From The AJC
Throughout the pre-draft process, general manager Thomas Dimitroff has made it clear that the Falcons are delighted to have a full draft board for the 2010 NFL draft. Last season, they basically used only the part of the board that included the defense. Seven of the eight players they drafted played defense. In 2008, the focus was on offense when they landed quarterback Matt Ryan and left tackle Sam Baker in the first round. This year, Dimitroff appears set to steal a page out of Bill Polian’s book. The Indianapolis Colts’ wise talent evaluator has made it a priority over the past decade to surround quarterback Peyton Manning with offensive weapons and then find his defensive players later.
The Falcons won’t do the same thing with quarterback Matt Ryan.
Some of Polian’s first-round picks have included running back Edgerrin James, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez and running Donald Brown.
"This is a needs-based team, and we won’t be swayed drastically by the best player on the board," Dimitroff said. "With that said, the fact that we are able to look at all positions and not feel like there is such a drastic need at one position like there might have been in Year One or even in Year Two. We are more apt to consider a player who would be the best player on the board. That doesn’t mean we are deviating from our philosophy, but it has to be someone that we can use. Obviously, we’re not going to draft a quarterback in the first round."
So while the Falcons appear to have a more pressing need in improving the defense — the team ranked 10th against the run (106.8 yards per game) and 28th against the pass (242.1 yards per game) last season — Dimitroff could turn in a draft card with either Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas’ or Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham’s name on it.
Also look for the Falcons to attempt to land a second-round pick, perhaps by trading down in the first round. New England, Dimitroff’s old team, has three second-round picks.
The Falcons traded their second-round pick to Kansas City in the Tony Gonzalez deal last year.
Here’s a look at five players on the Falcons’ radar screen for the 2010 NFL Draft:
1. Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida, 6 feet 5, 318 pounds: He has been heavily scouted by the Falcons. Pouncey felt he did well diagnosing plays on the chalk board for the team at the NFL Scouting Combine. He won the Dave Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top center. He also played some right guard during his career. The 10-year chart (2000-09) reveals that only five centers have been drafted in the first round and none was selected higher than the 21st pick.
2. Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan, 6-1, 263: He’s the first defensive player in Michigan history to be voted the team’s most valuable player twice. He made a lot of plays (41 percent of his tackles) behind the line of scrimmage. Graham is stout, bench-pressing 225 pounds 31 times at the combine. He also had a good showing at the Senior Bowl and could be taken before the Falcons’ selection.
3. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma, 6-5, 261: Gresham did not play last season after having surgery for torn cartilage in his right knee. He started his college career as a wide receiver for the Sooners. Former NFL executive Gil Brandt compares the fleet Gresham to Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. He’ll need to work on his blocking.
4. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri, 6-1, 241: Affectionately called "Spoon," he led the team in tackles the past three seasons and was a team captain. Excellent motor and plays well in coverage. "If you play in the Big 12, every week you’ve got to come out and guard receivers," Weatherspoon said. "You don’t want to be a liability in passing situations. I’m glad I played in the Big 12, and that will definitely help me out."
5. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 224: The fact that he suffered a broken foot while preparing for the draft has not hurt his value. He’s the second receiver rated in the draft and appears to be a first-round lock. He showed his speed on streak routes at Tech as well as his blocking ability in the run game. He has to develop into an NFL-level route runner.
Loading ...
