The Atlanta Falcons: Who Is Thomas DeCoud?

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Thomas DeCoud in the third-round of the 2008 NFL Draft.  At 6’0″, 197 lbs., he isn’t a big guy. However, he had the reputation in college of being a monster hitter, racking up 116 tackles in his senior year.

To date he has been limited to playing special teams, an area he excelled in at Cal (he blocked six kicks as a two-year starter), but with the release of Lawyer Milloy, DeCoud finds himself in a position to perhaps win the starting safety role in the Falcon’s secondary.

He has the size, the speed, and the potential to be solid at the position, but he will need to work on his pass coverage skills and suppress his urge to go for the big hit every time. His eagerness to de-cleat an opposing player has sometimes led to him biting too quickly on plays and missing the tackle altogether.

However, beyond that, his vertical ability could make him great in pass coverage once he learns to read play action and make the proper breaks on the ball.

For all his tackling and hitting prowess in college, he was not much of a threat to intercept.

He has the versatility to play any position in the secondary, he started at cornerback and was later moved to the safety position in college; he has also played some free safety as well, showing that he has the speed and ability to play anywhere on the field.

As the Falcons look ahead to the draft, the safety position has been on their mind a bit, there are still some mocks with safety, Louis Delmas, being the guy chosen at 24. That could have more to do with DeCoud’s value as a special teams guy and less with his inability to play safety. Hard to know for sure.

What is certain, though, is this: DeCoud has the potential to be a solid player for the Falcons and no matter who they draft, he will likely have the first crack at replacing Milloy and unearthing the potential that Dimitroff saw in him last year. 

Should We Trust The Atlanta Falcons Process?

For those of you who do not know, I am a huge Atlanta Falcons fan and one of the top writers for the Falcons on Bleacher Report. I am just getting that out of the way so you know that I am in no way hating on the Falcons. So now that you know that, here is what I have to say.

I have read probably over a few hundred articles on the Falcons along with the comments that follow, and well, there seems to be a trend. Almost every Falcon fan is praising the “Process”. Almost every single fan I have met and seen has said that they fully believe in the “Process”. I just have a question, Why does everyone believe so much in the process?

Why is it that one good season is enough to make Dimitroff and Smith gods or geniuses in the minds of Falcon fans?

I mean that is what has happened. The fans have all joined together and preached the gospel of Dimitroff. I have had people comment on my articles arguing with my thoughts, which is great, then bailing out on the end saying they believe in him.

What the Hell? I am sorry, but there are only three fan bases that can say that they trust their GMs like that. They are the Steelers, Patriots, and Colts fans. Aside from those three, there are no other proven front offices.

Okay I kind of exaggerated, but my point is that the Falcons fan base should not be sold on the front office this much.

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not condemning Dimitroff, because on the contrary, I like him. But I do not fully trust him.

I do think that what he did last season was great and very unexpected. But that was just one year of success. There is no need to take away from the achievement that was last year. Still though just one year.

There is not one GM in the NFL that a fan base should trust after only one year of success. To many times in the NFL we have seen teams come out of nowhere to win 10-12 games one year then 4-7 the next.

I do not believe the Falcons will do that next season, but who knows.

This could be skepticism or maybe I am afraid that the success will fail, but whatever it is, I just do not fully believe in Dimitroff and neither should you.

(I do however believe that he knows what he is doing, I just am not fully sold)

Six Decades Later Pittsburgh Steelers’ First Playoff Game All But Forgotten

Contrary to popular belief, the Steelers’ first playoff game was not the “Immaculate Reception” game against the Raiders in 1972.

It actually took place 25 years earlier in 1947. 

Since their first season in 1933, the Steelers hadn’t experienced much success.  Following a disappointing season in 1946, the Steelers star player Bill Dudley abruptly quit the team because of his disdain for the coach Jock Sutherland.

After Dudley made it clear he was not returning, owner Art Rooney reluctantly traded him to the Lions.  It was now up to Sutherland to get the most out of the remaining talent on the team.

Sutherland did just that.  He managed to coax a good year out of a team lacking superstars.  The Steelers were led by little known Johnny Clement, who led the team with 670 yards rushing for a 5.2 average, and 1004 yards passing with seven touchdowns.

