G-Dawg Falcons offseason - my turn...

[g-dawg]

Ok, the Dirty Word inspired me to do my own......I comment on everybody else's off-season so its only fair - and desired - for you to comment on mine. Here goes:

Falcons Free Agents:
KEEP:
Tyson Clabo is a talented Right Tackle and those can be hard to find. He's well-liked in the organization, and is straight nasty. 4yrs, $24 million, $12 million guaranteed.

Brent Grimes is definitely the Falcons best player on defense right now and will be locked up by Thomas Dimitroff. He is 28 years old and is undersized but has great athleticism. I would say Grimes' deal would be 4yrs, $26 million, $13 million guaranteed.

Stephen Nicholas, OLB 3yrs, $9.00 million
Mike Peterson, OLB 1 year, $1.75 million
Brian Williams, CB 1 year, $1.25 million

LET GO:
Harvey Dahl (we have replacements who are cheaper and more talented)
Brian Finneran (simply put, its time. great guy though)
Jason Snelling(more diverse RB option in free agency that can share load)
Justin Blalock (we have replacements that are cheaper/better)


Unrestricted Free Agency:

Mathias Kiwanuka, DE-NY Giants (6'5", 265lbs, 28yrs old) - "yes" he is coming off a neck injury and would have to be cleared by Falcons doctors. "Kiwi's" skill set is what the Falcons need though and he should come cheaper than Ray Edwards and be available. He's experienced and just needs more snaps - could easily be a 10+ sack/yr type guy. 4yrs, $25 million, $13 million guaranteed


James Jones, WR-Packers (6'1", 208lbs, 27yrs old) - here is the explosive WR that we need as a #2 who can keep the double teams off of Roddy. After GB winning a SB, Jones will want to get paid and Packers probably won't pay him. Falcons will as we need him more. 4yrs, $22 million, $11 million guaranteed


Pierre Thomas, RB-Saints (5'11", 215lbs, 26yrs old) - this is the type of back we need to complement Michael Turner. Thomas is great pass catcher and is no slouch in the running game. We also know he will be productive as he is tried and true. A better option than Snelling who we let go. Thomas can also "carry the load" if Turner gets hurt and is 3 yrs younger than Turner when Turner starts, pardon the pun - "flaming out". 3yrs, $17 million, $9 million guaranteed


FALCONS DRAFT:
#1-027) Derek Sherrod, LT-Miss. State (6'6", 305lbs) - this guy is the elite blindside protector that Matt Ryan deserves but has never had. Sam Baker can move inside and play left guard and replace Justin Blalock. Very smart, scholar-type athlete.


#2-60) Lance Kendricks, TE-Wisconsin (6'4, 241lbs) - can be a weapon in the passing game who plucks the ball out of the air. He can get vertical and will add a dimension of explosion to the Falcons offense that is missing in the middle of the field right now. Can learn from Gonzo in 2011 and be ready to "be the man" in 2012 when Gonzo goes off to Canton, Ohio.


#3-93) Mark Herzlich, OLB-Boston College (6'4", 238lbs) - this is admittedly a "high risk/high reward" pick as he is still not the player he was before the cancer and there is always the chance that he could fall back out of remission. Herzlich did not flash at the Senior Bowl so his stock is down a bit. I just believe in this guy and he will show in pros better than he looks right now - if he last until late 3rd round, his upside is worth the risk.


#4-130) Curtis Marsh,CB-Utah State (6'1", 193lbs) great size, good ball skills, great speed with burst to close, fluid hips, willing tackler - aggressive. Could be late riser who goes higher than this if he shows well at combine.


5th round) Greg Romeus, DE-Pittsburgh (6'6", 270lbs) great size and length. Was top flight DE but got derailed by injury his senior season. Once thought to be a 1st round draft pick. Falcons may have to move up into 4th round to get him - I would trade the balance of picks to move up as we have addressed our needs now in all areas.

[Jayhawk-Falcon2012]

Not bad G-dawg. Very similar to TDW's, but still a really good read = D

I would ask though, would you want to draft a WR at all, or just hope that Jones can do it and keep the current crop with Roddy #1 Jones #2 Jenks and HD 3/4 weems 5th?

