Jump to content

A Long Time Anderson Detractor's Reaction


Recommended Posts

As some of you who I've debated may remember, I've been one of Anderson's biggest, and earliest detractors. I didn't like the pick when we made it and after his first season with the Falcons I was convinced he would never get any pressure off the edge. Quite simply, Anderson is the worst edge rusher I've ever seen. For a guy that got as much playing time as he did, you'd expect him to luck into more than 4.5 sacks.

As for my reaction, I'm not really happy. I'm glad we cut him. It was long overdue. It had become painfully obvious that the guy was an albatross who was taking snaps from more able players. I feel vindicated, that I was indeed right all along. But I'm not happy.

I've always said that no one wanted me to be wrong more than me. I'd have loved to have seen Anderson explode and become the double digit sack monster that we drafted him to be. The book being closed on Anderson, while the right move for the team, isn't a good thing. We spent an 8th overall pick and millions of dollars on Anderson. With that pick we could have had Revis or Willis. We wasted countless snaps trying to turn Anderson into something he was never capable of being.

Anderson was a tremendous disappointment. His failure hurt the franchise and that's not a good thing. I'm pleased that no more time will be wasted on Anderson. I'm happy that we're not giving Anderson another chance after he squandered so many opportunities. His lack of work ethic, lack of focus, and lack of intensity give him no place on the Falcons team. It's a good thing he's gone but it's sad that it had to come to this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So you're happy, but you're not happy? Make up your mind and move on, if you always thought the guy was as bad as he turned out to be then that shouldn't be a problem for you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As some of you who I've debated may remember, I've been one of Anderson's biggest, and earliest detractors. I didn't like the pick when we made it and after his first season with the Falcons I was convinced he would never get any pressure off the edge. Quite simply, Anderson is the worst edge rusher I've ever seen. For a guy that got as much playing time as he did, you'd expect him to luck into more than 4.5 sacks.

As for my reaction, I'm not really happy. I'm glad we cut him. It was long overdue. It had become painfully obvious that the guy was an albatross who was taking snaps from more able players. I feel vindicated, that I was indeed right all along. But I'm not happy.

I've always said that no one wanted me to be wrong more than me. I'd have loved to have seen Anderson explode and become the double digit sack monster that we drafted him to be. The book being closed on Anderson, while the right move for the team, isn't a good thing. We spent an 8th overall pick and millions of dollars on Anderson. With that pick we could have had Revis or Willis. We wasted countless snaps trying to turn Anderson into something he was never capable of being.

Anderson was a tremendous disappointment. His failure hurt the franchise and that's not a good thing. I'm pleased that no more time will be wasted on Anderson. I'm happy that we're not giving Anderson another chance after he squandered so many opportunities. His lack of work ethic, lack of focus, and lack of intensity give him no place on the Falcons team. It's a good thing he's gone but it's sad that it had to come to this.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was flamed monstrously before we took him. Even then I didn't want him, but he was the guy we picked and in one of the most talent heavy drafts we have had in a very long time. I should be overjoyed and instead I am very ticked yet and still that we passed on so much talent and got a guy who wasn't even average.

We are on the same boat man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So you're happy, but you're not happy? Make up your mind and move on, if you always thought the guy was as bad as he turned out to be then that shouldn't be a problem for you.

I'm happy we cut him. It's the right move. I'm not happy that we had to cut him. Anderson is arguably the biggest bust in Falcons history. 8th overall pick, 4.5 sacks. Anderson hurt this team tremendously both on the field and with what we could have gotten with that pick. I'm not happy that Anderson cost us all that. I have no problem with cutting him, I'm just never happy to see a Falcon bust.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was flamed monstrously before we took him. Even then I didn't want him, but he was the guy we picked and in one of the most talent heavy drafts we have had in a very long time. I should be overjoyed and instead I am very ticked yet and still that we passed on so much talent and got a guy who wasn't even average.

We are on the same boat man.

Exactly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was flamed monstrously before we took him. Even then I didn't want him, but he was the guy we picked and in one of the most talent heavy drafts we have had in a very long time. I should be overjoyed and instead I am very ticked yet and still that we passed on so much talent and got a guy who wasn't even average.

We are on the same boat man.

Was JA98 a McKay pick and is there any of his picks left? I think he is very well spoken but better suited for his current position away from draft picks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was JA98 a McKay pick and is there any of his picks left? I think he is very well spoken but better suited for his current position away from draft picks

Anderson was the last McKay first round pick. And White was a McKay pick as well. The best one he ever made.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know exactly where you are coming from. I was flamed monstrously before we took him. Even then I didn't want him, but he was the guy we picked and in one of the most talent heavy drafts we have had in a very long time. I should be overjoyed and instead I am very ticked yet and still that we passed on so much talent and got a guy who wasn't even average.

We are on the same boat man.

I was booing the TV at Red Lobster when we drafted him, people were looking at me like I was nuts.:wacko:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was booing the TV at Red Lobster when we drafted him, people were looking at me like I was nuts.:wacko:

I was screaming at my TV. I don't remember what. I'm not even sure it was a coherent thought. It might have just been a string of angry words.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been a leader of the anti-Busterson camp based entirely over his poor performance on the field. I was excited when we drafted him because I believed that McKay knew what he was doing. In retrospect it looked like McKay just panicked when Kerney left and took Anderson based upon wishful thinking rather than hard scouting and due diligence. Remember McKay never even brought Jamaal in for a private workout... :blink:

I first became concerned over his lack of production when he was given (not earned) a starting position. Then disturbing news came out like when he refused to listen to Abe and other vets when they tried to help his game. Also the infamous no-show at Chuck Smith's defensive linemen camp. While Jamaal has a tremendous amount of physical ability he just was not willing to put in the work and sacrifice it would take to live up to his draft status even though he had no problem taking the money. The outcome is clear the Jamaal Anderson is one of the worst all time busts in Atlanta Falcons' history.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can play the could of should of game with every single draft. If every gm knew Revis and Willis would turn out this good they would have went in the top 5 probably

It is not quite the same. It is not just because it was a bad pick it was that it was one of the worst in our history.

He is a direct contributor to the new CBA. His contract protected him when he should have been cut and it has hurt us for years.

I never wanted to be right about him either but watching him on passing plays was a nightmare and I am glad he is gone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is not quite the same. It is not just because it was a bad pick it was that it was one of the worst in our history.

He is a direct contributor to the new CBA. His contract protected him when he should have been cut and it has hurt us for years.

I never wanted to be right about him either but watching him on passing plays was a nightmare and I am glad he is gone.

+1. Also he was a direct contributor to McKay getting canned as the Falcons's GM. Now McKay has zero authority over any player or coaching decisions.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...