The Steelers managed to forge a first-place tie with the Eagles.  They had split their two regular season games with Philadelphia.  The Steelers’ chances for victory took a hit when Clement was injured and missed the game.

With very little offense to speak of, the Steelers were beaten 21-0.  The Eagles would go on to play in the first of three straight NFL Championship games.  Pittsburgh dropped back down to the bottom of the league.

That’s where they stayed for the most part until their next opportunity to make it to a playoff game in 1963.

The Steelers overcame the tragic death of star defensive lineman Big Daddy Lipscomb before the season began to field a tough defensive unit.  On offense they were led by quarterback Ed Brown, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns.  The Steelers also relied on the power running of John Henry Johnson and Dick Hoak.

During the season, Pittsburgh played three ties and mathematically could win the division and a spot in the championship game with a win over the rival New York Giants in the final game.  The Steelers had dominted the Giants 31-0 earlier in the season and quarterback Ed Brown had played well.

In the rematch, Brown had a miserable afternoon.  He missed open receivers all game long and seemed to struggle under the pressure of a big game.  The Giants crushed the Steelers 33-17 and Pittsburgh would not come close to another playoff game until 1972.

We all remember what happened in that game.

2009 NFL Mock Draft (21-32)

Today, I will begin a three-day series of releasing my NFL Mock Draft. Monday, Apr. 20 will release picks 11-20, and on Tuesday, I will release my Top 10 picks for the 2009 NFL Draft. So, without further adieu, picks 21-32…

21.  Philadelphia Eagles – Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

One of only a few teams searching for RBs, the Eagles could snag a wonder with Moreno, who has the full skill set to compete in the league.

22.  Minnesota Vikings – Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

With recent off the field baggage that has encompassed Harvin, he may be slipping in the draft. The Vikings have interest in the explosive WR, who could assist Adrian Peterson and whoever emerges at QB.

 

23.  New England Patriots – Clay Matthews, Jr, OLB, USC

With New England’s 3-4 defense, Matthews couldn’t fit in more perfectly, as he can play any linebacker position.

24.  Atlanta Falcons – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

The Falcons are in major need of a solid TE and Pettigrew has the hands, speed, and blocking abilities to do just that for many years.

25.  Miami Dolphins – Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

The Thorpe Award winner didn’t have a great combine but shows he can be a star in the league. May even shift to the FS position, if not CB.

26.  Baltimore Ravens – Darrius Heyward-Bay, WR, Maryland

Arguably had the best combine performance of the season, Heyward-Bey shows he is a speedster and has game-changing abilities

27.  Indianapolis Colts – Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

Davis could go much earlier, along with Jenkins, but won’t get past here. The Colts need to revamp their secondary and the physical style of Davis is a perfect fit.

28.  Buffalo Bills – Alex Mack, C, California

With the potential to being one of the next great centers, Mack can provide that stability and command an offensive line that will be needed to succeed with Owens’ ability at the wide spot.

29.  New York Giants – Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina

A very big and strong WR, Nicks can provide a lot of need for a team that released Burress and in desperate need of a big-time receiver.

30.  Tennessee Titans – Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers

Kenny Britt can develop into a top WR in the league if he continues to work at it. His height and speed (6’4″, 4.4) can lead the Titans to a proficient offense. 

31.  Arizona Cardinals – Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut

One of the best total running backs in the draft, Brown can learn under the experience of Edgerrin James and even have playing time next year.

32 .   Pittsburgh Steelers – Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut

With a fast 40 time at the Combine, Butler is one of the few players who are on the rise in the draft. He could definitely fill a hole at CB for the Steelers. 

All-Time Oakland Raiders Team

This is a slideshow about the best Oakland Raiders in history. This is the all-time team of the Oakland Raiders. There is one quarterback, two half-backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, two tackles, two guards, one center, two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two outside linebackers, one middle linebacker, two cornerbacks, one free safety, one strong safety, one kicker, one punter, and a coach.

Eric Wright:: A 49er That Should Never Be Forgotten

The San Francisco 49ers won four titles in the 1980s.

Most of the attention went to star and future Hall of Famer Joe Montana, who was excellent in big pressure games, and safety Ronnie Lott, who punished WRs coming over the middle with his trademark bone-crushing hit.

But there is one person who the media, or for that matter the 49er faithful, have forgotten about: Eric C. Wright (I am using his middle initial to distinguish him from the other Eric Wright who plays CB for the Cleveland Browns).

