Notable names like Ed Oliver
Youth Justin Bethel Jersey , Greedy Williams, Cody Ford, Jonah Williams and more talk Dirty Birds."Thought they didn’t always get a nice breach of shade coming in on
Nissan Stadium, many of the 2019 NFL Draft’s expected first-round picks got
their chance to field a few questions ahead of Thursday night’s big
extravaganza. The Atlanta Falcons sit squarely at Pick 14, though we all know
that could change with GM Thomas Dimitroff’s track record. It’s been surmised
among the prognosticators the team will look to add to the trenches or
secondary, though a surprise could always occur (linebacker, anyone?). As it
always does, the pick could go in a number of directions, and any number of guys
could be Atlanta-bound Thursday. So what do a handful of prospects think about
the possibility of joining the Falcons? The Ed Oliver Question One of the most
popular draft targets for the Falcons, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, has
met with the team and is garnering last-minute rumors to be an Atlanta target in
a trade up scenario. Right off the bat, Oliver describes the Falcons as
“smooth.” “I like the Falcons,” he said. “I like what they preached when they
came in. I like what they showed me on the board. Smooth team.” For Atlanta to
secure Oliver, it will most certainly need to package picks to move up into the
top 10. Built Ford Tough The team’s right tackle situation feels a bit in flux
right now with Ty Sambrailo the penciled-in starter, but a first-round tackle
could write his name in pen on the depth chart when the time comes. Oklahoma
tackle Cody Ford says he has spent a good bit of time with the team, which he
says includes a private workout and a combine visit. “Every interaction with
them, any meeting
Stitched Jack Crawford Jersey , has been awesome,” Ford said of Atlanta. “Nothing but great feedback from them. It’s great getting to know them, and I feel like I
put my best foot forward to let them get to know me.” A report from The
Athletic’s Jason Butt surfaced that suggested the team views Ford as a guard,
which the Sooner alum feels will be doable at the next level. “I’ve done it
before, so it’s nothing I’d be new to, or have to get adjusted to,” he said.
“I’ve been there before.” Ford says he’d look forward to helping the team as
they tinker with what offensive line schemes to run (zone vs. power, inside vs.
outside zone). “What better way than to figure it out with them?” Another
First-Round Gator? Could the Falcons take another Gator in the first round? In
2016, the team usurped expectations and drafted safety Keanu Neal, a home run of
a pick who just had his fifth-year option picked up. Florida tackle Jawaan
Taylor, to some the best tackle in the draft, says he’s talked with the Falcons
at the combine and went through a private workout with them in Gainesville.
Though he says he’s not sure where he’s headed Thursday, he says he likes what
Atlanta had to offer. “I feel like it’s a great team; great fit,” he said. “I’m
excited.” Heading to Dillard’s? Washington State tackle Andre Dillard could
definitely help Atlanta keep franchise quarterback Matt Ryan upright, as he’s
one of the more lauded pass protectors of recent memory. Dillard says he’s
visited with the team throughout the process. “Yeah, it would be cool,” Dillard
said of joining Atlanta. “It would be awesome.” Though he’s primarily known for
keeping pass rushers away from signal callers
Youth Jack Crawford Jersey , Dillard feels confident in his ability against the run, too. “I take pride in it because I like surprising people,” he said. “Going into
the Senior Bowl, people were like, ‘Oh, he actually can do that. I’ve never seen
him do that before.’ So it’s just kind of fun to have that surprise factor.”
Could the Tide Turn to Jonah? Alabama guard/tackle Jonah Williams is regarded as
one of the safest prospects in the entire draft, a plug-and-play talent who
could have elite potential early in his career. Williams says he’s met with
Atlanta at the combine. “I had good correspondence with them,” Williams said.
“I’m familiar with their left tackle, Jake [Matthews]. He’s done a great job
there, and I see a lot of myself in him. So I have a lot of respect for [the
team], Coach Quinn, obviously a ton of respect.” He also said he enjoyed meeting
with offensive line coach Chris Morgan.“It’d be an awesome opportunity; I grew
up in Atlanta,” he said. We’re still waiting to see exactly what kind of scheme
Atlanta will employ with the offensive line this fall, and Williams feels that
his experience at Alabama helps him fit them all. “We hung our hat on inside and
outside zone, which I feel like the NFL is moving toward, with the Shanahan
offense and all that,” he said. “But we ran a lot of power
Stitched Duke Riley Jersey , and a lot of counter, so we hung our hat on those things, too. I know, in the NFL, they tend to specialize in one thing or the other,
whereas in college we can run all of them, but I do feel comfortable in both
those schemes. Both of them suit me in different ways.” Feeling Greedy for
Secondary Help?The Falcons look to bolster their secondary in this draft, and
the prototypical corner to do just that could be LSU corner Greedy Williams.
