ket222 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I'm an amateur fan who doesn't know much about football other than wanting to see the falcons get to a championship. So... it's obvious these new FA addition are an improvement, but how much? How does Solailu (sp?), the other defensive guy and the offensive lineman we picked up compare with similar players on other teams? Are they elite players? Just a little better than average? Do you think we've gone from the worst defensive line to one of the best?Do we have enough money to pick up another VERY good player in FA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouDog. Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 we have improved a ton. For 5 years we have needed big guys on the line. we finally have them which makes everyone on the team better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Murray Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Y'all got substantially bigger, but not substantially better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xskyx Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 We just added 2 huge pieces to improve our run defense.We added one huge piece to improve our run offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romfal Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 we signed 3 starters and cut a liability of a starter. yes we improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supa Dupa Falcon Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Better and Really better after the draft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperbh Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I'm an amateur fan who doesn't know much about football other than wanting to see the falcons get to a championship. You just described 95% of the membership here. Now just lose the class and humility and you'll fit right in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTann Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Nah we're gonna go 0-16, scoreless in every game until the 4th quarter because Bleacher Report or some website assumes so, and gave our free agent signings C's. We're doomed. #bringonthe2015seasonalready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ket222 Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 good news but could you all provide how our FAs are relative to other team's players? is solailu(sp) one of the very top (top 5) defensive linemen in the league? what about the others? I'm encouraged to hear we're much improved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supa Dupa Falcon Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Tru Dat Dare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu 7 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 good news but could you all provide how our FAs are relative to other team's players? is solailu(sp) one of the very top (top 5) defensive linemen in the league? what about the others? I'm encouraged to hear we're much improvedI don't know if you can do that because football is such a team sport. It's all about how the different pieces come together as a whole.If you want individual rankings you can find 'free agent top 100' lists. The good news is all of our signings have been on those lists.One thing to remember about free agency is that one of the risks is that most of the time you're signing players you don't know so you don't know exactly how they'll fit into your locker room and your system. This is what happened with Ray Edwards.The good news is that our staff was very familiar with all of the players we signed. We know what kind of people and players they are and how they are going to fit on thanks to Nolan, Cox, & Pioli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Wall Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I would say we got 2 fantastic pieces in Soliai and Asomough. Both are huge needs. Soliai is a top 3 NT(wilfork,Ngata) Asomough is a better Blalock. Jackson will fill his role greatly. If you are looking for a lot of sacks from him you will be upset. But f you are looking for someone to close off the outside or stuff the run you will be happy like myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 We are already waaaay better than last year just by adding those three guys. Heck adding a RG alone makes us substantially better.I'll tell you what it is pretty freaking refreshing to see them finally addressing these long time problems on both lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 We are already waaaay better than last year just by adding those three guys. Heck adding a RG alone makes us substantially better.I'll tell you what it pretty freaking refreshing to see them finally addressing these long time problems on both lines.I remember last year we kept waiting on them to add new O-linemen and d-tackles...And we kept waiting..And waaaaiting... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I remember last year we kept waiting on them to add new O-linemen and d-tackles...And we kept waiting..And waaaaiting...People here have been screaming for it since 2011. It's like I said , god it feels good to finally see it being dealt with. Sh*t was/is frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da Bird is Da Word Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Hopefully our run game will be better with our new RG, but apparently Asomoah's strength is pass protection--which is fine with me, mind you. Keeping Matt upright is our main priority, and our run blocking should at least be a little better with that signing. If Baker returns to form we've got three solid linemen. I'd love to draft Robinson and plug him in at RT. Hopefully our center will be better too with a year of experience and better linemen working on both sides.Solia is supposed to help out our run-defense a lot. Apparently he's getting on in age though, so he may not be in his prime but he should be a solid improvement nonetheless. I'm excited about Tyson because he's young and will provide some versatility and is also excellent at stopping the run.I think we're already much better with these signings--and if we're relatively healthy this year that will be a huge upside in and of itself. We need to get a free safety--looks like the better guys are taken but even a mediocre replacement should make all the difference in the world considering Decoud was ranked 83rd out 86 at his position last year...Of course we could use another guy or two on both sides--which we'll almost certainly get in the draft. We might only get one more day one starter for one of the lines, though with where we're picking we could easily land two or maybe even three more 2014 starters. We'll have to see. Barring a cheap free safety I think we're more or less done with free agency. Dimitroff didn't screw around this time; he went out there and signed all the guys he needed the moment free agency began--using up a good bit of our cap space in the process. