Falcons: Len Pasquarelli on Curtis Lofton

[FullMetalFalcon23]

Well if all this is the case we would hopefully be looking at comp picks next year for losing him.

Apart from the franchise tag is there anyway we can get picks out of him this season.

I know spoon is capable of leading the D from the Will spot in terms of intellectual ability to call adjustments but I can't see how that works from the point of view of that information being passed around.

Traditionally your middle LB has this role because he is in front of the QB and in the middle of the D. If Sean takes over leadership of play calling audibles on the field. Would it not be difficult for him to do this if he is split out covering a tight end or someone.

Thing is you can't look at this from its most vanilla alignment because of the type of guy Nolan is.

If we go nickel it sounds as though Lofton or whoever the MLB is, would come out to allow the extra DB. Leaving Spoon and Nicholas to play the pass coverage responsibilities. In this package however we could still Rush 4. Or alternatively we might go to a 3 4 or 3 3 personnel set that has the 4th player as a wild card amongst the group allowing them to attack the LOS accordingly or come down in the undercoverage. I'm thinking that the 3 LBs in this instance could be Spoon Nich and in the likelihood Lofton does not return a 3rd cover capable linebacker. And DB wise you could see DeCoud or his replacement in one spot. Sanders in the other whoever are outside corners are, and then depending on what the O are doing who their personnel are Moore down in the slot or in a Rover type position where he can go after the ball. Or we go Moore and other safety at the top, edge DBs and then drop Robinson into the slot where again he can attack the line and QBs.

I'd be sad to see Lofton go, but there are many ways you can compensate for losing someone who is mainly a run stopper. Spoon can play between middle and Weakside so we aren't at a complete loss should we lose Lofton.

It appears Nolan's thinking is you don't need a run first guy when teams are in nickel because if the opponents are in a 3 receiver set they are more likely passing than running and at least with our team our OLBs are athletic enough to handle the Dual responsibility. And it also seems as though the scheme and his confidence in his coaching is going to have are line controlling the LOS more on passing downs than we have in the past. This is going to be interesting to see with or without Lofton.

Should we lose him which FAs bring more balance to the table than him. I am not interested in Crowder as I don't see him as a3 down LB. if we gave to get a replacement for a guy who is elite against the run and below average against the pass you want to at least replace him with someone who is solid against the two. Or is Akeem Dent someone we would look to.