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Just refer to LSU as "D-Line U"

atljbo — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:49:45 GMT

[quote]Just refer to LSU as "D-Line U"

July 23, 2008 8:58 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

Doug Benc/Getty Images

Junior Al Woods is projected to be a top pro prospect -- and he may not even start for LSU.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A few more tidbits from Day 1 at the SEC media days:

• LSU center Brett Helms had the perfect answer for how a team could lose a player the caliber of Glenn Dorsey and return the next season with perhaps the best defensive line in the country.

"I was talking to Glenn yesterday, and he was saying this is 'D-Line U.' That's what we call it now," Helms said. "For the past few years with Kyle Williams and Claude Wroten and some of those guys, we just keep reloading here."

[size=3]The Tigers are loaded up front, all right. Junior defensive tackle Al Woods is projected as a top 10 pick in the 2009 NFL draft by ESPN's Todd McShay [Insider], and Williams isn't even a probable starter heading into the season.[/size]

• Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom joked that he won't miss Dorsey.

"If anybody else in this conference had lost Dorsey, they'd be in real trouble," Croom said. "LSU just puts another one in there."

Croom said Dorsey was one of three defensive linemen in his coaching career that he was truly afraid of going into a game.

The other two? Reggie White and Howie Long.

Some pretty heady company.

• Bobby Johnson has earned a dubious distinction at Vanderbilt. Entering his seventh season, Johnson is now the school's longest tenured coach since George MacIntyre, who coached the Commodores' last bowl team in 1982.

Johnson has guided the Commodores to 15 wins in the last three seasons, their best three-season win total since 1992-94.

"I remember in my first press conference, I think the very first day I was at Vanderbilt, some guy said, 'How long do you think you got before they fire you?' " Johnson recounted. "Really, he did. I said, 'I don't know.'

"The thing is that our coaching staff has invested a lot into this program. They've worked extremely hard. We want to see it be successful. We're hoping we can get it done. I think we made strides toward that. I think we were extremely close last year. A couple games go either way, and we're in a bowl."

The reality is that Vanderbilt may struggle this season when you look at everybody the Commodores lost, but 2009 could finally be the year they break their bowl drought.[/quote]

I dont get how Todd Mcshay can say a guy not starting can be a top 10 pick.....Al Woods is not starting this year but he should be in the rotation... Woods is asking around trying to figure out his draft position..... I do think Al Woods will be a 2nd round pick......

The Baker Trade...

defensedefensedefense — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:50:19 GMT

Sam Baker V's Kenny Phillips

I have thought about this for some time now, and i really would of liked the FO to have traded back into the 1st for Kenny Phillips instead of Sam Baker. By no means am i whinging or anything, it just seems to me like it would of been a better move...

I know we need a LT, but im just not sure Baker is the player that can excel there. The other concern is; where else on the OL can he play if he cant cope at LT? IMO RT and OG are out of the question with a run heavy offense, he just isnt a good enough run blocker. OC maybe?? With the talent coming out in the 2009 draft, i think we missed a trick here...

A trade up for Kenny Phillips(who imo will be a very good NFL safety) would of cost a lot less, a 2nd and a 4th, so we could of selected another player in the draft as well. Maybe a player for either line or another young LB/CB... Anyway, just thought id throw it out there since the offseason is slow.

I would of been a LOT more confident having safety tandem of Phillips/Milloy thats for sure. The OL could of waited another year imho. Let Redman and Harrington get killed behind it lol

I really do hope Baker lights it up at LT... Im just not that confident...

I know this is way too earlier to consider but something to think about!

Vince — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:37:32 GMT

I know it is way too earlier to consider this but let’s just say we have a top 3-5 pick next year with Johnson, Crabtree, Stafford, Moreno and Oher all looking to be the most regarded players to come out. And let’s just say that the Eagles who have two picks in the 1st round (let’s say 14 & 21). How many of you guys would love to see us trade down with them to pick up let’s say (SS, OT/OG or DT). That will give us let’s say the 14, 21 and 36 picks in next years draft. Mays or Rolle, Robinson or Boone, and Woods, Marks or Oghobaase all with the first three picks. How great would that be!!

With the Ravens failing to reach a long term agreement with Suggs what do you think?

Vince — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:26:02 GMT

With Brooking, Milloy and Horn coming off the books next years, what do you guys think about picking up Terrell Suggs for DE/OLB in FA next year? This will add depth in two positions for the price of one. Not to mention Abe may have two more productive years left and the jury is still out on Anderson (even thou I believe he will bounce back in 08). Yes it may cost us a little bit but it will free up another roster spot and we will be well under the salary cap and the guy will be just hitting his prime.

Fili Moala

atljbo — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:24:29 GMT

A guy on this draft Board Called me crazy for saying that Fili Moala will be a 2nd round pick.....look at this

[url]http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-1-61/Ranking-the-Pac-10-defensive-tackles.html[/url]

[quote]Ranking the Pac-10 defensive tackles

July 22, 2008 2:51 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Moving on to defense, this is a strange one.

Guess how many defensive tackles from the 2007 All-Pac-10 First and Second Teams and honorable mentions are back this fall?

Zero.

That means the No. 1 guy on this list, USC's Fili Moala, didn't get a single vote from conference coaches last year.

Nonetheless, he's expected to be a first-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Go figure.

If there is any one position where the Pac-10 is consistently lacking -- and falls way short of the SEC -- it's defensive tackle. That is, of course, outside of USC; think that might be meaningful?

The position doesn't actually get that much respect in the conference. Of the eight defensive linemen honored as First- or Second-Team All-Pac-10, only two -- USC's Sedrick Ellis (duh) and Arizona's Lionel Dotson -- were DTs and not sack-producing DEs.

A lot of that is DEs put up impressive sack stats in a pass-happy conference. But a run-stuffing DT who also can collapse a pocket is a presence that transforms a good defense into a great one.

And most prognosticators don't think the Pac-10 will have a great defense this fall. Other, of course, than said Trojans.

[size=3]1. Fili Moala, Sr., USC: Got to be honest: I thought Moala was just the guy who played beside Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson in 2007, but he apparently will be a first-round draft pick this spring. In fact, Todd McShay has him going No. 1 overall.[/size]
2. Ekom Udofia, Jr., Stanford: A touted recruit in 2005, he appears poised for a breakout. The 310-pounder is already appearing on a few 2009 draft lists.
3. Brigham Harwell, Sr., UCLA: A knee injury ended his 2007 season, but he's a high-motor guy who's started for three years.
4. Brian Price, So. UCLA: Got double-teamed as a true freshman; he's a budding star. Don't be shocked if he ends up First-Team All-Pac-10.
5. Averell Spicer, Jr., USC: Starting on USC's DL is, in itself, meaningful. Spicer flashed some play-making ability in 2007 and this past spring. A hard worker with skills.
6. Ra'Shon Harris, Sr., Oregon: He's got the size at 6-foot-5, 321 pounds. He just needs to use it more.
7. Derrick Hill, So., California: Played well late in 2007, so the former elite recruit should push past Mika Kane on the depth chart and become the noseguard when the Bears use a new 3-4 look.
8. David Smith, Sr., Arizona State: A lunch-pail guy who started 13 games in 2007 and made 6.5 tackles for loss.
9. Pernnell Booth, Sr., Oregon State: Three tackles for loss last year. If healthy, he's solid.
10. Fevaea'i Ahmu, Sr., Washington State: He's experienced but he's battled injuries throughout his career.[/quote]

ALSO...This is what scouts are saying

[quote]While some in cyberspace may have rated U.S.C. defensive tackle Fili Moala as a sure fire first rounder, he doesn't even crack National Scouting's early list of top 400 prospects! We recently asked a source, who has talked to NFL scouts, why Moala isn't ranked much higher and he said much of this stems from injury concerns scouts have about him. He also believes, that while Moala definitely has next level potential, he's been wildly overrated by some outside of the league (as Ted Miller and Todd McShay suggests), largely based on his strong showing as a sophomore (in 2006).[/quote]

Alot of Peoples are over rating him because some experts (Todd McShay) are over-rating him..... If you go by purely look at his production playing next to mr.double team himself sedrick ellis, you will see that his production is not up to par.......

It seem like everyone is saying he is a 1st round pick just to say it...... If he produce big time this year.. then yes he will be a 1st round picks... But if he is anything like last year.... Fili Moala will be a 2nd round pick

papi is BACK.

papikaika — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:06:21 GMT

Been off for a while, dealt with some issues, but now im back. Better than ever. Look out for me. I know y'all missed me. :P

DE Michael Johnson- Georgia Tech

metalfalcon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:21:54 GMT

[img]http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/7937/johnsongeotechnj8.jpg[/img]

AT TECH: Tall, athletic defensive end with tremendous pass-rushing ability . . . Tech's top backup at defensive end who sees plenty of action, especially on passing downs . . . Has freakish athletic ability.

