ATL Sports: Around the ATL 6/6/2011

[Zodiac]

The future, people try to predict it, sometimes they get it wrong, sometimes they get it right, sometimes their extremely vauge and con people into believing them. However. the future in sports is dependent on the development of players. if you take a 5 Star QB and develop him correctly you're probably going to have a good QB for the four years that he's there, unless he sells stuff to tatoo parlors. So if you haven't already guessed what i'll be talking about today, let me tell you, it's about the future.


The Falcons, are set for the future, all they need to do is lock up some linemen and Grimes. Well that might not be the only place where they need to shore up, the RB position, for 3 grand years has been anchored by Michael Turner, who for those 3 years has been one of the premier backs in the NFL. the startling thing those is that Turner has accumulated nearly 900 carriers in 3 years (his current total is 888.) that's nearly 300 carries a year. Not only that but Turner is quickly appoaching the dreaded wall known as age 30. As if that wasn't enough, Jason Snelling is a FA if the lockout ends. That would leave Atlanta in a precarious spot for the future, if Snelling left who would they bring in to replace him? If Turner went down to an injury who would take over? as much as I love Jacquizz I can't see us giving a 5'6 man the ball 200+ times. A guy who I think would be a good fit to replace Snelling would be Michael Bush, that is if we could get him as a backup in a starter market, and if we decide his character concerns (DUI) aren't enough of a problem. Then we gotta look ahead for Turner's replacement who might come in next year's draft. there's one guy I have my eye set on. Jason Ford, the 6'1 235 LB mauler split carries with Mikel Leshoure the past season, he fits what we want in our RB system, but he comes with a character concern, he was arrested for driving on a suspended license, nothing to big but still a red flag nonetheless. Ford should finally get the primary carries now that Leshoure is gone. Ford also can catch out of the backfield amassing 7 catches for 59 yards last year while rushing 99 times for 480 yard (4.8 average) he's currently projected as a 4th-5th rounder, but he may rise depending on how his season goes.



The Braves future problems can be focused in on one position, that's 3B the Braves plan was to sign Dan Uggla to 2nd, move Prado to Left as a stop gap for a year then move Prado to 3rd afte Chipper retires, well.. if you don't keep up with the Braves Uggla is currently doing his best Nate McClouth impersonation, and by that I mean he is currently under the dreaded Mendoza Line (batting under .200) if Uggla doesn't get it straightend up the Braves have no immediate replacement for him. Which presents a major problem in their plans, they would have to move Prado back to 2nd, which leaves, who at 3rd? Edward Salcedo is very doubtful, considering he's still playing Single A ball. the Braves need to target a young 3rd basemen and make a trade, a guy that stand out to me is Josh Bell. the 24 year old was accquired by the O's in a trade that sent George Sherril to the Dodgers, Bell is considered to be one of the O's top prospects. Bell who is switch hitter, is considered to have enough pop to drive 20 HRs, and at least 70 RBI if insereted into the middle of the lineup. the O's have Mark Reynolds currently filling the role of 3B, it unkown what their plans for Reynolds are, he's probably not their longterm solution, as he has lead the Majors in strikeouts and generally is just useful for Homers. The O's are in dire need of relievers, which the Braves have plenty of in the minors, nothing short of AA prospect and Scott Proctor should be able to seal the deal.



Thank you for reading. All future comments and criticisms are appreciated.

[phocis850]

I'd love to see Snelling stick around. Guy can run, catch, and block. When out of the backfield, he can catch a pass and make 3-5 yards nearly every time. That can't be said of Turner. I don't believe we need the fastest of power runners, or the biggest of them either. Snelling does fit our mold. I believe with Snelling, Rodgers, and Smith we could get a good running game going but still focusing building up our passing offense. With the addition of Jones, I believe Turners role will start slowing down. If our passing offense proves to do as well as we are wanting it to, then someone to replace Turner would be easy to find because we won't need a power back to put the majority of our offense on. Ryan is capable of running and handling the burden of the offense. This is his time to prove it.

[Zodiac]

(06-06-2011 01:40 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  I'd love to see Snelling stick around. Guy can run, catch, and block. When out of the backfield, he can catch a pass and make 3-5 yards nearly every time. That can't be said of Turner. I don't believe we need the fastest of power runners, or the biggest of them either. Snelling does fit our mold. I believe with Snelling, Rodgers, and Smith we could get a good running game going but still focusing building up our passing offense. With the addition of Jones, I believe Turners role will start slowing down. If our passing offense proves to do as well as we are wanting it to, then someone to replace Turner would be easy to find because we won't need a power back to put the majority of our offense on. Ryan is capable of running and handling the burden of the offense. This is his time to prove it.

The think about Snelling is that he's not an everydown or primary back, remember we signed him as a backup Fullback. He only averages about 3.8 yPC, it's really his Pass Catching abd Blocking that makes him great, but he does have his moments running too.