jfalconsp Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 MOBILE, Ala. - Few people are as plugged in to the inner workings of the NFL than Ian Rapoport. The NFL Network insider has his finger on the pulse of trade talks, pending deals and organizational decision making across the league. Rapoport was among those in attendance at the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl, and he took a few minutes to share his thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons' upcoming offseason, which he believes could be busy. "They definitely addressed the offensive line in the draft," Rapoport said. "Can you go spend a little, probably a little more than you'd like to spend, in free agency to get some edge help and probably a corner, I think you could. They don't need a ton, it's more just plugging a couple of holes. I would think the offseason would be pretty active." Atlanta has a few notable players set to hit free agency, including tight end Austin Hooper, defensive end Vic Beasley and linebacker De'Vondre Campbell. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff offered an update on Hooper at the Senior Bowl, essentially saying there was no update and the two sides would pick up talks after the Super Bowl. Hooper, who was named to his second Pro Bowl this season as an alternate, is coming off of a career year and has emerged as one of the most reliable young tight ends in the league. If he does hit free agency, Hooper is expected to be highly sought after. Dimitroff did not rule out using the franchise tag to keep Hooper in the fold for next season, although that salary number would be high as well. "They definitely have a decision to make with Hooper," Rapoport said. "Do you franchise him? It's possible. It's a big number, but he's a very good player. Do you try to sign him? Once a guy becomes a free agent, he can obviously go anywhere; it's harder to re-sign those guys at this point." Whatever they decide to do with Hooper, the Falcons are expected to make a few moves on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. Whether that is in the draft or free agency remains to be seen but adding firepower to their pass rush is a primary concern, and Dimitroff believes the team can also bolster its secondary in this year's draft. "We feel good where we are with our interior [defensive line] moving around, and we need to continue to bolster that outside rush," Dimitroff said. "... After Super Bowl Sunday we'll start really looking at where we're going in that direction. Yes, there are some people that are going to be coming available, and we'll have to make some tough decisions on that." Atlanta showed marked improvement during the second half of the season after Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich began to split defensive play-calling duties. Morris is now the full-time defensive coordinator, and Rapoport believes he was great after moving to the defensive side of the ball during the team's bye week. Despite some of the notable positions that need to be addressed this offseason, Rapoport credits the shifts on the coaching staff for the team's turnaround, and it's why he thinks the second-half success could carry over. If the Falcons have indeed found the right coaching formula, he thinks only some slight personnel adjustments are required. So, while an active offseason might be in store for Atlanta, it might be more akin to preciseness of a surgery than the wide-spread destruction of a wrecking ball. "It's much more of a situation where you probably need to tinker rather than something that needs a full overhaul," Rapoport said. "Had they moved on from Dan Quinn, it would have been a big overhaul, rather than where they're at now." —Sidenote: kudos to the media team for the Falcons, the mobile app is full of videos/articles that actually provide information and exclusive content that I want to watch. Impressed. Flyin' In DC, IamFRESCO1 and duckhoa 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconofShadows Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 So they feel good about our interior rush. That's just wrong on so many levels MilleniumFalcon, ⚡Slumerican⚡, ATL Fan in the DMV and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAD597 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 2 minutes ago, FalconofShadows said: So they feel good about our interior rush. That's just wrong on so many levels Yep we are screwed. This team will never build the trenches. sdogg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1969 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 4 minutes ago, MAD597 said: Yep we are screwed. This team will never build the trenches. Why do y'all insist on believing anything in these pre draft interviews year after year like we're just going to tell the 31 other teams what we are going to do? falconsd56, Caddieman, citsalp and 12 others 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconofShadows Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 1 minute ago, FalconFanSince1969 said: Why do y'all insist on believing anything in these pre draft interviews year after year like we're just going to tell the 31 other teams what we are going to do? Normally I dont but after this team draft 2 first round oline and signed 2 big money FA Oline and basically neglected the Dline i just think they are just stupid MAD597 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonOfThemBirds Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 19 minutes ago, FalconofShadows said: So they feel good about our interior rush. That's just wrong on so many levels TD never shows his hand. This could be TD's language that the Falcons are indeed looking to bolster the interior of the d-line. You just never know about TD until FA and the draft comes. Francis York Morgan, mtldirtybird, djbrough and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1969 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 12 minutes ago, FalconofShadows said: Normally I dont but after this team draft 2 first round oline and signed 2 big money FA Oline and basically neglected the Dline i just think they are just stupid And how much did we talk about ol leading up to the draft last year? Absolutely none. Artys Arryn, falconsd56, Cole World and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Why would TD spill anything to anyone with regards to the Falcons draft plan 3 months from the draft. This is chess not chequers. As for this not building the lines crap what exactly did the Falcons do last year. Francis York Morgan, mtldirtybird, HouseofEuphoria and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconofShadows Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Just now, FalconFanSince1969 said: And how much did we talk about ol leading up to the draft last year? Absolutely none. I'm pretty sure that's wrong I remember every article including Blank say it's a big part if the plan to bolster the Oline OilFuturesTrader19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cole World Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 24 minutes ago, FalconofShadows said: So they feel good about our interior rush. That's just wrong on so many levels Considering we only have Jarrett, Cominsky and Senat under contract I wouldn’t put to much thought into this. sanfranfalcon and Cheap Talk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1969 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 Just now, FalconofShadows said: I'm pretty sure that's wrong I remember every article including Blank say it's a big part if the plan to bolster the Oline Yea, before we signed two guards. Free agency related articles yes, draft related articles no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis York Morgan Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 35 minutes ago, FalconofShadows said: Normally I dont but after this team draft 2 first round oline and signed 2 big money FA Oline and basically neglected the Dline i just think they are just stupid That same draft they said they felt good about hitting the OL in FA and were looking at DL in the draft. Ie: they lied. I might not like who they get in FA or the draft but I definitely don't take them at their word. papachaz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rings Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 2 hours ago, FalconofShadows said: Normally I dont but after this team draft 2 first round oline and signed 2 big money FA Oline and basically neglected the Dline i just think they are just stupid Why? The last first round pick they invested in oline was Matthews...since they had drafted Vic and Takk in the first on the dline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 People gonna complain on here no matter what. Even if they wrong. mar31985, stingbee, papachaz and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.B.N. Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 They say the same thing every year. We’re always just “a few pieces away” Chitown2ATL_Falcon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ya_boi_j Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 10 hours ago, FalconFanSince1969 said: Why do y'all insist on believing anything in these pre draft interviews year after year like we're just going to tell the 31 other teams what we are going to do? every...……...single...…………...year Shelley#37, Drunken Minotaur Zebra, papachaz and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thofin21 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 My evaluation of the Falcons front office : I can't believe what you say because I see what you do . rednblack attack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAD597 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 11 hours ago, FalconofShadows said: Normally I dont but after this team draft 2 first round oline and signed 2 big money FA Oline and basically neglected the Dline i just think they are just stupid Yep, they are idiots they think Grady can do everything and just will continue to surround him by scrubs, over draft bust Edge rushers and then wonder why we don't get any sacks. Surround Grady with some fat *** pocket collapsing monsters that we can rotate and watch Grady flourish and even lame Edge rushers get a ton of sacks. We could at least TRY that idea instead of doing the same thing every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis York Morgan Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 2 hours ago, D.B.N. said: They say the same thing every year. We’re always just “a few pieces away” That's Rapaport. I'd also worry if TD was saying it, but it sounds like this year is viewed more as a team building year. That's when we get to have our best drafts. It's when we're a "few pieces away" that things get ugly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconsIn2012 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 13 hours ago, FalconFanSince1969 said: And how much did we talk about ol leading up to the draft last year? Absolutely none. There was definitely chatter about OL leading up to the draft. Most thought we would spend our first two picks on DL & OL. A week before the draft the popular choice was Jonah Williams. Post draft it TD admitted that Oliver & Wilkins were their Targets. Lindstrom plan C. TD says what he thinks. Last offseason We let the world know protecting Ryan was our #1, #2 and #3 priority. So what did we do: Over the offseason, the Falcons spent $80.3 million to rebuild the offensive line. A total of $51.7 million of the $80.3 million was guaranteed. duckhoa, Atl Falcon and OilFuturesTrader19 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 just goes to show you how terrible Quinn was managing his staff that our new Defensive Coordinator now started the year out as a Wide Receivers Coach - I don't care if that is what Morris wanted or not. OilFuturesTrader19 and Vandy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfalconsp Posted January 23, 2020 Author Share Posted January 23, 2020 I thought the most interesting part of what Rapaport said mirrored what Dimitroff said on the video of him driving with Kelsey to the senior bow. They’re going to make moves/difficult decisions to add their salary cap and I got the sense that we will be more active in FA than people think. I could see us going after a bigger FA name to shore up the pass rush which goes against our traditional philosophy of the past couple of years. Atl Falcon and Francis York Morgan 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 13 hours ago, MAD597 said: Yep we are screwed. This team will never build the trenches. How do you even believe your own post here? The team doesn’t invest in the trenches? All 5 OL (And some of the bench) were either round 1 picks or high priced free agents. just paid Jarrett a ton to keep him, drafted 2 DEs in round one, and signed a starter from the Saints for the DT rotation. what more do you want really? Not sure ANYTHING could satisfy you and some other posters on this board. Rhodaric, Bigbenright, papachaz and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdogg Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 “ They don't need a ton, it's more just plugging a couple of holes. I would think the offseason would be pretty active." Rapoport was definitely talking with TD, when he wrote that^^ above. TD always feels that we are just 1 or 2 players away from the SB. We probably sell the farm to get Chase. Chitown2ATL_Falcon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATL_666 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 14 hours ago, FalconofShadows said: So they feel good about our interior rush. That's just wrong on so many levels I feel better about our interior defensive line than I do out interior offensive line. Lindstrom is a stud, but Mack is on the downside of his career and our other guards are backups at best in this league. Plus we don't have an OL coach who can actually coach up the OL and get them to perform up to their potential. Whereas I do have faith that DQ can work with the DL and coach them up to play higher than their talent level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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