SB Nation - Lawrence Sidbury

Falcons And Eagles Recap: Hitting Bottom, Bouncing Back

Dave the Falconer — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:29 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

The Falcons' failure to convert on four consecutive plays near the goal line epitomized their struggles Sunday. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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If the Falcons had deliberately gone out against the Eagles and vowed to collectively play the worst football fans had seen in years, I'm not sure they could've put up a display that was more disheartening than the one we saw yesterday.

The negatives were numerous. The positives were paltry. The Falcons were dealing with a host of injuries and somehow still managed to play well below my admittedly light expectations on Sunday. Just thinking about it makes me angry. There's almost nothing good I can say about it, and that will be reflected in my weekly highlights and lowlights.

Yet I'm also struck by the idea that the Falcons have hit rock bottom, a low so low that surpassing it would require a giant drill and a team of molemen. Even if this team was to lose every game for the rest of the season, it can't get much worse than this. I know that shouldn't serve as any kind of comfort for me, but in a strange ways, it really does. I feel like there's a chance, however slim, that they will coming roaring back in these last few games and push their way to a winning season. Just don't ask me to explain why.

Of course, you know the season's really gone south when the most comforting thing I can possibly say is, "Hey, I've got a good feeling about this!" Let's all just hope that for once in my life, my hunch is right.

If you've got the stomach for it, I'm breaking this beast down after the jump.

HIGHLIGHTS

Nice job, Roddy White. On Sunday you were the only target worth a damn on the entire field, apparently, and you made the most of your chances. Let no one question your heart, because you looked like you were angry. You looked like you cared the entire game, and your last second touchdown is evidence of that. Big kudos.
Lawrence Sidbury, congratulations on your first NFL sack! Kroy Biermann, congratulations on notching another one. I'm so starved for highlights that you guys are both getting a free pass for anything you may or may not have done for the rest of the game.
Michael Koenen is a very, very good punter, and I am very grateful for that.

LOWLIGHTS

Some of you may be aware of the fact that I am a big St. Louis Cardinals fan. A couple of you may know that Albert Pujols is my favorite baseball player by a very wide margin. If Pujols decides to leave the team in free agency someday, I will always cherish what he's done for my favorite team. When he comes to town, I'll applaud those contributions before the game. I'll recall the way he put the Cardinals on his back so many times, when there was absolutely no one else capable of doing so. Time and the change of teams won't change that.

But guess what will happen when the first pitch is thrown and then later, when Pujols comes up to bat? I will root against him. I will pump my fist when he strikes out, assuming he ever does strike out. During those nine innings, I won't give a crap about what Pujols meant to me for years. He's with the enemy now, and all I care about is the uniform.

That's the type of fan I've been my whole life. The team, and the team's success, comes above almost anything. That's why it was so hard for me to sit there on Sunday, listening to Falcons fans chant for Michael Vick in a game where the Falcons looked about as bad as I'd ever seen them look. That's why I was angry that a man whose indifference towards the Falcons during his time on the team nearly submarined the entire franchise, and who now is being remembered wistfully for being a slightly above average quarterback who was thrilling to watch. I'm glad he's doing well now and appears to have turned his life around, but during a game against the Falcons? He's a guy in an Eagles uniform who is helping that team beat our sorry asses, and there's no way in hell I'm going to take time out during a game we eventually lost 34-7 to applaud the progress he's made as a human being. In my eyes and perhaps my eyes alone, that's not what being a fan of the Atlanta Falcons is about. It's being a fan of one player above the entire franchise, and it really makes me question where the thought process of a lot of people in the Dome yesterday. I try to be as flexible as I possibly can, but this is one issue where I'm afraid I cannot and will not change my mind.

And now you know why, for me, hearing Falcon fans cheering for Vick was a bitter disappointment. My only request, given that I don't expect either side of this issue to fully embrace the other, is that we don't start tearing eachothers' heads off over it. Cool? Cool.
Speaking of bitter disappointments, I don't think Chris Redman could've been much worse than he was for the better part of three-and-a-half quarters Sunday. He was extremely inaccurate and looked like the next hit in the pocket would be the last one he'd ever take. He turned from a Camaro to a pumpkin so fast you would have thought Prince Charming was hot on his heels, glass slipper in hands. I don't know what else I can say.
The coaching staff did a lot of things I didn't agree with on Sunday, but nothing was more baffling than the way they divvied up running and passing plays. They routinely tried going up the gut, then abandoned the run entirely for a very long stretch, then got to the goal line and ran the...wait for it...exact same damn play four times in a row. It might not have been exact and it might have been 11 times. I was blinded with rage at the time.

