Atlanta Falcons 2007 NFL Mock Draftby Matt LibidFirst Round: <span style="color:gray">Laron Landry</span> Safety | Senior | L.S.U.6'1" 213 lbs. <span style="color:red">4.35</span>YoutubeIt's obvious that Atlanta needs a ball hawk in their secondary besides DeAngelo Hall. Chris Crocker and Lawyer Milloy was an addition to the team last year. However, Lawyer Milloy isn't getting any younger as we speak, and Chris Crocker hasn't really been impressive much either. Those two safeties weren't exactly the best pair for our secondary either. Our secondary is nothing with just DeAngelo Hall being the only obvious playmaker. With Laron Landry, we have a playmaker that will bring power, skill, and intimidation to the safety and maybe even cornerback position. That means we kill two birds with one stone due to the fact that Landry can possibly play cornerback at the next level. Laron Landry fits our team needs perfectly. He can keep up with almost all of the recievers in the league, he can tackle (hard), and he's got great run coverage skills to go along with his pass coverage abilities. The reason why I drafted Laron Landry over Reggie Nelson is simple. In a handful of games that I've watched Reggie Nelson for Florida, I've seen him give up on many plays. Landry hussles his behind off on practically all the plays I've seen him play in. Reggie Nelson didn't impress much with his performance in the national championship; and impressed even fewer with his performance at the NFL Combine. At this point of their careers, I think Landry has just plowed right in front of Reggie Nelson in the power rankings - showing that he is truly the best safety in the nation. I'm sure that once Atlanta tutors Landry into the team in the offseason, he'll be starting at the FS position starting from week one. Laron Landry has the potential to be the anchor of this defense for many years to come, we can't pass up such a high-caliber defensive back like Landry.<span style="color:blue">Other Possible Draft Picks: DE Jamaal Anderson, DE Adam Carriker, DT Amobi Okoye, S Reggie Nelson</span>Second Round: <span style="color:gray">Tim Crowder</span> Defensive End | Senior | Texas6'4" 272 lbs. <span style="color:red">4.69</span>With Patrick Kerney out the door, it's pretty clear that Atlanta's defensive line attack has hindered quite a bit. Carrington and Mallard are no suitable starters for this position, and the shallow depth that the defensive end position brings to the table is nothing that a defensive coordinator would feel safe about. And while John Abraham can't stay healthy in the opposite end, it's pretty clear that what Atlanta needs to do is bring in a healthy defensive end that can replace Patrick Kerney. Tim Crowder has great size and speed, and can easily replace Patrick Kerney's role. In a year or two, I can even see Tim Crowder as being the next Patrick Kerney of the league. He has a great motor, has great strength, is very tough, very aggressive, and can solidly play the run. Not to mention that Tim Crowder had a very solid and healthy career with the Texas Longhorns. He has plenty of experience and can be the leader for our defensive line for years to come. I see a bright future ahead of this young player, and I think that he fits in well with Zimmer's ideal rush-attack scheme. While some maybe pondering the fact that we aren't drafting a running back or an offensive lineman at this point of the draft, it's easy to show them that if you look at the amount of depth we've had for the past couple of years in the defensive end position, we aren't exactly safe to sit back and relax. More than half of our defensive linemen are injury prone, and the most important one that we have on our squad is clearly uncapable of evading injury.<span style="color:blue">Other Possible Draft Picks: DE Lamar Woodley, RB Tony Hunt, RB Michael Bush, S Brandon Merriwether</span>Third Round: <span style="color:gray">Manuel Ramirez</span> Offensive Guard | Senior | Texas Tech6'3" 326 lbs. <span style="color:red">5.20</span>I can simply justify this pick by pointing at last year's stat of the amount of times that Vick got sacked. That stat is due to two important things - the health and talent of the offensive linemen. Manuel Ramirez may not be as athletic as the guards that we have now, but that won't prove too much of a downside for our team due to the amount of power and intensity that Ramirez brings to the table. While bench pressing a whalloping 550 lbs. (Texas Tech.'s football record) last year, Ramirez is surprisingly quick for his size. He fits in quite well with Petrino's power blocking system. Ramirez has got to be one of the best run blocking offensive linemen coming out of this year's draft. Another reason why drafting an offensive guard like Ramirez is because we have absolutely low depth at the guard position. Let alone the number of issues on our offensive line that must be improved - depth. Our two back up tackles are also the back ups for our guards. Suppose one starter goes down. Then that means we'll only have one man to back up every offensive lineman. That's too risky because we rely upon the performance of the offensive line on every game. The offensive linemen make it or break it for us. That's why we're going to need every help we can get, and Manuel Ramirez will prove to be capable of lending us a helping hand when we need one. How can we be more sure? Ramirez was the leader of an offensive line that blocked for a team in the Top 5 best offensive production in the country.