Eric Wright was drafted by the 49ers in 1981 in Round Two. He was sandwiched in between Ronnie Lott and Carlton Williamson in Rounds One and Three. For much of his career he wasn’t talked about due to the man who wore No.42.

Wright left his own impact on opposing defenses and coordinators. He was targeted very frequently around his era. He stood in at 6’1″ and weighed in at 183 pounds from Missouri. He had interceptions in Super Bowls 16 and 19.

He finished his career at age 31, with only eighteen interceptions. Wright’s a two-time Pro-Bowler and in those two seasons he finished with two interceptions in 1984 and one in 1985.

In his best statistical season he wasn’t selected to the Pro Bowl. In 1983, he finished with seven interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, and one fumble recovery.

According to www.profootballreference.com he was an All Pro in 1985, and he finished with the most return yards in 1983, with 164.

He had two injury-plagued seasons at ages 27 and 28 which are considered by many to be a player’s prime. Two years which would have made all the difference in the world, for him and the 49ers, in 1986 and 1987.

The NFL draft is this weekend and guess what?

The 49ers need a starting corner opposite to Nate Clements.

Maybe history repeats itself with Singletary taking a corner in the first day of the draft, and we return to the glory days.

Isn’t It Time for Ron Turner To Think outside the Box?

Say what you will about the New England Patriots, but one thing is clear: they get the most out of every player they have. Isn’t it time the Bears did the same?

 

The Bears boast an unusual amount of underutilized talent. Every year we have questions about the Bears’ offense, and every year we go into the season wondering who will step up and fill the roles needed to field a typical, supposedly, west-cast offense. My question is, why do we have to be typical?

 

The Bears may not have the best tight end in the league, but they have the best group of tight ends. Clark is going to toe the line in typical tight end fashion, but Olsen is truly a gifted, versatile player who needs to be used in different situations. Ditto for Kellen Davis, who is as much of a physical, athletic freak as anyone in the league.

 

Adrian Peterson has been a staple of our special teams play for several seasons and we have all seen what Forte can do, but what about Wolfe and Jones? 

 

Jones is a former first round pick who suffered devastating injuries two years in a row before being released by Detroit. Jones has stated that he would have argued that he was 100 percent last year, until he had another offseason to recover and to truly see what 100 percent could be. We know that injuries such as the ones he sustained often take two years to fully recover from, but could we see the return of the Kevin Jones, who rushed for over 1100 yards in 2004? 

 

Wolfe is clearly undersized, but we have heard rumors of using him as a flanker for several seasons, only to see him get the occasional carry between the tackles. Wolfe has the kind of speed and agility that had people wondering (unrealistically) if he could win the Heisman while playing for a school like NIU. Wolfe may never be a Pro Bowl running back, but teams like San Diego have shown us what both small backs, and backs from NIU, can do.

 

We also have several players who are extremely athletic and have been flexed around to multiple positions on defense and special teams. Israel Idonije, Joey LaRocque, and Nick Roach come to mind.

 

Fullback Jason Mckie has been used in the passing game, but in a fashion that is very much vanilla and has become predictable.

 

Everyone is caught up in who is going to compliment Hester at receiver, and while I would love to get a great receiver, couldn’t we have been doing more to free up Hester all along?

 

The Patriots utilize linebackers in one of the best passing games in the league, yet before Moss came to town, you would be hard pressed to call any of their receivers a number one on most NFL rosters.

 

The Dolphins have had success using the wildcat, not because it is a great scheme, but because it gives them the most opportunities to get their talent on the field.

 

The Bears of the past would bring in Refrigerator Perry to clear running lanes and occasionally carry the ball (Brian Urlacher has even caught a touchdown pass for the Bears), but how have they been utilizing unique talents lately? John St. Claire was the target of several passes over the last couple of years, hardly the stellar athlete you need to get more touches.

 

With the amount of athletic talent on the Bears team, when are they going to make adjustments to use more of them? When will they decide to create mismatches instead of trying to fit the mold? As each new season approaches, we hear the talk, we see flashes in preseason, only to see the same-old predictable playbook come the regular season. 