What the hell is the point of that? A balanced offensive game plan is not balanced because you have 44 passes and 25 runs if you throw 20 times in a row and run 15. That's not how it works! If we're really going to make a run at the end of the season, the play calling has to improve dramatically.
Too many fumbles. Even Special Weems got in on the action, graciously giving the Eagles the ball at one point. He's such a polite young man.
On defense, there's one statement that sums up the Falcons' day: They got gashed by a fullback. Yes, I know. Leonard Weaver is a good fullback. He is not, however, a magical one, who fades into nothingness just as a linebacker goes to hit him and reappears in mid-air ten yards downfield, laughing the crystal-clear laugh of the forest people. He's a goddamn fullback.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: Michael Koenen. He did his darndest to ensure that the Falcons could stay in this one, three times punting the ball inside the Eagles' 20. Sadly, this effort was in vain.

Game Theme Song: Like sad trombone, but not quite.

One Thing To Take Away: We played our worst game of the season Sunday, and I will guarantee that. It's all uphill from here.

Next Week: The New Orleans Saints, who locked up the division after narrowly beating the Washington Redskins yesterday. You can find out more about the Saints (if you really want to) over at Canal Street Chronicles.

Final Word: Damn.

A Very Falcoholic Discussion: Maximizing The Defense

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:01:02 -0000

by Bill Kostroun - AP

Frustration, thy name is secondary. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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We've had similar discussions in the past, but it seemed like an apt time to revisit them with the defense struggling so mightily.

Basically, I want to see what changes we can make right now to benefit the defense. You may be inclined to look at John Abraham's lowly sack total and ask the coaching staff to put in Lawrence Sidbury, or you might ask the Falcons to employ more creative blitz packages that allow linebackers like Stephen Nicholas to get in on the action. Maybe you'd prefer the coaching staff put more cornerbacks on the field and allow a little freelancing. It doesn't matter what the suggestion is, as long as it's a good one.

Discuss away, friends!

Saturday Pre-Game Notes: Tackling The Miami Dolphins

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:00:38 -0000

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

Michael Turner will have some help Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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It's football season!

It's a testament to how much I love the NFL that I eagerly tracked almost every minute of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans game on Thursday night, and I had absolutely zero stake in that game or any interest in either of the teams. There's something about seeing any kind of NFL game that warms me to my very soul.

Of course, nothing's better than watching the Falcons, and they'll take the field Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. As two of the most surprising teams in the league last season, we'll be facing off against one another and an enormous pile of hype. Fans of almost every other team have begun to pile on against us, especially in the NFC South, to which I say enjoy it. If they're wrong, I think our record will do all the talking we need it to.

But that's the general. If you'll follow me, we'll take a look at a few links which break down some of the more specific dramas we should be seeing come gametime. You've waited this long for the Falcons to play. Hopefully you can wait one more day.

