DLed 02/28 blog with proposed Freeman trade

[middlegatv]

Atlanta Falcons blog by D. Orlando Ledbetter, the pro football and Atlanta Falcons reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

 By D. Orlando Ledbetter

Cover 9@9: Pre-combine Mock Draft 1.0 - Falcons trade Freeman, move up to get Vita Vea 

 

February 28, 2018

INDIANAPOLIS —

Good morning! Welcome to The Cover 9@9 blog. It's our weekly blog of nine things at 9 a.m. Wednesday that you need to know about the Atlanta Falcons, who are here in Indianapolis to work the scouting combine. Instead of our normal nine items, we decided to drop the blockbuster pre-combine mock draft today. Enjoy!

Falcons general manger Thomas Dimitroff has protested the notion of trading running back Tevin Coleman. But he didn’t say anything about not trading Devonta Freeman. 

Now, did he?

The Falcons’ message since the end of the season has been consistent.

In the end-of-season press conference and through a couple of local radio interviews this week, Falcons coach Dan Quinn and Dimitroff have continued to build on the “under-executed” and not “under-achieved” theme of last season.

That still sounds like semantics and certainly sounds like some fingering pointing at the players. 

The players do share some of the burden for the 11-7 season and the dumpster fire that was the offense. 

The drop passes, penalties, not fighting back to the ball with the game on the line and missing a blitz pickup in the playoffs (again) were just some of the plays that didn’t fall on the coaches.

However, there were some coaching issues, too.

Quinn got all fired up when he was asked about offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian being forced to call Kyle Shanahan’s offense. He pointed out that it was the “Falcons’ offense.”

The offense remained flawed no matter who was calling it. 

Sarkisian, like Shanahan, had to try to get too cute in short-yardage situations and the deep passing attack was never productive. 

The coaches should have learned from the third-and-1 debacle in Super Bowl LI that they needed to add some better power options in short-yardage situations. 

The Falcons haven’t had a lead-blocking fullback since Ovie’s Mughelli was released in 2011. 

Quinn said Wednesday that the Falcons would address short-yardage situations, perhaps with a fullback.

“In the low red zone in some areas, we are going to run it,” Quinn told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They know we are going to run it and we are going to do it anyway.”

With a smallcut-blocking line, some power is needed to clear out holes for the running backs. Otherwise, your season can end on the 2-yard line. 

We’ll see if Quinn and Dimitroff were warming up for the combine while doing some local radio or if they have some new things to say today when they take the podium in front of the national media.

Well, let’s get on to the mock draft.

There are three plays that keep popping up from the playoff game loss to th Eagles:

The play at the end of the game where Julio Jones nearly made a circus-like catch on a quarterback rollout that took away most of the field.

Coach Tony Dungy pointed to Keanu Neal’s flubbed interception. He’s not a gazelle and it look like he misjudged his jump.

The play that’s been bothering me the most was the missed blitz pick up by Freeman. Another Super Bowl lesson not learned.

The Falcons were sitting pretty after the Eagles kicked the ball out of bounds. But Freeman’s second whiff in the playoffs was just as costly as the one in the Super Bowl. 

The look Ryan gave Freeman could have pierced his heart. He was ticked off. It was on the stadium’s big screen for all of the #FlyEaglesFly nation to see.

You want to send a message about “under executing” then ship Freeman off to San Francisco for their ninth or 10th pick in the draft. Use the first- and a third-rounder to move up from 26 in order to select massive Washington tackle Vita Vea. He would be the best player available to help the defense that could lose Dontari Poe.

Coleman and Terron Ward, since they will also block, can handle the running back duties henceforth. The Falcons could address running back in free agency or later in the draft.

The message would be clear: Everybody blocks in this brotherhood.

 

2018 NFL Draft: First-round order (We project Oakland to win the coin toss)

The draft order was finalized after the Super Bowl.