 

Old and predictable are great qualities in a Swiss watch or a geyser, not in a playbook. It is time for the Bears to stop looking like a team that thinks the forward pass is a trick play, the T-formation is long gone, and it is time to move on. Stop waiting for talented players to fit the traditional mold, and start drawing up new plays that can utilize the unique talent we have and catch defenses off guard.

Hines Ward’s Career Numbers Approaching Hall of Fame Caliber

Hines Ward had another solid season in 2008.  He led the Steelers with 81 catches for 1,043 yards and seven touchdowns.

It was his fifth thousand-yard season in eleven years as a pro.  He just doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Ward’s career numbers stand at 800 catches for 9,780 yards and 72 touchdowns, all Steeler records.  If he can stay healthy, it is not out of the question to think he could play another three seasons.

Hines has averaged over the last five seasons a pretty respectable 75 catches for 945 yards and seven touchdowns.  If he could come anywhere close to that, after another three seasons, Ward would eclipse 1,000 catches.  That would rank among the top ten all-time.

He would also have over 12,000 yards, which would rank among the top fifteen all-time, and he would have in the neighborhood of 90-plus touchdowns, also in the top ten all-time.

Still not convinced?  OK, let’s look at his postseason numbers.

This past postseason Hines caught nine passes for 168 yards to bring his career postseason totals to 76 catches for 1,064 yards and eight touchdowns.  That ranks fourth all-time in the postseason.

Considering the Steelers’ recent success, he could improve upon those numbers in the next few seasons.  Once again, it is not inconceivable for him to move into second on the all-time list behind the immortal Jerry Rice with a couple more solid playoff runs.

Some other numbers for the Hall of Fame voters to think about are his four Pro Bowl appearances, two super bowl championships, and MVP of Super Bowl XL.

But, the numbers alone do not define Hines Ward.  He is the ideal team player.  He is probably the greatest blocking receiver in the game today.  Ward is feared by many opposing defenders around the NFL for his toughness and aggressive blocking.

His style of play even brought about a rule change (see Mel Blount).

I would like to think if Hines plays a few more seasons that he would be at least in consideration for the Hall of Fame.  If I only had a vote.

Eagles Trade for Jason Peters: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

On Friday news broke that the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills had come to terms on a trade that would send two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters to the Eagles in return for one of Philly’s first-round picks (28th overall), a fourth-round pick, and a second-day pick in the 2010 draft. 

When I first started hearing about this trade, my feelings were mixed.  I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about the deal. 

And so, I give you The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Jason Peters trade:

The Good.  One of the Eagles’ biggest needs was a left tackle.  They let Tre Thomas move on to Jacksonville in the offseason.  There was talk that the Eagle front office and Andy Reid would be content to move either Todd Herremans or Shawn Andrews to left tackle.  This would have left Nick Cole or Max Jeans-Gilles to start at the vacated guard position. 

While that would have given them a serviceable offensive line and one that would probably still be considered one of the better lines in the NFL, it would also have left them with less depth on the line and the uncertainty of how Herremans or Andrews would have performed at left tackle. 

Acquiring Peters gives them a potentially dominant left tackle who is only 27 years old.  They still have Cole and Jeans-Gilles on the bench as backups to fill in if there is an injury.  Adding Peters at left tackle, Stacey Andrews at right tackle, and keeping Herremans and Andrews as the starting guards now gives the Eagles an offensive line that could potentially be one of the most elite in the NFL.

The Bad.  During the Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb era the one thing that Philly fans have consistently clamored for is the addition of a true top-flight wide receiver. 

That wish was answered for a short period of time with the addition of Terrell Owens.  Proponents of the “Eagles need a wide receiver” argument point to the fact that in the year the Eagles had T.O. they made an appearance in the Super Bowl. 

What so many people seem to forget is that the Eagles made their run through the playoffs to the Super Bowl without T.O. 

Is a wide receiver really needed?  That is up for debate.  The trade for Jason Peters tells you what side the Eagle front office comes down on in that argument. 

The acquisition of Peters pretty well guarantees there will not be a trade to bring Anquan Boldin to Philadelphia.  The Eagles signed Peters to a four-year contract extension worth $53 million. 

I really can’t see them bringing in Boldin and giving him a huge contract as well, which is the whole reason he wants out of Arizona in the first place.