Flashy, speedy back Jerious Norwood is set to go for Sunday. The Dolphins are going to gameplan extensively for Michael Turner, so having Norwood's vastly different style on hand is going to be a huge boost. With a talented young defense going against us, different looks will be critical, as will the potential Norwood offers for breaking a huge run and changing the tide of a drive. Glad to see him healthy.
Luckily, John Abraham is also healthy. I'll be interested to see what Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury can do, but until they prove themselves Abraham is still essentially a one man pass rushing machine, and he'll be critical to our success throughout the season. One of the most effective ways to stop any quality offense is to hurry and hit the quarterback, so here's hoping Abraham goes Biblical on Chad Pennington.
Speaking of tests, the Dolphins are likely to give the defense more than a few fits. It's a young unit, and while I've liked everything I've seen from the front seven thus far, but even Mike Smith is admitting that he's a little bit worried about how the youth movement is going to go. That concern is still sharpest in the secondary, where nobody looked particularly great during pre-season action. This won't be last last year when we had the honor of drawing the hapless Detroit Lions first, because there's no way Miami doesn't give us a few fits throughout the game.
Those of you who have been here for a little while will remember how badly I wanted the Falcons to draft tackle Jake Long last year. Instead, the Dolphins beat us to it, and we ended up with some guy named Matt Ryan. The lesson, of course, is that I have no more idea of what I'm talking about than Mel Kiper does. Interesting article about that here.
The idea of a specialized weapon out of the backfield has been growing in recent years, with teams using hybrid QBs/RBs/WRs to try to throw off opposing defenses and open up the field. The Dolphins likely drafted Pat White for just such a purpose, but they'd sooner kill you than tell you that. How the team will use the much-heralded Wildcat and White in particular is still an open-ended question, but I'd be amazed if we don't see him on the field.
It's clear that Miami's gameplan is going to have to revolve around defense. They're not going to worry about what our D can do to them until we give them a compelling reason to worry, but Tony Sparano is a smart coach and he's going to want to lock down Michael Turner early and force Matt Ryan to throw, preferably without a lot of time to do so well. The offensive line must do its job and do it well to give plays time to develop, and I have an enormous amount of confidence that they can. Let's hope I'm right.

Falcons And Ravens Recap: The Pre-Season Is Over

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:37 -0000

by Dave Martin - AP

John Beck escaping pressure was an all too common sight Thursday night. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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In all my years here at The Falcoholic, there has never been a game that has made me feel less emotional. It was hard to feel happiness or real anger following this game, probably a combination of it being pre-season action and a pretty thoroughly dull contest.

Despite the apathy this game instilled in me, several people sealed their fates Thursday for better or for worse. It's pretty clear how our wide receiver depth chart is going to shake out at this point, I think, and the competition for the third quarterback slot was all but decided by the play on the field. Our defense managed its best Jekyll and Hyde impression, managing to look hideous and wonderful, sometimes in the span of the same play. It was, compared to the nail-biter against San Diego last week, as uninspiring a game as they come. But it did make a difference.

Join me in welcoming the warm glow of the regular season, and then let's break this down.

HIGHLIGHTS

I'm an unapologetic Shockley defender, and I have been since he was drafted. If not for his injury, I firmly believe he would have drawn a few starts following the departure of Michael Vick. Alas, poor Shock is not long for this team, as John Parker Wilson played a solid, average sort of game while Shockley imploded. JPW had one fumble--and he was moving around a lot thanks to the second-team offensive line--but otherwise played a cautious, mistake-free game of football. He doesn't have the physical tools of Shockley, but he's a game manager and could be groomed to be the backup someday. I fully expect him to win the job.
Thomas Brown made a strong case for a roster spot, running pretty well on 11 carries and fielding a pair of kick returns capably. If there's one position where the Falcons are likely to load up, it would be running back, so Brown stands a pretty good chance of surviving the final cuts.
Three receivers made strong cases to stay with the team. Eric Weems had a couple of nice grabs and looked, once again, good in the return game, and he'd make a pretty terrific fifth receiver option because of his special teams value. Chandler Williams looked amazing on kick returns, and special teams is definitely his calling card. Meanwhile, Marty Booker looked good enough again to win a spot low on the depth chart, but offers no special team value. It might not matter much, but I'd prefer keeping Weems and Williams because they're younger and more versatile.
Keith Zinger should be the third tight end. Sorry, Jason Rader, but Zinger looked plenty capable Thursday night while making a couple of grabs and throwing a couple of key blocks.
Remember when I told you Peria Jerry was going to be just fine. Well, just call me the Oracle at Delphi, because I totally nailed that one. With a sack, constant pressure on John Beck and four tackles, Jerry looks to be getting better in a hurry and is a lock to line up with the starters against the Miami Dolphins. With the need for a pass rush still quite pressing, he's going to have value right away.
Speaking of value, Kroy Biermann illustrated his by looking pretty monstrous out there. Honorable mention goes to perpetually unappreciated end Jamaal Anderson, who after a shaky start managed to not look like the total bust many have already written him off as. If Anderson's getting motivated and Biermann can keep that motor running, this pass rush suddenly looks much improved even with Lawrence Sidbury drawing a ton of playing time.
To keep my habit of searching for the positive in the secondary going, Chris Owens did force a fumble. High five, Chris!

