Hot Atlanta Should Focus on Defense

With holes all across the board on defense, I could even run through them 100 yards to the land of plenty. After watching the playoff loss to Arizona, I knew something had to be done to get younger and quicker on the defensive side of the ball. There were two key plays that hurt the defense in the Arizona game. The Falcons did release safety Lawyer Milloy, who did get burt on the long touchdown catch and run by receiver Anquan Boldin. Also released was lifetime Falcon Keith Brooking, who also bit on the 3rd and 16 play late in the game, that ultimately won the game for the Cardinals.

Lets backtrack one year ago from today. The 2008 NFL Draft was all about the offense, drafting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan number three overall, then trading back into the first round and selecting Southern California standout left tackle Sam Baker. Along with Baker and the stout O-line, Ryan was only taken down 17 times in 2008. A far better comparision from previous years. With a rising receiving core in Roddy White and power running game with Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, the offense is set for the 2009 season.

Lets spring forward to the present again. The upcoming 2009 Draft needs to be all about the D. Gone are Brooking (Cowboys), linebacker Michael Boley (Giants), Milloy (Free Agent) and lineman Grady Jackson (Lions). So you see what I mean when I said I could run to the land of plenty. The Falcons have the 24th overall pick. With all the mock drafts floating out there, I don’t believe one of them. The mock drafts seem to change minute by minute. I will believe it when the real draft occurs and the Falcons select. With sophomore LB Curtis Lofton manning the middle, strongside or weakside linebacker needs to be first choice. But just like mock drafts, my opinion really doesn’t matter either. Hoping Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry is still on the board at #24, he would fit head coach Mike Smith’s scheme perfectly. Curry, 6-2, 254 lbs, had a combine time on the 40 at 4.56, is projected to be chosen within the top 10. If the Falcons miss out on Curry, USC LB Brian Cushing would also be a good fit. He could very well be starting material, if not this season, then next. I know there is a learning curve for all rookies, and in both players there would be no different. To me, Cushing reminds me of Zach Thomas when Thomas was in his prime.

With the signing last week of free agent LB Mike Peterson (Jaguars), I could see opening day starting linebackers as Lofton plugging up the middle, Peterson and Curry/Cushing on the edges. So since Atlanta built the offense last draft, this draft should be all about the defense. And as the old saying goes: Offense sells tickets, defense wins games.