2006: Second on the team with five sacks . . . Has 33 tackles, six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups . . . Made two key plays in Tech's win over Maryland with sacks on the Terps' final two snaps . . . With the Jackets leading 27-23 in the final minute, Maryland faced third-and-goal at the Tech four-yard line, when Johnson burst off the edge to sack quarterback Sam Hollenbach for a 10-yard loss and an additional five yards for grounding . . . Johnson again sacked Hollebach on fourth down to preserve the victory . . . Sat out the first two games of the season due to injury, then had five tackles, a sack, two pass breakups and a forced fumble against Troy in his first game . . . Also had five tackles with two tackles for loss, incluidng one sack, against Miami . . . Had a sack and two forced fumbles against Wake Forest.

2005: Against Connecticut, he forced a fumble on kickoff coverage that Tech recovered to set up a touchdown . . . Had a sack against Virginia Tech . . . Totalled six tackles on the season . . . Saw most of his action on special teams . . . One of eight true freshmen to play in 2005.

HIGH SCHOOL:

One of the nation's top tight ends who is projected to play defensive end . . . Rated the No. 7 tight end in the nation by scout.com . . . Ranked the No. 2 prospect in Alabama by scout.com and the No. 13 player in the state by Rivals.com . . . Tabbed to the Southeast Top 100 (No. 30) by scout.com . . . Named to the all-area team by the Selma Times Journal . . . Team captain and Most Valuable Player for coach Richard Bush at Dallas County High in Plantersville, Ala. . . . Caught 42 passes for 650 yards and six touchdowns as a senior while making 92 tackles and 14 sacks . . . Added 25 receptions for 300 yards and three touchdowns as a junior . . . Also an outstanding basketball player who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior . . .

PERSONAL:

Born February 7, 1987... full name is Michael D. Johnson... parents are Samuel and Thomasene Johnson... Samuel is a Vietnam veteran (marines) and earned the Purple Heart... majoring in management.
[url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/johnson_michael00.html]Michael's Football Bio[/url]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/255/85014/index.html]Michael's Career Stats[/url]

WR Michael Crabtree- Texas Tech

metalfalcon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:12:12 GMT

[img]http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/8201/crabtreetexastechxp3.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/9105/crabtreestatsce9.jpg[/img]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/700/1003728/index.html]Crabtree Stats[/url]
NCAA RECORDS
Freshman Receptions - 134
Freshman Yards - 1,962
Freshman Touchdown Receptions - 22

2007 - REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Biletnikoff Award winner ... unanimous consensus All-America first team selection ... unanimous all-conference pick ... Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year ... Big 12 Conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year ... several National Freshman of the Year honors ... led the nation and the Big 12 in receptions (134), receiving yards (1,962) and touchdowns (22) - all NCAA freshman records ... finished off his record-setting regular season with another outstanding performance, pacing the team with nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Gator Bowl win over No. 20 Virginia ... led the team with 12 catches for 154 yards his 21st touchdown in Tech's upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma ... made a team-high nine catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns at Texas ... 195-yard total was the most by a Tech receiver against Texas since Donnie Hart's 241-yard outing in 1996 ... has had 55 receptions go for 15 or more yards ... was held under 100 yards receiving for just the second time this year, finishing with four catches for 61 yards at Baylor ... led the way once again with a 12-catch, 131-yard day against Colorado ... 19-yard third quarter touchdown catch against the Buffaloes broke former Red Raider Taurean Henderson's NCAA record for receptions by a freshman (98), his school record for single-season catches, and set a new Big 12 Conference record for touchdown grabs in a season (18) ... added 10 catches for 76 yards to his season total at Missouri, breaking the school record for single-season receiving yardage in just eight games (Joel Filani-1,300 in 2006) ... was held under 100 yards receiving for just the first time in his college career ... paced the team with his eight catch, 170-yard performance against Texas A&M ... despite being held out of the endzone for the first time this season, seven of his team-high eight receptions went for first downs against the Aggies ... broke the NCAA single-season freshman record for touchdown catches (14), with a three-touchdown effort against Iowa State ... torched the Cyclones for a team-high 10 catches and 154 yards ... finished the final non-conference contest against Northwestern State with eight catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns ... his final touchdown of the game also established a new single-season school record (14) and put Tech ahead 51-7 ... continued his spectacular rookie season with a 14-catch, 237-yard, three touchdown outing in the conference opener at Oklahoma State ... 237-yard output marked the fifth-highest single-game total in school history ... 75-yard first quarter reception against the Cowboys was his longest of the season ... named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after his impressive 11-catch, career-high 244-yard (freshman school record), three touchdown receiving effort at Rice ... 74-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was the Red Raiders longest scoring play since Filani's 76-yard score last November against Baylor ... improved on his debut outing at SMU by tying the single-game school record with 15 catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns against UTEP ... starred in his first collegiate game, leading the team with 12 catches, gaining 106 yards and scoring a team-high three touchdowns at SMU ... set a school record with 12 catches through the first three quarters of the game ... was on the receiving end of three consecutive touchdowns for Tech, stretching the score from 14-6 to 35-6.

2006 - FRESHMAN SEASON
Dominated Thursday night football scrimmages ... also gave first-team defense fits when mimmicking the opposition's top receiver.

CARTER HIGH SCHOOL
Carter High School in Dallas, Texas ... Four-Star Recruit (Rivals.com) ... No. 16 athlete nationally (Rivals.com) ... No. 91 overall prospect in Texas (Rivals.com) ... No. 10 overall prospect in Dallas area (Dallas Morning News) ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Fab 44 ... played quarterback in high school ... passed for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns on 45-of-100 passing last season ... also ran for 646 yards and 9 touchdowns on 100 carries ... also ranked among the state's top 50 basketball recruits ... rushed for 469 yards and seven scores and completed 30-of-67 passes for 897 yards and eight touchdowns during junior season ... recorded an interception ... benches 270, squats 350 and has a 34-inch vertical ... also offered by Baylor, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Kansas ... High School Coach: Allen Wilson.

PERSONAL
Michael Crabtree ... born September 14, 1987, in Dallas ... son of Bessie Turner and Michael Crabtree ... has three brothers and two sisters ... relative of former Tech All-American running back Ricky Williams ... enjoys watching movies and cutting hair.

Who will pick up Brett?

Jamal — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:44:58 GMT

Not us

James Laurinaitis = Patrick Willis ?

atljbo — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:44:37 GMT

Do you think James Laurinaitis is cut from the same mold as Patrick Willis ?

My Peoples told me that James Laurinaitis recently ran a 4.4....

i want to see what do you guys think....

S William Moore - Missouri

metalfalcon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:22:33 GMT

[img]http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2838/wmoorepicnfldraftsg8.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/6642/wmoorenfldraftdx8.jpg[/img]

[url=http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/moore_william00.html]Moore's Bio[/url]
# 2007 1st-Team All-American (Rivals.com)
# 2007 2nd-Team All-American (Associated Press, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
# 2007 1st-Team All-Big 12 (Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News)
# 2007 1st-Team All-Big 12 (Austin American-Statesman, Waco Tribune-Herald, Rivals.com)
# 2007 2nd-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches)
# 2008 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic Defensive MVP
# 2007 Team Safety of the Year
# 2007 Team Hammer Award Winner (Most Big Hits)

# Spring 2005 Team Most Improved Safety

2008 SPRING OUTLOOK
Emerged into one of the nation's top safeties in 2007, and looks to continue his growth into a game-changer as a senior in 2008 ... Should be a pre-season favorite to challenge for national awards and honors at the free safety position ... Will not participate in spring drills this year due to off-season shoulder surgery he had following the Cotton Bowl to repair torn labrum in a shoulder he suffered in the bowl game while he was winning the game's defensive MVP award ... Didn't actually know about the injury until after he returned to campus for second semester classes, when he had continuing pain in shoulder during winter weight-lifting sessions, and after examination, the injury was discovered ... Will be completely healthy when fall camp opens in August ... Is considered by some as the best pure athlete on the team ... With 10 career interceptions, needs 6 more to break the school career record of 15 held by Adrian Jones (1986-89) ... Is tied for the school career record for interceptions returned for TD (3, along with Erik McMillan), and needs one more to hold the record for himself ... Off the field, is a very talented musician who has recorded some tracks in the rap genre, and has performed with Mizzou men's basketball player Leo Lyons.

