17 Burst results for "Jalen Hawkins"
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Hundred gambling and we're back on the foul call. Podcast they walk. We're looking at the events. Stats of the falcons buccaneers game from week to talked about the offense in the first half. Let's talk about what the defense did. And if you're coming into this thinking hey you know. The defense gave up forty plus points almost fifty burger. They probably didn't have any good scores. You might be surprised. They actually had in this game Guys that i think played fairly well. Let's start at the top after absolutely looking like trash in week. One dante fowler highest graded defender this week. Seventy six pass rushing scores. Seventy two overall. It obviously had the one sack three total pressures really solid game for him and nice to see him bounce back from a arguably just a dreadful first week against the eagles number two on this list after being sort of middle of the pack last last week Grady jarrett sunday. One point seven overall grade. Really good run defense again. still missing. Some of the tackles a low grade for tackling And then pass rush grade of sixty four and a half is not bad sort of you know still underperforming but for the high standard that greg jarrett has essentially set for himself number three on this list One of the interesting things coming into this game was the fact that We saw defensive. Lineman john kaminsky be a healthy scratch and rightfully so. He is one of our worst greater players last week. However the guy who was activated his place Rookie draft picked quang. Graham was number three on. Pf apps scoreless small sample size yet thirteen snaps in this game Eight run defense. Five against the pass sixty nine point three overall score seventy in run defense sixty seven as a tackler relatively. Good start for the rookie Thirteen snaps you know if he can build on this. That is something to pay attention to. Let's see if he continues to get opportunities to be active on game day. I actually thought he'd be one of those guys that would be inactive for most of the season. The fact that he was active is probably had as much to do with kaminsky. Not getting it done as anything else. But he took advantage and those thirteen snaps and he showed up in a meaningful way on sunday. Now again these grades sixty nine point three like these are slightly above average. So i don't want to oversell this. These guys were blowing the doors off. Clearly they weren't as a unit so please don't take this as saying these guys are all bunch of future pro bowlers. But you know first impressions. Pretty good for this Young rookie number four on the list. jonathan bullard who was weather standouts in the preseason one of our interior pass rushers that really sort of made an impression and earned himself a spot on the fifty three and here. He is ninety nine thirty two snaps. Sixty seven point nine overall grade Sixty six point three as pass rusher. So that's above average not bad Good to see these kind of pickups. Where the falcons brought him in. He was a guy that many people didn't have on their radar makes the roster and turns into top performance and sort of building on top of the idea of some of these. Young guys Picking up positive scores number five on the list strong safety jalen hawkins sixteen snaps. He's beginning to see a little bit more playing time. And i am heavily in favor of this. Especially considering the fact that drawn harmon. Eric harris decent guys in harmon much. Better incidentally decent players. But i really think. Hawkins is beginning to play his way into a starting role next year. If he keeps this up he's gonna play his way into even more snaps in could end up being started by the end of the year. If again he can keep this up but his overall grade sixty seven really strong solid tackling decent and coverage Really about all you could ask from the second year player so some positive signs from our young guys on this defense something. We definitely want. See all right. Let's go to the bottomless five snaps. Total disappointing cds. Linebacker michael walker. Although he had a really strong tackling grade seventy one point four but his overall grade of twenty seven point five is quite dreadful right but him is linebacker brandon copeland only to snaps. So i wouldn't put too much stock in this grade but it is interesting to player. Who falcons cut right before week. One and brought back Got just to snaps and registered a thirty point. Five grade overall again small sample size. Don't read too much into it right above them. Stephen means another linebacker. Thirty nine point eight grade. We're seeing a tendency here. Where guys on. The edge are not necessarily getting it done. Incidentally they did play michael walker. More outside linebacker in this game might not be the right fit for him. But we'll see how that progresses. But yes stephen means thirty nine point. Eight still a very solid score and tackling but not getting it done and other aspects of the game number four in the worst list. Fabien moreau cornerback Really rough day. He slipped and fell one touchdowns So rough game from him and safety eric. Harris's fifth on the list with fifty four point one overall grade. Just a sort of a minute. Just below average outing from him from really guy we brought in to be a veteran presence. to help bring along the young guys but we we were hoping we get a little bit more than this out of him in so far overall performance has been Kind of disappointing. Now