Depth chart: Biermann, Spoon have won starting spots

[kschreck 5,755]

I'm really surprised that Grimes is starting over Owens.

Isn't this three straight years now that coming out of camp grimes had the starting job?

I hope Owens is the nickle and and they better get Peterson lots of rest.

[bigdogg2277 29]

Congrats to Spoon and Biermann, I look forward to a good year from both. I like the overall depth chart and love how we seem to have pretty good depth all around. I do like the fact that we are making sure our play makers get on the field, can't wait until Sunday.

[redwolfcfc 88]

Good post.

Three questions:

Is there a link somewhere for this? I looked all over and and could not find anything.

Seems like that equals 54 players. Did I count wrong?

Who will be demoted when Babs comes back?

[ATLbound 52]

I'm stunned that Nicholas lost his job. He was and is a quality starter, significantly better than Mike Peterson.

Are we perhaps seeing some signs of favoritism from Mike Smith to Mike P.? Nicholas is significantly faster, longer, and much better in coverage and blitzing. We dont' get nearly the overall improvement in lbr speed that we would have if Weatherspoon was replacing Peterson. Giving that Nicholas was our best coverage backer, isn't this more of just a wash? WHy take a guy in the 1st to produce a wash at that position?

Actually I think I understand what is happening with Nicholas. I see it as:

1.) The coaching staff like Weatherspoon as a SLB instead of WLB thru what they saw in preseason and practice.

2.) They rather put Nicholas at WLB instead of SLB so they put in Weatherspoon so he can gain some experience and get better.

3.) Nicholas is very vital to our Special Teams. Peterson not so much.

I honestly think they talked this over with Nicholas and we will see Nicholas contribute more than most think. His contribution will come on ST and special packages on defense. Remember he got popular with the fanbase when he would come in on special packages and do what he does best, rush the passer.

[kschreck 5,755]

Actually I think I understand what is happening with Nicholas. I see it as:

1.) The coaching staff like Weatherspoon as a SLB instead of WLB thru what they saw in preseason and practice.

2.) They rather put Nicholas at WLB instead of SLB so they put in Weatherspoon so he can gain some experience and get better.

3.) Nicholas is very vital to our Special Teams. Peterson not so much.

I honestly think they talked this over with Nicholas and we will see Nicholas contribute more than most think. His contribution will come on ST and special packages on defense. Remember he got popular with the fanbase when he would come in on special packages and do what he does best, rush the passer.

Peterson can not take most of the snaps. They are going to have to sub him out regularly. There's no reason to wear him out early when we have two perfectly capable starter without him.

[eoin daly 4]

Cant say that Nicholas losing the starting spot is much of a shock to me, not that i dont like him or anything like that. i expect he will get rotated in alot, and be on special teams alot too. Mike P was great early on last year and then faded a bit toward the end, a good rotation with the LBs should help prevent that this time around. He may even end up getting back into the starting lineup later on in the year.

Expect alot of rotation at more positions than just Dline this year i think.

[Dharma Initiative 6,386]

So wait, Jamaal was a failue at DE and everyone said he was a good DT. but according to this he isn't a top 5 DT (gotta assume Babineaux would be ahead of him on there)

[Statick 13,185]

Wow. Spoon got the start? Very cool.

[ATLbound 52]

Peterson can not take most of the snaps. They are going to have to sub him out regularly. There's no reason to wear him out early when we have two perfectly capable starter without him.

Oh I agree. Nicholas still needs to get some more game experience as well. He will sub in for Pete and he will come in on special pass rush packages.

I agree because this is Peterson's last year so two things will happen:

1.) Nicholas will take over for him and he will be subbed in regularly

2.) Nicholas is not taking over and we will be picking up a LB in the offseason (draft/Free Agency)

I personally see the first option happening but this FO see and know more than me, so I could be surprised.

[Statick 13,185]

I thought Adkins was a MLB?

[falconidae 21,324]

Peterson can not take most of the snaps. They are going to have to sub him out regularly. There's no reason to wear him out early when we have two perfectly capable starter without him.

I think they'll do the same thing they'll do with Anderson/biermann- Anderson and Peterson will play mainly run downs, Biermann and Nicholas will play passing downs.

