Official Offseason and Draft Talk

[ATL96Steeler]

Imo this should be an exciting draft for ATL...they will likely get, #1 or #2 DE, or they could get the #1 or #2 OT from this board and still have a 37 & 68...the only real concern I see is, if the go OT in the 1st, there is not a potential DL starter that I see @ 37 unless someone falls...like for instance Ealy or Crichton.

The combine is going to shake a lot up in terms of the who goes where, but Smitty and staff are coaching the Sr. Bowl I think so they should see some guys up close here that could be picked.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Imo this should be an exciting draft for ATL...they will likely get, #1 or #2 DE, or they could get the #1 or #2 OT from this board and still have a 37 & 68...the only real concern I see is, if the go OT in the 1st, there is not a potential DL starter that I see @ 37 unless someone falls...like for instance Ealy or Crichton.

The combine is going to shake a lot up in terms of the who goes where, but Smitty and staff are coaching the Sr. Bowl I think so they should see some guys up close here that could be picked.

I hope so!

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Asante Samuel was released earlier. Time for the young guns to step up.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

So Kiper put out his mock draft, has us going with Anthony Barr, LB out of UCLA. Between him and Clowney, that's who I mainly want.

Mel Kiper NFL Mock Draft 2014: Analyzing ESPN Guru's 1st Mock | Bleacher Report

I like what I've seen from Barr, but the more I talk to football people, the more I'm intrigued with Mack...the negatives I'm hearing about Barr is he's a speed rusher and at his size I'm concerned if he'll be able to combat with NFL OT...imo he needs to line up next to a dominating type DT. Not saying I wouldn't take him but...I have questions.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Clearing space!

Atlanta Falcons cut Asante Samuel, Stephen Nicholas - NFL.com

Not a big surprise on either...Alford is taking over @ CB with Trufant...Nicholas is just not a play maker, I think they have cleared about $7 mil in cap space based on what I read.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

I like what I've seen from Barr, but the more I talk to football people, the more I'm intrigued with Mack...the negatives I'm hearing about Barr is he's a speed rusher and at his size I'm concerned if he'll be able to combat with NFL OT...imo he needs to line up next to a dominating type DT. Not saying I wouldn't take him but...I have questions.

I'm fine with either one. Don't know much about either prospect, just know we desperately need help at the LB position and on the DL.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I'm fine with either one. Don't know much about either prospect, just know we desperately need help at the LB position and on the DL.

I can't say I do either...I have at least seen Barr play, only some clips of Mack...guys like Charles Davis who I think gives an honest opinion when interviewed on radio anyway...feels like Mack is a player...Clowney, Barr, Mack...one of them will be on the board @ 6 you have to think...not a bad spot to be in if a pass rusher is the direction TD is going to go.

It's been reported so I guess it's been said...Mike Smith said Baker is not going to RT, we'll have to see what that means on draft day, but I lean towards them taking a DE/OLB.

The Ravens called the Falcons OL soft in a training camp scrimmage...turns out they were right.

Baker should come back and stabilize the left side, but I'm not sure he's is a legit LT. RT and RG are both big question marks...Idk if Holmes is an option at all yet. Mike Johnson...can he play? Reynolds?

What I would do...draft DE @ 6...@ 37 I would either take a G, or OT unless a guy like Shazier (OLB with speed to cover) drops into the 2nd round. If TD doesn't take a OL in the 1st or 2nd round...I look for him to spend some FA $ on one...the biggest mistake ATL made LY was not being settled on the OL.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Second pick has to be for somebody on the OL. Ryan was pressured a lot last year. He needs some more protection.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

So I went ahead and took OT Greg Robinson from Auburn in the mock draft i'm running here. What do you guys think?

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

And now LB Dee Ford, also from Auburn. Man, I would love if this is how our draft went in real life.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Love both picks so far...I'm not sure if TD can do any better.

Robinson would start tomorrow @ RT, and Ford...at his size, I think he'll end up playing OLB in the NFL moreso than DE.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Both would be awesome selections. Then grabbed DT DaQuan Jones from Penn State in the 3rd round, though I would like to grab a TE incase we can't add one in FA.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I actually like Tiololo's potential @ TE...something had to rub off of Tony G. to help this guy develop this year.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Another recent mock has the Falcons grabbing Robinson at 6th.

Mock Monitor 4.0 - Official Atlanta Falcons Blogs

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I keep saying it...this year TD is in great position to bag 2 starters from this draft, possibly 3 by 2015.

I hear all these trade talks about moving up to get Clowney...I would do it for 6 & 68, but that's as far as I would go.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Another bites the dust...Reynolds, released....I was a little surprised with the quick axe, but Smith is hellbent on improving the OL.

Falcons Release OL Reynolds

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Jadeveon Clowney wants Falcons to trade up for him http://t.co/iSPQiarfSe
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) [ame="https://twitter.com/ProFootballTalk/statuses/437660929711284224"]February 23, 2014[/ame]

I want Clowney!
​

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Ya know Johnny...the more I think about this, the more I think stay @ 6.

If Clowney is there...I would take him.

I like these moves...

FA, sign Albert OT, KC...imo whomever they pick in the draft should not be starting @ LT next season as a rookie...this guy can start...move Baker to RT.

1st - Clowney, Barr, or Mack...which ever one is there @ 6.

2nd. - In position to take the 1st or worst case 2nd OG off the board

3rd - Telvin Smith, Will Sutton...lot of options here.

Trading up for Clowney is certainly going to cost #6 + a 3rd rounder...I might still do it, but I would push for a 4th rounder and be ready to walk if they balk.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Ya know Johnny...the more I think about this, the more I think stay @ 6.

If Clowney is there...I would take him.

I like these moves...

FA, sign Albert OT, KC...imo whomever they pick in the draft should not be starting @ LT next season as a rookie...this guy can start...move Baker to RT.

1st - Clowney, Barr, or Mack...which ever one is there @ 6.

2nd. - In position to take the 1st or worst case 2nd OG off the board

3rd - Telvin Smith, Will Sutton...lot of options here.

Trading up for Clowney is certainly going to cost #6 + a 3rd rounder...I might still do it, but I would push for a 4th rounder and be ready to walk if they balk.

All good points and have been on board with those 3 names all offseason long in the first round. Hopefully a lesser OG can fall to us in the 2nd like you said, maybe look for a TE in the 2nd or 3rd round.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

All good points and have been on board with those 3 names all offseason long in the first round. Hopefully a lesser OG can fall to us in the 2nd like you said, maybe look for a TE in the 2nd or 3rd round.

With so many OT with high grades in this draft I feel good about getting a solid OG capable of starting next yr (at some point) in the 2nd rd...seriously with 6/37/68/99, 4 of the top 100 picks... don't see how TD can miss this year with the way the draft looks. IMO, not the year to wheel and deal for a big splash.