2008 Falcons = 2010 Redskins
by Tiller56 on Feb 8, 2010 10:10 AM EST
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PrintHere is an earily similar draft scenerio. Compare the 2007 Falcons to the 2009 Redskins. Both had QB issues. Both had aging RB's that didn't produce like they once had, and both had poor Offensive Lines in need of fixing. Both teams go into the following yeard draft with 4-12 records and the #'s 3 and 4 picks in the draft respectively. Below are the needs analysis and (for the Falcons), draft results based on their needs.
2008 Falcons:
Needs Analysis: The Falcons not only drafted their quarterback of the future, they also helped put a new face on a franchise that desperately needed one. Atlanta has significant concerns along both lines, but found its foundation on offense with USC tackle Sam Baker. Not taking a defensive lineman was a mild surprise, but obviously the team is not ready to close the door on last year's top pick, defensive end Jamaal Anderson, after a season in which he did not record a sack. The Falcons had a need at cornerback after trading DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders, so Chevis Jackson answers that bell.
| Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | College | ||
| Round 1, Pick 3 (3) | Matt Ryan | QB | 6'5" | 224 | Boston College | |
| Pick Analysis:Looking for a face of the franchise, the Falcons went with a quarterback. Ryan started 32 games over the past four years at Boston College. He will compete for the starting job in 2008 and is expected to lead the offense for years to come. The two-time captain is known for his character, leadership and intelligence. | ||||||
| Round 1, Pick 21 (21) (From Redskins) | Sam Baker | OT | 6'5" | 312 | Southern Cal | |
| Pick Analysis:To compliment their quarterback of the future, the Falcons traded up to take someone who will protect Matt Ryan. Baker allowed just 4.5 sacks on his last 889 pass plays at USC. Baker battled injury problems the last two years and missed time because of it. | ||||||
2010 Redskins:
Washington Redskins
Top needs: QB, OT, RB, G, DE
First round (4): Sam Bradford
Second-round options (37): OT Charles Brown, OT Selvish Capers, RB Jahvid Best
Third-round options: No third-round picks (used in the supplemental draft)
Summary: For a roster that really needs an infusion of talent and depth, you could question the quarterback pick so early, but Bradford represents a chance to get a franchise quarterback, and again, you're getting the player many had pegged as the No. 1 option for the Lions last year had he jumped. You expect Mike Shanahan to retool the offensive line, and both Brown and Capers are the athletic types Shanahan prefers.
It can be argued that both teams needed Olinemen and a QB. In the 2008 draft, there were 2 so-called can't miss prospects; Jake Long(DE-Virginia), and Jake Long(OL-Mich). Long went 1st to the Dolphins, and Long followed 2nd to the Rams.
The Falcons are now on the Clock: Atlanta is faced with a delima; do they go for a new, and much needed face of the franchise in Ryan, or should they reach for much needed O-line help. Ryan didn't really start to shine until his Jr Year at BC. He was known for his leadership skills both on and off the field. He had injury concerne coming into the draft, as he hurt his shoulder at the end of the season, and just wasn't right afterwards. He had above average arm strength and was very accurate. He moved very well in the pocket, and undeerstood the game. He ran a wide open offense(not the spread) at BC, and often took snaps from the shotgun.
Well, we all know what happened at that #3 pick. The Falcons took their franchise signal caller, then traded up with the Redskins to get back into the 1st rd (pick # 21) to grab their LT Sam Baker from USC. That year they went to the playoffs with a rookie QB and a rookie starting LT.
Now for the Redskins:
Earily similar; #4 pick in the draft. Coming off a 4-12 record. New head coach. Needs can be O-linemen and QB.
Sam Bradford is 6-4 220(about the same size as Ryan). He is super accurate, has above average arm strength, is a leader both on and off the field, was a winne in college, had an injury issue to deal with, and can be the next face of the franchise.
We have a 2nd Rd pick, and maybe more given the state FA could take us, so I pose this question to HH:
Where to we go from here?
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Nice post and similar comparison. A team to guage.
The ultimate gamechanger is the QB position. If the team feels that there is a measurable upgrade, then they have to make the move. If the staff feels that Campbell, when surrounded with quality personnel can up his game enough to lead them to deep playoff runs, then they look elsewhere.
When building/rebuilding, you have to look at the QB position first, it is the most important position. If you can upgrade, you should, if not move to the LT position. Look to upgrade each position as you move down the line to the receivers and backs.
I should have done a comparison as to who the Falcons signed as free agents in 2008,
but I got lazy.
Not saying this is going to happen, but I could be a nice blueprint to follow.
The NFL is a copy-cat league. When teams started to realize they can play rookie QB’s right away, and win with them, they started to become the new trend. Not saying we need to follow the trend, but there is supporting evidence that we could be successful and sooner rather than later.
Without looking, I would guesstimate the Falcons have at least 20 free agents.
I will look later tonight, too busy right now. My theory is that you should try to get your stars(studs/playmakers) through the draft, and fill in your holes/weaknesses with average(situational/system) free agents. Although the Saints got Brees through FA, so that blows my thesis out of the water. Regardless, that’s my story, and I am sticking with it.
A little more comparison
Sam Brown (Scouts Inc grade 85) and Charles Brown (grade 88) – The player’s quality – about the same.
Quarterback – The Falcon’s did not have a viable starter in 2008 on the roster. Vick wasn’t in jail yet. The Redskins had a viable starter in 2009, but a bad supporting cast in the OL. Matt Ryan was graded at a 98 by Scouts Inc while Bradford is graded at 94.