2007 SEASON
Emerged as one of the nation's top playmakers at safety, as he tied for the NCAA lead with a school-record 8 interceptions ... His development throughout the course of the season was a major reason why the Tiger defense turned into one of the better ones in the Big 12 Conference, and his leadership after the defense lost fellow safety Pig Brown in game eight for the year was crucial ... Had 5 INTs and 2 forced fumbles in the 6 games after Brown was lost for the year ... Was named a 1st-Team All-American by Rivals.com, and took home 2nd-Team All-American honors by the Associated Press for his stellar play, as well as from Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News ... Showed in MU's 38-7 dismantling of Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl just why he deserved the accolades, as he won Defensive MVP honors with a 13-tackle that included 1 pass break up, 1 forced fumble and an interception that he returned in the third quarter for a TD that broke the game open for good ... Had a huge fourth-quarter interception against Illinois that snuffed out a potential game-winning drive deep in MU territory with under seven minutes to play ... Made eight tackles on the day (all solo stops) including two tackles for loss ... Added nine tackles against Ole Miss ... Had a team-leading 11 tackles against Western Michigan to go over 100 for his career ... Intercepted his fourth career pass and made seven tackles against Illinois State ... Was second on the club with eight tackles against Nebraska, including his fourth TFL on the year ... Helped hold Nebraska's vaunted West Coast Offense to just 297 total yards ... Recorded five tackles against Oklahoma ... Made eight tackles as the Tigers defense shutdown Texas Tech ... Added a sack (the first of his career) and intercepted a Graham Harrell pass ... The INT was his third on the season and the fifth of his career ... Made three stops against Iowa State ... Led the team with 11 tackles against Colorado in another impressive defensive effort ... Added an interception (his fourth of the season) and forced a fumble against the Buffaloes ... Made and INT for the second-straight game, picking of Texas A&M's Stephen McGee ... Made six tackles, including one TFL, and one PBU against the Aggies ... Tied for second on the team with eight tackles (six solo) against Kansas State, including a sack ... Picked off his sixth pass of the year, returning it for 22 yards ... Picked off his seventh pass of the year against Kansas, which ties Roger Wehrli's (1968) record for INTs in a season ... Tied for the team lead with seven tackles against KU ... Led the team with a career-best 13 tackles (nine solo) against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship ... Three of his INTs came in the fourth quarter ... Ended second on the team with 117 tackles on the year, which was ninth most in the Big 12 Conference ... Changed his jersey number to 1 this spring, after wearing 21 previously for the Tigers.

2006 SEASON
Made big plays as a sophomore on both defense and special teams ... Had 51 tackles in 13 games, and made 4 starts at free safety ... Ended the year with 5 tackles in the Sun Bowl, including a half-tackle for loss, and also broke up a career-high 3 passes, which gave him 8 for the season, a total that ranked 2nd on the team overall ... Was listed on depth chart as the No. 2 strong safety behind David Overstreet, but played both the free and strong safety position ... Had an MVP-type night at Texas Tech, posting a career-high 10 stops (9 solo), as he saw his most extensive action of the season in that game ... Recorded a pair of turnovers vs. the Red Raiders, recovering a fumble and returning an interception 22 yards for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter 1 play after teammate Xzavie Jackson had returned another interception 17 yards for a TD - those plays turned a 10-0 MU lead into a huge 24-0 edge and keyed MU's eventual 38-21 win in Lubbock ... Has 2 career INTs, and both have been returned for TDs (62 yards vs. Iowa State in 2005 and 22 yards at Texas Tech in 2006) ... Registered 7 tackles at Texas A&M, and had 6 total stops (3 solo) against Oklahoma ... Had an impressive spring camp that he capped off by returning an interception 45 yards for a TD during the annual Black & Gold Game ... Was full-go during spring camp, despite having surgery in the off-season to insert a screw into his right foot that he broke on the opening series of Mizzou's Independence Bowl victory over South Carolina.

2005 SEASON
Very talented athlete who made a big impression in his first action as a Tiger ... Played in 9 games, making 2 starts (including the bowl game victory), and had 30 tackles on the season playing at the free safety position, playing behind All-Big 12 candidate Jason Simpson ... Started for the suspended Simpson in the Independence Bowl, and tied a career-best by making 6 tackles, despite the fact that he broke a bone in his right foot in the opening series of the game ... He continued to play the rest of the 1st quarter before having to sit out the last 3 quarters of play due to the injury ... Also missed 3 games early in the season due to a severe hamstring injury he suffered in practice prior to game No. 2 ... Made the 1st start of his career against Iowa State, as MU went to a nickel package to begin the game, and he made the decision pay off, as he intercepted an errant out route on the 2nd series of the game, and raced 62 yards for his 1st collegiate TD, to put MU up 7-0 ... Had a career-best 6 tackles at Kansas, and followed that by making 4 stops at Colorado and 5 tackles against Baylor ... Forced a fumble in the season opener against Arkansas State, as he registered 3 tackles in his collegiate debut ... Was credited with 3 tackles in Mizzou's 41-24 win over Nebraska, and had 1 QB hurry and 1 pass broken up in the game ... Had a very impressive spring practice period that saw him move up from 4th on the depth chart to 2nd at free safety ... Had 5 tackles and broke up a pass in the 2005 spring game, and was named the team's most improved safety for his efforts.

2004 SEASON
Redshirt season ... Spent a year working on the scout squad and working in the Tiger strength program ... Played cornerback most of the year before switching to safety.

HIGH SCHOOL
Came to Mizzou ranked as the nation's No. 64-ranked receiver, according to Rivals.com ... Also ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect at any position in the state of Missouri by Rivals.com ... Earned all-state honors on both sides of the ball during his prep career at Hayti, which won 3 consecutive conference championships from 2001-03 and finished as Class 2A runners up in 2002 ... Had school career-record numbers of 74 catches for 1,768 yards and 34 touchdowns receiving ... His 35 total career scores ranks him 5th on Hayti's career scoring chart ... Four-year letterwinner in football and basketball at Hayti, and was a team MVP and all-conference pick on the hardwood as a junior ... High school coach - Jerry Bethune.

PERSONAL
Son of William Shaw & Marilyn Moore ... Area of academic interest lies in studying adolescent psychology at Mizzou ... Chose MU over Oklahoma, Purdue, Mississippi, Arkansas and Illinois, among others.

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/434/74284/index.html]Moore's stats[/url]

OT Eugene Monroe - Virginia

metalfalcon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:10:06 GMT

[img]http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/8839/emonroevagk7.jpg[/img]
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Named the Rock Weir Award winner as the most improved offensive player for the spring of 2007
• One of four returning starters on the line
• Has played in every game the past two seasons

ADDITIONAL UVa NOTES
2006–Played in all 12 games and started six times at left tackle where he shared time with Zak Stair ... earned his first letter. 2005—Appeared in every game ... played left tackle and right guard at various times ... most of his playing time in the season’s last month came as a lineman on the kick scoring team.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL
Widely regarded as the top offensive lineman in the country ... starred for coach Clinton Jones at Plainfield HS ... SuperPrep All-American ... Parade All-American ... first-team All-USA by USA Today ... U.S. Army All-American ... first-team All-American by EA Sports ... five star player according to Rivals.com and Scout.com ... ranked third on the Rivals100.com list of the top players nationally ... rated the second-best player nationally by CollegeFootballNews.com and 3rd by Scout.com ... listed No. 1 on the SuperPrep Elite 50 list ... listed as the top offensive lineman in the country by SuperPrep, Student Sports, Scout.com, CollegeFootballNews.com ... SuperPrep Northeast Offensive Player of the Year ... third on Scout.com’s East Hot 100 list ... rated the top player in New Jersey by SuperPrep, Scout.com, and Rivals.com ... first-team all-state by the Newark Star-Ledger as a senior ... first-team all-state as a junior ... went the final 25 games of his career without allowing a sack ... full name is Eugene Christopher Monroe ... born on 4-18-87 in Plainfield, N.J. ... son of Stephanie Green and the late John Monroe ... one of 16 children, including 11 boys.
[url=http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=88799&SPID=10606&DB_OEM_ID=17800&ATCLID=1133509&Q_SEASON=2008]Monroe's Bio[/url]

CB Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio State

metalfalcon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:36:24 GMT

[img]http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/1112/mjenkinsnfldrafttx9.jpg[/img]
[url=http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87746&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059260&Q_SEASON=2008]Jenkins' Bio[/url]
Buckeye Bits: Will be in his third year as a starter in 2007 and a potential Thorpe Award candidate ... first-team All-Big Ten last year by the coaches and media ... usually plays on the wide side of the field but often moves around the field to cover the opponent's best receiver ... lettered in 2005 as a true freshman and was one of the most pleasant surprises of the season ... began the 2005 season as the nickel back, but started three games at boundary corner after senior Tyler Everett suffered a neck injury ... is a natural corner with great instincts and outstanding speed and quickness ... excels at man-to-man coverage ... has been timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash.

2006 (Sophomore): Consensus first-team All-Big Ten ... started all 13 games at field corner ... tied for fourth on the team in tackles with 55 ... 40 of his tackles were solo, second-most on the team ... picked off four passes and totaled a team-high 99 return yards ... added three passes broken up and a forced fumble ... had 4.5 tackles for lost yardage, those coming at Texas, at Illinois and against Florida ... equaled his career high with nine tackles against Bowling Green ... other top tackle efforts came against Northwestern (eight) and Michigan (seven, all solo) ... returned a pick 61 yards for a score against Penn State ... was Ohio State's leading returning tackler coming into the season.

2005 (Freshman): Earned his first letter as a true freshman ... played in 10 games and worked his way into the rotation at nickel back ... started the Indiana, Minnesota and Illinois games at boundary corner in place of injured regular Tyler Everett ... missed the final two games of the regular season with an injury of his own (knee sprain), but returned to action against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and had a career-high nine tackles ... credited with 37 tackles, the ninth-highest total on the team ... also had two passes broken up ... made his college debut in the season opener against Miami (Ohio) and had three tackles ... had seven stops at Minnesota, including four solo tackles.

High School: Three-year starter and helped lead his team to three consecutive state championships ... played both wide receiver and defensive back, but won all-state honors at the latter his senior year ... also excelled at track, winning the state title in the 400-meter dash as a junior ... took third place in the 200-meters as a junior and third in the hurdles as a senior at the state meet.

