The Falcons are heading towards the 2008 NFL draft with more holes to fill than a block of Swiss cheese. Atlanta’s rookie GM Thomas Dimitroff has been handed the mission of rebuilding a roster that has been decimated by free-agent and roster cut moves. Only a handful of players remain from the 2004 team that played the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game. The recent departure of perennial pro-bowl cornerback “MeAngelo” Hall to the nether regions of Raider Nation completes the roster overhaul that has marked the post-Michael Vick era in Atlanta.

When looking at this off-season, if you are a Falcons fan you have to be wondering who will become the new face of the franchise. Acquiring placekicker Jason Elam who has spent 15 seasons with the Denver Broncos has improved the team’s special teams unit, but can hardly be viewed as the foundation to any reconstruction plan. However, Dimitroff is well equipped with the third, 34th, 37th, 48th and 68th picks in the upcoming draft.

Conventional wisdom denotes that the number one option might be to select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College. It’s no secret the Falcons need a quarterback. Chris Redman, and Joey Harrington are perpetual nominees to any all-time bust countdown, and are better suited in backup roles. Up until a month ago Darren McFadden, an electrifying two-time Heisman runner-up from Arkansas would have fit the bill, but is no longer a factor following the Michael Turner signing. With the NFL often described as a copycat league it would not be surprising if Atlanta selected Jake Long from Michigan University. The behemoth 6’7 320 pound offensive lineman is a real possibility following the success of last year’s third overall selection of offensive lineman Joe Thomas—a key contributor to the resurrection of the Cleveland Browns who had been the doormat franchise of the AFC North division for the better part of this decade.

Mike Mayock of the NFL Network is one of many draft gurus’ who consider the 2008 NFL draft class as one of the strongest in years. Glenn “Big Daddy” Dorsey from LSU, and Sedrick Ellis from USC have demonstrated the potential to be the type of run-stuffing interior defensive linemen you can build a franchise around. While Chris Long from Virginia, and Vernon Gholston from Ohio State have flashed the versatility, and monster athletics needed to play either pass rushing LB, or DE. NFL scouts will tell you that any of these two players could become the cornerstone for whichever defensive scheme is to be implemented by the Falcons new head coach Mike Smith, who was named the franchise’s 14th head coach on January 23, 2008.

One thing is for sure, with so many credible options to jump start the Atlanta based franchise in the wake of the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal team owner Arthur Blank will be using all of the resources available to him in order to scrutinize every draft eligible candidate. If Blank has learnt anything from this horrifying saga it should be that ability can take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.

Brendan

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Last post (s) by Brendan Lemire

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