Falcons: Change of prediction

[Beef]

I've been watching some more video of this Coby Fleener TE out of Stanford and even though I originally made the suggestion that we should go OL or CB with our first pick (2nd round), I'm really leaning towards this Fleener kid now. He's the real deal at both blocking and receiving.

It's really difficult to guage what we're going to do though. EVERYBODY knows we need serious OL help and if we let Grimes and Abe go, we're going to be hurting at those spots on defense. And with knowing that and after getting a bigtime offensive weapon already last year, why would we go after ANOTHER offensive weapon this year with our first pick?

Well, go to youtube and search for coby fleener highlights and watch some of his videos and you'll see why. If he's still there at 54, I just don't see how we can pass up on him when we all know very well TE is a must position of need after this season either way.

Our receiving corps would be so ridiculous with Julio, Roddy, HD, Fleener, & Quizz as every down options. I really don't see how to defend all that if that's what's on the field. TG is simply nothing more than a possession receiver at this point. He's going to catch about 90% of his passes in the same spot on the field, do his little backstep pushoff, get another 2 yards and go down. There is about a 1% chance of YAC with him. And just like Turner making us look predictable because you know we're running the ball when he's in, TG is becoming more and more predictably defendable too because his route/catch zone has gotten smaller and smaller.

If we do take Fleener at 54, TD's going to have to go really big in FA to fill one or two spots on the OL and also either CB or DE. That's assuming Lofton is priority #1 to re-sign. Which, believe it or not, but some of the media in this town think that the Falcons are considering lowballing Lofton and instead re-signing Grimes. Or, franchising Lofton to lock in Grimes. There's also been some talk that DeCoud is to be re-signed as well, which boggles my mind. And it looks like Abraham will either leave or have to accept a low offer. And HD is an unknown. It depends on what offers he gets from where is all anyone has said. And Dunta is simply a guarantee to return and stay at CB due to his contract.

Anyways, I'm hoping for Fleener at 54 and then depending on who we re-sign and pick up in FA, either CB, DE, or OL at 85. That's going to piss a lot of people off if that's the order we go, but after they see this Fleener kid in game, they'll forget about ever being upset. I made a mistake not looking closer at the guy to begin with, but he's just way too good to pass up if he's there.

[The Don™]

I think it all depends on what we do in FA. That should clear up a lot of things and hopefully alleviate some of the pressure of the Draft.

Hypothetically, if TD gets Jared Gaither for LT and signs Reggie Nelson to play FS and we sign one of Grimes or Lofton, then I can see TD, if he's there, take Fleener with our first pick. We could use that third rounder on a CB or guard. I wouldn't be upset at all with that.

I think it really depends on what we do before the Draft in FA and other roster moves we make. It should be a hectic and one of the most important offseason for TD so far.

[mdrake34]

I've been screaming bloody murder for us to draft a TE and I think Fleenor is an excellent choice.

[phocis850]

We don't even know what Koetter wants to do and what his priorities are.

Really he is just now learning the players and putting together a playbook.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(02-01-2012 11:57 PM)phocis850 Wrote:  We don't even know what Koetter wants to do and what his priorities are.

Really he is just now learning the players and putting together a playbook.

I recall reading somewhere that both playbooks were finished now.

Obviously there will be wrinkles here and there added in camp but I think the plays and structure are all in place.