where did some of our key starters on defense land. Aj tyrrell who had to fantastic pass. Breakups was number six on the list. And god i hope he can get back healthy soon. Did suffer concussion on sunday so he will be in the protocol. My bet right now as you probably misses this next game But he had a seventy two point. Five coverage score makes a ton of sense highest graded Player in coverage sixty six point five overall grade drawn. Harmon was number. Seven is thinly data. Koumba oaken digi are outside linebacker rookie draft pick was number nine on this list so good to see him there. Foyer were ten and eleven and isaiah. Oliver who i thought actually had a better game than what this score indicates was number fourteen He's a player that i thought his he has settled into the right role and played. I thought decently against you. Know what is arguably the best offense in league right now and i think this role for him sort of as that you know that slot corners is a much better fit thirty nine snaps in this game But according to bff sort of middle of the road performance from him and again you know with all of these guys. I think the important thing to note here is that these scores are really reflective of just the one game it's not necessarily indicate indicating what they're going to do the rest of the season. But hopefully if we can see some repeats of this especially from guys like to quan graham. Jalen hawkins it bodes well for the future That we're going to be turning this franchise over to kim. Jalen hawkins become a starter safety force. Next year kent graham become a regular rotational piece on that defensive line right now you know they. They both turned in really good performances or solid performances. I want to say really good. No.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Again. You know sample size is a little bit small but this is beginning to trend in the right direction for this guy. Young player Safety jalen hawkins so really excited to see What that means for his ongoing development in that safety role and number five Fabien moreau that he got burned on one touchdown and honestly you know he was the player on that play but it was a really good pick play. That took him out is hard to really come down. You know really negative on him for that play but he had overall very strong day so kudos to him. The bottom five on defense. Absolute worst of the worst was john kaminsky. He only had two snaps though. I thought he was going to play a lot more than that. Really surprising to see that from him. But twenty four point eight grade for this to snaps next above him free safety. Richie grant six total snaps again sample size. Don't come down too hard. On grant for this seventy five point two on the tackle so you actually showed to be a very good tackler again. Six snaps for those of you. Who are concerned about the rookie. Just calm down. It's it's one game at six naps. Let's not get too upset about the one just yet. Right above him. Jacob to not mariner who had twenty five snaps forty seven point three grade. I actually thought he was much better than this. So maybe we'll take that one a little bit grain of salt right above him tyler davidson forty snaps forty-nine point two overall grade and above him linebacker dion jones. Unfortunately who had a forty nine point seven grade but funny enough had an eighty four point. Six pass rushing grades. Dion apparently needs to rush the passer more he literally had our best score as a pass rusher and actually was fairly good as a tackler with seventy two point. Now where we're some of our key guys on defense. Greg jarrett was fourteenth uncharacteristic for him. And i again i feel like this is maybe not a hundred percent accurate but then again. Grady missed tackles. That really i think if you were at peak form with a pull down the quarterback so maybe where that's where some of that's coming from his great of fifty four point nine is definitely well below what we used to seeing from him. Aj terrell Was actually number ten. So neither another terrible outing for him. Fifty eight point seven overall grade. Decent coverage grade not really great in the tackling department. Which again is weird. Because he he made a really good open-field tackle early on the game. And then dante fowler was number eight with sixty point one grade and he actually did well in run defense tackling but as a pass rusher had a forty nine point two grade which will surprise absolutely. Nobody if you've been watching the falcons for any extended period of time. Hopefully this is not the beginning of a consistent trend for any of these players. Clearly i think gregg jarrett is gonna bounce back. I would love to see jalen. Hawkins continue to to high and be one of our top defenders as well as guys like michael walker. Tj green as well loved seeing some of these younger guys guys we brought in Have an impact on this defense early on but right now not a whole lot. Celebrate you know. These are the the majority of these scores are on the wrong side of good. And we've got tampa bay next Certainly we're gonna be talking about that this week at the alcoholic dot com and of course on the podcast. We will have a podcast very soon. Coming up with the numerous voicemails. You guys left us giving us your thoughts on the game. The podcast is purely gonna feature what you guys with our listeners or readers have to say about what happened on sunday. We want your voice to be heard and that's going to be happening here. This week's stay tuned to this podcast for that very special. Ezra guys foamy on twitter at alcoholic. D-w updates podcasts at alcoholic cod and of course articles daily alcoholic dot com. This is dave walker. Thank you guys for listening in talk to you next time. Okay this show is over. You're still listening for some reason which means that you must have already downloaded the prize. Pigs up because if you haven't gotten that yet why are you still here. Price picks is basically daily
