Falcons: Final Mock Draft -- ggp

[ggp]

Here is my final stab at this draft. While I think that LT is our primary need, I am not sure that there will be a difference between the LT's we can draft at #55 vs. the guys we can draft at #87.

2nd. Brandon Thompson (DT). If this guy is available, we need to take him. He is quick and stout. He is the ideal NT for our defense. I know that Mike Smith described Peters as a guy that can play the NT position, but I think that we need a real NT to run a hybrid. Thompson covers a real need by collapsing the pocket on pass plays and taking double teams on runs.

3rd. Donald Stevenson, Mitchell Schwartz or Nate Potter (OT). All three will need at least a year to develop but all three have the right mental and physical attributes to eventually earn the starting LT position. All three look like guys that Belichick would draft. Svitek covers the position for one more year, but I expect one of these guys to take over in 2013.

5th. Aaron Henry (S). Nolan likes the big nickel, so we need another safety that can cover. Henry played Safety and CB in Wisconsin. He is smart, tough and very dedicated. I like him a lot. We will likely use Robinson as the "3rd safety" but I wonder whether he will play up to his contract. I think that Henry should be able to handle the position next season.

6th. Adrien Robinson (TE). This prospect has all the measureables to succeed. He simply does not have the technique yet. He is worth a shot and might develop quickly, if he sticks close to Gonzo and learns what it takes. He is getting a lot of attention lately, so I am taking him a round early.

7th. Quentin Saulsberry ©. This guy is smart and nasty. He tips the scales at 305 with a height of 6'2". Hawley might be our guy going forward, but it would not hurt to have competition at this very important OL position. The only knock on him is that he tends to get too "chippy" and his overly aggressive style can sometimes put him out of position or simply off balance. I think a year of work on his technique and a little maturing might put some polish on this diamond in the rough.


I am worried that Thompson will be gone by #55. If that is the case, then I would go back to the OL and draft Zebrie Sanders.

Zebrie Sanders (OT). I like him for his versatility. He can play both OT positions. He has the feet to handle the LT position and the toughness to work the RT duties. His intangibles are off the chart. He is a classic TD guy.

[Beef]

I don't mean to keep doing this to your mocks, so please don't take it personal, i'm just entering the discussion and everyone here has an opinion and so do I. I respect yours, but I still disagree with the notion that we go after a real NT.

Ask yourself this... IF we did play a traditional 3-4 set with a real big body gap consuming NT in the middle on the DL, who plays the 2 DT/DE positions between the B & C gaps? AND, who plays the pass rushing OLB's?

If you look at our personel, we simply do not have ANY of those types of players. We're talking 3 or 4 positions that we do not have guys who come anywhere close to fitting that mode or style or even ability. When you take that into consideration, you realize that we're not really going to be in this type of set so often that we would need to actually spend a pick on a traditional NT. You simply don't use your highest pick on a guy who won't be playing every down.

[ggp]

Beef,

I hear your concern. While we do not have the ideal set yet, we have players that can make the 3-4 work. Here is a sampling of how we can man this set:

DE: Babs and Peters. (Jerry as back up)
NT: Thompson. (Peters and Walker as back up)
ILB's: Tatupu and Weatherspoon (Dent and Nicholas back up)
OLB's: Sidbury, Bierman (Abraham and Mathews as back up)

We have not seen these guys in this set, so it is understandable that we don't buy into it immediately. However, these guys all have the skill sets to make it happen. Having a real NT to anchor the middle essential. A guy like Thompson can occupy two OL's and free up the ILB's to wreak havoc. The beauty of the 3-4 is the ellement of surprise that it holds. OL's never really know where the pass rush will come from. It is all about the confusion.

When Jerry was drafted, several websites mentioned that he would be better used as a 3-4 DE. The same was said about Peters.

We have almost all the ingredients of a solid hybrid defense. All we need is a legitimate NT.

I understand your desire for OL help. Believe me, I am with you. The trouble is that, after the first round, the LT talent plateau's. While Zebrie Sanders is a bit better than Potter and Stevenson, I am not so sure that the same will be true one year from now.

[Beef]

Well, I guess we'll just disagree then.

Babs and Peters are just not C-gap rushers who can make outside-in moves around OT's. On top of that, there's no way we're going to sit Abe and Edwards on the sideline to rush Babs, Peters on OT's and Sid and Biermann standing up and off the DL. Sid and Biermann are just way too big to play off the DL and have to essentially play the OLB positions, which require sometimes dropping into coverage.

We'll see soon enough anyways, so no big deal.

[juraitwaluzka]

Stay tuned. I'm releasing my first round mock tomorrow, followed by the other rounds for all teams after the weekend.