Personal: Son of W. Lee and Gwendolyn Jenkins ... has two younger brothers, Martin and Myles ... enjoys writing poetry and watching movies.

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/518/81504/index.html]Jenkins' stats[/url]

Who's days are numbered???

squirreldawg — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:09:06 GMT

With the Falcons signing yet another safety on Monday.....It ain't lookin' good for J.Williams.

I also think A.Jennings is on the short list.

CB Vontae Davis - Illinois

metalfalcon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:48:50 GMT

[img]http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/15/vdavisnfldraftrv8.jpg[/img]
2007: Sixth in interceptions and sixth in passes defended in the Big Ten ... Posted a career-best, team-leading 13 tackles, all of which were solo stops, in the Rose Bowl against USC ... Also had a tackle for loss vs. the Trojans ... Had five tackles - including two solos - and had a TFL and a PBU at No. 1 Ohio State ... Notched three solo tackles and recorded an interception and a PBU at Minnesota ... Recorded seven tackles - including four solos - and had a PBU against Ball State ... Notched three solo tackles and had a career-long 63-yard kickoff return to open the game against No. 25 Michigan ... Had eight tackles, including six solos, at Iowa ... Notched six tackles - including four solos - and had an interception and a PBU against No. 5 Wisconsin ... Collected three solo tackles, an interception and a QB hurry against No. 21 Penn State ... Starred at Indiana, recording nine tackles - including a career-high seven solos - an interception, a PBU, his second blocked punt of the season and a kickoff return for 11 yards ... Had four tackles - including two solos - and 0.5 TFLs at Syracuse ... Notched five tackles - including three solos - a career-high two PBUs and 0.5 TFLs against Western Illinois ... Blocked the first punt of his career against Missouri and returned it two yards for a touchdown, the Illini's first score of the season ... Recorded a career-high 10 tackles, - including a career-best six solos - one TFL and one PBU against Mizzou.

2006: Named to Freshman All-America first teams by The Sporting News, Scout.com and Rivals.com ... Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media ... Named to the freshman All-Big Ten team by The Sporting News ... Named the team's Rookie of the Year ... Recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble at Northwestern ... Had four tackles and a pass broken up vs. Purdue ... Had four tackles, including one for loss and a pass broken up vs. Ohio State ... Tied a career high with five solo tackles at Wisconsin, making eight total stops vs. the Badgers ... Recorded four solo tackles and had a PBU at Penn State ... Recorded two tackles, including a solo, against Ohio ... Recorded a career-high nine tackles, including a career-best five solos, against Indiana ... Assisted on two tackles and recorded a PBU at Michigan State ... Recorded seven tackles, including three solos, against Iowa ... Also broke up a pass against the Hawkeyes ... Recorded four tackles against Syracuse, including one solo ... Also registered one-half of a TFL and one PBU against the Orange ... Started first career game against Eastern Illinois, recording two solo tackles, a tackle-for-loss and an interception ... Davis' interception came in the end zone, thwarting a Panther drive.

High School: Washington Post first-team All-Metro ... PrepStar All-American ... D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year ... DCIAA West first-team All-Conference ...Named the No. 1 recruit in the DC area by Rivals.com ... Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com ... Recorded eight interceptions and 38 solo tackles as a senior ... Also had 25 receptions for 612 yards ... Recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2005 ... Led Dunbar HS to a 9-2 record and defeated Coolidge in the Turkey Bowl, the DCIAA city championship game ... Third-fastest DB at the State College NIKE camp ... Recorded 4.40 second 40-yard dash and 33-inch vertical jump ... High school coach was Craig Jefferies ... Chose Illinois over Maryland, Michigan State and Virginia.

Personal: Full given name is Vontae O. Davis ... Born May 5, 1988 ... Raised by his grandmother, Adeline Davis ... Brother, Vernon, played tight end at Maryland and was the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, selected by the San Francisco 49ers ... Enrolled in the general curriculum.

Career Highs:

Tackles: 10 vs. Missouri, 9/1/07
Solos: 7 at Indiana, 9/22/07
Int: 1, four times(last time vs. Wisconsin, 10/6/07)
TFL: 1, three times(last time vs. Missouri, 9/1/07)
QB Hurry: 1 vs. Penn State, 9/29/07
PBU: 2 vs. Western Illinois 9/8/07
Fumble Recovery: 1 at Northwester, 11/18/06
Blocked Punt: 1, twice (last time at Indiana, 9/22/07
KO Return: 1, twice (last time vs. Penn State, 9/29/07)
Long KO Return: 63 vs. Michigan, 10/20/07

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/301/1001375/index.html]Davis' stats[/url]

my falcons 09 mock draft

peter griffin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:50:50 GMT

greg middleton(if he declares, we need a pass rusher in rd 1)
sean sester(clearly we need an OT in rd 2 if not 1)
peria jerry(we need a NT and i think pluggers are a good value in rd 3)
patrick chung(there are A LOT of S's in this draft and any JR's only helps middle rd value)
eric wood(alex mack, max unger, jonathan luigs, and andre caldwell may add up to mcclure last yr as a falcon in 08.)
bear pascoe(TE also blocks kicks)
deon murphy(PR and pretty good WR.)
mohammed massaquoi(assuming jenkins and horn are #4 & 5 WR's this year, i doubt either is here next year so drafting a couple WR's preferably with PR ability is ideal. white, robinson, and douglas are a nice 3 wide set.)

before the season starts

trubirdfan4life — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:23:12 GMT

what positions do you think that we will go after in numbers in next year's draft?

I think we will draft

2- Oline

1- DT

1- WR

1- LB

1- DE

These positions will getting thin soon!

Michael Vick Declaring Bankruptcy

totalbirdbrain — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:28:03 GMT

Guess we shouldn't expect any cap relief even on appeal.

[url=http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20080708/SPORTS-NFL-VICK-BANKRUPTCY-DC/]http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20080708/SPORTS-NFL-VICK-BANKRUPTCY-DC/[/url]

My Top 30 for 2009

metalfalcon — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:48:32 GMT

Draft Eligible Players for 2009 Draft

[u]My TOP 30[/u]
1. OT Michael Oher [i]Ole Miss[/i]
2. WR Michael Crabtree [i]Texas Tech[/i]
3. OT Andre Smith [i]Alabama[/i]
4. CB Malcolm Jenkins [i]Ohio State[/i]
5. QB Matt Stafford [i]Georgia[/i]
6. DE George Selvie [i]South Florida[/i]
7. S Taylor Mays [i]USC[/i]
8. LB James Laurinaitis [i]Ohio State[/i]
9. RB Chris Wells [i]Ohio State[/i]
10. LB Rey Maualuga [i]USC[/i]
11. DT Fili Moala [i]USC[/i]
12. DE Michael Johnson [i]Georgia Tech[/i]
13. LB Brian Cushing [i]USC[/i]
14. OT Eugene Monroe [i]Virginia[/i]
15. DE Tyson Jackson [i]LSU[/i]
16. OT Ciron Black [i]LSU[/i]
17. OG Duke Robinson Oklahoma
18. QB Tim Tebow [i]Florida[/i]
19. RB C.J. Spiller [i]Clemson[/i]
20. WR Percy Harvin [i]Florida[/i]
21. RB LeSean McCoy [i]Pitt[/i]
22. OT Alex Boone [i]Ohio State[/i]
23. WR Jeremy Maclin [i]Missouri[/i]
24. RB Knowshon Moreno [i]Georgia[/i]
25. DE Greg Middleton [i]Indiana[/i]
26. CB Vontae Davis [i]Illinios[/i]
27. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey [i]Maryland[/i]
28. DE Greg Hardy [i]Ole Miss[/i]
29. DT DeMarcus Granger [i]Oklahoma[/i]
30. OC Alex Mack [i]CAL[/i]

Do you agree or disagree?

Brett Favre

Skip2MyLou13 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:18:10 GMT

knowing that we did get a good QB in matt ryan would people here really have Redman or Harrington teaching him or do u think that it might help to bring in Favre for a year or 2 to teach the kid the new ropes...

just a question because i dont think it could hurt us

DT Jeff Owens - Georgia

metalfalcon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:16:17 GMT

[img]http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7290/jowensgeojc8.jpg[/img]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/257/84864/index.html]Owens' Stats[/url]

Career Highs: 5 tackles (2x), last vs. No. 18 Auburn in 2007

2008: Named to Outland Trophy, Lott Trophy and Bronko Nagurski Watch Lists
2007: Appeared in 13 games making 13 starts
*One tackle at Georgia Tech
*Two tackles vs. No. 22 Kentucky
*Had five tackles including .5 for a loss vs. No. 18 Auburn
*Had a tackle for loss at Vanderbilt
*Tallied three tackles at Tennessee
*Two tackles vs. Ole Miss
*Registered four tackles at No. 16 Alabama
*Tallied four tackes including two for a loss vs. W. Carolina
*Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week following performance vs. W. Carolina
*Two tackles vs. South Carolina
*One tackle vs. Oklahoma State
*Named recipient of Coffee County Hustle Award at conclusion of spring drills
*Recipient of the James W. and Elizabeth Plant Football Scholarship