1. Cleveland Browns — Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

2. New York Giants — Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

3. Indianapolis Colts — Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State

4. Cleveland Browns — Sam Darnold, QB, USC 

5. Denver Broncos — Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

6. New York Jets — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Derwin Jones, DB, Florida State

8. Chicago Bears — Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

9. Oakland — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia 

10. Atlanta Falcons — Vita Vea, DT, Washington 

11. Miami Dolphins — Quentin Nelson, OG, Notre Dame 

12. Cincinnati Bengals — Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama 

13. Washington Redskins — Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

14. Green Bay Packers — Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

15. Arizona Cardinals — Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M 

16. Baltimore Ravens — Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma 

17. Los Angeles Chargers — Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

18. Seattle Seahawks — Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia 

19. Dallas Cowboys — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama 

20. Detroit Lions — Derrius Guice, RB, LSU 

21. Buffalo Bills — Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs) — Arden Key, LB , LSU

23. Los Angeles Rams — Josh Johnson, CB, Iowa 

24. Carolina Panthers — Maurice Hurst, DL, Michigan 

25. Tennessee Titans — Connor Williams, OT, Texas 

26. San Francisco 49ers — Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State 

27. New Orleans Saints — Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia TEch 

28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Rashaad Evans, LB, Alabama 

29. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State

30. Minnesota Vikings -- Will Hernandez, OG, Texas El-Paso

31. New England Patriots -- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

32. Philadelphia Eagles -- Mike McGlinchey, QB, Notre Dame 

[FalconsIn2012]

We could do better than Vea with the 10th pick in the draft.  I’d opt for Nelson.  And Freeman and his $8,000,000 salary are not moving us up that far in the draft.

No way 7 quarterbacks are taken in the 1st round. D-led gets paid to do this?  He has a charmed life

Edited March 1, 2018 by Falconsin2012

[falcons007]

Lol. Why would Niners move up for Freeman and take the cap hit?

[Dirtybird56]

Oh to be D-Led..

[Falcanuck]

DLed is so bad at his job it’s sad

[federicofalcon2]

17 minutes ago, falcons007 said:

Lol. Why would Niners move up for Freeman and take the cap hit?

You mean move down right?  Well honestly the trade isn't likely or plausible but it would make sense to a small degree, even though I don't agree Falcons would consider it.  But let's just say it's on the table.  We would still have to manipulate the way his contract affects our cap.  But besides that point, you are now faced with having traded a top player on this team, you have given up YOUR first round pick, PLUS a third, and all this for a player to draft who you PROBABLY would get at your spot anyways.  So you diminish your chance to build depth, and on all the mocks I have seen, I haven't seen Vea go higher than 19 to the cowboys, so we would be overpaying for him as well.  Man, can we get someone else to cover our team, I can't stand this guy. lol (Watch my luck be that we end up doing the trade )

[caponine]

The play that’s been bothering me the most was the missed blitz pick up by Freeman. Another Super Bowl lesson not learned.

The look Ryan gave Freeman could have pierced his heart. He was ticked off. It was on the stadium’s big screen for all of the #FlyEaglesFly nation to see.

You want to send a message about “under executing” then ship Freeman off to San Francisco for their ninth or 10th pick in the draft. Use the first- and a third-rounder to move up from 26 in order to select massive Washington tackle Vita Vea. He would be the best player available to help the defense that could lose Dontari Poe. 

Lol i dont usually agree with D Led but his analysis is spot on here. Same thing i was saying

[CP_22]

DLed forgetting all about Patrick DiMarco. Dude is so bad at his job it's comical. 

[UnrealfalcoN]

Can't SF just draft any of the Stud RBs in the draft? Or even all?

[jlrfalcon]

I seriously wonder some times what DLed has on the AJC - did he catch the managers in a sex scandal at some point early in his career?  Did they do something illegal to him early in his career?  Even on local stations, they invite him on for interviews only to make fun of him later.  Sadly, he is covering probably the most important (or 2nd most important?) sports team in this city.  How close is he to retirement?

[Statick]

DLed is so full of ****.

He doesn't even try to hide it anymore.

[federicofalcon2]

3 minutes ago, jlrfalcon said:

I seriously wonder some times what DLed has on the AJC - did he catch the managers in a sex scandal at some point early in his career?  Did they do something illegal to him early in his career?  Even on local stations, they invite him on for interviews only to make fun of him later.  Sadly, he is covering probably the most important (or 2nd most important?) sports team in this city.  How close is he to retirement?

Does it not seem like everytime he does a video it's like his first one EVER?  Like a child doing a video for the first time, half time time he is so monotone that I can barel understand which part to get nervous or excited about. LOL

[dmo_dlo]

Oh well it's Bedwetter ...