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"About as good as a game as you could get a twenty-seven on thirty five attempts two hundred sixty four yards three touchdowns he had sixty two on the ground Just terrific day for him especially if he adamant fantasy on the ground though mild sanders lead today day. Form fifteen carries seventy four yards Kenny gain well who was popular in draft rumors. For the falcons season at nine carries for thirty seven yards ending touchdown in through the air. Obviously with her at seven three touchdowns you know. Devante smith takes First round pick six receptions seventy one yards touchdown jalen. Rieger who struggled last year seemed really good on six targets. He caught all sakes forty nine yards and a touchdown in dallas of their tied in falcons always struggle against tight ends. He had four receptions. Forty two yards and a touchdown. Yeah i mean. They struggle in the air game all day. Oh yeah and what was odd is. I don't want anyone to think that you know. I felt like this was a good defense. They weren't they. Were decent enough. I think for the fact that the offense was just giving him zero help on the other side of the ball I i felt like they were Good enough to win this game. Offense did what we believe. They're capable of but on the flip side of that. It's like the they were able to get to fourth-down stops which they let the eagles like march down the field on them and then stopped him twice on fourth down. I don't understand how they did that. They did in. That's sort of the story. For me with the falcons defense. They lead the eagles mostly do what they want to do. But when it came time they were able to get some really key stops. So it's a mixed bag for dean peas And honestly with a rookie essentially quarterback. This is his first years. The coming in starter for jalen hurts even though he started you games last year. He's still functionally a rookie. This is his first time Really being the guy going into the this season he's got three receivers who were drafted in just the past year or two including as mentioned smith this year in for them to just basically drop thirty. Two on this falcons team at home in their first game under new coach a new offensive coordinator like their head coach. Surani he was. He's barely been like. He's in his thirty one. The youngest coaches in the league. There's barely been play caller. And he did that to the defense but for me. It's it's the trenches van. Grady jarrett needs some help Down in the middle and this is something where until we see. Some of these guys stepped forward. This defense is probably gonna be this mixed bag all year long. I still have faith for players like diaw jones. Aj terrell in for the long term potential for guys like Richie grant in jalen hawkins secondary but this team just cannot seem to get it together in the trenches and it looks like disperse game. That's what the story is. And unfortunately you're making a great point in unfortunately as you said. This is a season long thing. You don't you can't. I'd say if you were able to fix an area like running back if you were having problems with a rushing you could bring in a running back in probably make it serviceable. The trenches is the hardest thing to like group to address during a season. Because there's no guard out there who's gonna fix this line. There's no defensive lineman right now. Who's out there available. That's gonna fix this line right. You're pretty much just hoping guys step up. If they don't you're just hoping they get a little better to wear like they can make some place because there's no fixing either side of the ball you can switch around player scher like. Maybe we'll see. We'll talk about offense in the second but like kobe Guests said or whatever from who they picked up from cleveland off waivers. maybe he comes in and gives. I mean i can imagine he do a better job than what we saw. Today from. Mayfield but i feel like knows better. Job may feel like those. Are the subtle changes that you can actually make in. Maybe it'll help. But if you're expecting them to bring in quitting nelson or something. You're not finding anybody who's gonna come in and fix everything not in. That's off season stuff and honestly some of this is where the line is concerned. The offensive line is less about the individual performances in more about the cohesion of those guys. Have some of this may get fixed over time as these guys play more together. We have to brand new starters on the offensive line at center at left guard and i fully expect. They're going to see what veterans are available and left guard this week. I do not think the plan is going to be. Oh yeah just. Keep rolling with jalen mayfield. This point you and i were joking. That he made legitimately get a single digit score in. Pf this This week he was that bad. I do think they're going to look at. What options are available as far as free agencies concern to fix at left guard spot. They have to. I mean you can't let matt ryan continue to have a second half in the pocket Although i will say the