Falcons
C-
Drafting Matt Ryan at number 3 is to big of a risk in my opinion. Exspecially if Glenn Dorsey turns out to be a 10 time pro bowler which is likely.
Sam Baker was a good choice and the Falcons did not give up to much to move up and get him. Before his injury plagued senior season Baker was considered the top offensive lineman in the country. Still he is a gamble becuase of his histroy of injuries.
Curtis Lofton was a great pick in the 2nd round and the 2nd linebacker taken in the draft behind Keith Rivers. He has a knack for being in on every play and his 11.5 tackles per game proves so.
The other pick I like is the reciever out of Louisville Harry Douglas. He has blazing speed and many is comparing him to Wes Welker.
Thomas DeCoud may be a steal in the 3rd round since he is capable of playing both safety positions.
As for the rest I would like to take them including Matt Ryan and dump them into the garbage. While I like a few picks here and there none of them standout. The reason the Falcons get a poor grade is because they had bigger needs at other positions and did not address those needs first.
Our defensive line is in bad need of not 1, but 2 defensive tackles and the Falcons failed to draft one at all in the entire draft. After Petrino cut Grady Jackson last season and then this offseason the Falcons brass decided to cut Rod Coleman that left the team in bad need of two defensive tackles.
This was pegged as a needs based draft by Dimitroff and he failed to deliver. He spoke of building inside out and so on. But with only 1 lineman taking (Sam Baker) on either side of the ball I say the Falcons failed at what they set out to do so in return they get a grade C-.
Until they get proper protection for a quarterback there is no since in drafting one in my opinion. Matt Ryan will fail and not because of his skill or talent but because most quarterbacks who do fail that are drafted high usually doesn't have a great line protecting them. Tim Couch, Joey Harrington, and David Carr all saw what it was like to be put on bad teams and asked to produce.
Ben Rothilsberger, Phillip Rivers, and Eli Manning all saw what it was like to be put on good teams and succeed. And people wonder why most quarterbacks that are drafted high fail. It's eay look at the teams that drafted them and there is your answer. Teams that are good and have playmakers usually are the ones who's quarterbacks survive. The teams who lack a line, and playmakers are usually the ones who have the busts at quarterback.
