(((******OFFICIAL 2013/14 DIRTEE-BIRD THREAD******))) #TRAPbackJUMPIN!
The draft hasnt gone how I expected but I like the pickups. Especially the Ra'Shede and Shembo pick. We gettin bigger and drafting guys that are nasty. Now Stephen Jackson wont be bigger than half our damn defense.
Dont know much about that safety but from what I have read he may be a project, but we got a stop gap player until he is ready. I like the RB pick too. I wanted a guy with more speed but Freeman should be a solid RB for us.
Dont know much about that safety but from what I have read he may be a project, but we got a stop gap player until he is ready. I like the RB pick too. I wanted a guy with more speed but Freeman should be a solid RB for us.
greenwood1921
New member
I think Freeman has good "football speed."
Whis is better than track speed especially for RB's.
Having "track fast" running backs ain't always what it's cracked up to be. '
Word to Jerious Norwood. lol
Whis is better than track speed especially for RB's.
Having "track fast" running backs ain't always what it's cracked up to be. '
Word to Jerious Norwood. lol
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I like that we drafted a lot of LB's. Big ones too. Even though most/all are projects I like that we getting bigger.
Smallword is 6'3 240
Starr is 6'5 240
Spruill is listed at only 6'0 230 but he looks bigger than that.
Shembo is 6'2 250
Most of the LB's on our roster are around 220-230.
Smallword is 6'3 240
Starr is 6'5 240
Spruill is listed at only 6'0 230 but he looks bigger than that.
Shembo is 6'2 250
Most of the LB's on our roster are around 220-230.
Livefromclayco
New member
Yeah I like the LBs and Spruill looks like he could be a monster in a year or two.
Overall I give the draft a B cause it filled most of the needs
-OL starter
-LB depth
-Complementary RB
The only thing that holds it back is we still really didn't address the pass rush issue and the TE position still looks a lil shaky after shawty lo.
Overall I give the draft a B cause it filled most of the needs
-OL starter
-LB depth
-Complementary RB
The only thing that holds it back is we still really didn't address the pass rush issue and the TE position still looks a lil shaky after shawty lo.
greenwood1921
New member
B- is what I'll give it.
It could easily be upgraded to a A depending on how they pan out. Like Ya Boi said, I LOVE the "big nasty" movement with the linebackers.
"Small and Fast" just ain't cutting it. Especially when your D-line isn't getting any push and those small, inexperienced LB's have to fight off multiple blockers on run plays, but not athletic enough to cover TE's and RB's in the flats.
My favorite Pick is Ra'Shede. I'll go with him or Shempo as our team's rookie of the year this year. Matthews will get the most opportunity, and he'll be a good one, but OT's learning curve is similar to a QB (believe it or not) so I won't be surprised if he gives early. (which is another reason why I didn't want a OT with the first pick.)
First draft we've had in a while where almost all of our picks will get a shot to get significant playing time if they make the team.
It could easily be upgraded to a A depending on how they pan out. Like Ya Boi said, I LOVE the "big nasty" movement with the linebackers.
"Small and Fast" just ain't cutting it. Especially when your D-line isn't getting any push and those small, inexperienced LB's have to fight off multiple blockers on run plays, but not athletic enough to cover TE's and RB's in the flats.
My favorite Pick is Ra'Shede. I'll go with him or Shempo as our team's rookie of the year this year. Matthews will get the most opportunity, and he'll be a good one, but OT's learning curve is similar to a QB (believe it or not) so I won't be surprised if he gives early. (which is another reason why I didn't want a OT with the first pick.)
First draft we've had in a while where almost all of our picks will get a shot to get significant playing time if they make the team.
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greenwood1921
New member
The only UDFA's I can vouch for are...
Pederson, TE (Wisconsin) - Saw him play a lil bit. Good blocker and can catch. Not the most athletic. Probably has a good shot at making the roster or practice squad.
Tramaine Thompson, WR (Kansas State) - Probably won't make the team, but he's a small but fast Punt-Return type. He got a 1,000 yards as the #2 next to Tyler Lockett who'll probably be a top 2 round pick next year. Only way he makes the team is if (God Forbid) something happens to Hester.
