Day 1 Winners and Losers

Winners

Jacksonville Jaguars

It was very surprising that Gabbert was not the 2^nd quarterback chosen in the draft, and the Jaguars benefited from him falling to them at #10. He will be able to spend time studying on the bench behind David Garrard, and will not be rushed into the starting role, something I don’t think any of the quarterbacks in this year’s draft can handle. There are many needs on the defensive side of the ball, but when a potential franchise quarterback falls into your lap, you have to pull the trigger.

Detroit Lions

I can’t think of a single draft that had Fairley going to the Lions, but now that it has happened, it looks awfully good on paper. Lining up Suh and Fairley will give Qb’s nightmares for years to come, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay Cutler was already actively looking for a trade out of the division. The secondary still needs work, but may not be as big an issue if the opposing quarterbacks are constantly finding themselves on the ground.

New York Giants

Your Royal Highness, Prince Amukamara, fell farther than expected and the Giants couldn’t be more pleased about it. They get a very talented corner to help a defense that was toasted by both the Eagles and Packers which left them out of the playoffs. Solidifying the secondary to compliment an already elite pass rush is just what the Giants need to get them back into the Super Bowl.

Buffalo Bills

No it’s not a mistake, the Bills this year actually managed to pick a solid 1^st round choice. After the disastrous picks that were Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Maybin in 2007 and 2009 respectively, and the misguided pick of CJ Spiller to a team that already had two solid running backs in 2010, the Bills went with Marcell Dareus, who will shore up what was an awful defense last year. Perhaps most importantly, Dareus is a guy who can start right away, and without a lot of downside, which the Bills need considering their past draft failures.

Losers

Atlanta Falcons

After having the best record in the NFC and then embarrassingly trounced at home by the Packers in the playoffs, the Falcons made a knee-jerk reaction by trading so high up in the draft. Julio Jones is a fine player and a solid pick, but the price to get him was far too high, and he isn’t a player that is the difference between perennial playoff team and Super Bowl champion. Giving up 2 first round picks, a second rounder and 2 fourth round picks is way too much for someone who isn’t even the best wide-receiver in this draft. Patience is the key in the NFL, but the Falcons want a Super Bowl now, and it may be very costly to them in the future.

Minnesota Vikings

Easily the reach of the draft, Christian Ponder wasn’t predicted to go in the 1^st round, but somehow finds himself a Viking with the 12^th pick. The Vikings desperately needed a quarterback, but if they really wanted Ponder they should have traded down. Instead they have a quarterback who is far from a sure thing, as well as an aging team that could use youth at a lot of positions. Once one play away from the Super Bowl, the Vikings have taken quite a tumble, and look like they might be in the cellar of the NFC North for at least a couple of years.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton is a very divisive person with about half of NFL fans believing he will be a star, and the other half thinking he will be the next JaMarcus Russell. You can count me as part of the latter half because I think there are just too many questions surrounding the character, intelligence, and ability of Newton to make him the top overall pick in the draft. To me it would have made more sense to either trade down, or go with Miller, Green, or Dareus, three players who can play right away and are about as close to sure things as you get with rookies. The Panthers just used a high draft pick on Clausen last year, and if they really feel like he isn’t going to pan out, just bite the bullet for one more year and get Andrew Luck next year, who is far and away better than any Qb in this year’s draft. I think this pick will end up setting the Panthers back for the awhile.

Chicago Bears

The Bears don’t find themselves in the “losers” list because of their draft picks, but because of the mess they caused with the Ravens. The Bears initiated a trade with the Ravens to take their spot, but somehow didn’t send anyone to inform the NFL that the trade had taken place, effectively making the Ravens run out of time and lose one spot in the draft. Not only will the Bears likely be faced with some sort of repercussion from the NFL, but it reflects terribly on them as an organization and could force some teams to shy away from trying to trade with the Bears in the future.

Saturday Night Football Preview: Falcons' Preview

Players to Watch

Roddy White hopes to do some dancing
this weekend but must beat CB's
Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson

WR Roddy White - Roddy White has had a career year this year, posting 1389 receiving yards on 115 catches.  He will certainly be tested this weekend going up against standout corners in Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson.  QB Matt Ryan is going to have to find a way to get White the ball to keep the Falcons' attack balanced and OLB Clay Mathews out of strictly pass-rush situations.

RB Jason Snelling - Michael Turner had a great year, but a lot of credit is due to his back-up Jason Snelling.  Snelling has been huge out of the backfield this year.  I expect Snelling to have a big game receiving.  If Matt Ryan can go through his progressions effectively, Snelling will catch a lot of checkdown passes as the Packers have very strong corners.


K Matt Bryant - This game will very likely come down to a field goal.  If the Falcons' have the ball last they know they have a good guy to go to in kicker Matt Bryant (he has kicked a couple of game winners this season).