LOWLIGHTS

With the starters in, Mike Mularkey's offense isn't going to look that boring, but it's worth mentioning that the Falcons weren't exactly moving at a great clip against the Ravens. Part of that is undoubtably due to their defense, but you can't totally ignore the fact that our playcalling is a little predictable at time. That goes doubly for Brian VanGorder, who can no longer escape notice as the defensive coordinator for a team that has allowed second-and-third string quarterbacks to throw more than ninjas at a shuriken convention. Part of it is personnel, but I would really like to take a critical look at the packages being called and see if our guys are being put in a position to succeed.
The secondary portion of this more or less writes itself. We have got to start seeing more out of this unit. I don't want to judge too much based on pre-season, but it's all I have to go on and I'm starting to get legitimately worried about it. Chris Houston is a nice dude and he's clearly got the talent, but something is going on that is causing him to not be in the right place at the right time, and that could haunt this team something fierce come Week 1. I'll be interested to see whether Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff will push the guys hard and stand pat or if there's another signing on the way.
It's one play, but Ferguson's end zone drop of a nice JPW pass probably dropped him below Weems and Booker in the pecking order for a roster spot. The fact that Williams and Weems got all the special team action doesn't say much, either. I wish him well.
I've already mentioned this, but obviously Shockley needed a good game to save his roster spot and wasn't able to deliver. I really hope he gets another shot in this league if he does end up on the cut list.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: I've got to hand this one to Peria Jerry. In a game that featured grinding action, Jerry ground more than anybody, and he's a grounded individual. Ground ground ground.

Game Theme Song: The gentle snoring of a fan who has, with a half-full beer in his hand and his Falcons hat tipped down over his forehead, fallen asleep in the wake of that game.

One Thing To Take Away: This team is improving and this team has a much clearer roster picture, but the defense still must improve.

Next Week: We'll be up against the Miami Dolphins in our first regular season game, and it should be a very entertaining contest all the way around, as they're a young team with a few question marks on defense and a pretty talented offense. Check out The Phinsider for more about next week's game.

Final Word: Notwithabangbutawhimper.

Falcons And Rams Recap: The Importance Of Depth

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:00:22 -0000

More photos » by Seth Perlman - AP

The starting offense and Jerious Norwood were willing to mow down a few Rams on their way to domination Friday night. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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If our starting offense made moving down the field look effortless, a few timely plays and some struggles showed why those players lower on the depth chart will be critical to the Falcons' success this season.

In the first quarter, when Matt Ryan was completing seemingly everything to seemingly everyone and Michael Turner continued to pretend he's a human being and not a sentient tank, the Falcons looked like juggernauts. In the third quarter, when D.J. Shockley was having trouble connecting with his passes and the defense struggled to stop a quarterback who is likely slated for the practice squad, the team looked pretty average.

It raises the critical question of whether the Falcons have the depth they'll need to get through a full season intact. There's no doubt that our starters on both sides of the ball have looked pretty good through the off-season and the first half of pre-season, but teams who can spell those kinds of starters with capable, adaptable backups are the ones who make deep runs into the playoffs every year. I'm not prepared to say that we're woefully thin or anything, but with so many guys riding high on the depth chart who are known quantities, you can bet I'll be keeping a very close eye on the guys behind them who show a lot.

Join me after the jump as we examine the Rams game and give recognition where recognition is due.