2006: Started 11 games and among team leaders in QB-Pressures with 19
*Career-high four tackles in shutout over UAB
*Forced a fumble versus S. Carolina, recovered a fumble vs. Colorado
* Team went 9-4 including a Chick-fil-A Bowl win.
* Recipient of Rebecca and Leon Farmer, III, Scholarship
*Recorded one tackle and one sack in annual spring G-Day game

2005: Played in all 13 games as true freshman recording three TFLs and 2.5 sacks including one vs. LSU in SEC Championship Game victory
*Named to Freshman All-America second team by The Sporting News and first team Freshman All-SEC by SEC Coaches and The Sporting News
*Defensive Newcomer of the Year Award
*Recipient of Rebecca and Leon Farmer, III Scholarship
*Part of 10-3 SEC Championship team

High School: Plantation, coached by Frank Helper
*Rivals.com 12th-ranked defensive tackle in the nation
*SuperPrep All-America and All-Dixie Teams
*Postseason Florida Top 100
*Class AAAAAA first-team All-State and AAAAAA first-team All-County by the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald
*First-team All-Conference, Team MVP and team captain
*Florida/California All-Star game and Miami/Broward All-Star game
*Led the county in sacks with 14 plus had 74 tackles including 27 tackles-for-loss, forced eight fumbles and recorded two interceptions
*As a junior was named first-team All-County and second-team All-State
*Led the county in sacks as a junior with 12
*Three-year starter and member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Born: Oct. 14, 1986; Major: Management
[url=http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=40675&SPID=3571&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=308224&Q_SEASON=2008]Owens' Bio[/url]

OT Andre Smith - Alabama

metalfalcon — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:59:40 GMT

[img]http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2184/asmithdraftscoutia1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/4804/asmithprofilech0.jpg[/img]
An impressive physical specimen at the left tackle position with outstanding agility and quickness relative to his size ... considered by many to be the top offensive line prospect out of high school and one of the standouts of the 2005 recruiting class ... one of the best pro prospects on the offensive line and considered to be one of the best young offensive lineman in the nation ... has started in every game of his career at left tackle ... lost 25 pounds prior to the 2007 season, increasing his mobility ... 2007 Outland Trophy Watch List member for nation's best offensive lineman ... Second-Team All-American Preseason selection (Lindy's and CollegeFootballNews.com) ... First-Team All-SEC Preseason honoree (The Birmingham News, Lindy's and Phil Steele) ... Preseason Second-Team All-SEC selection (Athlon and Sporting News)... was a 2006 Freshman All-American (The Sporting News and Rivals.com) ... 2006 All-SEC Coaches selection ... earned Alabama's Up-Front and Offensive Player of the Year Awards as a sophomore in 2007 ... was a co-winner of the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy along with Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs ... 2007 Coaches First-Team All-SEC selection ... shared the 2008 Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award with Mike Johnson for his performance during spring practice.

2007 (SOPHOMORE): Started every game at the left tackle position, one of two players to start every game on the offensive line (Mike Johnson) ... helped lead the Tide to six rushing touchdowns and 313 rushing yards in the season opener against Western Carolina ... was the key blocker in the win at Vanderbilt, helping running back Terry Grant rush for 173 yards in the win over the Commodores en route to coaches offensive co-Player of the Week honors ... offensive line allowed only two sacks against Arkansas on 45 pass attempts in the win over the Razorbacks ... helped lead the team to 21 first-quarter points in the homecoming win over Houston ... allowed only one sack on 46 pass attempts in the 41-17 victory over Tennessee ... named UA Offensive Co-Player of the Week in Vanderbilt, Houston, Mississippi State and Louisiana Monroe games.

2006 (FRESHMAN): Started all 13 games at left tackle as a true freshman and led the team with 831 snaps on the season ... one of five players to play over 800 snaps ... played at least 65 snaps in 10 of 13 games and played more than 70 snaps five times ... led the offensive line with 62 knockdown blocks ... recorded team-highs in knockdowns against Duke, Florida International and LSU ... became the seventh true freshman in school history to start in his first career game against Hawai'i since 1972 ... joined Larry Rose (1985, OT), Jon Stevenson (1991, RT), Terry Jones, Jr. (1988, TE), Dante Ellington (1999, OT), Saleem Rasheed (1999, OT) and Tim Castille (2003, FB) as the only true freshmen to start the season opener ... logged a season-high 80 snaps at Arkansas ... scored first career touchdown on a lateral from quarterback John Parker Wilson in the Petro Sun Independence Bowl against Oklahoma State on Dec. 28.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: A three-year starter at Huffman High School who was considered one of the nation's top offensive lineman ... played for coach Curtis Coleman ... First-Team All-American by USA Today and U.S. Army ... a two-time All-State selection ... won the 2005 Bobby Dodd Award ... Alabama's Mr. Football by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, becoming the only offensive lineman to ever win the honor ... was also named Mr. Football and the state's No.1 collegiate prospect by The Birmingham News ... recorded 88 pancake blocks and was named Class 6A Lineman of the Year ... one of four finalists for the Walter Peyton Award, given to the best prep player in the nation ... full name is Andre D. Smith ... born Jan. 25, 1987.

**Had one tackle on the 2007 season and had one rush for 2 yards and a touchdown in 2006.

OG Louis Vasquez, Texas Tech

Vince — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:44:58 GMT

Height: 6-6. Weight: 335.
Projected 40 Time: 5.24.
Projected Round (2009): 3-4.

2007 - JUNIOR SEASON
Big 12 All-Conference Selection ... One of the most dominant linemen in school history ... helped lead the program to its fifth NCAA Passing Title ... did not allow a sack all season ... offensive line only allowed 18 sacks in 763 pass attempts ... started all 13 games ... one of the top linemen in the league, named to several preseason all-conference teams ... provided great protection for the nation's leading passer, Graham Harrell ... offense averaged 40.9 points per game, the second-highest total in school history ... the unit also averaged 529.6 yards of total offense per game, the second-highest in school history.

2006 - SOPHOMORE SEASON
All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention ... started in all 11 games played ... integral component on offensive line that allowed only 18 sacks ... number was 18 better than the 36 allowed in 2005 ... line yielded a sack once in every 35.4 pass attempts, which was the nation's best ... first-year starting QB Graham Harrell flourished in his sophomore campaign being the line's protection ... offense was among the top 10 in passing, scoring and total offense ... turned in dominating performances night-in and night-out ... out-muscled defensive linemen and linebackers as sophomore RB Shannon Woods ran to All-Big 12 First Team honors.

2005 - FRESHMAN SEASON
Played in five games as a true freshman.

CORSICANA HIGH SCHOOL
Corsicana High School in Corsicana, Texas ... Top 300 overall prospect nationally (Max Emfinger Recruiting) ... Three-Star recruit (TheInsiders.com; Rivals.com) ... Top 50 Offensive Linemen nationally (CollegeFootballNews.com) ... No. 24 offensive tackle prospect nationally (Rivals.com) ... No. 40 overall prospect (Scout.com Texas Hot 100) ... No. 47 overall prospect (Rivals.com Texas Top 100) ... No. 50 overall prospect (Scout.com Southwest Hot 100) ... No. 18 overall prospect (Dallas Morning News Area Top 100) ... Associated Press Class 4A First-Team All-State pick ... Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Second Team ... Lubbock Avalanche-Journal State Fab 44 selection ... Dallas Morning News All-Area Team ... one of the top-rated offensive linemen in the state of Texas ... projected as left tackle at Tech ... helped lead team to 11-2 record last year; 10-2 junior season ... first-team all-District 14-4A ... graded at 91 percent as a senior ... 56 pancakes and no sacks allowed during senior season ... excellent size, good strength ... second-team all-district honors following junior season ... clocked at 5.2 in the forty ... benches 385, squats 450 and has a power clean of 310 ... also offered by LSU, Baylor, Kansas State, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M ... High School Coach: David Henigan.

PERSONAL
Born April 11, 1987, in Corsicana, Texas ... son of Beatrice and Fabian Vasquez ... two brothers and two sisters ... majoring in general studies.

I like Mr. Duke Robinson just as much as the next guy, but if we can pick up a nice DT/SS/DE in the first round and possible pick up Vasquez in the 2nd or 3rd round we might be in a better position. The guy hasn't allow a sack in 2007 and he's durable 24 straight starts. Tell me what you think!

Draft Scout Snapshot: 2007: Big 12 All-Conference Selection ... One of the most dominant linemen in school history ... helped lead the program to its fifth NCAA Passing Title ... did not allow a sack all season ... offensive line only allowed 18 sacks in 763 pass attempts ... started all 13 games ... one of the top linemen in the league, named to several preseason all-conference teams ... provided great protection for the nation's leading passer, Graham Harrell ... offense averaged 40.9 points per game, the second-highest total in school history ... the unit also averaged 529.6 yards of total offense per game, the second-highest in school history...2006: All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention … started in all 11 games played … integral component on offensive line that allowed only 18 sacks … number was 18 better than the 36 allowed in 2005 … line yielded a sack once in every 35.4 pass attempts, which was the nation's best… first-year starting QB Graham Harrell flourished in his sophomore campaign being the line's protection … offense was among the top 10 in passing, scoring and total offense … turned in dominating performances night-in and night-out … out-muscled defensive linemen and linebackers as sophomore RB Shannon Woods ran to All-Big 12 First Team honors. Missed two games with a left knee injury...2005: Played in five games as a true freshman.

