A Falcons Dynasty-Change in Atlanta

[Mike3207]

2008 Draft- Round 1

There were some surprises in this draft. Clady went at 5, Brandon Albert at 6, and Matt Ryan fell to 15. I targeted Keith Rivers from the start. I traded down to the Ravens at 8, picking up their 8, their 2009 1st and their 20093 rd. I then traded up to 7, because I knew the Patriots would get Rivers.

1-1-Dolphins-LT Jake Long

1-2-Rams-RE Chris Long

1-3-Falcons-traded down to 8, also getting the Ravens 1st and 3rd next year. The Ravens picked DT Glenn Dorsey.

1-4-Raiders-HB Darren McFadden

1-5-Chiefs-LT Ryan Clady

1-6-Jets-LG Brandon Albert

1-7-Patriots- Itraded up here, giving up my 1-8, 2(48)and 2009 6th. I then drafted ROLB Keith Rivers.

1-8-Patriots trade down here for the Broncos 1-12, 4 (116), and 2009 3rd. The Broncos then draft LOLB Jerod Mayo.

1-9-Bengals-DT Sedrick Ellis

1-10-Saints- CB Leodis McKelvin

1-11-Bills-RT Jeff Otah

1-12-Patriots-CB Dominique Cromartie

1-13-Cardinals-LE Derrick Harvey

1-14-Bears-RB Rashard Mendenhall

1-15-Lions-QB Matt Ryan

1-16-Panthers-CB Mike Jenkins

1-17-Chiefs-trade to Bills for 2 (41), 2009 2nd, and 2009 4th. Bills draft CB Aqib Talib

1-18-Texans-TE Duane Keller

1-19-Eagles-ROLB Vernon Gholston

1-20-Bucs- HB Felix Jones

1-21-Redskins-HB Chris Johnson

1-22-Cowboys-DT K. Balmer

1-23-Steelers-CB A. Cason

1-24-Titans-LE L. Jackson

1-25-Seahawks-HB J. Stewart

1-26-Jaguars-LT Chris Williams

1-27-Chargers-RT Gordon Cherilus

1-28-Cowboys-They traded down to Eagles for their 3 (80), 2009 2nd and 2009 3rd, Eagles draft SS Kenny Phillips.

1-29-49ers-RE P. Merling

1-30-Packers-QB Joe Flacco

1-31-Rams-CB-T. Porter

1-32-Dolphins-WR Jordy Nelson

Coach Smith- "We got the player we were targeting in Keith Rivers, although we had to pay a stiff price to do it. QB is a need also, but it's one we will address later in the draft."

[Mike3207]

Rest of Draft and UDFA

2-34-RE Calais Campbell

2-37-Traded to Broncos for their 2 (52) and 3 (82)

2-52-Traded to Patriots for their 3 (69) and 3 (94)

3-68-DT Dre Moore

3-69-QB Andre Woodson. He won't be very good at the options, but he will learn the playbook.

3-84-HB Ray Rice. Surprised he fell this far, and he's done good for me in the past.

3-94-SS Craig Steltz

4-100-WR Mario Manningham

4-113-CB Zack Bowman

5-131-RG R. Schuening

5-139-Traded up, giving up DT Jordan Babineaux and my 7 (217), drafted DT Athya Rubin

5-144-Traded up, giving up WR Michael Jenkins, my 7 (197) and a 2009 7th-drafted WR Kevin Robinson.

6-179-SS Kelin Johnson

Undrafted:

FB Carl Stewart

LG David Hale

C Steve Justice

RE Tony Bake


Released:

RG Kynan Forney

C Todd McClure

Training Camp is next.

[Mike3207]

Training Camp

Signed ROLB Keith Rivers to 5 year, 34.4 million dollar deal, 8 million signing bonus. It goes from 5.9 million-6.4-6.8-7.4-7.9 million.

Season Goals:

Trade for Ravens TE Quinn Sypniewski

Trade for Browns QB Ken Dorsey

Increase Keith Rivers Play Knowledge to 25%

Increase Michael Boley's Play Knowledge to 25%

Increase Keith Brooking's Play Knowledge to 35%

I met the TE goal by trading QB Aaron Brooks and a 2010 6th, an acceptable price.

I signed RE Calais Campbell to a 4 year, 2.6 million dollar contract. It goes 560K-610K-660K-730K.

Injuries:

TE M. Milner out 4-9 weeks (and so it begins)

RE J. Abraham out 1-3 weeks, I'll give Bake the start the 1st preseason game.

New Season Goals:

Play Keith Rivers 50 downs

Play Joe Staley 50 downs

Play Dre Moore-50 downs.


I'm at the first preseason game now. I'll get the playbooks Learned, then play the 1st preseason game.

[Mike3207]

Preseason

Preseason Game 1- Jaguars 35, Falcons 7

Rivers 13 tackles, INT. I met all the PK goals.

Preseason Game 2-Colts 34, Falcons 7

Rivers 7 tackles, INT

Preseason Game 3-Titans 24, Falcons 14

RE John Abraham out 2-5 weeks-hernia

Bob Barton out 1-4 weeks, torn calf muscle

Preseason Game 4-Falcons 16, Ravens 14

Woodson 284 yds passing, Campbell sack, Bowman INT


I purchased Ambition for my HC and Small School Insider for my GM after the game.


Preseason Promise-Win at least 3 games



Season Goals

Beat Bucs in Week 2

Win 3 out of the first 4 games-Fast Start

Re-sign P Mitch Berger

Re-sign LOLB Michael Boley

Win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Hire a new GM

Have 90+ approval.