HIGHLIGHTS

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner make it look absurdly easy out there. Ryan completed 7 of his 8 passes and caught Tony Gonzalez on a beautiful touchdown strike, something I hope to see early and often in 2009. Meanwhile, Turner just about ran over everybody. Those pundits who think last season was a function of a good offensive line or a weak schedule for The Burner are going to be surprised when he runs through their televisions and shoulders them through their living room walls, I'd wager. I couldn't be less concerned about how ready for the season the two of them are, and it was nice to see Jason Snelling motoring his way to 60+ yards on 12 carries as well. Factor in Jerious Norwood and possibly Thomas Brown and you've got three or four very good reasons for the rest of the NFL to worry about the run.
Speaking of Gonzo, he had three nice grabs in this one and showed why he's likely to be an enormous factor in the passing game. It's rare to see a tight end who has such a finely honed sixth sense about where the ball is, and we're mighty blessed to have him this season.
Roddy White got it done as usual, too. No surprises here, as he looks to be in game shape and ready to go. A lot of receivers got in on the action tonight, but to no one's shock he looked like the best of the lot.
Chris Owens' fumble recovery gave us a glimpse of the awareness he brings to the table. Owens will likely not get much higher on the depth chart in his rookie season than nickel and dime packages, but he's got enormous big play potential in the defensive backfield and is going to be pushing hard for playing time all year long. Still could use a little work on those cover skills, though.
While we're talking rookie depth, how about that Lawrence Sidbury kid? El-Sid picked up the team's only two sacks and looked athletic and aggressive against the Rams. With pressure on the passer still topping my wish list for major changes in 2009, Sidbury has shown that he could be an extremely effective situational rusher from Week 1. Let's hope he gets a chance to show it in the regular season.
Eric Brock isn't the world's finest cover safety, but his pick off of Rams' QB Keith Null was a nice one, and simply by playing two solid games of football he's become a frontrunner for a roster spot in my mind. The team could use anyone who might author a few big plays in the secondary this season.
After whiffing on an extra point last week, Jason Elam returned to form by nailing both XPs and a pair of field goals this week. Ho-hum.
Big credit for the coaching staff this week. In a game that has no lasting impact on the standings, it's good to see Mike Smith & Co. going for the jugular just to see if it works. For the most part it did, and the starters got a chance to really put up some big plays, so kudos. There's a fine line between being aggressive and being reckless, but if anybody can walk it this season, it's our own talented group of playcallers.

LOWLIGHTS

Shock, buddy, you gotta help me out. I've been defending your inclusion on this roster and championing your ascension to the #2 spot for the better part of the last three years, and this was probably the worst game I've ever seen from you. Those two picks were bad, the fumble was atrocious and some of the throws out there were just plain errant. With John Parker Wilson turning in a workmanlike performance late in the game, we could be talking about your roster spot in a couple of weeks. Here's hoping things turn around.
This isn't directed at a particular player, but the way Brock Berlin and to a lesser extent Keith Null were able to pass the ball on our backups is a huge indictment of the strength of our second-and-third stringers. Last week I fretted about the way Matthew Stafford was able to pick his way through our secondary, and it's sadder by several degrees when two guys fighting for the third string job on the St. Louis Rams can make you look mediocre. It's the pre-season, I know, but with our cornerbacking corps in flux and safeties and linebackers still finding their way in this defense, stuff is going to have to start clicking soon or I'm really going to be worried when we have to face off against a team like the New England Patriots. I'd expect that to be a focus at practice this week.

THE WRAPUP

Game MVP: We'll split this one between Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, who played the Rams like a cheap harpischord. Many guys worthy of being in the running for this, but I just can't ignore how utterly dominant both looked. With such high praise from The Falcoholic, congrats on your least meaningful award ever, guys!

Game Theme Song: "The Last Line of Defense" by Dilated Peoples. Just because.

One Thing To Take Away: With the likelihood of at least some injuries and the need to not have our starters log enormous minutes every game, the Falcons' backups will be a big piece of our success this year. Hopefully that's a positive thing.

Next Week: We'll be taking on the mighty (?) San Diego Chargers, who are ably represented by Bolts From The Blue. Give the site a visit, as I'll be popping by to answer the questions of curious (?) Chargers fans this week.

Final Word: Twenty-thirteen.

Friday Pre-Game Notes: Tackling The St. Louis Rams

Dave the Falconer — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:00:23 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

Thomas Brown will try to run his way into our hearts Friday night. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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After a very average kind of game against the Detroit Lions last week, Falcons fighting for a roster spot will be looking to make a very big splash against the St. Louis Rams.