Not many QB prospects have graded as high as Ryan in recent years. Mark Sanchez was graded at 95 and the Jets traded up in the draft to get him (a viable scenario for the Skins in 2011 if they need to resort to that strategy).
Breaking from your line of thought – http://drafthistory.com/. Super Bowl quarterbacks – winners over the top of losers
2001 Trent Dilfer, BAL 1994 1 6 6 Buccaneers Fresno State
Kerry Collins, NYG 1995 1 5 5 Panthers Penn State
2002 Tom Brady, NE 2000 6 33 199 Patriots Michigan
Kurt Warner, STL undrafted Northern Iowa
2003 Brad Johnson, TB 1992 9 3 227 Vikings Florida State
Rich Gannon, OAK 1987 4 14 98 Patriots Delaware
2004 Tom Brady, NE 2000 6 33 199 Patriots Michigan
Jake Delhomme, CAR undrafted Louisiana – Lafayette
2005 Tom Brady, NE 2000 6 33 199 Patriots Michigan
Donovan McNabb, PHI 1999 1 2 2 Patriots Syracuse
2006 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT 2004 1 11 11 Steelers Miami OH
Matt Hasselbeck, SEA 1998 6 34 187 Packers Boston College
2007 Peyton Manning, IND 1998 1 1 1 Colts Tennessee
Rex Grossman, CHI 2003 1 22 22 Bears Florida
2008 Eli Manning, NYG 2004 1 1 1 Chargers Mississippi
Tom Brady, NE 2000 6 33 199 Patriots Michigan
2009 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT 2009 1 11 11 Steelers Miami OH
Kurt Warner, ARI undrafted Northern Iowa
2010 Drew Brees, NO 2001 2 1 32 Chargers Purdue
Peyton Manning, IND 1998 1 1 1 Colts Tennessee
So its a crap shoot
From undrafted and also 6th/9th rounders to 1st and 2nd rounders (if winning a SB is your measuring stick).
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Don't relate Ryan with Bradford
Two completely different types of QBs. The situation the Falcons went through is no where similar to ours. Their star player was under federal investigation and was sent to jail. Our drama was caused by the FO. We already solved that problem by hiring Allen and Shannahan. Forget QB because we don’t need a “face of the franchise” and even if we did, Bradford is not going to be that guy.
Bob,
Bradford and Ryan are very similar form a skill and leadreship prospective. Thats why I posted this fanpost. Bradford was much more accomplished in his 2 years as a starter, but that also had a lot to do with the system he played in. Both were great leaders for their teams, and both have the same build, with nearly the same release and similar arm strength.
Just curious, why do you feel we do not need a “face of the franchise”.
Because it's not all about the QB.
To answer your question, we’re not the Falcons and they couldn’t survive in the NFC East. Ryan is good. no doubt about that. But Turner is better and more valuable to that team, as you witnessed this year. Goes right back to the fundamentals of football which most people want to ignore due to the “QB Hype”: Good Offensive Line = Good Running Game = Better Stats for a QB = Playoffs (at least).
A question that was posed during a post that I commented on, says it all:
“Tell me a team that’s won a Super Bowl is a less than average Offensive Line?”
A valid question because there are plenty teams that have won a Super Bowl with a less than stellar QB…
Not really
I don’t really see Bradford in the same light as Ryan at all. Bradford had much more talent surrounding him at Oklahoma then Ryan did at BC. I don’t really see any QB in this draft that mimic either Flacco or Ryan situations at college and I feel like their situations in college set them up to do well in the NFL.
Bradford, not so much. Not saying he won’t be good in the future, but I don’t really seeing him as being the future of our franchise.
Now if we were to address our other issues somehow and managed to pick up another 1st rounder, I’d be all for it. We just aren’t in a scenario where drafting a QB this year will make us better.
by Nobetterthenbob on Feb 8, 2010 6:59 PM EST up reply actions
Flacco came from Deleware.
Thats hardly and NFL producing college. How do you feel Deleware set him up to do well in the NFL?
Because he wasn't surrounded by play makers
Basically the offense rested on his shoulders, much like Matt Ryan. They were the reasons why their teams had success. I’m not saying that the loss of Bradford did not hurt Oklahoma, just that they could win games without him. Delaware and BC would not have had their success without their QBs.
by Nobetterthenbob on Feb 8, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
Remember
Flacco was all set to go to Penn State as the all time statistical leader for the state of PA, beating out Dan Marino, Joe Namath, and Jim Kelly, to name a few. So he was no slouch coming up.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Scott,That was not Flacco.
That was Pat Devlin the kid who is now the QB at Deleware. He broke the all-time PA state passing record(the one previously held by Lakeland’s own Evan Krakey(who by the way I coached as a freshmen). Devlin can into PSU after verballing origionally to Miami. He was much hearled coming into the program, but was never able to beat out Derryl Clark as the starter. He opted to transfer to Deleware, where he could be another Flacco in the making.
It's
“Tell me a team that’s won a Super Bowl with a less than average Offensive Line?”
value for the buck
I can stand on both sides of the argument. I will not stand for spending our first round pick on a injury prone offensive lineman when i can spend less on four injury prone offensive lineman later on in the draft. I also cant see spending money on a QB that might be a bust .
I think you are right
the nature of this year’s draft with upcoming cap lift and many juniors coming out drives us to take the best player available for a position of need at #4. I don’t believe there are any top 5 picks in the draft other than Suh and maybe Berry. We know Suh won’t be there and likely Berry as well. This means we must go with greatest need and someone who fits our new schemes, offense and defense.
Tough problem.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
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