Jay Adams Short Article-New Des

[DaSwat]

The Falcons addressed the defensive end position in a couple of ways this offseason. They made the move to sign veteran free agent Osi Umenyiora to provide a boost to the pass rush and they used a fourth-round selection to take Clemson's Malliciah Goodman, whose potential is as big as he is at 6-foot-4, 276 pounds.

Perhaps the wildcard, however, is Texas Christian defensive end Stansly Maponga, who pretty much spends the majority of his time on the field wherever the football is.

Born in Zimbabwe and a resident there until he moved to the United States at the age of nine, Maponga grew up playing rugby, a sport that puts as much emphasis on physicality and take-down ability as it does on endurance and stamina - and Maponga appears to have many of the aforementioned qualities.

Along with the obligatory defensive end stats, like sacks and tackles, Maponga is a standout in forced fumbles, perhaps a credit to his ability to fly to wherever the ball is at any moment learned on the rugby field. In fact, he racked up five forced fumbles in 2011 and was one of four players in the nation to rank in the top 10 in that stat and the top 20 in sacks (nine).

Maponga completed his three years at TCU with eight forced fumbles.

[falcons007]

Good read! Ngata played rugby too. Hope Maponga can be a factor as part of rotation.

[raysnill1]

wow, Osi is a beast at causing fumbles too. that would be great if both these guys continues at creating turnovers with their pass rushing ability

[MattM12]

Got to love a sack fumble

[Tuggle'2]

I feel like I am the only one excited about Goodman and Maponga. I don't mind it it really. Will make the gloating more fun later on.

[Ben Day Hoe]

I feel like I am the only one excited about Goodman and Maponga. I don't mind it it really. Will make the gloating more fun later on.

Don't kid yourself. Plenty of us lurkers are estatic. Maponga looks like a steal and Goodman has gobs of potential. I think people who say Osi is a downgrade to Abe will be proven wrong.

[Tuggle'2]

Don't kid yourself. Plenty of us lurkers are estatic. Maponga looks like a steal and Goodman has gobs of potential. I think people who say Osi is a downgrade to Abe will be proven wrong.

I was kidding , a lot feel that way. I was more or less poking fun at the doom and gloomers.

[AreJayDubya]

You guys realize rookies drafted by Smith and company usually sit their first year....dont see that changing with the 4-7 round guys this year...Mass was the answer to our pass kush last year and yet he primarily played ST. Every year we get excited about a few draft picks but our 1-2 are gonna be the only ones to see substantial playing time.

[Tuggle'2]

You guys realize rookies drafted by Smith and company usually sit their first year....dont see that changing with the 4-7 round guys this year...Mass was the answer to our pass kush last year and yet he primarily played ST. Every year we get excited about a few draft picks but our 1-2 are gonna be the only ones to see substantial playing time.

Smitty pretty much said it himself that Goodman will be playing.