put them in the play-offs or to even contend for the play-offs.  So adding more picks will allow them to shore up multiple positions.

On the other hand a guy like Glen Dorsey or Chris Long could be the center piece of your defense and a franchise player for years to come.  So can you pass up on that type of talent?

I say the Falcons should keep the pick.  They’ve already got 11 picks total in this draft, so they’ll have the opportunity to add depth at multiple spots. They need to take one of the guys who could be a franchise type player with the #3 pick.

That being said, I’m hoping they pick Dorsey.  We need a defensive tackle and he was dominate in the SEC for 3 straight years – even when he was injured and double teamed.  You can’t pass up a tackle like Dorsey.  My fear is that they will take Matt Ryan.  Now I don’t have anything taking a QB with the #3 pick, but Ryan scares me.  He reminds me a lot of Ryan Leaf – he’s parlayed one good year in college into being a top 5 pick in the draft.  I think if you are going to draft a QB that high, he’d better have more than one year of success.  I want a proven track record.  And for me, one successful year doesn’t make you a “proven” QB.

The Falcons need Dorsey.  Use one of the second round picks (or package a couple of them together and trade up into the late first round) and draft Brian Brohm.  That immediately improves your team at 2 positions.  Plus, it saves you money.

Filed under: NFL Draft

Tags: atlanta falcons, brian brohm, chris long, glen dorsey, matt ryan, NFL Draft, ryan leaf

The media is making entirely too much of Jeff Ireland’s slip of the tongue.

Media members and pundits seem to think that now the Dolphins have narrowed their choice to Vernon Gholston, Chris Long or Glen Dorsey. imagine that, the Dolphins have narrowed their list to the same 3 guys who have been the consensus best players in the draft. Why make a big deal about this?

You also have to consider that Ireland purposely “let it slip” that they were targeting a defensive player. That news could trigger better trade offers from teams panicking that “their player” might not be on the board when they pick.

What it comes down to is that the Dolphins are likely going to pick one of the defensive players, since their defense is getting older and breaking down more. Does Ireland’s goof tell us anything more or different from what we already assumed?

Filed under: NFL Draft

Tags: chris long, glen dorsey, jeff ireland, miami dolphins, NFL Draft, vernon gholston

Well, Chad Johnson has been hinting that he wanted out of Cincinnati for most of the offseason. Now he’s made it semi-official.

If I’m the Bengals, I let him go on draft day and here’s why:
1) He’s been a distraction all offseason and you can’t let that carry into the season. It makes life more difficult on the whole team. Plus, you don’t need a “cancer” in the locker room and that is what he’s become. He’s a toned down version of TO. Ask Donovan McNabb how fun it was to have TO cal him out for an entire offseason. Now Johnson is calling Carson Palmer out and that’s never good for team chemistry.
2) Wait until draft day and you can probably find a team in need of a receiver that would be willing to fork over a 2nd round (maybe even a 1st round) pick for him. Especially if there is a team that has targeted one of the college receivers with their top pick and that player is gone as their pick approaches.

Time for the Bengals and Ocho Cinco to part ways.

Filed under: Preseason News

Tags: carson palmer, chad johnson, cincinnati bengals, donvan mcnabb, NFL Draft, ocho cinco, terrell owens

NFL.com has put together a list of the 10 biggest steals in NFL draft history. They don’t specify if the list goes from 1-10 or 10-1, but here it is:

• Tom Brady – 6th round – 2000
• Joe Montana – 3rd round – 1979
• Terrell Davis – 6th round – 1995
• Deacon Jones – 14th round – 1961
• Dan Marino – 1st round – 1983
• Bo Jackson – 7th round – 1987
• Shannon Sharpe – 7th round – 1990
• Ray Guy – 1st round – 1973
• Larry Wilson – 7th round – 1960
• Roger Staubach – 10th round – 1964

The Bo Jackson entry is a bit shady, since he was the first overall pick the year before and simply didn’t sign a contract. Otherwise, it seems pretty solid.

Filed under: NFL Draft

Tags: bo jackson, dan marino, deacon jones, joe montana, larry wilson, NFL Draft, ray guy, roger staubach, shannon sharpe, terrell davis, tom brady