irony here is an. We'll talk about the falcons. Offense admit it is that they actually were fairly good. Run blocking early on. But we'll we'll save that for the second. Half of the podcast. The eagles offense though man like if you were playing fantasy and you just decided hey you know what No one is picking up. Jalen hurts because he was one of the worst rated quarterbacks last year. but he's playing the falcons. I'm going to pick him up on waivers. Just because i think there's a chance he may end up being a pickup. You probably have cashed out. Yeah like twenty seven. Thirty five to sixty four touchdowns. No interceptions isn't this. This is like the same story. With the falcons. Defense making below average quarterbacks. Look like absolute stud right. If there was ever a week in fantasy cash out on jalen hurts insisting this week and i wanna say to Philly fans if you're listening to this podcast first of all welcome aboard and thank you for also. Why in why. But i would not go into the rest of the season thinking that Jalen hurts is going to be this pro bowl quarterback. Because as falcons fans we can tell you we've seen this story before and we've made many teams over invest in quarterbacks who are just not that good so you may want to take a few weeks to evaluate your guy. What's insane as like these totally new people. Why is it the same sort of thing. Horrendous new city is cursed. Man i am i am fully on board with. I've i've sort of pooh-poohed this idea before when people brought it up to me like atlanta's just occurs city. I'm bored now. Atlanta's first we're never gonna win anything. I'm in my bones right now And yes we're all overreacting. They're sixteen more games would. Yeah and and that's the thing. I tweeted it out In i still have the same opinion like like me media w or saying some pretty negative things because shirt who who would be able to we saw But at the end the day. Like i'm still you know not optimistic but i'm not fully Full blown panic mode yet because it is week one. And i. I believe when the falcons went to the super bowl twenty sixteen detonate lose against the buccaneers. And we did the and they look very sloppy right. Well before we get excited here i am not saying they're going to go to the super bowl because they lost one right. They've let the last four regular season openers. Like clearly it could go either way. But for me i am a let him you know. Obviously next week against tampa probably going to get any better but it's it's a new regime. I'm hopeful still but at the same time if you are a fan in you are pissed off in like you've been given no reason buy into this new regime at all If you're not optimistic don't blame you one bit. You shouldn't be They didn't show anything today against a new head coach for the eagles. Yup showed that they were prepared. For this game Sloppiness all over the field. You know we're gonna talk about offense and defense. But i can't pick really you one or two players who i could go. Yeah they were good. Like i mean. Cordeiro patterson maybe he surprised me as running back. That's my takeaway. Everyone else.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"That would. That's the first thing we see air. Kerstin play against ons. We got totally little bit. Yeah like any. Yeah yeah so. That is very interesting. I agree. I wanna see what techniques like and. I'm not sure because. Obviously i'm thin but i think probably came away more impressed with our depth that safety I think jalen hawkins enriching grant into action. They solve during preseason. Look great I it's promising going forward. Considering how young both players are absolutely and looking at how the falcons defense matches up. It's really kind of a wild card. How the eagles will be. We don't know how good devante smith will be. that will be. Obviously one of the main know sort of turning points in this game can't afford to smith be the weapon that the eagles have lacked at wide receiver for the past several years. Jalen ray did not pan out the way they. He was not took them over. Justin jefferson. yeah yeah and you know. My dynasty team is certainly hoping that jalen regular eventually turned into something that is. They're hoping obviously for a lot from devante smith. I'm sure they're hoping for something from jalen ray gore but the big weapon on that offense is the tight ends. They're kind of similar to the falcons. In that way. Right they have zakar. It's they have dallas. Got her a very potent too tight end attack so odd donald to you with this one. How do you think the falcons are going to match up in terms of coverage against this eagles passing game. I definitely think that dean pees will will try to speed up the clock against Against jalen hurts because you know jalen hurts someone who we've seen last year. He had his moments Definitely after taking over for carson wentz but he also had some moments where he clearly looked like a rookie and looked like For whom the moment was you know slightly too big. So i definitely think i liked that. We're going up against hurts right away. Early on in the season I don't think you know he's really proven quite yet and This is just something where i feel like the pressure. The dean pees brings to try and speed things up for that could force mental into a few mistakes because her. This are hurts. This is still someone who probably still in his mind. How last season he was pulled through was benched. His completion percentage wasn't really that high. His your passing numbers his rushing numbers