Been gone...

[Ben E Lou]

Hello everyone:

I was out of town, with no 'net access, from Friday afternoon until now, and I have a fairly busy afternoon. Just glanced at my e-mail and PM box, and there are a number of PM's, e-mails and reported posts from various ones of you. I'll get to all of them ASAP, but I didn't want anyone to think I was simply ignoring them. Thanks!

--Ben

[korme]

Hello Dog

[Fritz]

Did you go to a (Big) Butt Reduction Camp?

[Ben E Lou]

Dola:

Just to clarify: "ASAP" might mean as late as tomorrow morning in some cases. Out for now...

[korme]

worst.dola.ever.

[Ben E Lou]

One more thing....

Would someone mind posting a link, or a list, of who the Falcons drafted in this thread?

[Alf]

What do you think of Atlanta draft WE ?

[Easy Mac]

<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#163d64" id="inlinetable"> <tbody><tr bgcolor="#163d64" class="white"><td>RD</td><td>PK(OVR)</td><td>NOTES</td><td>NAME</td><td>POS</td><td>SCHOOL</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>1</td><td>8(8)</td><td> </td><td>DEANGELO HALL (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7270)</td><td>CB (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=82)</td><td>VIRGINIA TECH (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2459)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>1</td><td>29(29)</td><td>from Indianapolis</td><td>MIKE JENKINS (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7998)</td><td>WR (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=85)</td><td>OHIO STATE (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2344)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>3</td><td>27(90)</td><td>from Indianapolis</td><td>MATT SCHAUB (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7844)</td><td>QB (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=84)</td><td>VIRGINIA (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2457)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>4</td><td>5(101)</td><td> </td><td>DEMORRIO WILLIAMS (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7688)</td><td>OLB (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=30)</td><td>NEBRASKA (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2319)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>5</td><td>10(142)</td><td> </td><td>CHAD LAVALAIS (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7485)</td><td>DT (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=81)</td><td>LSU (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2250)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>6</td><td>21(186)</td><td>from Miami</td><td>ETRIC PRUITT (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7411)</td><td>S (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=82)</td><td>SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2412)</td></tr><tr bgcolor="#cccccc"><td>7</td><td>18(219)</td><td>from New Orleans through Miami</td><td>QUINCY WILSON (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/player?id=7891)</td><td>RB (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/position?id=87)</td><td>WEST VIRGINIA (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft04/tracker/school?id=2476)</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[yabanci]

according to DeAngelo Hall, the Falcons without question had the best draft in the last 25 years.

[GrantDawg]

Best pick: Chad Lavalais

Worst Pick: Matt Schaub

[Chief Rum]

according to DeAngelo Hall, the Falcons without question had the best draft in the last 25 years.

Did they just ask Hall, or did they poll all of the Atlanta draftees?

CR

[BishopMVP]

Best pick: Chad Lavalais

Worst Pick: Matt SchaubI agree. Why would the Falcons use a 1st-day pick on a guy all but guaranteed never to start for their team? Especially when they have so many needs. I like Lavalais a lot, I think he'll be a good player. I would have gone Woods over Jenkins, and I'd be worried about Hall's attitude, but they should be solid players. I also think Wilson should be a decent back, good value for a 7th.

[sabotai]

I agree. Why would the Falcons use a 1st-day pick on a guy all but guaranteed never to start for their team?

The thing that jumps to mind for me is that Vick's missed games in the last two season because of injuries. He may turn out to be injury prone and they'll need areliable backup that can come in and play at least a few games a year.

[Easy Mac]

so the Falcons have been playing a lot of FOF then?

[BishopMVP]

The thing that jumps to mind for me is that Vick's missed games in the last two season because of injuries. He may turn out to be injury prone and they'll need areliable backup that can come in and play at least a few games a year.Even with that scenario, it would seem to be wiser to sign a veteran to backup, and maybe pick a guy in the 6th or 7th to develop into a backup. If you draft a guy in the 3rd round, it should be for developing him into a starter.

[Cringer]

I agree. Why would the Falcons use a 1st-day pick on a guy all but guaranteed never to start for their team? Especially when they have so many needs. I like Lavalais a lot, I think he'll be a good player. I would have gone Woods over Jenkins, and I'd be worried about Hall's attitude, but they should be solid players. I also think Wilson should be a decent back, good value for a 7th.


Never know, Vick could end up being injury prone. Even if he isn't, it never hutrs to try to get a good backup QB. Never know when the star guy has to come out for a quarter or a half of a game, if you can have someone come in and produce to help you win, then its worth it. Or if he becomes good enough, trade bait later on....(although i know you don't draft a guy for this reason, unless you are A.J. Smith)

[sabotai]

Even with that scenario, it would seem to be wiser to sign a veteran to backup, and maybe pick a guy in the 6th or 7th to develop into a backup. If you draft a guy in the 3rd round, it should be for developing him into a starter.

I'm not saying it was a great move, just trying to offer up some rationale for it, even if it is a bad rationale. :)

[GrantDawg]

I'm not saying it was a great move, just trying to offer up some rationale for it, even if it is a bad rationale. :)
Exactly. The other thing is I kept hearing they were looking for someone "like" Vick (mobile with a strong arm) so that the offense wouldn't radically change styles without him. Stuab is like the "anti-Vick." He'll probably be good in one way (he seems a proto-typical West-coast QB), but he's not that mobile and has a weak arm, so the offense will definitely change with him in there.

[wbatl1]

Well remember, that this time last year DOug Johnson was considered a very good backup QB. I think they sre just trying to get options at QB, and I think it wasn't an awful pick. Schaub is a player that McKay likes, a producer in college with good intangables.

[Samdari]

it never hutrs to try to get a good backup QB.

I think given the rate QBs start entire seasons these days, backup QB is among the top 10 most important positions on an NFL team. Using a 3rd round pick on one is certainly not a waste.

[GrantDawg]

I think given the rate QBs start entire seasons these days, backup QB is among the top 10 most important positions on an NFL team. Using a 3rd round pick on one is certainly not a waste.
Not arguing waste...arguing whether Shaub is the right "fit" for the need.