[ATLbound 52]

So wait, Jamaal was a failue at DE and everyone said he was a good DT. but according to this he isn't a top 5 DT (gotta assume Babineaux would be ahead of him on there)

Smitty has said multiple times that he is still listed as a DE. So he is a DE. He comes in at DT on special packages.

Same thing happened with Justin Tuck for the Giants before he made the switch. He was listed as a DE on the depth chart, but still played DT.

[Caddieman 1,159]

I hope Grimes can handle the physicality of H.Ward, he always seems to have problems with big/tall receivers. Grimes still has cold sweats thinking about Mushin Muhammad.

LMAO! H. Ward is 6-0!

[Dharma Initiative 6,386]

LMAO! H. Ward is 6-0!

He said physicality, not size. Grimes has had troubles with the grittier receivers

[falcons4life 529]

Starting Biermann makes the most sense for this game more than any other. Dixon can RUN and having an ultra-fast DE who can keep him contained is exactly what we need.

Personally I've wanted KB to start since last season but the timing is perfect to take over the starting spot and make it his for a long long time.

[bossFALCON™ 2,177]

He said physicality, not size. Grimes has had troubles with the grittier receivers

yup. see: roy williams, vincent jackson, muhsin muhammad, miles austin, etc.

[MagnusXXIII 1,266]

Trey had a monster offseason.

Nice bonus given Babs is out for the opener.

[Pacific_Falcon 4,560]

The only way i can understand it is that Owens physicality is needed at the NB position.

that makes little sense, since slot receivers seem typically smallish to me. which makes me doubly surprised, since this is something that would seemingly be grimes' niche. He is going to have a HUGE bullseye on him. I guess the staff felt he was better in coverage, but his coverage didn't seem to me markedly better than Owens'. I think he's riding the coattails of his INT's last year, but if he falters Owens will get his shot.

[apl2g 572]

Good to see we are making moves

[Upstate NY Falcon 532]

I like it. Thought I thought Spoon was going to take Peterson's spot. I also see Grimes won the LCB starting spot for now.

Nicholas might be out of a job next year if he doesn't watch out.

Nicholas will not be out of a job.

If spoon isn't going to be the long term answer for peterson's spot, nicholas is. Both him and spoon are extremely versatile and they could honestly play both WLB and SLB effectively.

Our LB corps for the next five years will be spoon nic and lofton

[Interceptor430 168]

Professional proof reading?.... NOT!

Jamaal Anderson, who’s started at the sport

Freakin second class reporter.....

[Upstate NY Falcon 532]

+1. Great thread. Kudos to the coach for rewarding players based upon performance, hard work and effort instead of draft status. I think in the long run the Falcon orginization hurt Jamaal's maturation by awarding him starting status based upon his draft status and contract. I don't think there is anyone on this board that would make the argument that Jamaal should have been the starter his first year. Davis clearly was the better player. That is the same year that Abe said Jamaal refused to listen to the vets.

I love Spoon as well. The guy got some jets. I would love to see him knock Reggie Bush out when he tries to catch a pass in the flat.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p50/dawkins2026/sheldonclip1.gif

Edited September 8, 2010 by TurnNBurn33

[NorCal Falcon Fan 48]

I know someone on this board that is going to **** a brick.

So let me make sure I understand. The once GM Of The Year and the once Coach Of The Year named Biermann a starter over Buster?

On a side note, that is great news.

gazoo in 3-2-1....

[FalconFanSince1970 24,114]

The best way to evaluate this is to evaluate it in Feb 2011.

The questions are who are our best:

RDT - Trey or Babineaux (yeah we play Babs at RDT when Peria is playing)?

LDT - Peria, Corey or Busterson?

LDE - The Beer Man or the Busterson?

SLB - Spoon or Nic?

WLB - Pete or Nic?

LCB - Grimes, Owens or BWill?

SS - Coleman or WillyMo?

Pop your popcorn folks. The 2010 defense will be fun.

[papachaz 18,084]

Good post.

Three questions:

Is there a link somewhere for this? I looked all over and and could not find anything.

Seems like that equals 54 players. Did I count wrong?

Who will be demoted when Babs comes back?

Biermann is actually listed twice, starting DE and as the 3rd option for kicking...LOL

Edited September 8, 2010 by chazmataz