were great but his his passing numbers weren't really all there. So you know. I definitely think that that's something where you can kind of take advantage of it mentally in going up against Against someone so young and still so little bit raw in his nfl career. Definitely not something. You'll be able to do very much of next week against tom. Brady was the exact of all of that. But yeah i definitely i definitely think that dean pees will he's gonna he's gonna be blitz happy all season but i think he may bring the heat a little more in this game than what we'll see in future games against against non young quarterbacks. Yeah yeah and dave is going gonna go to you with this one You know jalen hurts. Is known more for his rushing ability. One of the best rushing quarterbacks in the nfl last year even in only a few game sample size how you think or how would you sort of try to limit his ability to run the ball because that was really where he had the most success. When you kind of get out of the pocket and use his legs would you take a blitz heavy approach which you use more spies and try to force him to throw the ball. I would just have grady jarrett's saddam. Yeah i like. Oh you can just sit on No i i would probably i would. I would think about having a spy. I think the thing with hurts is in my mind like i. I actually like jalen hurts. I think he can be a good. Nfl quarterback but i do think his instinct especially against the blitz. Happy defense is going to be to take off. And i think if you're gonna send the house every time out to try to force him into making a bad throw that's gonna work out for you occasionally might even work out For you enough to win the game. But he's also going to just take off a lot because he's confident in his legs and he should be vis a very good scrambling quarterback. I can't tweet about him in a funny way. Like can with matt ryan. Because it's actually yeah. Yeah so to me. Yeah you wanna have somebody who's got eyes on him pretty much all times because the very last thing you want to do is be so aggressive that you're giving hurts a chance to rip off fifteen. Twenty thirty yard runs in. Keep this thing moving. I don't think the eagles offense it as much as i like. Some of their playmakers is good enough to win this game on their own. Unless you just can't account for for herds taking off and running. So i would be a little bit cautious about that And i would save the you know the non stop. Endless blitzing for tom brady. Who is forty four years old and still hasn't had a cup of coffee recently. So yeah that's that's how i would play it. We'll we'll see how it goes. Maybe they'll just get after him. He'll get rattled and he won't take off but i very much doubt that. Yeah i mean he's gonna take off he's gonna take off a lot so if they're gonna blitz him and i don't think he was a bad idea necessarily but if they're gonna blitz him they need to have somebody like they're in casey survives the blitz because otherwise asking and i feel like i'm not saying just go zero blitz on every time i like the idea of bringing a fifth man and also leaving. Maybe leaving a dion jones as a spy just because john jones has the speed to keep up so even if even if jalen hurts kind of like you know runs away from it. You still have beyond jones right. They're closing at the angle. Yeah i like that. I mean. I think dion jones could be a really good sort of running quarterback a racer because he is faster than just about every quarterback. If not all quarterbacks even guys like justin fields and trae lance jones reportedly ran into the hi four threes at his pro day so i liked that strategy. That could be good. Eric how would you sort of try to to neutralize jalen hurts would you like to blitz as well or are you playing sitting back zone and trying to kind of contain and let him make mistakes as a passer. Did we loser now. You're going to give him a mixed back you know. I'm going to wake him. Be a traditional quarterback passer which he's probably not at that particular point in his development yet But i'm also gonna Throw some bodies. Our man The one thing that i do feel comfortable about with this defense go to because hers is the athleticism at linebacker. In case he does know the ball down at intakes off Having dion jones haven't awoken haven't even michael walker That's a nice trio of athletic linebackers. That i believe you know the if they need to chase him down they'll be able to get apple The one thing about jalen.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"As you said. I was pretty surprised. Kindle sheffield the roster But yeah as you said. Jalen hawkins really made his presence felt in that He was the titans team. Plays out yet sack but Yeah it's it's a bit of an unknown position group for me Or of you know. I guess like the offensive line. Not necessarily you. You have one guy. You're pretty positive is gonna be good in a few question marks there so We'll see what happens. i. I think they'll to wait and see for this. I think the eagles will be a good trial. Run for this group because now you have a quarterback entering his first season as starter Ponte smith it'll be get good test against these cornerback keeping speedy but he's inexperienced so We'll see yeah this. We're gonna have. Eagles preview on the podcasts In the next day. Or and that's one of the the matchups. I'm really eager to see. Because i think it'll be a good a decent test not like tom brady esque task Against the secondary but One nonetheless that should give us some idea