[putnam6]

DLed has to stir up this BS because nobody reads his stuff otherwise.

[falcons007]

19 minutes ago, federicofalcon2 said:

You mean move down right?  Well honestly the trade isn't likely or plausible but it would make sense to a small degree, even though I don't agree Falcons would consider it.  But let's just say it's on the table.  We would still have to manipulate the way his contract affects our cap.  But besides that point, you are now faced with having traded a top player on this team, you have given up YOUR first round pick, PLUS a third, and all this for a player to draft who you PROBABLY would get at your spot anyways.  So you diminish your chance to build depth, and on all the mocks I have seen, I haven't seen Vea go higher than 19 to the cowboys, so we would be overpaying for him as well.  Man, can we get someone else to cover our team, I can't stand this guy. lol (Watch my luck be that we end up doing the trade )

I mean why would Niners agree for Falcons to move up to 10th for Freeman and a 3rd. If Niners agree to the deal, Falcons would be dumb not to take the trade. Freeman is good but Niners would be giving up a first round pick for Freeman. 

Falcons should take the trade, not just Vea. 

[FalconDawg28]

3 minutes ago, falcons007 said:

I mean why would Niners agree for Falcons to move up to 10th for Freeman and a 3rd. If Niners agree to the deal, Falcons would be dumb not to take the trade. Freeman is good but Niners would be giving up a first round pick for Freeman. 

The article says we are swapping 1st round picks as well. So the it’s a 1st, 3rd and freeman for the 49ers 1st round pick 

Edited March 1, 2018 by rbrick28

[federicofalcon2]

2 minutes ago, falcons007 said:

I mean why would Niners agree for Falcons to move up to 10th for Freeman and a 3rd. If Niners agree to the deal, Falcons would be dumb not to take the trade. Freeman is good but Niners would be giving up a first round pick for Freeman. 

Use the first- and a third-rounder to move up from 26

Maybe he didn't word it right but I read it as he was implying we trade OUR first and third PLUS Freeman for the 10th overall pick

[falcons007]

1 minute ago, rbrick28 said:

The article says we are swapping 1st round picks as well. So the it’s a 1st, 3rd and freeman for the 49ers 1st round pick 

It’s swap, but a big jump from 26th to 10th. It would almost take two 26th picks to move to 10th.

[falcons007]

1 minute ago, federicofalcon2 said:

Use the first- and a third-rounder to move up from 26

Maybe he didn't word it right but I read it as he was implying we trade OUR first and third PLUS Freeman for the 10th overall pick

It’s a swap, both teams have 1 first round picks.  The value of 10th over all pick is almost twice of 26th. 

[notthatcool]

Shanny benched Free in SB.  Only reason he came back in was when TeCo got hurt.

 

No way Shanny trades for Free.   

[federicofalcon2]

4 minutes ago, falcons007 said:

It’s a swap, both teams have 1 first round picks.  The value of 10th over all pick is almost twice of 26th. 

I mean why would Niners agree for Falcons to move up to 10th for Freeman and a 3rd

You stated two different scenarios, all I was saying was that it's not what you had originally asked

[falcons007]

14 minutes ago, federicofalcon2 said:

I mean why would Niners agree for Falcons to move up to 10th for Freeman and a 3rd

You stated two different scenarios, all I was saying was that it's not what you had originally asked

It doesn’t change the assumption that Niners should have a future first round value on Freeman to agree that trade. Here is fun fact, falcons could trade the whole 2018 draft for 10th pick and still have to throw in a pick from 2019 draft. 

Dled is dumb to realize that Freeman is not worth the whole 2018 draft. 

[lostnmexico]

I actually agree with dumping Freemans salary if at all posible.  That would FREE up money to extend Ryan I think since the general consensus is most everyone wants him back.

[Smiler11]

What a tool. Freeman's cap hit this year is $5m, if we trade him we take a hit of $13m in dead money.

This is not going to happen. 100%

[Smiler11]

4 minutes ago, lostnmexico said:

I actually agree with dumping Freemans salary if at all posible.  That would FREE up money to extend Ryan I think since the general consensus is most everyone wants him back.

It actually does the opposite, it'll cost us $8m in cap this year.