Some rosters are pretty well locked already, but the Falcons have a lot of guys who are poised to make a difference and are just waiting for the opportunity. Guys like Thomas Brown, the speedy potential special teams ace at running back, who is looking to unseat Jason Snelling. Guys like Chris Owens, who is drawing some rave reviews for his play at cornerback. And then there's guys like Dave the Falconer, who enjoys believing he makes a difference as he shouts and cheers from his futon. Bless them all.

With that in mind, let's jump in to some pre-game observations:

Chris Owens seems to be shattering the learning curve. If he wins a prominent job in the secondary he's likely going to struggle somewhat, but he's very smart to maximize his value on special teams. There are a lot of corners who are likely in front of him, but an impressive outing tonight could change that very quickly.
This is going to be a critical game for a lot of other rooks, like Vance Walker and Lawrence Sidbury, because Mike Smith wants to get them time against the Rams' starters. This will separate the men from the boys in a hurry, and it's a great way to accelerate the aforementioned learning curve.
Over at Turf Show Times, my brothers in blue-and-gold seem to think the injuries to Chris Houston and William Moore will make things easier for their passing game. That'd be true if they weren't down Marc Bulger and Donnie Avery, but since that's the case, I'm going to engage in a little good-natured trash talk and say NO WAY JERKS HAHAHA! Ahem.
Curtis Lofton, natural born leader? The expectations for one of The Falcoholic's favorites already are sky high, and it looks like he's ready to assume that kind of role. He and Mike Peterson will be critical to the growth of some of the younger guys in the front seven.
Apropos of nothing, here's a fun little feature on Peria Jerry. My favorite response by far is when D. Orlando Ledbetter at the AJC asks him who his favorite team is, and Jerry says the Falcons....and then says he "can't believe (DOL) asked me that." We're going to get along just fine, Peria!

Estimating the rookie contracts- Collie, Taylor

shake n bake — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:57:14 -0000

Moving backwards from the first installment to the two fourth round picks, Austin Collie (#127 overall) and Terrence Taylor (#136 overall)

Recapping, the Colts have been allotted just over 4mil for signing rookes of 7.5 to 8 million in cap room. They are unlikely to need very much of that space to sign the rookies. The biggest reason being that every rookie signed bumps a minimum salary player out of the top 51 of the roster, meaning that 310K comes off the cap at the same time as the signed rookie's hit goes on.

To the fourth rounders,

Austin Collie (#127 overall)

via media.lvrj.com

Last years' 4th rounder Jacob Tamme's (also #127 overall) contract details are only partially out there. He signed for 4 years and Coltscap has his 2009 cap charge (which allows for finding his signing bonus of 442K), but not a total cash number.

The picks directly before and after Collie remain unsigned, but Lawrence Sidbury (#125) and Andre Brown (#129)provide brackets 2 away from Collie in both directions. Sidbury signed with the Falcons for 4 years, worth 2.91mil, 441K of it signing bonus. Brown was inked by the Giants for 2.18mil over 4 years with 433K in bonus. Sidbury's agent seems to have done a very good job finding Sidbury 600K more than two earlier picks got in their four year contracts. Rich Ohrnberger (2.20mil) and Anthony Hill (2.21mil). Collies' deal will probably slot in with the earlier contracts rather than the outlier, Sidbury.

Like the Powers deal, contract total should slot in between the surronding players, but Collie will likely be getting a larger than usual chunk of real cash upfront, spreading the cap cash out more evenly across the deal.

My estimate- 4 years, 2.19mil, 450K bonus, 423K '09 cap hit

Running total (2 picks) 907K

Terrence Taylor (#136 overall)

via i90.photobucket.com

All four of the players around Taylor are signed, 3 of them to 4 year deals, giving pretty solid slotting for Taylor's deal. Troy Kropog and Gartrell Johnson, the two picks before Taylor both signed for 2.15mil contracts with 400k signing bonii. On the other side of Terrence Taylor, Jason Phillps signed a 3 year deal and William Middleton signed for 4 years, 1.96mil, with a 206K signing bonus. Why the big drop? Both the pre-Taylor picks and post-Taylor picks match up pretty well with the picks near them. The drop seems to show there is a significant difference (more than just a normal pick or two drop) between the end of the 4th round and the start of the 5th. Taylor was the final pick of the 4th round so should fit more in with the 4th rounders.