Pederson, TE (Wisconsin) - Saw him play a lil bit. Good blocker and can catch. Not the most athletic. Probably has a good shot at making the roster or practice squad.
Tramaine Thompson, WR (Kansas State) - Probably won't make the team, but he's a small but fast Punt-Return type. He got a 1,000 yards as the #2 next to Tyler Lockett who'll probably be a top 2 round pick next year. Only way he makes the team is if (God Forbid) something happens to Hester.
Livefromclayco
New member
Yeah it's cool. I'm excited to see what this D line can do with the depth and size TD brought in.
Livefromclayco
New member
Mini camp report
1. Temper Expectations on Most Rookies...: If you're looking for rave reviews of players from rookie minicamp, you might just want to pump the brakes for now. Just a week ago, many of the participants in this weekend's minicamp hadn't even been drafted yet, and now, they're trying to cram an NFL playbook into their heads and impress the coaching staff. It doesn't always come along so easily and head coach Mike Smith summed up the first day of rookie minicamp by dampening the expectations: "Well, we saw a bunch of young guys that really didn't know what they were doing, but the effort was good. The effort was outstanding."
2. ... Unless That Rookie is Jake Matthews: It shouldn't come as much surprise that the Falcons' sixth overall selection, offensive tackle Jake Matthews, was the exception to the above rule. Matthews put on a clinic on what it takes to be an NFL offensive lineman in his first minicamp performance. Smith said that Matthews was "everything that we anticipated he was going to be" after his first session. Matthews saw plenty of action Friday at right tackle and took on some of the best competition available among the rookies and tryout players, including second-round selection Ra'Shede HagemanPosted Image. Matthews shined in his first day and there was little question about his readiness.
3. Toughness Showing Already: Toughness has been the big buzzword this offseason and it's important to note that the Falcons have backed all that talk up by bringing in some rookies who are known for their toughness. Matthews told the media that there have been a few occasions during walkthrough sessions where the coaching staff has had to remind players that they're supposed to be running half speed. "We were busting lips and hitting guys, I busted my nose up and I was bleeding, but we were getting after it. That's the big thing I've taken away from this group is that these guys love to work and I'm glad to be a part of the group because they take a lot of pride in what they do."
4. Familiarity Helps: The Falcons have several players in rookie minicamp, both draft and undrafted, who have some familiarity with the coaching staff after Mike Smith and his crew headed up the South team at the Senior Bowl in January. Those players who went through an entire week with the coaching staff — from practices to meals to film room — are finding that their heads may not be spinning as much as some of the rookies who didn't have that opportunity to work with Smith's staff. Said third-round safety Dezmen SouthwardPosted Image, a member of that Senior Bowl squad: "It was huge. Our whole first install (Friday) was exactly what we did at the Senior Bowl, so there was a lot of carryover. We did a lot of the same exact things and some of the guys that were coming in starting from scratch, I had my board already written on a little bit."
A side note on Southward: Since arriving in Flowery Branch on Sunday night, he's been doing everything he can to pick safety William MoorePosted Image's brain on anything he can think of. "Everything he says, I listen to. I look forward to learning from him in the future."
5. Baby Steps for Big Man: He's 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds, but Hageman — the Minnesota defensive tackle the Falcons are converting to defensive end — is all about approaching his first experiences in the NFL like a baby, with small steps and a whole lot of wonder. Hageman says the baby steps philosophy he's taking right now will help him take in as much knowledge as he can from the Falcons coaching staff, specifically defensive line coach Bryan Cox. Calling himself "a dry sponge" who's looking to soak up as much as he can, Hageman's approach starts with himself. He'll worry about the competition later. "I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself just to do good. I don't want to be average. Just to convert from college to the NFL, it actually takes time, so you've got to be patient."
1. Temper Expectations on Most Rookies...: If you're looking for rave reviews of players from rookie minicamp, you might just want to pump the brakes for now. Just a week ago, many of the participants in this weekend's minicamp hadn't even been drafted yet, and now, they're trying to cram an NFL playbook into their heads and impress the coaching staff. It doesn't always come along so easily and head coach Mike Smith summed up the first day of rookie minicamp by dampening the expectations: "Well, we saw a bunch of young guys that really didn't know what they were doing, but the effort was good. The effort was outstanding."
