Thoughts On Falcons Free Agents

[JBeattz]

I copied this list from someone else's thread, not sure if it's completely right but it looks right so I'll go with it.

Abraham

Biermann

DeCoud

Douglas

Gonzalez - resigned

Grimes

Hayden

Lofton

McClure

Palmer

Redman

Sanders

Smith

Snelling

Walker

Weems

Zelenka

Before our playoff loss and the exodus of our DCs, i was scared to look at this list.

There were just too many key players that needed to be resigned.

Obviously now, personnel decisions will be made after new coordinators are found, and a meeting of the minds takes place over schemes and such.

So I'm looking at this list now, and it's different.

Before.

I saw Abe, Grimes, Lofton and Douglas as 'must resign'. And basically, there would go most of our cap room.

But now I'm seeing that some significant changes will come with new coordinators(hopefully), and continuity seems less important because everyone will be learning new plays anyway(again, hopefully).

The main thing that sticks out to me is the flexibility I feel like we have now towards Abe, Grimes, and Douglas. Which would have all been significant contracts.

Abe is old, but still respected, so he'll cost. At the price he'll probably cost, we could get a much younger talent. They may not be as dominant, but we need to figure out how to get pressure without Abes freakish ability anyway. Whether through better DTs, or better blitzing.

Grimes, as talented and homegrown as he is, could be let go and replaced either by Franks, who played well in Grimes absence, or by a cheaper FA or drafted CB whos talents fit whatever scheme we will be running next year. He just doesnt seem as important to spend a ton of money on as he did before.

I really like Douglas, and I think he makes our pass attack a lot more dangerous if we use him. But he is expendable when you have TG, and 2 very good WRs at #1 and #2. It's not hard to find a quick slot guy with solid hands cheap. We may already have that guy on our roster or PS anyway. I would really like to have an offense where its crucial to keep him though.

So the only guy on that short list that I feel like we still need to resign is Lofton. And even then, if the staff feels good about Dent, Lofton may be expendable as well.

All this means is, we might have some decent cap space to work with.

I'll be happy to see Decoud go.

Im indifferent about Beirmann. But I think Sidbury and Matthews should be fine as back up DEs.

Hayden is injured too much, move on.

McClure is whatever. He's decent at this point, so I cant complain, but I think we could do better by getting bigger, whether with Hawley or someone else.

Palmer would be cheap and has been learning from TG, plus he's decent and young so might as well keep him.

Redman is old and not worth another 2 mil or whatever he's been getting. Draft someone late or find a cheap vet.

Sanders is solid. Bring him back cheap if possible.

Smith can go.

Snelling would be nice to have, but again, only if he's cheap. Decent RBs are a dime a dozen. Keep the money you would spend on him for the oline.

Walker is great for depth, plus he'll be cheap. Keep him on, dude plays hard.

Cant stand Weems. Let him walk. He's been to a pro bowl so he'll want to get paid extra. Use that money on oline as well.

Long snappers are hard to come by so keep Zelenka.

So basically. I think we can go into this FA period completely fresh and bring in a lot of new blood. None of these guys are crucial, there's just some guys that might be worth keeping if we get them cheaper than they already are, on a hometown discount.

I feel like the FO needs to nickle and dime in order to put as much money as possible into the Oline and Dline. Get the trenches working and let the rest fall into place.

We dont need 'luxurys' like Weems and Redman. Grab rookies with high ceilings and watch them learn and swap them out next season if they dont impress.

Hopefully we move away from this conservative, Falcon filter, building a family crap. I really respected it, but obviously its not working. Maybe it was just the coordinators. But I dont want to wait around for a few more years to find out.

I think the draft has been affected by the conservative ****. I think the play has been affected by it. I think the FO needs to get aggressive, get aggressive coordinators, get an aggressive approach to the draft and FA. Look around at the rest of the league and see whats working. There's patterns everywhere if you use your resources to analyze it. And dont look at just the Patriots methods, TD, because their defense sucks and theyre riding the skills of BB, TB, and WW. Look at the Packers, the Harbaughs, dammit the ******* Saints, the Steelers, and take some notes. You obviously need help more than just what the Pats taught you.

Sorry about the rant and the length of this post.

Its fun to think about and write though. I think this has potential to be a very fun offseason. But Im not getting my hopes up yet.

Good night.

[JBeattz]

The spacing got all messed up when I clicked the post button.

It's messing up the flow of the read and putting way too many spaces in.

All the info is there though so if you can get through it great. And thanks for reading.

If not, oh well. It was fun to write anyway.

[Flying Falcon]

Douglas and Grimes are a must. Period.

[JBeattz]

Douglas and Grimes are a must. Period.

Based off what?

I would have agreed a month ago, but we dont even know what schemes we'll be using.

They're both really talented, and I'd like to continue rooting for them. But between them they could eat up 10 mil in cap room. They're worth it. But I'm not sure we need them that bad.

The trenches need to be solidified before we worry about the skill positions.