My estimate- 4 years, 2.10mil, 415K bonus, 414K '09 cap hit

Running total (3 picks) 1.3mil

Falcons Ink DE Lawrence Sidbury, One Of The Steals Of The Draft

Dave the Falconer — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:02:27 -0000

via www.ams.org

First off, a tip of my porkpie hat to tlozwarlock, who broke the news with aplomb this morning. I wanted to analyze this signing a little bit further, in large part because I truly believe Lawrence Sidbury could be something very special.

The unsourced Rotoworld report tells us Sidbury is getting a signing bonus of $441,000 and a four year contract in total, very reasonable numbers. What makes this signing so exciting for me is Sidbury's huge potential as a pass rusher and the simple fact that no one besides John Abraham on this defensive line really does much good in the sack and hurry categories. To get someone of his caliber in the fourth round is an incredible value, and it's good to see him locked up relatively early.

As I mentioned in his initial profile, I think Sidbury is going to push to play immediately, and if there are any injuries he has a legitimate chance to start in year one. With time, his superior motor and surprising strength may allow him to reach double digit sack totals, and it could be sooner than any of us think. The sky's the limit with El-Sid.

What are your eventual expectations for Sidbury?

The Atlanta Falcon Defensive Line Could Be A Force In 2009

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:18 -0000

More photos » by John Bazemore - AP

Peria Jerry will treat offensive linemen like tiny obstacles this season. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

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It seems like a very long time since the Falcons have boasted a dominant defensive line, but apparently those happy days are here once again.

That's the good word from ESPN's Pat Yasinskas, who lists his top ten defensive linemen in the NFC South and includes three Falcons. Incredibly, one of them hasn't played a snap at the NFL level, but Yasinskas is a fearsome oracle and sees the future so clearly that he knows exactly what Matt Ryan will shout when the Falcons hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy this year.

I say that in jest, of course. But take a look at these rankings:

1. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta. Sure, go ahead and call him one-dimensional. But aren't dominant pass-rush skills the dimension you want most from a defensive end?

First of all, awesome. Where Abe walks, civilization ends. Can't dispute that. I think he's plenty capable against the run, but that's overshadowed by the fact that he just gobbles up quarterbacks. As long as he's healthy and Julius Peppers doesn't show up determined to grab a massive new contract, Abe's the guy to beat. He more or less single-handedly took care of the Falcon pass rush last year, so the fact that he might actually have some help this year makes this ranking all the more justified. Who's next?

3. Jonathan Babineaux, DT, Atlanta. Very quietly, he's become the most solid interior lineman in the division.

....What?

Babineaux was very, very solid last year, and he clearly deserved a new contract. I'm the last man to quibble with his success, and he's the only clear starter on the interior coming into 2009. Still, I can't help but think that the defensive tackle corps in this division has to have taken a bit of a nosedive for Babineaux to be considered the NFC South's best. Here's hoping that with Peria Jerry and Chauncey Davis hopefully joining him as starters, he'll be free to author a few more big plays. If nothing else, he's rock solid against both the pass and the run, and you can't argue with that.

Oh, and speaking of Jerry...

7. Peria Jerry, DT, Atlanta. He's only a rookie, but there's little bust factor with this guy. He should be a force right away.

It's nice to hear the guy getting praise this early in the game, and his skillset as a penetrating defensive tackle with size suggests that he should fit right in this year. Injuries will be my biggest concern with Jerry, but it's really much too early to say whether that'll be a factor going forward. It's also probably a little too early to include him in a top ten list, but I'm not going to argue. Flattery will get you everywhere, Pat Yasinskas.

Add in a hopefully motivated Jamaal Anderson and another solid end in Chauncey Davis and you've got a pretty good group of starters. Take that equation further and add in potential pass rush help in the form of Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury, plus a mammoth defensive tackle in Trey Lewis, and you've got a line that might actually shake up the image many have of a weak front four that doesn't create enough push in the pass rush. Dominant might be too strong a word, but with so much attention on revamped linebacking corps and the heavy competition in the secondary, it'd be nice to feel comfortable with the guys in the trenches. For once, I can't see any reason we wouldn't be.

Your thoughts?