2. ... Unless That Rookie is Jake Matthews: It shouldn't come as much surprise that the Falcons' sixth overall selection, offensive tackle Jake Matthews, was the exception to the above rule. Matthews put on a clinic on what it takes to be an NFL offensive lineman in his first minicamp performance. Smith said that Matthews was "everything that we anticipated he was going to be" after his first session. Matthews saw plenty of action Friday at right tackle and took on some of the best competition available among the rookies and tryout players, including second-round selection Ra'Shede HagemanPosted Image. Matthews shined in his first day and there was little question about his readiness.
3. Toughness Showing Already: Toughness has been the big buzzword this offseason and it's important to note that the Falcons have backed all that talk up by bringing in some rookies who are known for their toughness. Matthews told the media that there have been a few occasions during walkthrough sessions where the coaching staff has had to remind players that they're supposed to be running half speed. "We were busting lips and hitting guys, I busted my nose up and I was bleeding, but we were getting after it. That's the big thing I've taken away from this group is that these guys love to work and I'm glad to be a part of the group because they take a lot of pride in what they do."
4. Familiarity Helps: The Falcons have several players in rookie minicamp, both draft and undrafted, who have some familiarity with the coaching staff after Mike Smith and his crew headed up the South team at the Senior Bowl in January. Those players who went through an entire week with the coaching staff — from practices to meals to film room — are finding that their heads may not be spinning as much as some of the rookies who didn't have that opportunity to work with Smith's staff. Said third-round safety Dezmen SouthwardPosted Image, a member of that Senior Bowl squad: "It was huge. Our whole first install (Friday) was exactly what we did at the Senior Bowl, so there was a lot of carryover. We did a lot of the same exact things and some of the guys that were coming in starting from scratch, I had my board already written on a little bit."
A side note on Southward: Since arriving in Flowery Branch on Sunday night, he's been doing everything he can to pick safety William MoorePosted Image's brain on anything he can think of. "Everything he says, I listen to. I look forward to learning from him in the future."
5. Baby Steps for Big Man: He's 6-foot-6 and 318 pounds, but Hageman — the Minnesota defensive tackle the Falcons are converting to defensive end — is all about approaching his first experiences in the NFL like a baby, with small steps and a whole lot of wonder. Hageman says the baby steps philosophy he's taking right now will help him take in as much knowledge as he can from the Falcons coaching staff, specifically defensive line coach Bryan Cox. Calling himself "a dry sponge" who's looking to soak up as much as he can, Hageman's approach starts with himself. He'll worry about the competition later. "I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself just to do good. I don't want to be average. Just to convert from college to the NFL, it actually takes time, so you've got to be patient."
greenwood1921
New member
Good to hear about Matthews. I hope he proves me wrong just like Matty Ice did. But if he don't...
bigduece69
New member
Roddy White brother was shot dead. Dude was only 21 years old. Damn shame.
greenwood1921
New member
I know it's the last thing on his mind, but I wonder how this will effect his play.
Might be some self-blame type ish going on since he used to live with Roddy in Atlanta for 7 years and apparently he moved back to South Carolina where this happened.
Checked Roddy's twitter page yesterday and he was all smiles the day before this at a fundraiser with, of all people, his moms and grandma..
RIP
Might be some self-blame type ish going on since he used to live with Roddy in Atlanta for 7 years and apparently he moved back to South Carolina where this happened.
Checked Roddy's twitter page yesterday and he was all smiles the day before this at a fundraiser with, of all people, his moms and grandma..
RIP
Livefromclayco
New member
Day 2 practice report
greenwood1921
New member
Starting to get a good feeling about Shembo.
That rape shit in college knocked his stock down a bit so he might be a steal. He got a 2nd round grade from a lot of boards.
That rape shit in college knocked his stock down a bit so he might be a steal. He got a 2nd round grade from a lot of boards.
greenwood1921
New member
Was about to say that's probably one of the fastest draft signings ever, but I forgot the draft was a month late.
Almost have to sign these nikkas asap.
Almost have to sign these nikkas asap.
Livefromclayco
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