<span style="color:blue">Other Possible Draft Picks: OT Tony Ugoh, CB Ryan Smith, <span style="color:green">*</span>DE Dan Bazuin, <span style="color:red">*</span>RB Michael Bush, <span style="color:green">*</span>Dan Bazuin</span>Fourth Round: <span style="color:gray">Dan Bazuin</span> Defensive End / Linebacker | Senior | Central Michigan6'3" 266 lbs. <span style="color:red">4.77</span>The reason why we should draft another defensive end is due to the fact that we just can't have enough defensive ends. We lost a lot of defensive ends last year due to the amount of injuries plagued upon us. It left the opposing offensive line nothing to play against, and we easily got ran over in many games against week rushing teams. Our pass rush relies more on the sacks that come from the ends of the line. The defensive tackles just bring enough pressure to the quarterback that before he knows it, the defensive ends are there for the sack. However, Dan Bazuin isn't 'just' a defensive end. This unique tweener can also play a mixture of outside and inside linebacker efficiently. Dan Bazuin's a run stopper, and he's much quicker than his 40 yard dash indicates. If you look at Bazuin's stats, it comes very close to having the same exact amount of games played, sacks, tackles, and tackles for losses as Gaines Adams. In fact, Bazuin has 93 more tackles, 19 more tackles for a loss, and 7 and a half more sacks than Gaines Adams does. The only thing that Gaines Adams has on Dan Bazuin is that he's played one more game than Bazuin. The competition that the two have faces are slightly different. I use the word "slightly" very loosely. Though Bazuin doesn't exactly match Adams's competition level, his stats are still very impressive, and Bazuin will benefit the Falcons more than it will hurt us if we pass along such a special kind of defensive lineman like himself.Fourth Round: <span style="color:gray">Kenny Scott</span> Cornerback | Senior | Georgia Tech6'1" 179 lbs. <span style="color:red">4.39</span>YoutubeThis pick is my sleeper of the draft. DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams can't be the only ones playing the cornerback position solidly in Atlanta. Jason Webster's lost more than a few steps now and if he can cover a second string reciever, then I can probably be the king of England. We need someone to play nickel for us in a few years. It can't be Jason Webster, Allen Rossum, or any of our unconsistent defensive backs. It can be Kenny Scott. However, the main reason Kenny Scott made it on my mock draft is the fact that he can return kicks and punts and can get lots of playing time on the special teams squad. He's been returning the kick offs for Georgia Tech since he was a freshman, and he's got a lot of potential on special teams. I've seen a lot of Kenny Scott due to his games in Georgia Tech. This tall, quick, solid cornerback can definetly keep up with the third string wide recievers in the league right now. Kenny Scott has proven that he can play in Georgia Tech by showing the scouts that he can play the run as well as he can cover his man one-on-one. While Kenny Scott doesn't have the ideal bulk that most coaches look for, Scott makes up for it with his superb quickness on the field.Fifth Round: <span style="color:gray">Kolby Smith</span> Running Back | Senior | Louisville5'11" 220 lbs. <span style="color:red">4.51</span>Kolby Smith would be a steal at this point of the draft. He's already been under Petrino's offensive scheme in Louisville, and I'm sure Petrino would love to be able to draft him here. Kolby Smith can relieve some of the pressure that's on Norwood, Dunn, and Mughelli in the short yardage situations. Kolby Smith is a 'quick' power back. I like to call him a power back more than a running back because I think Kolby Smith's ability to stay on his feet is very under rated. It shows the power that he's got within himself. He's hard to tackle because of his burst through the holes, and if need be, I think he can take the role that T.J. Duckett had in the past. He might not have as many touchdowns as T.J., but I know that Petrino can make Kolby Smith's transition to the NFL much quicker, easier, and overall, better. Kolby Smith impressed me last year because when Michael Bush went down, I thought, "Well, there goes Louisville's season. Without their running game, Petrino can't make much of his passing game." Then, just out of no where, Smith comes along and does what Michael Bush was expected to do. He ran for 862 yards with 7 TDs last season even after he lost his partner in crime. Out of the backfield, Smith has caught 56 receptions for 581 yards and 2 touchdowns in his career at Louisville. Not only is Smith a pretty good reciever, but he can also block. In the future, Jerious Norwood and Kolby Smith could be a dynamic duo.Sixth Round: <span style="color:gray">Cameron Stephenson</span> Offensive Guard | Senior | Rutgers6'3" 306 lbs. <span style="color:red">5.42</span>This pick is a little bit of a gamble, but it has a good chance of being a sleeper pick. Cameron Stephenson is a pretty strong offensive linemen. Off the top of my head, I think he did thirty-something reps in the NFL Combine. He can bring the pressure off of Omiyale and Ojinnaka to back up all of our offensive linemen next year. Stephenson's played a little offensive guard and a little offensive tackle as a player from Rutgers (mainly an offensive guard). He's definetly a skilled tweener, and that's what Petrino needs on our team. Some may wonder why we draft yet another double position in the draft because we drafted an offensive lineman already in the third round of this draft, but I projected Ramirez to be a starter by next year, so I think that Stephenson can bring lots of depth for Ramirez and the other players on the offensive line. The players in the later rounds of the draft usually get cut anyways, but Stephenson is a potential sleeper that we have to draft.<span style="color:red">*</span>A bit of a reach / Unsure of the availability<span style="color:green">*</span>Might be too high / Too Early
Really nice job.I think the Falcons might get Michael Bush in the 2nd round though. Petrino + Bush worked out pretty well for Louisville. Plus, Petrino said he wants to start a power running game, that's why he got Ovie Mugheli and signed some big linemen.
