How much would Dimitroff drafting a safety early shock you?

[swoosh]

It would not shock me at all. In fact, I'm beginning to think a safety and not a corner will be the pick with one of the Falcons' first three selections.

With DeCoud and Moore locked up, the thought of a safety being a priority in the draft never crossed my mind. But then I saw several top safety prospects being connected to the Falcons: Jonathan Cyprien, D.J. Swearinger, and Phillip Thomas. Sure, it could be just smokescreen, but I don't think that's the case.

For starters, Moore is injury prone. We all saw what happened to the defense when he went down last year. The Falcons simply don't have much behind him. But you don't draft a player in the first couple of rounds just for depth, especially when you have other needs. The fact that a safety would provide depth is really just icing on the cake.

The real reason is said draft pick will start. Whaaaaat? Yeah. Nolan LOVES his nickel package (4-2-5). We all know that. But did you know that he likes to use a third safety? He hasn't done so here because he simply doesn't have the players. But that'll change after the draft IMO.

Let's, just for a second, say Swearinger is the pick in the second round. No other free agents are signed. The starting five in the secondary is Samuel and McClain at CB, DeCoud and Moore at FS and SS respectively, and Swearinger in the fifth DB role. I think a player like that would make the defense a lot more versatile and better overall. For starters, he's bigger and much, MUCH better against the run than McClain who filled that role last year. That alone instantly makes your run defense better. He's also big and athletic enough to cover TE's, something they couldn't do last year.

I think it makes a lot of sense. What say you? Smokescreen or legitimate possibility?
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[SpoonFed56]

Honestly, I have been hearing some things about S... and that would be kinda out of the box pick... But the rich get richer? DeCoud/Moore/Swearinger would be a hell of a back end! Swearinger is huge; We would have our own "Legion of Boom" in ATL
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[BeeperKing]

I noticed all the safeties that we brought in too. I thought it was a smokescreen at first, but now think it's a legit possibility. All the reasons you listed are all good, but maybe the FO views some of them as cornerbacks too.

Another reason could be divisional. Carolina will defiantly take a safety early, New Orleans might too. We could just be getting to know the enemy.
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Daboyle250 on the sig

Foster a Falcon: Thomas DeCoud

[matt2roddy]

Cyprien would be friggin sick
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My 2011 Adopt-A-Falcon: 1st Team All Rookie Linebacker Akeem Dent!!!
2012 Adopt-A-Falcon: CB Asante Samuel

[SpoonFed56]

Swearinger/Cyprien fit the mold of a hybrid S/LB... can play the run or go into coverage... God Nolan is gonna mold this defense so nice!
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[tech2186]

Swearinger is more of a box safety. His coverage skills are very suspect. Now I am not saying you are wrong but didn't the Falcons draft a Safety late last year? I still think that the surprise pick in the first 3 selections would be a Guard. There are some good Guard prospects in this draft and I still don't know how comfortable the team feels about Reynolds or Blaylock for that matter.
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ROO to all the Nasty Que Dogs!! I love my Omega Psi Phi!!!
University of Georgia Class of 2008

[scar988]

[scar988]

[tech2186]

[scar988]

[Mekias]

Yeah, I guess it's possible we draft a safety high. I'd still be slightly stunned considering the money invested in Moore/DeCoud. Although, looking at DeCoud's contract, he wasn't given much guaranteed money and his cap number almost doubles to 4.8 million in 2014. Releasing him after 2013 would cost us 1.8 million in cap space. It's certainly possible we are considering his replacement.

I thought DeCoud would push on and become a pro-bowler but he hasn't really. Nolan's confusing schemes helped him get some INTs last year but I still think he's kind of average.

Could we be looking at safeties to play a pseudo-OLB position and guard the likes of Jimmy Graham? Nolan doesn't do things by the book. Like Swoosh said, a 3rd safety isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[adam9]

[tech2186]

[scar988]

[falcfan4life]

if we go S/LB i like Samrock