Falcons Have Calculated But Good 2009 Draft

The overall attitude of the Atlanta Falcons in the 2009 NFL draft could be summed up into one word, calculated. Head Coach Mike Smith and new acquisitions Michael Turner and Matt Ryan have implemented a no funny business attitude and Smith and the front office have been very deliberate and calculated with their decisions. One year after only winning four games the Falcons regrouped and made the playoffs in 2008. The off season proved difficult on defense when the Falcons lost many defensive starters including five time Pro-Bowler Keith Brooking and Michael Boley.

The draft reflected this loss as Atlanta used seven out of their eight draft picks to fill the holes left in the defense from the off season. Not to worry however about the state of the offense, Tony Gonzalez, who is second all time in multiple categories as a tight end, is coming off a 96-catch, 1,058-yard, 10-touchdown season in Kansas City. He is a beautiful addition to an offense that prefers the run and will provide balance and a big target for Matt Ryan in the red zone. This is a superb pickup for the Falcons and should provide massive benefits for the team in the 2009 campaign.

Now to the draft picks for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2009 NFL draft:

Round 1, Pick 24 (24) Peria Jerry DT 6'2" 299 Mississippi:

- Falcons looked to strengthen their defensive line and address a lack of depth at defensive tackle with their first round pick in 2009. Jerry who is out of Mississippi is a big guy who can clog up the middle and is very good at the "3 technique" which Mike Smith loves in the middle of his defensive line. Jerry led the Southeastern Conference and ranked second among the nation's defensive tackles (11th overall) with 18 tackles for loss, an average of 1.5 stops for loss per game, in 2008. During last two seasons, he registered 32 TFL and 10.5 sacks, establishing his dominance in the middle of the field. He helped turn around an ailing Ole Miss Defense and helped anchor the defense up the middle in his last season. He is a great fit for Atlanta and will look to fit right in and start on day one. Look for him to have a profound impact in the run stopping business.

Round 2, Pick 23 (55) William Moore S 6'0" 221 Missouri

- Heading into his senior season, William was seen as a top-tier draft choice and was slated to go in the top round in the draft. However his senior season greeted him with injuries and inconsistent play. He has great upside and potential despite his 2008 struggles and has great hands and size. He is known for his unbelievable ability to ball hawk and close on wide receivers to deliver big blows. William converted four of his 11 career interceptions into touchdowns, breaking the school career record of three scoring returns by Erik McMillan (1984-87). His hitting ability also ranks him with the Missouri elite, as his 284 tackles placed him fourth among all-time Tiger defensive backs. He is a great pick with his size and speed and will be a pleasant surprise for Atlanta this season.

Round 3, Pick 26 (90) Christopher Owens CB 5'10" 181 San Jose State

- Owens is known as a very aggressive corner who likes to be physical with receivers off the line and has the speed to recover if necessary. He will most likely be in a nickel and sub package for the Falcons but will provide a physical presence on the football field. His ability to shut down the speedy receivers or the much bigger and physical receivers with equal effectiveness has made Owens a feared corner and has earned him the respect of most players who go against him. He started each of his final 37 games in college, only allowing one touchdown. He finished with 13 interceptions which put him fourth-highest in school history.

Round 4, Pick 25 (125) Lawrence Sidbury Jr. DE 6'2" 266 Richmond

- Sidbury is a speedy, football smart player. He has a very high football IQ which makes him very valuable to the Falcons as a fourth round pick. He will likely sub in and aid the defensive line in the 2009 season but has great upside with his speed and agility even though he is a bit undersized. Sidbury ran a 4.64 second 40 yard dash at the combine which is unbelievable for a 266 lb. player. In his last game with Richmond, he led Richmond to a big victory and Championship almost single- handily as he recorded four sacks in the game. He will look to improve as a pure pass rusher off the edge and will play a big part in the future of the Falcons.

Round 5, Pick 2 (138) (From Rams) William Middleton CB 5'10" 193 Furman

- Falcons took Middleton on the second day to further improve the secondary in hopes to groom him into a great player for the future. He will be in development mode for this season most likely and will look to learn the game and increase his stock among the Falcons. He finished his senior season with 95 tackles, nine for loss, five sacks, four interceptions and nine pass breakups giving him the title of team MVP which is not common for CB. He has good speed and quickness to make up for his short stature.

Round 5, Pick 20 (156) (From Cowboys) Garrett Reynolds OT 6'8" 309 North Carolina

- Reynolds, being the only offensive player selected in the draft by Atlanta, has amazing size and power. He will look to work hard and develop into an elite Tackle in the NFL in the future. This season he will most likely serve as a backup with maybe a chance or two if there are any injuries. The Falcons Offensive line is one of the best in the NFL and adding depth can never hurt.

Round 6, Pick 3 (176) (From Rams) Spencer Adkins LB 5'11" 230 Miami

- Adkins, seen mostly as an athlete and special teams prospect, is a little on the smaller side in terms of linebackers. Adkins has amazing speed and is very good at special teams. The Falcons will look to capitalize on this to help out on kick and punt coverage.

Round 7, Pick 1 (210) (From Lions through Cowboys) Vance Walker DT 6'2" 304 Georgia Tech

- With the last pick in the 2009 draft for the Falcons they took another Defensive Tackle to strengthen the interior line. Walker dropped in the draft because of a bad senior bowl and combine showing likely because of a bum ankle he was dealing with. He will compete and hopes to earn a spot and add depth to the defensive line.

Overall the Falcons draft was deliberate and necessary as indicated before. They were very sure of what they needed and what they did not need and addressed issues with the defense. The Falcons offense is set up for success and now the defense is trying to lend a hand in hopes of winning a championship. The best offense is a defense some believe and so the Falcons focused on that throughout their draft. There were no "oh no" picks and only maybe one pick, William Moore, that was a little high for what the player is worth. However that player has tremendous upside and is very likely to end up being worth the high pick. The 2009 season for the Falcons is shaping up to be a good one and hopefully some of the picks can step in and help out in the quest for a Championship.