Draft Scout Louis Vasquez News

04/18/08 - 2008 Outland Trophy Watch List: Texas Tech senior offensive lineman Louis Vasquez (Corsicana, Texas) has been named to the preseason Outland Trophy Watch List, announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The award is presented annually at the conclusion of the regular season to the nation's top interior lineman. A legitimate All-America candidate and professional prospect, Vasquez is entering his third year as a starter up front. He has started 21-consecutive games at left guard and returns for his senior season in which he will anchor an experienced and extremely talented offensive line. Vasquez earned first-team All-Big 12 honors from the Dallas Morning News, San Antonio Express-News and Associated Press following a 2007 season that saw him start all 13 games without allowing a sack in 650 pass attempts. He also graded out at over 90 percent in each game as a junior and, in a true testament to his technique, he was flagged for holding just once the entire season. - Texas Tech

Football

12/31/07 - The Red Raiders entered the 2007 season with four new starters on the off ensive line. The loss of 80 percent of the unit would worry some, but QB Graham Harrell welcomed the new unit and was anxious to get behind them and start playing. “We had a great group last year, but this is the biggest group of guys I’ve ever played behind. I’m looking forward to the season and have nothing but the highest level of confidence in these guys.” Anchored by all-conference performer Louis Vasquez at right guard, the unit averages 6-feet-6 and 331 pounds. Three players stand at 6-7, another at 6-6 and one at 6-4. OG Brandon Carter is the heaviest at 374, while C Shawn Byrnes in 303. - Texas Tech Football

12/07/07 - 2007 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention: Louis Vasquez, OL, was selected All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as selected by the conference's head coaches for the 2007 college football season.

2009 NFL Draft

KJW 23 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:51:26 GMT

Draftguys TV
Millions of fans tune in to the NFL Draft, but many of us have never had a chance to see more than a handful of the players selected each year... until now. Draftguys TV gives football fans over 40 in-depth player profiles breaking down practice footage, training film, exclusive interviews, expert opinions, and more. With Draftguys TV, football fanatics will see the game as the NFL scouts see it – up close and personal.
[url]http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/draftguys-tv/[/url]

Scott Wright is the founder and President of NFL Draft Countdown.com. He has been scouting players and evaluating the NFL Draft since 1993.

An authority in the field, Scott has been featured as an NFL Draft expert by media outlets across the country and is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

Wright invests countless hours per week evaluating game film and maintaining this site. His passion for the Draft and scouting players comes through in his work and he has historically had some of the most complete and precise mock drafts available, including a 1st place finish nationally in 2004.

NFL Draft Countdown.com has continued to grow over the years and now is the most popular NFL Draft site in the world. Scott is dedicated to bringing visitors the most accurate and informative site possible while continuing to cater to everyone from the novice fan to the most avid draftnik. All 100% FREE!

Scott Wright is available for radio, print and television interviews. To set up an interview please e-mail scott@nfldraftcountdown.com.
[url]http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/[/url]

6'3 226lbs Taylor Mays, USC, safety

atljbo — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:39:28 GMT

I know its early but Im hearing that this is his last year at USC.... I want the falcons to draft this guy BAD

look at this

Taylor Mays, USC, safety: Scary. That is the best way to describe Mays. His combination of size and speed in a safety is freakish. And in the Trojans' spring game, Mays obliterated Patrick Turner, the team's towering 6-foot-5, 230-pound receiver on a play when he came over the middle. I suspect many Pac-10 receivers envision similar scenes before they face the Trojans and their super-fast, super-sized DB.

Mays' workout numbers are ridiculous. He's 6-3, 226 pounds, with 6 percent body fat and ran an electronically timed 40 this spring in 4.32 seconds. He did 26 reps with 225 pounds while also vertical jumping 41 inches and doing a standing broad jump of 11-4. (As evidence in his growth, Mays arrived at USC weighing 215 and posted a vertical jump of 35 inches and a broad jump of 10-0.)

Asked if he's even seen anything that big, move that fast, USC strength coach Chris Carlisle paused for a few moments: "Maybe when I walked by the cheetah cage at the wildlife park." Mays' athleticism actually presents USC with a different kind of issue: a talent with such growth potential that you have to guard against him outgrowing the position. "Our big thing is he could get too big too fast," says Carlisle, who also gushes about the player's work ethic. "He could easily be like his daddy [former NFL defensive lineman Stafford Mays] so we have to make him better without making him bigger because he could be like 260 in a month."

Carlisle predicts Mays could still run a sub-4.4 40 at that size, but says the key is keeping the DB from bulking up too much in his lower body. "We could use him like a science experiment, but that really wouldn't be of value to him or the team."

also

Evaluation

Mays has perhaps the most range of any athlete in this class and is a potentially dominating safety prospect. He has outstanding size and speed and all the measurables you want. Is also a candidate to end up as an outside linebacker in college. He shows good instincts, he has great range and he always seems to be around the ball. Plays with a mean streak. Is fast enough to run with receivers downfield and has the height to compete for jump balls. Has the strength to muscle receivers out of their routes and is big enough to match up with tight ends in the red zone. Is a terrific athlete, shows good burst out of cuts and holds up well in man-to-man coverage. Takes little time to reach top speed and shows a second gear when tracking the ball downfield. As a blitzer, can get to quarterbacks quickly and has the lateral mobility to slip blockers in the backfield. Reads the quarterback's eyes, gets a great break and diagnoses routes well. Explodes upfield when jumping routes and has the body control to adjust to the ball while it's in the air. Gets fierce when fighting for the ball and has the leaping ability to consistently come down with the jump ball. Shows good elusiveness, also stars as a receiver, is comfortable with the ball in his hands and is always a threat to return an interception for a touchdown. Takes the shortest path to the ball, is willing in run support and has the speed to makes plays from sideline-to-sideline. Has the size to line up in the box and shows good pop at the point of attack. Is agile enough to slip blocks and gets through traffic quickly. Breaks down in space, wraps the ball carrier up upon contact and rarely misses open-field tackles. If he adjusts mentally, he could be an impact guy right away.
Notes

Class 3A State Champion as a sophomore in the 100 and 200metter dashes... Named to the Seattle Times All State team as a junior after he had 89 tackles five interceptions, 25 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns

In 2006 i wanted the falcons to draft LaRon Landry but i want Taylor Mays 10 times more .....
Dude looks like a Linebacker

[url]http://youtube.com/watch?v=augIi76eJ8w[/url]

[img]http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72530780.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABBAEA3F01CA147E83DA40A659CEC4C8CB6[/img]

[img]http://blog.oregonlive.com/pac10/2007/09/large_taylormays.jpg[/img]

OG George "Duke" Robinson - Oklahoma

metalfalcon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:58:00 GMT

[img]http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/1131/robinsonoklahomapj3.jpg[/img]

72 Duke Robinson
Class:Senior
Hometown:Atlanta, Ga.
High School:Washington HS

Height / Weight:6-5 / 335
Position:OL

2007:
AFCA, AP, The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated first team All-American ... All-Big 12 first team by the coaches and Associated Press ... starter at left guard ... caught a deflected pass and advanced it eight yards vs. A&M ... started 13 games, only exception was Texas A&M game ... graded at 85% for the season with 663 plays and 97 knockdowns ... had a knockdown best of 13 against Miami.

2006
All-Big 12 honorable mention by the coaches and Associated Press ... graded at 76% for the season ... top grade was 84% at Oklahoma State ... notched 108 knockdown blocks on the season with a best of 12 against Oregon and Oklahoma State ... had the highest snap count on the line with 809.

2005
Played in 10 games, mostly at left guard as a true freshman ... saw some action at left tackle early in the season.

High School
Three-year starter at offensive tackle ... recorded 87 pancake blocks and graded 91% ... named to the Super 11 by the Atlanta Journal Constitution in 2004 ... played nose tackle in goal line situations ... coached by Rodney Cofield.

Personal
Versatile performer who could play guard or tackle ... born October 10, 1986 ... son of Wanda Bryant and George Robinson ... guardians are Connie Bryant and Clifford Austin ... worked as a hawker selling programs and peanuts at Atlanta Braves games ... great nephew of singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson ... has visited Australia.

[url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/robinson_duke00.html]Career Bio[/url]

DE Tyson Jackson- LSU

metalfalcon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:11:13 GMT

[img]http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6819/jacksonlsufv1.jpg[/img]
93
Tyson Jackson
POSITION: Defensive End
HEIGHT: 6-5
WEIGHT: 292
CLASS: Senior
EXPERIENCE: 3L
HIGH SCHOOL: West St. John HS
HOMETOWN: Edgard, La.

2006 Second-Team All-SEC (SEC Coaches)
2006 SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (vs. Alabama, 11/11)
2005 Freshman All-SEC (SEC Coaches, Sporting News)

Goes into the 2008 season as one of the nation’s top defensive ends ... Has tremendous speed from the edge ... Has the combination of size, strength and quickness that only a few defensive ends possess ... Has a tremendous wing span as well ... One of the leaders on the defensive side of the football ... Called a “defensive freak” by ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit ... Goes into 2008 season having played in 40 games with 26 starts ... For career, has 86 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for losses and 14 sacks.