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etherdome Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Last year, we suffered through a number of very damaging injuries. We simply could not compete at a high level. If you want to know whether we are any better, it makes more sense to compare our personnel to the previous three seasons.Prior to last year we lost important games due to two factors:1. We could not run the ball in short yardage situations. Here we failed miserably. Opponents did not have to stack the box with run defenders, so Ryan and the passing offense had smaller windows to complete passes. The margin for error was microscopic. As a result, our offense had far too many 3-and-outs. We could not hold onto the ball. Leads evaporated and we could not advance in the play-offs.2. Our defense could not defend pass plays in the middle of the field. Safeties were asked to cover too much ground and were often out of position. Additionally, LB's had trouble covering due to lack of skill, as well as bearing a heavy responsibilty to stop the run.The weakest part of our OL was at RG. We simply could not find a decent blocker. Even before the departure of McClure, our OL was abysmal. We just signed a very good OG. He is an excellent pass protector, but he also run blocks better than any RG we have had in over four seasons. So, yes, we improved greatly. I fully expect to see our offense succeed in short yardage situations much more. Babs is a penetrating type DT and in fact, he showed that he could get into opponents' backfields very often, however, he could not bring QB's down. Peters is a bigger guy, but was not able to clog the middle well enough to free LB's from OL's. Additionally, we could not find exceptional outside rushers. Our pass rush stunk and our run defense required too much help from Safeties and LB's.We just added two big DL's that can push OL's backwards. They will not bring QB's down, but they will do a better job of stopping the run without assistance, and they will occupy several more OL's on passing downs. As a result, our LB's will suddently look much faster and become more aggressive. Conclusion: The three additions to our team will not fill stat sheets with impressive numbers, but they will help our playmakers actually make plays. We got a lot better. Edited March 15, 2014 by etherdome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 name='ket222' timestamp='1394844321' post='8394387']How does Solailu (sp?), the other defensive guy and the offensive lineman we picked up compare with similar players on other teams? Are they elite players? Just a little better than average?2013 PFF Rankings By PositionPaul Soliai - 20th overall, 24th pass rush, 16th run defenseJon Asamoah - 20th overall, 16th pass blocking, 27th run blockingTyson Jackson - 20th overall, 50th pass rush, 12th run defense2014 Walter Football Free Agent Rankings By PositionPaul Soliai - 5thJon Asamoah - 9thTyson Jackson - 17th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskokas finest © Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Can't have 53 high quality players, but so far, free agency has been a big step forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Kent™ Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 2013 PFF Rankings By PositionPaul Soliai - 20th overall, 24th pass rush, 16th run defenseJon Asamoah - 20th overall, 16th pass blocking, 27th run blockingTyson Jackson - 20th overall, 50th pass rush, 12th run defense2014 Walter Football Free Agent Rankings By PositionPaul Soliai - 5thJon Asamoah - 9thTyson Jackson - 17thWhat were Robert Ayers rankings? I tried to message you but it wouldn't send. Just curious cause i was hoping we would get him in FA since he has ties to Nolan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 What were Robert Ayers rankings? I tried to message you but it wouldn't send. Just curious cause i was hoping we would get him in FA since he has ties to Nolan.Never got the message.2013 PFF Rankings By PositionRobert Ayers - 35th overall, 33rd pass rush, 23rd run defense2014 Walter Football Free Agent Rankings By PositionRobert Ayers - 21st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaigle Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 PossiblyAlso don't forget that in addition to the added players there areBabs, Peters re-purposed from DT to DEBierman, Mass, Maponga, OSi re-purposed from DE to OLBWorrilow Dent re-purposed from MLB to ILBSpoon Bartu re-purposed from OLB to ILBwe'll just have to wait and see if those moves improve the the Defense or notnote I really think they will become more special roles players than permanent changes as shown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ket222 Posted March 15, 2014 Author Share Posted March 15, 2014 They really need to hire some of you guys for the Falcons! We're obviously improved. the only negative I see is that at the beginning of last year it looked like we were going to be a three headed monster; white , jones, gonzalez; also our new monster running back who would crush and wear down our opponents. We've clearly improved our lines (and that's probably all you can ask for in one year), but the Madden part of me wishes we had gonzalez back and our running back was as great as we all assumed. I want to be DOMINANT!I think we'd all be happy with just being one of the better teams next year and it looks like that's possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clark Kent™ Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) Never got the message.2013 PFF Rankings By PositionRobert Ayers - 35th overall, 33rd pass rush, 23rd run defense2014 Walter Football Free Agent Rankings By PositionRobert Ayers - 21stYikes i thought he was much better than that Edited March 15, 2014 by Clark Kent™ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring It Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 You just described 95% of the membership here. Now just lose the class and humility and you'll fit right in.Love it !!! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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