[Mike3207]

2008 Depth Chart

Overall is the 1st number, potential is the 2nd.

Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart - 2008
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	Mario Manningham-75/90	Kevin Robinson-67/86	Jaymar Johnson-68/83
TE	Mercedes Lewis-70/80	Quinn Sypniewski-71/76	Martez Milner- 64/73
LT	Joe Staley-86/93	Quinn Ojinaka-73/74
LG	Justin Blalock-84/89	David Hale-69/87
C	Alvin Mathers-77/82	Steve Justice-74/83
RG	Roy Schuening-68/86	Casey Shade- 74/78
RT	Todd Weiner-82/82	Brady Bassett-68/73
WR	Roddy White-82/83	Laurent Robinson-69/80
QB	Andre Woodson-77/94	Zach Hayes-70/82
FB	Carl Stewart-76/84	Ovie Mughelli-80/80
HB	Ray Rice-79/87	Jerious Norwood-81/89	Nick Drew-71/83
Base 4-2-5 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Calais Campbell-84/89	Johnnie Givens-69/76
LDT	Dre Moore-84/91	Barry Booker-72/76
RDT	Athya Rubin-80/84
RDE	John Abraham-82/83	Tony Bake-67/81
SLB	Keith Rivers-90/95	Michael Boley-86/88
WLB	Keith Brooking-88/89
CB	Chris Houston-81/86	Ty Law-83/83
SS	Craig Steltz-83/88	Tyron Gabriel-73/79
FS	Kelin Johnson-78/83	Star Price-65/77
SS	Jamar Adams-77/80
CB	Zack Bowman-78/86
Base 3-3-5 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	Calais Campbell-84/89	Johnnie Givens-69/76
NT	Dre Moore-84/91	Athya Rubin-80/84
RDE	John Abraham-82/83	Tony Bake-67/81
LOLB	Michael Boley-86/88	Stephen Nicholas-75/79
MLB	Keith Brooking-88/89	B. B. Osborne-77/82
ROLB	Keith Rivers-90/95	Harry Beck-75/84
CB	Chris Houston-81/86	Ty Law-83/83
SS	Casey Steltz-83/88	Tyron Gabriel-73/79
FS	Kelin Johnson-78/83	Star Price-65/77
SS	Jamar Adams-77/80
CB	Zack Bowman-78/86
Special Teams
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
K	Rob Bironas-90/93	Mitch Berger-66/85
P	Mitch Berger-86/87	Rob Bironas-73/90
PR	Carl Stewart-76	Zack Bowman-76
KR	Carl Stewart-76	Zack Bowman-76
LS	Justin Blalock-82/88	Joe Staley-82/92	Todd Weiner-78/81

[twl221]

I have a feeling you're going to be sacked a lot...

[Mike3207]

2008 Regular Season

I'll just list the score of the 16 games I simmed during the 2008 season. The Falcons ended with a 10-6 record, although that was only good for 3rd in the NFC South. I missed the playoffs, losing out to teams like Green Bay with 8 wins.

Game 1-Falcons 13, Lions 10
Rivers 13 tackles, Brooking 12 tackles, Campbell sack

Game 2-Falcons 28, Bucs 14
Met Bucs goal, K. Johnson 2 INTs, Campbell sack
Purchased Contract Negotiation 2 with GM

Game 3-Chiefs 16, Falcons 8
Bowman INT, Rivers 10 tackles

Game 4-Falcons 31, Panthers 21
Manningham 91 rec yds, Rivers sack and INT, Campbell sack

Game 5-Packers 21, Falcons 17
Rice 100 rec yds, Rivers 12 tackles
Re-signed P Mitch Berger to 3 yr, 3.1 million dollar deal, 500K bonus-met goal
GameChanger-Miraculous Recovery-Kevin Robinson immediately recovered from a serious injury he had had.

Game 6-Falcons 31, Bears 17
Rice 92 rush yds, Moore 2 sacks
Injuries-Carl Stewart 2-5 weeks-high ankle sprain, John Abraham 1-4 weeks-sprained ankle.

Game 7-Falcons 32, Eagles 22
Woodson 4 TD passes, Rice 111 rec yds, Bowman 2 INTs
Injuries-Bowman sprained hamstring out 4-9 weeks

Game 8-Falcons 35, Raiders 10
Woodson-4 TD passes, Rice 99 yds rushing, Steltz 2 INTs
P Mitch Berger announced he's retiring after the season.

Game 9-Saints 40, Falcons 21
Campbell sack

Game 10-Broncos 35, Falcons 0
Rivers 8 tackles and sack

Game 11-Falcons 19, Panthers 13
Rivers INT, Moore sack, Bironas 4 FG
John Abraham-cracked leg bone-out for season-placed on IR

Game 12-Falcons 28, Chargers 21
Rivers 11 tackles

Game 13-Saints 30, Falcons 7
Moore sack

Game 14-Bucs 28, Falcons 21
Woodson 300 yds, Rivers INT and sack

Game 15-Falcons 47, Vikings 25
Woodson 363 pass yards, Manningham 146 rec. yds, Bowman 2 INT
I bought Charisma for my HC

Game 16-Falcons 19, Rams 17
Adams 2 INT.

I finished the season with 98 approval. I'll post the final regular season standings and my teams individual stats next.

[Mike3207]

Quote: Originally Posted by twl221

I have a feeling you're going to be sacked a lot...

I only gave up 35 sacks in 2008. Joe Staley was the main culprit, giving up 14 on the year. It actually surprised me, because teams gameplanned to bring pressure all year long.