JUNIOR SEASON (2007)
Teamed with Glenn Dorsey to give LSU one of the most intimidating defensive fronts in college football during the 2007 season ... Started all 14 games at left defensive end for the Tigers ... Credited with 36 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks ... Led team with 15 quarterback hurries ... Second on team with 10 pass breakups ... Capped season with a sack for a 9-yard loss and a forced fumble in LSU’s win over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game ... Registered a career-best eight tackles in triple-overtime loss to Kentucky ... Had big game in win over Alabama, posting a career-best two sacks to go with three broken up passes ... Had four tackles and two quarterback hurries in wins against both Florida and Auburn.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2006)
One of the SEC’s most dominating defensive linemen, he was named a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches ... A key member of the Tigers’ defensive front he has started all 13 games at left end ... Led the team in sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (10) ... His 8.5 sacks ranked as the fifth most in the SEC in 2006 ... Also credited with 37 tackles, a team-high six quarterback hurries, four broken up passes, an interception and one forced fumble ... Named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week following the Alabama game where he recorded four tackles, a sack and broke up two passes ... Registered a career-high six tackles twice -- against Louisiana-Lafayette and then at Auburn ... Recorded the first interception of his career in the Tigers’ win over Kentucky ... Against Tulane, had two tackles, including one for a loss, and a sack ... Also credited with a forced fumble, a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup against the Green Wave.

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2005)
Earned a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team as voted on by the league’s coaches and the Sporting News after recording 13 tackles and two sacks in 12 games ... Reliable backup on the defensive line ... Added five quarterback hurries ... Recorded career-best four tackles and one sack in win over Mississippi State ... Had three tackles and a sack for a 6-yard loss in the second game of his career vs. Tennessee.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2004)
Redshirted as a true freshman in 2004.

HIGH SCHOOL
Considered to be the top defensive end in Louisiana ... Played on both sides of the ball as an offensive and defensive tackle ... Named the 2A Defensive Player of the Year after capping off a torrid senior season with 84 tackles, 16 sacks and 17 hurries ... Led a talented defense alongside LSU signee Quinn Johnson to win the 2A state championship ... Member of the Baton Rouge Advocate Super Dozen and the New Orleans Times-Picayune's Top 20 Blue-Chip list in 2003 ... Named the 2A Defensive Player of the Year in Louisiana as well as being an all-district and all-parish selection in 2003 ... Also lettered in basketball for West St. John ... Coached by Larry Dupont.

PERSONAL
Full name is Anthony Tyson Jackson ... Born June 6, 1986, in New Orleans ... Majoring in communication studies ... Favorite sports movie is “Rocky” ... Aspires to be a teacher.

CAREER HIGHS
Total tackles: 8 vs. Kentucky, 2007
Tackles for loss: 2, twice
Sacks: 2 vs. Alabama, 2007
Interceptions: 1 vs. Kentucky, 2006

[url=http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=27812&SPID=2164&DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=174931&Q_SEASON=2008]Tyson's Bio[/url]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/365/73748/index.html]Tyson's Career Stats[/url]

As of right now, if we are picking top3

d34ng3l021 — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:23:41 GMT

I know I am assuming the worst case scenario for Baker and he hasnt stepped on the field yet, but I think Oher is too talented to pass up, especially if we are that high up. When you pick top3, you should only look at DEs, QBs, and OTs or maybe other VERY talented guys at other positions (Calvin Johnson, Reggie Bush).

Our offense is coming along very nicely and all we need is a franchise LT. I doubt that Sam Baker can be that franchise guy. I have no doubt in my mind that he should be a solid pass protector at worst, but will he be the guy we want protecting Ryan's blind side for the next decade like Ogden or Pace? Oher has the chance to be that guy, and I dont see how we pass him up. As much as the Baker trade up may look bad, he will still be able to contribute to the line playing G or RT. With Oher drafted and Baker moved, we would have a damn solid core of Oher, Baker, and Blalock to hold down our line for Ryan, Norwood, and Turner.

Brian Cushing

metalfalcon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:28:52 GMT

[img]http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/4617/cushinguscfo4.jpg[/img]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/657/80954/index.html]Brian's career stats[/url]

[url=http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/cushing_brian00.html]Game by Game Breakdown[/url]

DT has to be the Number one Priority Next Offseason

Atlanta+Athens Sports Fan — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:41:32 GMT

Our Defensive Tackles are seriously the worst, im not trolling just telling the truth and over the season i think our Defense will fall apart. We seriously need 2 big hogs in the Middle. We should draft one in the first round and look for a mildly talented one in Free Agency. I think this position is even worse than the Oline atleast the Oline has some Upside, who do we have as our Defensive Tackle that projects as anybody but a scrub?

DE Brian Orakpo - Texas

metalfalcon — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:41:36 GMT

[img]http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2376/orakpotexasgb5.jpg[/img]

[url=http://cfbstats.com/2007/player/703/75201/index.html]Brian's Career Stats[/url]

[url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=15&change_well_id=17&member_id=65]Brian's Bio[/url]

Some Rookie Free Agent pickups that should be considered

Brian — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:08:49 GMT

Some of you that know me know that I research draft prospects at length and that I had a few favorite prospects out there. Well, some of my favorite prospects are still not currently on any NFL roster and while I doubt that the Falcons will pick any of these guys up, I would love to see them don red and black. The order of importance is simply my opinion, and just to warn you, none of these guys are linemen.

1) [b]Ezra Butler, OLB[/b], Nevada
Ezra Butler will be a great OLB in the NFL regardless of what team he lands on. He was originally drafted by the 49ers but after getting caught smoking the reefer he was cut. It is important to realize that marijuana does not affect on-field performance and that there are many football players that smoke marijuana that don't get caught before you close the book on Butler. Butler is a 6'2 250 lb OLB who runs a 4.5. Over the past 3 years at Nevada he has recorded 233 tackles, 46 TFL, 15.5 sacks, 6 pbu's, and 4 ints. The Falcons have there MLB in Curtis Lofton and their SLB in Michael Boley, but the WLB spot has yet to be taken. Brooking will probably man it for 2008 and Nicholas has yet to prove himself. Plus Boley has not yet been wrapped up long term so insurance might just be necessary. Here is a scouting report on Ezra Butler courtesy of NFLDraftCountdown.com :
[b]Height: 6-1 1/2 | Weight: 245 | 40-Time: 4.51[/b]
[b]Strengths[/b]:
Has excellent size with long arms...Very good timed speed...Has great range and a burst to close...Excellent athleticism...Big hitter...Physical, aggressive and plays with a mean streak...A terrific pass rusher...Decent production...Real tough...Good intangibles...Great special teamer...Offers some versatility...Still has some upside.

[b]Weaknesses[/b]:
Needs to refine his technique...Doesn't do a great job versus the run...Can be too aggressive at times...Has some troubling shedding blocks needs to use his hands better...Relies too much on his speed as a pass rusher...Just average in coverage and lacks top hands and ball skills..He doesn't always play up to his measurables.

[b]Notes[/b]:
Was born in South Africa and also lived in London before moving to United States as a teenager...Father is a two-time Grammy nominated guitarist, songwriter and music producer...Weighed 275 lbs. coming out of high school and actually began his college career as a defensive tackle...Played in a 3-4 defense in college...Was a three-year starter...Workout Warrior with a lot of potential...Has all the physical tools you look for and could be a fit for either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme at the pro level.

2) [b]Bernard Morris, QB[/b], Marshall
Yes, it was me who said don't draft a QB until round 7 and take Bernard Morris. While I wasn't entirely serious, I do love what Morris brings to the table and his potential as a professional signal caller: 6'3, 217 lbs, a 4.6 40 and a cannon arm. For the Mularkey offense the QB needs to have a strong arm to throw the deep ball which Morris certainly has, and I love Morris' mobility. Morris is steadily improving as a QB, as he threw for 1,346 yards, 8 TDs and 12 ints as a junior compared to 3,149 yards, 17 TDs and 10 ints as a senior. Vick is gone, Leftwich is gone, Harrington is a scrub, Ryan is the future, Redman is solid, and Shockley has not and will not be given a chance. The Falcons need a 3rd QB and Morris is a better developmental prospect than Shockley is. Here is a scouting report on Morris from the same source:
[b]Height: 6-3 | Weight: 217 | 40-Time: 4.68[/b]
[b]Strengths[/b]:
Adequate size and bulk...Excellent athleticism...Good speed..Mobile enough to buy time in the pocket and makes plays with his feet...Has a strong arm and can make all the throws..Can throw on the run..Still improving and might have some upside.

[b]Weaknesses[/b]:
Isn't very accurate...Too eager to run...He has trouble reading defenses...Makes a lot of bad decisions...Struggles with touch passes..Still need technique work...Has some character concerns....Might have to make a position change at the pro level.

[b]Notes[/b]:
Invited walk-on at Marshall that earned a scholarship..Pled guilty to misdemeanor charge of battery in 2005..Had a fantastic week at the Hula Bowl and that is what essentially put him on the prospect map...A developmental signal caller with some raw physical tools who could be brought in late but is probably a 2-3 year project.