[g-dawg]

(02-02-2011 07:12 PM)Jayhawk-Falcon2012 Wrote:  Not bad G-dawg. Very similar to TDW's, but still a really good read = D

I would ask though, would you want to draft a WR at all, or just hope that Jones can do it and keep the current crop with Roddy #1 Jones #2 Jenks and HD 3/4 weems 5th?

Roddy White #1
James Jones #2
Harry Douglas #3 (he steps up 1 yr removed from ACL)
Michael Jenkins #4
Kerry Meier #5

[Beef]

I like it except for Pierre Thomas. He doesn't solve our lack of speed-back sideline to sideline running game problem or non-existant screen game problem.

And we'd also still be left with a hole in the secondary. B. Williams, Owens, or some rookie is not the answer. Dunta, Grimes, Moore, & DeCoud will all be better next year, especially if we improve the pass rush. But they won't be at that top level, it'll take moving Grimes to nickel & bringing in a top LCB or simply bringing in a really good DB that can play nickel way better than B. Williams did.

And I think we might have a 4th round compensitory that could help. Although it might be a 5th round but I'm not sure.

As a whole, however, one of the more solid mocks I've seen.

[Swift Is a Die Hard]

A+ I actually love it...


I would choose Floyd over James Jones..Think Jones benefited more from having 2 solid wrs and great system and a GREAT QB..

I also think Saints are keeping Pierre Thomas but something fishy went on he didnt fight back from injury

[Swift Is a Die Hard]

I would like to bring in a guy like Champ Bailey as well to be nickel

[g-dawg]

(02-02-2011 07:25 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  I would like to bring in a guy like Champ Bailey as well to be nickel

thanks for the compliments swifty......don't think Falcons can afford a nickel back who will want $9mil/yr......I'm a UGA boy so you know it kills me to pass on Champ - but I think Falcons need too.

[g-dawg]

(02-02-2011 07:22 PM)Swift Is a Die Hard Wrote:  A+ I actually love it...


I would choose Floyd over James Jones..Think Jones benefited more from having 2 solid wrs and great system and a GREAT QB..

I also think Saints are keeping Pierre Thomas but something fishy went on he didnt fight back from injury

i just like Jones over Floyd because he is 3 years younger and a little more explosive.

I don't think the Saints are keeping Pierre - think they are "on the outs" after last season.

[g-dawg]

(02-02-2011 07:12 PM)Jayhawk-Falcon2012 Wrote:  Not bad G-dawg. Very similar to TDW's, but still a really good read = D

I would ask though, would you want to draft a WR at all, or just hope that Jones can do it and keep the current crop with Roddy #1 Jones #2 Jenks and HD 3/4 weems 5th?

at one point I was looking at a cheaper WR in Free agency(Naane) and then advocating drafting Jernel Jernigan in 2nd round. However, given the upgrade of Naane to Jones - I did not feel the need to draft a WR - especially since Jones gets vertical very well in Packers offense and he could do the same for Falcons.

[TonyGraziani]

Resignings/FA- issues I have are:
-letting Blalock AND Dahl go. Let one guy go, and you open up competition for his spot. Let both guys go, and lose a good bit of that cohesiveness and now make that a position of need and give jobs to players that didn't fully compete for them.

-signing Jones. I'm not 100% sold on him, and as that picture SEEMS to show, he has a bit of a problem catching/holding onto the ball. Wouldn't be completely against it though.

-replacing Snelling with Thomas. Now that they are placed together in this scenario, I think they are extremely similar. Thomas is simply Snelling 1.5, and making a move for such a similar player with not considerable improvement talent-wise IMO is not worth it. I would resign Snelling for less.

Love the Kiwi signing a lot, looks like just what we need.

Draft- not a fan of the LT pick in the 1st round, but I see where you are coming from. Love the Herzlich and the Romeus picks. Sound a lot like Moore in the sense of looking at the ability shown prior to injury(or illness) and hoping they return to that level.

Overall, good job man!