The Atlanta Falcons introduced their top two picks of the 2009 NFL Draft on Sunday. Atlanta hopes first-round choice (24 overall) Peria Jerry of Ole Miss and second round pick (55 overall) William Moore of Missouri can add to a changing Falcon defense. “In our minds Peria was one of the most disruptive and productive defenders in this year’s draft, so we were thrilled for the opportunity to take him at 24,” said Falcons general manger Thomas Dimitroff. “What Peria Jerry comes to the table as far as versatility, speed, athleticism, disruption was off the charts to us at 24.”
The 6-1, 299- pound Jerry, who had seven sacks and 18 tackles for loss last as a senior for the Rebels, is known for his ability to penetrate an offensive backfield. Still, he also thinks he has the capacity to stop the run in the NFL. “It’s all about studying the guys you going against,” Jerry said. “It all comes with technique, hard work and having the right mindset to go against whatever coming at you.”
Atlanta head coach Mike Smith valued those tools in a guy that helped the Rebels finished fourth nationally against the run. He sees Jerry as fitting perfectly into the Falcons plans. “We want to be able to stop the run and I really believe it starts with two defensive tackles up front,” Smith said. “With Peria coming in [and] with Jonathan Babineaux we got two real find defensive tackles now.”
Jerry played under the tutelage of Ed Orgeron his first three seasons in college. He says he learned a lot from the former Ole Miss head coach. In addition to crediting Orgeron for helping him play faster, the defensive tackle also credits his former coach for giving him a closer look at one of his idols during one meeting. “He had a these huge stack of tapes on his desk and [said] Peria, they’re for you. It was all Warren Sapp,’ Jerry said. “I sort of took them and ran with them. I think I learned a lot from them and they helped out my game.”
The Batesville, Mississippi native also had several cousins make the NFL, including Deshea Townsend and Dwayne Rudd, whose success helped spur him on. “I really didn’t know them growing up because I was knee-high to them. I always went to the games and kind of watch them. I always heard they’re name,” Jerry said. “They were the talk of the town and it was just a goal me and the younger guys wanted. [We] wanted to go to the NFL like those guys and we stayed focus and kept our head on straight and it’s paying off.”
Atlanta even thought about trading up to get Jerry, but was helped out by the selection of a division rival. “We contemplated moving up for Peria,” Dimitroff said. “As Tampa Bay came off the board with Josh Freeman, for us that was a major hurdle in us acquiring Peria and it ended up working out in our favor.”
Moore, a 6-1, 230-pound safety from Missouri, brings athleticism and playmaking ability to the secondary, leading the NCAA with eight interceptions as junior. He started the 2008 season with a mid-ankle sprain and says he never really got 100 percent healthy, managing just one interception as senior. Moore, thinks judging him by that final college season is a mistake. “I just got banged up with a couple injuries that nagged me throughout the whole season,” he said. I finally got a chance to get 100 percent for the combine and show what I really can do. 2007 basically showed what kind of player I really am.”
Moore, who will play strong safety for the Falcons, has been watching the personnel changes Atlanta’s defense has undergone the last two seasons and thinks he fits right in. “I’ve been watching the transition they made as far as getting young, fast guys in like Curtis Lofton last year,” Moore said. “I definitely look forward to stepping in and playing with those guys. It’s my type of football, fast tough, hard-nosed football, and that’s what it looks like we’re trying to get going here.”
Spending the last several years playing against high powered Big 12 offenses is also a reason Moore likes his chances of showing doubters that he was one the draft’s top safeties. “In the Big 12, especially as nickel back, I covered the slot a lot. I don’t think it will be a big transition coming into the NFL and covering a tight end,” he said.
Moore returned four of his 11 career interceptions for touchdowns.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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