3) [b]Jerome Messam, RB/Juggernaut[/b], Graceland
Messam is a better version of Brandon Jacobs. He had committed to Rutgers but was not academically eligible so he went to Graceland where he dominated until he got hurt - he averaged over 100 yards per game throughout his 3 year career (23 games) and ran for 29 TDs. If that does not impress you, than look at his triangle numbers: 6'4, 250 lbs, and a 4.4 40 (lowest). Messam would be the perfect short yardage back for the Falcons, which is where he excels. Messam is quite simply a beast, but due to the lack of good college opponents and injuries he has not been given a shot. He is now 100% healthy and I would love to see Messam breaking through a Justin Blalock+Sam Baker made hole. Here is a scouting report on Messam from NDC:
[b]Height: 6-33/4 | Weight: 248 | 40-Time: 4.55[/b]
[b]Strengths[/b]:
Has outstanding size and bulk...Very strong and powerful...Quick and plays faster than he timed in workouts...Great athlete...Difficult to tackle and doesn't go down easily...A beast in short-yardage situations...Productive....Still has a ton of upside.

[b]Weaknesses[/b]:
Did not play against top competition...Timed speed is just average...Not real shifty and doesn't have much wiggle...Might have trouble turning the corner at the next level...Runs with poor pad level...Intelligence is a major issue...Limited experience.

[b]Notes[/b]:
Grew up in Canada...Emerged as a top U.S. college prospect in 2005 when he led Canada past the United States in the 2005 NFL Global Junior Championship game, running for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns..Originally signed with Rutgers but never played because of academics...Spent two seasons at North Dakota State College of Science and received a number of Division I scholarship offers but wound up at NAIA Graceland in Iowa when he once again failed to qualify academically...Missed the first half of the 2007 season with a knee injury...Small school sleeper who had the talent to play with the big boys but just never got that opportunity due to his grades....Is eerily reminiscent of Derrick Ward when he was coming out of college.

Those are my top 3 rookie FAs still out there that I would love for the Falcons to pick up. I know Butler will be a stud in the NFL and if Messam is given a shot he will be too. Morris is the only one that in my mind is not a sure thing since he is a developmental prospect, but with the right coaching he can become a great QB and would give us great depth at football's most important position. If there is anyone else you think worthy of this list you can add them on or if you would just like to comment on my prospects feel free to do so.

The draft idea really isn't taking off like I had hoped. :)

jidady — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:48:18 GMT

Clarifying, I had expected to alternate who would post links to the players on the top 200 board rather than do it myself. Can we agree upon some sort of rotation to post five prospects a day from now until opening day?

Why do people think Tim Tebow's athletic ability and mobility will stop him from succeeding as a QB in the NFL?

halsey — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:20:41 GMT

I think Tebow is a great QB prospect and will be a top 10 pick in 2009 or 10. I think the idea that his ability to run will somehow stop him from playing QB in the NFL is a misconception.

Nat Dorsey??

defensedefensedefense — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:47:39 GMT

89Fan hasnt been around to ask, but i want to know whats up with Dorsey and why he is still a FA... Everyone was fairly high on him in this forum a few months ago. Is he injured, unmotivated, poor work ethic or what?

He has pretty awesome size... Is it worth the FO bringin him in for a workout? Maybe he is better of sliding inside to OG??

Sleepers

BillyWitchDoctor — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:59:09 GMT

This is for the little known guy who could make a name for themselves this football season.

I'll get it started with Clay Matthews, DE/OLB, Southern California

[img]http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/76690252.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1932A9B55D9B9C7D68DEA2E80BDDFB07335284831B75F48EF45[/img]

This guy is going to be a key part of the USC defense this upcoming season. He really hasn't played a lot in his career and he'll be a senior this season. He has really stepped his game up and been very impressive this spring. He'll get lots of playing time rotating at RDE with Everson Griffen. He is a good pass rusher and could make himself a lot of money this fall, I think he'll still be a mid to late round pick depending on his season and lack of experience.

Positions of Need Following the 2008-2009 Season

totalbirdbrain — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 08:47:11 GMT

Understanding it is early, but knowing what you know now,
what positions do you think will need to be addressed following
the upcoming season.

Good O-line Help Still Available

tipler4213 — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:05:38 GMT

If Nfl.com's free agent list is correct, then Floyd Womack is still available and would be a good RT. Also, Mike Pucillo, an Auburn product, is available and would provide great versitility and depth to the interior of the O-line. Also, they are both still young and relatively large men. Any thoughts?

A possible 2009 Draft scenario

Brian — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:59:36 GMT

While I hope we land one of either DT Tommie Harrison or OG Chris Snee, for the sake of this I will not include any FA acquisitions.

I think we will have a Top 6 pick next year, and with it we....trade down. There are a few players that are worthy of taking there: DT Fili Moala, LB Rey Mauluga, S Taylor Mays, OT Michael Oher, but there are some great players that will be available later so trading down to a mid-1st pick and picking up an extra 2nd would be ideal.

Then with our mid-1st round pick we take: Taylor Mays, S, USC. You will probably think this is a crazy idea, eschewing OL and DL with this pick, but Mays is a talent to rare to pass on and he will hopefully be available there if he comes out because of safeties like Myron Rolle and William Moore who are more hyped. Mays is a 6'4, 230 lbs safety who runs a 4.2 40. Yes, all is correct. Mays can immediately fill in for Lawyer Milloy, and we have a great future safety tandem of Thomas DeCoud and Taylor Mays. There are many very good linemen on both sides of the ball that will be available in the 2nd round, so I will address those positions then.

With our first 2nd rounder we select: Herman Johnson, OG, LSU. I believe Johnson will be here regardless of how he plays next year. Even if he earns All-American status, OGs Duke Robinson and Jeremy Perry will likely be ranked above him, and OGs don't tend to get drafted in the first round. Johnson is a monster at 6-7 and 348 lbs. He is graded as a 1-2 round prospect by NFLDraftScout, Johnson is also a lineman that can play OT as well as OG, which is perfect for our offense until we find a home for Justin Blalock.

With our second 2nd rounder we select: Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma. If we can't get Duke Robinson, we take his teammate Loadholt. Loadholt is another monster of an OL at 6-8 and 350 lbs, and is a mauling right tackle which means Justin Blalock will move back to LG. If we managed to snag these two linemen, we would solidify our O-line for years and years to come, with the exception of the C position, but hopefully one of Doug Datish or Stepanovich work out. If not, 2010 draft. This gives us a future line from LT to RT of Sam Baker, Justin Blalock, Datish/Stepanovich/2010 drafted C, Herman Johnson, Phil Loadholt. I would weep tears of joy.

With our 3rd rounder we select: Derrick Williams, WR/KR, Penn State. I love Derrick Williams, and although he is projected as a 1-2 rounder, he will most likely under perform again in 2008 and drop in the draft. Justin King was a 1-2 round projected CB from PSU this year and he fell to the 4th, so it is certainly possible. Williams had a terrific freshman season but has not shown the same dazzle after losing Michael Robinson at QB and Tony Hunt at RB. Williams has good size at 6'0 and 205 lbs and he is very fast. He can also contribute immediately as a return man, which is something the Falcons desperately need. Williams is a Top 10 talent on paper and I believe his best football is ahead of him. He could develop into a solid #2 or at worst #3 receiver for the Falcons and form a great WR core with White, Robinson, Douglas, and Jenkins. You might be scratching your heads as to why I haven't addressed the DL yet, but I am about to.

With our 4th rounder we select: Demonte Bolden, DT, Tennessee. Believe it or not, this man is a projected 4th rounder, and it would be amazing if he fell this far. Bolden is the prototypical Mike Smith DT at 6'6 and 300 lbs, and we need a big DT to plug up the running lanes. Bolden could easily be here due to the depth at DT with Moala, Owens, Woods, Marks, Hypolite, Taylor, Hood, Pryor, and many others. We were all fans of Ahtyba Rubin and he was a 2-3 projected DT who fell to the 6th, so Bolden in hte 4th is also definitely possible.

With our two 5ths, a 6th, and a 7th, I think we add a strictly receiving TE threat, a DE, a FB, and a special teams ace all for depth. The only needs that we have looking ahead to 2010 would be at C, DE, and by then the jury should be out on Stephen Nicholas, and if he hasn't worked out, a WLB, and possible a WR. We could take care of that in rounds 1-3 and have a great football team. This is how rebuilding jobs are done, and I hope we go this route. Also I hope the one FA we pick up in 2009 is Tommie Harris if he is available, because he is a young franchise DT which would justify not taking a Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis in the 2008 draft.

2010 prospect include (if they do not declare for 2009 draft): Michael Crabtree (WR), Maurice Evans (DE), Greg Hardy (DE), Percy Harvin (WR), Brandon Spikes (LB), Sean Lee (LB), and I don't know about centers.

Really Good Site for Draft History and Assessment

totalbirdbrain — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:43:09 GMT

Thought I'd share one of my favorite draft links that contains
a lot of great information about Falcons' drafts for the past
several years. Enjoy...

[url=http://www.900footballlinks.net/falconsbottom.htm]http://www.900footballlinks.net/falconsbottom.htm[/url]