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Falcons add 3 defensive lineman


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FLOWERY BRANCH, GA The Atlanta Falcons today signed three players, including defensive tackles Kindal Moorehead and Rashad Moore, and defensive end Simon Fraser.

Moorehead, 6-2, 285 pounds, joins the Falcons after spending the previous five seasons in a Carolina Panthers uniform. In 75 career games, he has totaled 138 tackles (85 solo), nine sacks, three forced fumbles, four passes defensed and one interception, which he returned for a touchdown.

The Alabama alum has competed in all 16 games for the past two seasons and totaled the second multiple-sack game of his career in 2006 against the Falcons in the season finale. In 2004, Moorehead totaled a career-high 50 tackles while his 17-yard interception return for a touchdown against quarterback Brian Griese and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sealed a Panthers 37-20 victory.

Moore, 6-3, 325 pounds, has collared 88 career tackles (61 solo), three sacks, two passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in four NFL seasons. He was originally drafted by Seattle in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and spent two seasons with the Seahawks. In 2004, he tallied 46 stops (32 solo), two sacks and three fumble recoveries, which were all career highs.

In 2006, Moore was claimed off of waivers by the New York Jets before joining the New England Patriots last season.

Fraser, 6-6, 300 pounds, spent the last three seasons with the Cleveland Browns and compiled 54 tackles (28 solo), 4.5 sacks, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 48 games.

In 2006, the Ohio State graduate totaled 4.5 sacks which ranked second on the defensive unit while contributing with 36 stops, three passes defensed and a blocked extra point against Cincinnati.

Your thoughts?

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Well, no big splash here. Moorehead hasn't started since 2004, and hasn't exactly been a star back-up, either. I don't know much about Rashad Moore but he doesn't sound he's a threat to win a starting job either. Seems like he's been injured more than healthy since he's been in the NFL. Simon Fraser is the only one of these who really did anything impactful last year.

I bet only one of these guys makes the 53 man roster, unless we fail to properly address the position between now and the start of camp.

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We don't have any depth on the defensive line but that's a position we're certainly going to look at in the draft. Babs is a good second string UT, but none of the guys we added is going to be a starter there. So we still need a starting UT to go with Babs.

I do like Trey Lewis at nose, but he's had health issues. He could still be ready for the start of the season, and I think he has to figure into our rotation at nose. Stanley also played pretty well for us last year and I'd like to hang on to him as well.

So we have some solid back-ups who can fill out the rotation at DT but I think we still need a starter at both spots. I don't think anyone we just signed is going to be slated to fill a starting job on the line. One guy probably hangs around to win a back-up spot, and maybe two, but I feel we still have a lot of work to do in adressing those interior positions. Mike Smith says he wants to be strong up front. We don't have anything nearly resembling an intimidating presence in the middle, and this crop of guys who've been mostly reserves isn't enough.

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TD is building Depth

Falcons signed DLs Simon Fraser and Rashad Moore.

Interesting that both have extensive experience in 3-4 systems. While coach Mike Smith and GM Thomas Dimitroff have indicated that Atlanta will use a 4-3 this year, Dimitroff's background is in New England. Fraser, 24, can play end and tackle and posted five sacks in 2006. Moore is a nose tackle.

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vafalconfan (3/8/2008)
How do we know that are not contemplating using a variance or hybrid of the 3-4?

I think that is unlikely, more a case of getting good depth and insurance if Lewis doesnt heal well.

I think in the draft at least 2-4 picks will be on the OL and DL, hopefully if the first day of the draft as well.

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