Falcons' Offensive Line and RB's vs. Clay Mathews - Yes, this looks odd pairing 6-7 people against one, but that is exactly the kind of attention that Mathews demands.  According to NFL.com, the Falcons' offensive line ranks fourth at protecting the passer.  However, the Packers have recorded the second highest sack total, and LT Sam Baker has allowed the second most sacks in the NFL.

Why the Falcons will win - Balance.  The Falcons can run and pass the ball, which they need to do to slow down the Packers' pass-rush.  The Packers have had no balance all year (until last week), so if the Falcons can keep the Packers one-dimensional they will win this game.

Prediction - Falcons 27, Packers 24

MNF: Falcons Perspective

Players To Watch:

WR Roddy White - White has really become a go to target for QB Matt Ryan when the game is on the line, he has showed that he can be clutch, and the 6'0" speedster has definitely put himself into the conversation of top receiver in the NFL. Much like WR Andre Johnson, White has gone about his business quietly but has still been ultra-productive notching a fourth year in a row with over 1,100+ yards receiving. Look for White to add to his NFL leading 106 receptions tonight.

DE John Abraham - Last year was the first time in Abraham's long career that he started more than 15 but was unable to get more than 10+ sacks (he had just 5.5). I thought that this was a sign that the 32 year old Abraham was simply getting old and would not be able to produce like we are used to seeing. This year, however, Abraham proved me wrong; he is back to his usual disruptive ways already registering 12 sacks. He has 4 sacks and 2 FF's in the last 4 games so watch for him to have a big game on MNF.

LB Curtis Lofton - A very underrated linebacker who has the job of roaming the middle of the field tonight. QB Drew Brees does a great job of passing in-between the numbers and exploiting matchups with linebackers. Lofton, who leads the Falcons with 107 tackles to go along with 3 forced fumbles 2 sacks and an interception, will have a tough test stopping the run and trying to slow down Brees.

Key Matchup - RB Michael Turner vs Saints front 7 - Even though QB Matt Ryan has really come on this year, Turner is the most important part of the Falcons offense. Turner is the Falcons work horse who just gets better as the game goes on. When the big 5'10" 244 lbs back has rushed for 50 yards or less this year the (12-2) Falcons are 2-2 with their wins only coming by a total of 8 points. The Saints defense allows 117 yards a game so look for Turner to have a big night.

Why the Falcons Will Win - The Falcons know how to get it done in front of a home crowd. The Falcons are undefeated this year at home, they seem to always have a flair for the dramatic and have the ability to win close games. I think that this game will come down to the very end and with the way the Falcons have been playing all year, I have no doubt they will be able to pull off another close victory.

Prediction: Falcons 34 Saints 31

NFC South Quarter Review

This division may contain the two best teams in the NFC, the Saints and the Falcons.

New Orleans (3-1)

The Saints, who are coming off their inspiring Super Bowl victory, have shown some rust, but not enough to prevent them from a 3-1 record. All four of their games have been decided by four points or less, which is a concern for a Super Bowl team that had many dominating victories when they started last season 13-0.

Standout Players: Drew Brees, Sedrick Ellis

Atlanta (3-1)

The Falcons have been the most impressive team in the NFC. Going into the Superdome against their rival Saints, and coming away with a victory is very impressive, and their lone loss to Pittsburg is of little concern considering the Steelers’ championship caliber defense and the offensive rust that many teams experience in their first couple games.

Standout Players: Matt Ryan, Roddy White, John Abraham

Tampa Bay (2-1)

The Bucs have to be feeling pretty good after the first quarter of the season, with their lone loss being against the Steelers. Their two wins, however, have been against the Panthers and Browns, two of the weaker teams in the NFL. Tampa Bay has shown that they have made significant improvements over last season; however it is unlikely they will be a contender for the playoffs as the season progresses.

Standout Players: Mike Williams, Ronde Barber

Carolina (0-4)

The Panthers are one of the few teams in the NFC who have no shot at the playoffs. The Matt Moore experiment at QB is over, ushering in the future with 2nd round pick Jimmy Clausen. The running game led by dynamic duo DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have been struggling, as opponents are cheating by overly defending against the run, knowing the Panthers have very poor passing attack.

Standout Players: DeAngelo Williams, Charles Godfrey

Prediction: Atlanta rides a fairly easy schedule to the top of the division, while New Orleans is right behind them, scooping up one of the two wildcard spots.

Atlanta Falcons 2010: Preview and Predictions

Last Years Record: 9-7

Wins: Dolphins, Panthers, 49ers, Bears, Redskins, Buccaneers (2x), Jets, Bills

Losses: Patriots, Cowboys, Saints (2x), Panthers, Giants, Eagles,

Biggest Playmaker: Roddy White

WR, UAB, Drafted #27, six years

White is probably the most underrated receiver in the NFL. Some how he has quietly put up three years of 1000+ yards receiving and 24 TDs is those three years. His numbers have been very comparable to Brandon Marshall, Anquan Boldin, and Chad Ochocinco in the last three years, yet he has not gotten nearly the same amount of attention.