If Bush is around in the second round the Falcons will grab him 100% if not, I see them taking Kolby in the late rounds like you say. I'd also love to see Audre Allison be drafted as well. It will add more competition to the Wide Receivers and make a guy like Roddy White or Michael Jenkins expendable as trade bait in a package deal etc.
I don't think we're adding any more wide recievers soon. Well, not for playing's sake. We're already about to get rid of one of them. Probably Finneran or White. I don't see us acquiring another reciever any time soon. Maybe for depth's or return's sake, but I don't see us doing anything else besides that.I'm a little skeptical about Michael Bush. I was a big fan as you can probably see from my user profile I had him and Nelson as our first day picks. But then I found out that a metal iron rod was holding his leg together. Kolby Smith is an under rated power back like I said, and he's worked with Petrino like you guys have seeked.I wouldn't mind if Bush was drafted. However, we can definetly do better than a very dangerous or risky running back that might be a bust. There are other priority needs than a running back in the earlier rounds. And if we don't find a running back, I see Atlanta bringing back Jackson. He's a potential T.J. Duckett player as well.
Yeah Kolby Smith is underated. I saw him every game for Louisville and boy he was nice. And Bush has a metal rod holding his leg together? Damn, I didn't know of that. I thought it was just a clean break and he needs no screws, plates nothing.
I don't think the Metal Rod is a big deal. It was put in as his leg was healing, it's not being 'held togeather' by it anymore. He's already said that if it bothers him at the next level he will have the surgury to take it out. I just don't see the point of the Falcons starting a back who can start for them when they have a perfectly good canidate in Jerious Norwood.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Mar 20 2007, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Norwood is great but he's not a power-back.</div>Exactly. That's why our rushing game struggled to produce touchdowns last year. We didn't have a power back because we got rid of T.J. Duckett.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Mar 20 2007, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Norwood is great but he's not a power-back.</div>Maybe not, but he can start and take 200-300 carries. You can pick up a Kevan Barlow or draft someone in the 4th-5th Rounds who can be a Power Back for those short or Goal Line situations.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Mar 20 2007, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Mar 20 2007, 02:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Norwood is great but he's not a power-back.</div>Maybe not, but he can start and take 200-300 carries. You can pick up a Kevan Barlow or draft someone in the 4th-5th Rounds who can be a Power Back for those short or Goal Line situations.</div>Kolby Smith.Everyone else is weak in those rounds or they just don't seem to be able to do well on the next level.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Mar 20 2007, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Petrino wants a power RB that can get 20+ carries a game though, not just a situation RB or a GL RB.</div>No he doesn't. Petrino is going to start Norwood [hopefully] and have a goal line power back run for the short yardage situation plays...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Knightz @ Mar 23 2007, 03:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd rather have JaMall Anderson then Landry at 8. Then take Merriweather in the second round.</div>Merriwether won't even be there in the second round. I'm convinced he'll be taken in the late first.
Well then you can always take Michael Griffin or Eric Weddle with the Texans 2nd round pick.But I doubt Anderson will fall past the Lions, Browns, Cardinals, Redskins, and Vikings.
That's why I put Landry and Anderson in my post. One of them will be there at 8. And who know's? Like I said a few days back. Lienart was suppose to be a Top 5 pick and he dropped passed 10. So anything can happen.
Personally, I think #8 might be just about the worst spot in this draft to be drafting.As I see it, there are 7 Elite Prospects right now.JaMarcus RussellAdrian PetersonCalvin JohnsonJoe ThomasGaines AdamsJamaal AndersonLaRon LandrySo unless a team before them goes out and reaches on someone like Brady Quinn or Alan Branch (Who I personally love as a prospect, but his stock seems to be on the decline right now since his Pro Day), they'll likely be the First Pick of the Second Tier of prospects.
There's always Okoye at 7. That might be too high but I'm convinced a team 1-7 will let Landry or Anderson slip.And another thing, if Okoyes coming into the NFL at 19, the kid just finished puberty he's barely been a man yet and he's already in the NFL. But the time this guys 24 he'll be dominating.