Williams, very much a Dan Quinn-type corner, says he’s met with the Falcons in
the draft process. “I had a great conversation with them,” he said. “I feel
like, if I’m there, they’ve got me.“They’ve already got the offense; they just
need somebody to get them the ball back.” Williams says he can fill that role in
the Falcons’ secondary, but is also ready to go to work wherever he’s drafted.
He also said he understands the gravity of the position he plays and takes pride
in being the kind of corner NFL teams need right now. “[I’m] playing a position
where, if you make one mistake, it’s a touchdown,” Williams said. “You’ve got to
play with a lot of confidence and a great mindset. I’m coming out here to
dominate...[those are] my moors of playing cornerback
Youth Duke Riley Jersey , as far as like man-to-man on anybody.” Though, his LSU teammate Devin White, regarded as a lock to go in the first ten picks, wonders
why Atlanta wouldn’t draft a linebacker, citing Dallas’ investments at the
position. Fair point! Finally, a Bulldog? Deandre Baker is another potential
Atlanta target, though the former Georgia Bulldog says he’s not worked out for
the team. He did attend their Local Pro Day, though, so you’re telling us
there’s a chance?“It was good,” he said of his experience. “I didn’t work out,
but I met the coaches and had good conversations with them.” FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.
(AP) — This is not the way Tevin Coleman hoped to pad his resume entering
possible free agency.Coleman had an excellent opportunity to show he can be a
lead running back when Atlanta Falcons starter Devonta Freeman was placed on
injured reserve on Oct. 16. Coleman had been productive in a shared role with
Freeman the last three years, but his chance to shine as the clear-cut starter
hasn’t worked out as planned.The Falcons’ running game has flopped. Atlanta
ranks last in the NFL in rushing entering Sunday’s game at the Green Bay
Packers.The blame can’t rest only on Coleman and rookie backup Ito Smith. In
recent weeks there has been no room to run behind a makeshift offensive line.
It’s a big reason the Falcons (4-8) have lost four straight games .Instead of
seizing the job and increasing his value on the free-agent market, Coleman has
hit a wall. He has 14 carries for 14 yards in the last two games.Coleman said
Wednesday he’s not concerned about the possible financial hit to his free-agent
outlook.“I’m really not thinking about that right now,” Coleman said. “I’m just
thinking about playing my game.”Smith had more carries than Coleman in last
week’s 26-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens , though neither back was
effective.Smith had seven carries for 22 yards. Coleman ran for only eight yards
on a season-low six carries.“That wasn’t by design at all,” said coach Dan Quinn
of Coleman’s reduced role.The Falcons ran only five plays in the third quarter
against the Ravens’ top-ranked defense. Coleman had three carries on Atlanta’s
opening possession and only three more the remainder of the game.Coleman lost
yardage on three of his six carries.“It’s definitely been frustrating but we’ve
just got to keep on working
Stitched Ito Smith Jersey , keep coming out here and practicing hard and getting the right looks we need to get,” Coleman said.When the running game isn’t working,
Matt Ryan’s play-action passing game also suffers. Ryan’s 131 yards passing
against the Ravens set a career low for a full game.Clearly, it’s crucial for
Coleman and the Falcons to revive their running attack.“It sets up everything,”
guard Ben Garland said Wednesday. “We have to run the ball better so we’re
allowed to run the ball more and have more play-pass. It sets up the rest of our
offenseThe Falcons face difficult offseason decisions at running back.Freeman
signed a five-year, $41.25 million extension before the 2017 season, making him
one of the NFL’s highest paid running backs. He has played in only two games
this season due to knee, foot and groin injuries. Freeman and Coleman each
missed time with concussions in 2017.Coleman, in his fourth season, ran for 107
yards in a Week 2 win over Carolina . He has only one other game with at least
60 yards. Overall, he has 514 yards rushing with two touchdowns.Season-ending
injuries to starting guards Andy Levitre and Brandon Fusco have hurt ground
game, especially in the last few weeks.“Really over the last four games is where
we felt like we hit a wall,” Quinn said.Quinn is trying every option on the
patchwork line. Zane Beadles started over Garland at right guard against the
Ravens. On Wednesday, Ty Sambrailo took snaps ahead of starting right tackle
Ryan Schraeder. Quinn has not said if Beadles will make another start or he will
make a change at right tackle.Breaking the season into four-game quarters, Quinn
is looking at Sunday’s game as the start of the team’s fourth quarter and
another chance to find the missing running game.“We’re going to keep digging
hard,” he said. “You know how important it is to us and the team. We’re not
backing off even though the results over the last third quarter have not been
what we want. We’re starting fresh for us in this fourth quarter … going after
it as hard as we can in every way.”
