freebird310 Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 NFC South best bets to break through in 2011Pro Football Weekly presents the seventh of an eight-part divisional breakdown of the players most likely to be attending 2011 coming-out parties in the NFC SouthAtlanta FalconsOLB Sean Weatherspoon — Weatherspoon's debut campaign was knocked off course by injuries. The Falcons' first-round pick in 2010 (19th overall) earned a starting job from Day One and showed flashes, but he was relegated to playing in the nickel package when he returned from injury in Week 11, and Stephen Nicholas played ahead of him in the base defense for the rest of the season. Returning fully recovered, Weatherspoon should be the starter on the strong side this season, and he has the ability to become a more consistent performer and perhaps even an explosive playmaker in Year Two. Atlanta's coaching staff believed it had a more active defense when Weatherspoon was on the field and in good health. He brings much-needed speed to Atlanta's LB corps, and his fiery, high-motor style should energize the defense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconmaniac Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Let's hope so!If he is as this year good as advertised last year, then it is like we drafted an extra player on D this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-Nite-Toker Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Atlanta's coaching staff believed it had a more active defense when Weatherspoon was on the field and in good health. He brings much-needed speed to Atlanta's LB corps, and his fiery, high-motor style should energize the defenseI have to totally agree with this. I thought Spoon was going to be a strong Rookie of the Year canidate before the injury. The right-side of the "D" with Abe, Spoon, DRob, and Willie Mo would be very formidable on a consistent basis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattywankenobi Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I still don't understand why he doesn't play the weakside. He has great speed but then tackling as a strong side back seems to be lacking. Technique is definitely coachable so I guess it all depends on the personnel in the LB core as to where he fits best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Fantom Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Let's hope so!If he is as this year good as advertised last year, then it is like we drafted an extra player on D this year.Our season have been like that since Jerry went down. If Jerry, Moore, and Spoon step up and play to their potential, its like we got three extra 1st rounders this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Fantom Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I still don't understand why he doesn't play the weakside. He has great speed but then tackling as a strong side back seems to be lacking. Technique is definitely coachable so I guess it all depends on the personnel in the LB core as to where he fits best.If we sign Nicholas do you think he should start at weak or strong side? If we let him walk do you think that Adkins can step into the starting strong side role with Peterson backing him up? Spoon is a beast in coverage and that is where the weak side LB needs to be strongest no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 If Nic walks he is going to be the only good coverage LBer we got ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Fantom Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 If Nic walks he is going to be the only good coverage LBer we got ......So do you think that Nicholas is a better tacker than Spoon? If Nicholas is just as good in coverage and is a sure tackler, we really need to keep the dude. In Nickel packages put both on the outside and if Dent is better than Lofton in coverage, plug him in. Didnt Dent play both outside positions at Georgia before being made MLB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 So do you think that Nicholas is a better tacker than Spoon? If Nicholas is just as good in coverage and is a sure tackler, we really need to keep the dude. In Nickel packages put both on the outside and if Dent is better than Lofton in coverage, plug him in. Didnt Dent play both outside positions at Georgia before being made MLB?coverage is not Dents strong suit, more of a downhill thumper ...yea I want to keep Nic too, Spoon, Lofton,Nic would for sure be our best unit, with Dent backing up all three spots ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Fantom Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 coverage is not Dents strong suit, more of a downhill thumper ...yea I want to keep Nic too, Spoon, Lofton,Nic would for sure be our best unit, with Dent backing up all three spots ......Adkins is pretty solid also. I would keep Peterson because of his veteran presence and energy, but not as a starter. I wonder why they wont give the job to Nicholas?? I think they would be taking a step back on defense if we let Nicholas go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 Adkins is pretty solid also. I would keep Peterson because of his veteran presence and energy, but not as a starter. I wonder why they wont give the job to Nicholas?? I think they would be taking a step back on defense if we let Nicholas go.Wonder if Wire will be the odd man out, but he is a great leader and ST guy .... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I don't see why Wire couldn't handle the nickle duties if needed.after all, he is a converted safety.excited to see Spoon and Jerry at 100% finally!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 I'll chalk it up to a combination of inexperience/injury, but Weatherspoon was horrible in coverage last year. Hopefully he will be better this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattywankenobi Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 If we sign Nicholas do you think he should start at weak or strong side? If we let him walk do you think that Adkins can step into the starting strong side role with Peterson backing him up? Spoon is a beast in coverage and that is where the weak side LB needs to be strongest no?The one thing I saw was Spoon was not reading the coverages right in the beginning which is to be expected as a rookie. It's hard to tell since I believe he got switched after he came back from injury. Was it a physical or a mental issue? Even though he might have been out of position he impressed me with his reaction and closing speed to compensate for his learning curve. I do think overall he will take a big step up. I don't have much of an opinion on Adkins since he has taken very few game snaps. Too much is made about training camp and preseason observations. I am anxious to see what Dent can do but my expectations are not to high for him to start right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xfactor Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 If Nic walks he is going to be the only good coverage LBer we got ......Let's hope somehow we can resign Nic. Spoon has a long way to go with coverage but he does bring a fiery attitude onto the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevykev21 Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Go Spoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.