[Tootie Quivers]

Douglas and Grimes are the only "have to's". Lofton is over valued in today's NFL. If we switch to 34 then Biermann might be nice to keep around.

[JBeattz]

Douglas and Grimes are the only "have to's". Lofton is over valued in today's NFL. If we switch to 34 then Biermann might be nice to keep around.

I'd like to see Biermann in a 3-4.

Lofton is probably going to be asking for too much anyway. Dude really turned it on this year. Looking for that big FA contract.

[IceFalcon]

We Keep:

Grimes

Zalenka

Sanders

Lofton

Abe (if we can resign him affordably)

Weems

[skn]

TD in the press conference said there were about 8 key free agents to resign.

[slamee101]

Some guys like Redman, Weems, Zelenka are gone in my mind and not really a huge loss.

[norbendon]

Douglas and Grimes are a must. Period.

I agree with Douglas. Not as sold on Grimes (and I've been a big supporter historically)

Here's why. If we go to a scheme that employs a lot more man coverage, that means we're going to have to jam recievers at the LOS. Grimes is simply physically incapable of it. He does not possess the size or upper body strength.

[falken]

Based off what?

I would have agreed a month ago, but we dont even know what schemes we'll be using.

They're both really talented, and I'd like to continue rooting for them. But between them they could eat up 10 mil in cap room. They're worth it. But I'm not sure we need them that bad.

The trenches need to be solidified before we worry about the skill positions.

Whatever Dc we bring in will require CB's. It sure wouldn't make much sense to me to let our best one walk.

.....but I do like your mindset on the lines.

[octoslash]

The only names on the list that are must-keeps are Lofton and Grimes, and probably Abe, but really, without some help, Abe might not even be that productive, depending on the new scheme.

Just my opinion.

[Flying Falcon]

I agree with Douglas. Not as sold on Grimes (and I've been a big supporter historically)

Here's why. If we go to a scheme that employs a lot more man coverage, that means we're going to have to jam recievers at the LOS. Grimes is simply physically incapable of it. He does not possess the size or upper body strength.

But Grimes have been doing that all year. He's been the only DB that shown consistent coverage when left on an island.

[Flying Falcon]

Based off what?

I would have agreed a month ago, but we dont even know what schemes we'll be using.

They're both really talented, and I'd like to continue rooting for them. But between them they could eat up 10 mil in cap room. They're worth it. But I'm not sure we need them that bad.

The trenches need to be solidified before we worry about the skill positions.

Based off Grimes consistent production of having to cover the other team's #1 WR while being left on an island in BVG's defensive (or shall I say offensive) scheme and Douglas way to exploit (every single time) his mis-match against any LB or safety from the slot position and produce by actually catching the ball (which is something extraordinary with this group of WRs) and improving his YAC. Outside of Julio, he was probably 2nd on the team in YAC whenever Ryan DID decide to throw him the ball.

Edited January 12, 2012 by Flying Falcon

[Trouble]

Need HD! We always seem to have some wr injured and HD is a speedster who can take off.

[slamee101]

The more I look at that list, TDs statement about re-signing only 8 isn't really a big deal. Smith is clearly gone and I could see Palmer, DeCoud, and Biermann being allowed to walk. I don't see us letting Grimes or Lofton go.

[Adema1226]

How can you not re-sign Lofton? He was absolutely amazing this year. Grimes is also a must, regardless of scheme. He is just a pure cover corner, and one of the bast at that. HD needs to be signed as well. I don't think there is a better slot receiver out there that we could get for the same money, so might as well sign HD. He's solid to say the least.

We definitely need McClure for another year. Having him gone as well as Harvey and no LT would just bee too much for the line. The less work we have to do on the line the better.

I think we could get by without resigning Hayden and Sanders. Sanders was a good backup but I didn't notice him being any better than DeCoud.

We need Abe another year or two, at least until we can draft or acquire a FA to replace him down the road. If you think we have no pass rush now, just imagine what it would be without him.

I don't understand why Snelling had such a low amount of carries this year. Every time he touched the ball he barreled through defenders as if he was wanting to take the entire defense out of games. If the amount of his carries is going to be low like it was this year, let him go. If we're going to use him more (like I think we should), then sign him as well.

[IceFalcon]

I know Long Snapper isn't a sexy position, but why would we not resign Zalenka?

Both our Punter and Kicker had great years this year. Why would you mess up that chemistry?

[UK13]

just wonering why we would sign Abe when he can only give you 4 good game efforts a year I say give Sid a chance or maybe Mathews and I'm not hating on Abe but he is getting old and maybe that's money that could go toward a proving OL or another DL

[slamee101]

just wonering why we would sign Abe when he can only give you 4 good game efforts a year I say give Sid a chance or maybe Mathews and I'm not hating on Abe but he is getting old and maybe that's money that could go toward a proving OL or another DL

I think Abe and whether or not he returns all comes down to who you can bring in. I'd lose all faith in TD if he said we're going to let our best pass rusher go and go with Sid, Ray, and Kroy and attempt to improve pass rush. Giving that contract to Ray really hurts.