Impact Player: Tony Gonzalez

TE, California, Drafted #13, 14 years

At 34 years old, Gonzalez does not look like he has lost a step and he continues to put up big numbers. Gonzalez is a big target and nice security blanket for young QB Matt Ryan. Look for him to have another 70+ reception, 800+ yards and 5-8 TDs again this year.

Biggest Off-season Addition: Dunta Robinson

CB, South Carolina, Drafted #10, seven years

Last year the Falcons were 28^th in the NFL in pass defense letting up 242 yards per game. They made a huge splash by signing Robinson for 57 million. Robinson was clearly the best cornerback available in free agency and has proved he can be a great cover corner and a guy that is not afraid to help out in the run game. Robinson should be a big addition to the Falcons defense.

Biggest Offseason Loss: None

There was not a lot of movement this offseason for the Falcons. They lost some defensive backs, and back up players and traded away offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka, but did not really lose any major parts.

Biggest Draft Steal: Kerry Meier

WR, Kansas, Drafted #165, Rookie

Meier recently went down with a season-ending knee injury but was a good pick up for the Falcons. He is 6’2” 220 lbs. and was reportedly catching everything. He could have been a valuable asset for the Falcons this year. Hopefully he can come in and make an impact next year.

Biggest Draft Mistake: Not Addressing DE

The one area that I thought the Falcons would address in the draft was the defensive end position. Their starting defensive ends last year put up a total of 6 sacks. Jamaal Anderson, the former 8^th pick overall in the 2007 draft, has not been the player that they thought he would (2.5 career sacks and he will be playing some DT this year) and John Abraham is 32 and had one of his worst years in 2009. Adding Dunta Robinson will help out the secondary, but having some guys that can constantly pressure the QB may have helped more.

Offseason Grade: B+

Picking up a true #1 corner in Dunta Robinson was obviously huge, and I thought drafting Sean Weatherspoon was a great pick. Weatherspoon is a gamer, who will be a big help in the run game and is one of those guys that will probably be a leader in the locker room by the end of the year.

X-Factor: Michael Turner

RB, Northern Illinois, Drafted #154, seven years

Turner had an unbelievable year in 2008 rushing for 1699 yards and 17 TDs. Last year was off to a good start averaging 4.9 yards per carry but he only played 11 games because he was bother with an ankle injury. If Turner can stay healthy for the whole year the Falcons offense should be very good.

Name You Should Know: Mike Peterson

LB, Florida, Drafted #36, 12 years

Peterson may be 34 but is still very good against the run. He has put up some terrific numbers in his career (1109 tackles, 20.5 sacks and 16 Interceptions) and will be a great first and second down linebacker for the Falcons.

Rising Star: Curtis Lofton

MLB, Oklahoma, Drafted #37, three years

In only two years, Lofton has established himself as one of the best players on the Falcons defense. Lofton made 133 tackles last year and seems to be in every play; many believed he was snubbed in the pro bowl voting last year. With another good year, he could establish himself as a top linebacker in the NFL.

Offensive Outlook: A-

Matt Ryan certainly has the ability to have a breakout year, especially with playmakers like Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez around him. Add in a healthy Michael turner and you are looking at a very good offense.

Defensive Outlook: B-

The defense is still very young so it will be hard to tell exactly what the Falcons will be getting out of them this year. You would have to think that the defense will be a better than last year, which statistically was in the bottom of the league. The biggest question still is their defensive ends, if John Abraham can bounce back from a tough year and they can get some production out of Jamaal Anderson, they should have a very solid defense.

Special Teams Outlook: C

Kick and punt returner Eric Weems is OK in the return game. K Matt Bryant is decent. P Michael Koenen is a solid punter and great kick off specialist.

Projected 2010 Record: 11-5

The Falcons should have a very balanced attack on offense that will be hard for any team to match up against. If their defense can play up to its potential they should have no problem winning 11 games. They are fortunate to have a pretty easy schedule. The biggest match-ups have to be the games against the Packers, Bengals, Ravens and two games against the super bowl champions Saints. Other than that, they have some very winnable games.

Sean Weatherspoon Will Start for the Falcons

LB Sean Weatherspoon, the 19th overall pick from Missouri, signed today with the Atlanta Falcons.  In his four years with Mizzou Weatherspoon racked up 12.5 sacks, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, 17 passes defended, 413 tackles (third most in school history) and two touchdowns.  His incredible versatility is apparent through his statistics.  He is considered a great leader with a high motor, on and off the field, which is vital for a starting linebacker.  He is very instinctive attacking the line of scrimmage, and has average size and strength, but he loves to play football, and does so passionately.

Prediction: Joining the Falcons 4-3 defensive scheme Sean Weatherspoon will earn a starting role by week 3 at the latest.  He has been working out at both OLB positions, which obviously will help his versatility.  (The two spots are interchangeable in the Falcons' defense.)  It's tough to say if he will end up starting over Stephen Nichols or Mike Peterson, both incumbent starters, but it will be one of them.


80 Tackles
3 Sacks
2 Forced Fumbles
2 Interceptions