NFL Combine 2012: Offensive Prospects That Improved Their Stock for Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons have quite a few holes this offseason. There are a few prospects that were already good scheme fits for the Atlanta Falcons but had questions that needed to be answered before the Falcons could make the selection a good fit for the team.

The Falcons' biggest needs before any re-signings or free agency on offense are left tackle, right Guard, center, slot WR, and a TE to learn from Tony Gonzalez. The candidates that make the most sense to fill these holes, and who raised their stock with the combines, are OT Nate Potter, OG Kevin Zeitler, C David Molk, WR Stephen Hill and TE Ladarius Green.

LT Nate Potter, Boise State University

6’5-5/8” 303 pounds, 34-5/8” arms and 9-5/8” hands

40 yard - 5.36, Bench Reps - 22, Vertical Jump - 28.5”, Broad Jump - 8’4”, Short shuttle - 4.67, 3-cone drill - 7.49

Safe to say that the Falcons' absolute biggest need is someone to team with Justin Blalock and protect Matt Ryan's blindside long term. While Sam Baker is getting some positive publicity right now, it could be hard for the Falcons to pass on Potter.

Potter answered a lot of questions about his footwork and quickness at the combine posting shuttle numbers equal to that of Matt Kalil, the future top 5 pick. Potter also answered the arm length and upper arm strength questions, posting 22 reps on the bench and measuring with arms a full four inches longer than Sam Baker's. Potter could be a great fit should he slip to Atlanta in the third round. He could learn behind Will Svitek for 1-2 years and then start long term after that.

RG Kevin Zeitler, University of Wisconsin

6’3-7/8” 314 pounds, 32-2/4” arms and 10-1/4” hands

40 yard - 5.39, Bench Reps - 32, Vertical Jump - 29”, Broad Jump - 8’5”, Short shuttle - 4.61, 3-cone drill - 7.77

Atlanta's second biggest need is a right guard who can start and bring the punch to the running game and protect Ryan in the passing game.

Zeitler has a lot of strength with his 32 reps on the bench but the big question on Zeitler was whether he had the quickness to pull and run screens. His shuttle and cone numbers have shown that he should be able to pull out very well in the run game and the quickness he showed should be a strength for screens.

C Garth Gerhart, Arizona State University

6’1-1/8” 305 pounds, 33-3/8” arms and 9-5/8” hands

40 yard - 5.42, Bench Reps - 25, Vertical Jump - 30.5”, Broad Jump - 8’0”, Short shuttle - 4.65, 3-cone drill - 7.63

Gerhart was one of the guys that people were looking at as an undrafted free agent type. After posting average strength numbers but measuring in with the longest arms of the center position and at a great weight for a center, Gerhart should be in draftable and possibly even 6th round range at this point. When you consider that Todd McClure was a 7th rounder and has started for over a decade in Atlanta, it's hard to not believe that Gerhart has a lot of McClure in him.

WR Stephen Hill, Georgia Institute of Technology

6’3-3/4” 215 pounds, 33-3/8” arms and 9-3/8” hands

40 yard - 4.30, Bench Reps - 14, Vertical Jump - 39.5”, Broad Jump - 11’1”, Short shuttle - 4.48, 3-cone drill - 6.88

Hill came into the combine with a lot of questions about his true speed and his overall catching abilities. After running not once but twice at 4.30, there is no question as to his speed. His leaping ability is ridiculous too as he has almost a 40 inch vertical. Combine that with the sure hands he showed in the gauntlet drills and the route running drills, and Hill is a raw form of what Julio Jones was last year. He looks like an explosive target with a great team attitude and just needs the right system, coach and mentor to succeed. He would have that in Atlanta under Koetter and Robiskie with Roddy White as the mentor he needs.

TE Ladarius Green, University of Louisiana - Lafayette

6’5-3/4” 238 pounds, 34-1/2” arms and 10-1/8” hands

40 yard - 4.53, Bench Reps - 16, Vertical Jump - 34.5”, Broad Jump - 10’4”, Short shuttle - 4.47, 3-cone drill - 7.12

The Falcons need someone who can eventually take over for Tony Gonzalez. Ladarius Green is a very raw route runner but he showed sure hands in the gauntlet and wide receiver speed for the tight end position.

As he measured near 6'6" and weighing in around 240 pounds, he has the frame to add another 15-20 pounds once he gets into a professional strength program. Another one of those needs the right situation and mentor types, Green is a great fit for the Falcons as an all around weapon in 2012 as he can line up at WR, TE and even as an H-Back and could allow Atlanta another huge target in the red zone to combine with Gonzalez (6'5"), White (6'1") and Jones (6'3").