If the season starts today who starts at on D line and CB?

[babuka]

Biermann, Walker, Jerry, Matthews on d line and Samuel and Owens at CB? With McClain at nickle?

I thought I heard Walker, Owens, and McClain were free agents? Maybe I heard wrong.

[mdrake34]

No clue cause I don't know what our base defense will be, even if it is a hybrid look.

[Beef]

Walker and Owens are still unsigned. Assuming they re-signed and Grimes is not, we will certainly draft a CB high to play nickel with Owens and move McClain outside.

I also think we draft a NT to platoon with Robertson in the middle DL on 3-4 sets. Peters can play NT as well. Jerry, Babs, Peters, Walker, and Robertson can all play DT as well.

Massaquoi, Biermann, and Matthews for DE. Biermann and Mass can stand up and cover OLB in hybrid sets as well. But it is a certainty that were drafting someone to specifically play this position as a pass rusher. DE/OLB pass rusher for either set we play.

We may draft or sign another ILB as well unless Dent really improves his game. But for now he's the starter and we got squat for depth at ILB unless Nicholas moves inside if we get another OLB. I actually think Nicholas would be a better ILB.

[babuka]

The Falcons don't have much cap room left and try still have to resign Ryan sometime along with signing the rookies. I don't know how they can get any good help unless somebody good on defense signs for like 2-3 million.

Unless the young guys are really coming on and the front office sees the potential, I don't see how this team isn't the favorite to finish last in the league in sacks. The Falcons had 29 last year with Abraham and Babs and that was 5th worst.

I have heard mention that the defense didn't lose in the playoffs, but I say that the lack of ability to cover the tight end in the playoffs is what killed the Falcons more than anything.

With the current cap rules it is hard to draft well and keep all the talent you develop while brining in free agents to fill holes. It is almost impossible to field a team with no holes for more than one year.

[RockHoward]

(03-17-2013 12:36 PM)babuka Wrote:  The Falcons don't have much cap room left and try still have to resign Ryan sometime along with signing the rookies. I don't know how they can get any good help unless somebody good on defense signs for like 2-3 million.

Extending Ryan can save $3M or so on cap space for this year. I think for the moment it helps TD to show the cap space as low so that he can use that as an excuse to any agents trying to get a big deal from the Falcons. Only players willing to play for a discount to get a chance at a ring are going to get a good look over the next week or so. If we get towards the end of the month and still need to fill a gap that might not get filled in by the draft, then expect the Ryan extention to get announced.

(For those wondering why the Ryan extension hasn't happened, my guess is that there are two versions of the contract drawn up and depending on how much additional cap space they are going to need for this season, one or the other will be executed.)

[phocis850]

Babs wasn't great last year. He blended in with all the other d-line players.

Abe is only good for games against weak opponents. So really, losing him isn't a big deal.

Ryan doesn't have to sign a contract this year. I don't see us going after any specific free agents so really a contract this year won't make a lick of difference.

I see Samuel and McClain on the outside. mcClain proved to be a worthy player and fully took advantage of his time on the field. He's one of my favorite players to watch now because he has a lot going for him.

I see grimes leaving. He offers nothing against the run, and he is a year and a half out of playing a snap.

I see us being heavy defensively in the draft this year. I would also say that we are gonna move up in the top ten in the first round.

Why? This is the year. Last for Gonzo and SJ will be new and fresh. Moving into the top 10 will get of a solid DT that we've never had. And instead of getting a vet, we draft a rookie to do the same thing for dirt cheap for a few years. It will cost a lot but a championship is worth it.

[Jesus]

I'd like to see us make a bold move to win now. Nice thing is we have the personnel to be good for many years. I think we also develop an undrafted cornerback. We have a few on the roster now. I won't miss Grimes either. He gave us his best years.