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Middle Linebacker -- FA or draft


chuck

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We all know some of our 'must' needs are OT,DT,QB,DB...., but we cannot overlook the middle linebacker position. I just don't see who we can get either in free agency or the draft that would really make this position a strength. I don't even think Brooking can play OLB at this stage and should go the way of WD asap. Can anybody fill me in on our best options at middle linebacker?

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I really like Curtis Lofton, MLB, Oklahoma in the 2nd round. There's a chance he could sneak into the first round, but if he's there when we pick in the 2nd, I'd take him. He's a strong, run-stuffer, with enough athleticism to cover.

Another good guy would be Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee. He's an athletic freak, and could play any of the LB spots.

There are some mid-to-late round guys like: Beau Bell, Jonathan Goff, Ben Moffitt, Spencer Larsen, and a couple others.

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I think we should bring in Mario Haggan 6'3" 263lbs. out of

Buffalo. Good special teams player and bigger linebacker

than anybody we have. He has been off the radar since his

Jr. year at Mississippi State. He was highly touted as a top

linebacking prospect at that time. Due to need he was move

to DE his Senior year and hasn't been heard from since. He is

a 5 year veteran with a nose for the ball.

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I have MLB ranked 4th on my list positions of need for Atlanta (behind DT,OT and QB) If we trade back into the bottom of the first round and the unlikely event that Dan Connor is available that late I'd be interested in drafting him. If not, take Lofton with our second rounder. Both guys were relentless playmakers in college.

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scott24falcs (3/3/2008)
I really like Curtis Lofton, MLB, Oklahoma in the 2nd round. There's a chance he could sneak into the first round, but if he's there when we pick in the 2nd, I'd take him. He's a strong, run-stuffer, with enough athleticism to cover.

Another good guy would be Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee. He's an athletic freak, and could play any of the LB spots.

There are some mid-to-late round guys like: Beau Bell, Jonathan Goff, Ben Moffitt, Spencer Larsen, and a couple others.

Curtis Lofton is pretty solid. But I think that Goff, Bell, Mayo, and Moffitt are also great talents that we can get in later rounds. IMHO, I don't think we can take a LB in the second, unless we pick up another pick. Our needs in other spots are too great. We must address QB, OT, and DT with our first three picks, then ILB.

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I agree with that OL...It looks like a power running OL for Mularkey..I like Curtis Lofton also.

I believe he'll be there for our lower 2nd round pick. Mayo will workout also.

OLB --Boley, Ezra Butler (DRAFT)

MLB --Lofton(DRAFT) , Tony Taylor

WLB --Nicholas, Brooking

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Whether you like it or not, Brooking will be starting at MLB for at least another year. We just got Stephen Nicholas last year, and Boley will be holding down the other spot. I think Brooking will serve as a stop-gap for a couple of years while they rebuild around him.

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somecut8 (3/6/2008)
next year man, be patient. next year there's laurinaitis, USC and LSU dude we can draft

since we didnt sign maurice williams... im gonna have to agree here.

i was just lookin and right now there are 5 guys at ILB that i like, including laurinaitis, maualuga, darry beckwith, dave philistin and then jasper brinkley also.

i feel like laurinaitis or beckwith would be the best fit for our cover-2 scheme, assuming it is similar to the one the bears, colts and bucs run a lot. thats jmo.

jerod mayo could be that guy also, so its hard to tell. i could definately live with getting him but its a question of whether we want to put off RT or ILB, and i think ILB might be more important.

gah this draft stuff is going to make me nuts. :laugh:

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It depends on what happens in the first two rounds. Theres a chance Dan Connor could fall to us with our first 2nd round pick, and there is a chance that Mayo or Wheeler could fall to the 3rd round with Hall falling to the 4th. I would MUCH rather trading up into the mid-1st round - I would like to see Atlanta use the #3 pick on Dorsey or Ellis, and then trading its first 2nd rounder with a 3rd rounder to maybe move up to 14th (Bears), 20th (Tampa Bay), 22nd (Dallas) in the first round. Then we could take our franchise LT - Williams or Otah.

I think for right now we should try and pick up and older FA to fill the need for this season kind of like how the Pats dished out 1 year deals like candy last year. Right now I think Takeo Spikes if the price isnt painful, or even bring in LaVar Arrington or Dan Morgan.

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I say we bring in Bell/Goff/Hall in the 4th round and let him compete with Taylor for the MLB position. If neither works out this season, we draft another one higher next year.

Boley and Brooking manning the OLB positions with Nicholas backing them up is just fine for me.

I also think the team should consider bringing in Colvin or Spikes and checking them out. If either could play healthy for a year, they'd be a great addition to the defense.

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I wouldn't want to spend a high pick on Dan Connor, I'm not really a big fan of his. However Mayo (if he falls) or Goff I would take in the third. Next year does seem pretty stacked at the position, so Maybe a later pick like 4th/5th will suffice.

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scott24falcs (3/3/2008)
I really like Curtis Lofton, MLB, Oklahoma in the 2nd round. There's a chance he could sneak into the first round, but if he's there when we pick in the 2nd, I'd take him. He's a strong, run-stuffer, with enough athleticism to cover.

Another good guy would be Jerod Mayo, LB, Tennessee. He's an athletic freak, and could play any of the LB spots.

There are some mid-to-late round guys like: Beau Bell, Jonathan Goff, Ben Moffitt, Spencer Larsen, and a couple others.

I totally agree with Lofton or Mayo. The other guys aren't bad either.

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