The Ugly.    I am pretty excited about this trade, right up until the point I think about The Ugly.  The Eagles will be paying $60 million the next six years for a guy that gave up 11 sacks last year to protect McNabb’s blindside. 

Some will argue that his inconsistent play last year was largely due to him missing offseason workouts and training camp.  Peters elected to hold out of training camp because he was upset over his contract situation. 

Maybe that was the reason for his poor play, but maybe it wasn’t.  Either way, it puts a little bit of doubt in our minds when we think about whether this was a good move for the Eagles or not. 

Did the Eagles get a dominant left tackle to anchor their offensive line for the foreseeable future or did they just pick up a lazy, overpriced underachiever in a move that they will regret for a long time?

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Fleur-De-Lis Fever | The Saints’ Worst Drafts in the Past 15 Years

The New Orleans Saints have had so many poor drafts that it would be difficult to narrow down the worst list without first setting some parameters. 

First, I decided to narrow down the list to the past 15 years. Then, I decided that it would be unfair to consider the past two draft classes after just one or two years in the NFL.

 

Dishonorable Mention: 2001

In 2001, the Saints picked one of its best players of all time, Deuce McAllister.  Other than that, though, Jim Haslett’s second draft was a disaster.

The last five picks (Kenny Smith, Moran Norris, Onome Ojo, Mitch White, and Ennis Davis) averaged less than five starts per season in their careers. The last three never played in an NFL game.

Players the Saints could have had instead: Steve Smith (74th overall), Kareem McKenzie (79th overall), and TJ Houshmandzadeh (204th overall).

 

No. 3: 1997

If you were to tell me that my favorite team was able to grab the Heisman Trophy winner and runner-up in the same draft, normally I would be ecstatic. 

Unfortunately, this was not a normal draft.

After making a great selection with their first pick (Chris Naeole), the Saints made mistake after mistake. 

Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel simply became a punchline as the Saints’ quarterback.  Troy Davis, the 1996 Heisman runner-up, rushed for less than 500 yards and just one touchdown in his three-year career.

Mike Ditka used New Orleans’ two second-round selections to pick a defensive back (Rob Kelly), who had four career interceptions and a defensive end (Jared Tomich), who had 10 career sacks.

Players the Saints could have had instead: Tiki Barber (36th overall), Sam Madison (44th overall), Ronde Barber (66th overall), and Al Harris (169th overall).

 

No. 2: 1996

The Saints had 10 draft picks in 1996. Of those 10 picks, only one, Brady Smith, had any real impact on the NFL. Of course, he did most of his work with the hated Atlanta Falcons.

The Saints had a pick in the top half of the first round (again), and, as they did so many times in the past, they botched it up.

After three straight non-winning seasons, New Orleans had many positions of need.  They decided to go with a cornerback and draft Alex Molden. 

After starting most of 1997 and 1998, Molden dropped on the Saints’ depth chart and eventually off the Saints’ roster. He finished his career in Detroit (never a good sign) with 12 career interceptions.

Six of the final seven draft picks combined to start 13 career games.

Players the Saints could have had instead: Eddie George (14th overall), Brian Dawkins (61st overall), Tedy Bruschi (86th overall), and Zach Thomas (154th overall).

 

No. 1: 2003

2003 gets my vote as the Saints’ worst draft in the past 15 seasons because they had so much and did so little.

New Orleans had two first round picks, the 17th and 18th overall. Desperate for some defensive help, the Saints traded both of them for the right to select DT Johnathan Sullivan. 

Sullivan was a colossal bust. His work ethic was publicly questioned as he was always out of shape. He managed just 1.5 sacks in three seasons with the Saints. He ended his hapless career on New England’s practice squad. 

LB Cie Grant and DE Melvin Williams combined for 19 tackles in their brief NFL careers.  WR Talman Gardner caught four passes in two seasons. 

T Jon Stinchcomb is the only player from this draft still on the Saints’ roster and one of only two players still in the league.

Players the Saints could have had instead: Terrell Suggs (10th overall), Troy Polamalu (16th overall), Bradie James (103rd overall), and Asante Samuel (120th overall).

 

While other teams such as the Eagles, Steelers, Patriots, and Giants have taken advantage of the talent available in the draft, the Saints have missed on countless opportunities in recent history to improve their roster across the board.

If the Saints expect to make it to the playoffs on a consistent basis, they are going to have to draft better.

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