where these guys stand But yeah that's that is where we stand with this team going in. How are you feeling overall about the the team that roster the coaching. Where from where i'm coming from i feel like in. This'll be proven over long-term. Obviously i feel like arthur smith has all the makings of being a good head. Coach of the fact that dean pees came out of retirement to coach with him. I think is pretty telling It's a good sign. You mentioned it earlier. You know the no nonsense approach. That smith takes i think is is a good strategy for him and really probably the most effective one in coaching especially nfl. But right now i i. I feel like this team could win games. But they are one injury away like one key guy going down and it's going to derail the season. So what's your take on that. How do you feel about the coaches the overall roster construction as it stands in the first year underfunded smith. Yeah as you said the the big question is whether there one injury away from you know disaster on any side of the field relief at this point but You know i again. I think that the the hope for this team is is usually. The falcons have done very well with first year. Head coaches when there's been zero expectations. I mean the falcons. They went one. Weren't twelve year before mike smith. Got there in you saw how depleted that roster was before it got there and they make the playoffs that first year Same thing with dan quinn. I think he started six hours for season. With the falcons. I mean again. I think again quit inherited a little bit more talented. Mike smith did but again. I think the point remains that turnarounds in the. Nfl happened very quickly. The the biggest problem with.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"I'm joined by jay gordon. We're talking about the falcons. Defense our grades for them going into the twenty twenty one season. Obviously take all of this with grain of salt folks. We're talking about you know guys before. The games are even played But these are sort of initial impressions of the players the quality of the players. What we've seen from them. We've talked about the defensive line that linebackers. Let's talk about the back end of this defense. Because in the past especially in recent years this has been a unit that has been at times problematic. A lot of that has been due to injuries. We've we've seen guys like kiana. Neil ricardo allen demonte casey all go down with season ending injuries over the past several years so some of that is not just simply the nature of the nfl but some of it has been talented issues. I am of the mind that some of that is hopefully knock on wood in the past I want to start with the safeties. Because i wanna finish up with what we've got corner. They brought in to veterans to anchor the safety position for now. They're both on one. Year deals eric harris doron harmon and behind them are what i think are two really promising players. I think next year. Probably going to be our starters at safety second round. Pick richie grant and fourth round. Pick from last year. Jalen hawkins who. I think you could argue that one of the best pre-seasons of any defender on this roster. So let's start with the the two presumed starter for now. What do you feel about harrison in harmon and after that talk about the potential of hawkins grant. Yeah you know. I can catch a lot of las vegas raiders football because i tend to value my time. I but i know right but it you know. Hey of i think they know but you know you look at a guy like eric. Air from all accounts super high character. Guy You know solid run support. can step up in the box and make some plays there can get touched up in coverage a little bit That could be a product of the raiders secondary as a whole which is not exactly like he's coming over to the the twenty thirteen e hawks From the raiders. But i think it'd be decent and run support You may have to get him out of there on nickel and bringing a jalen hopkins or grant. But i think doron. And he's just he was made de defense. You know all the time you spent. I don't know if there was any overlap between these new england. But you know that's switch ability That ability to move around and by all accounts is another guy. he's just super high character. Guy observer You know very very Very much in a leader role which is which is good to have it out of a safety And so i like those guys. I think armand will earn a second contract. I don't know about harris But i think harmon. I think he's gonna fit right in. I think he's gonna make a lot of good places now. Think about can give them an extension. But that's putting the car before the horse so Yeah i it's on the two guys. I don't know if they're gonna be the savior for every single little problem that we have. But when you talk about going from ricardo allen and guys who have been there forever It's it's definitely a different look. It is and it's i'm with you. Eric harris i think is he's decent enough. He's got issues that we're going to have to work around You know when you're signing. You know veterans like this to be essentially stopgaps He's i think he's good as you get for sort of that price range. You know so when you're shopping at dollar tree you're not getting top notch target up flirts and we got the best of the dollar tree brand. I you know. I think harris is better than dollar trade. Let's be very clear But i'm with you drawn harmon has. He's he's thirty years old he's been league for wall. I think his mentorship of grant hawkins is very notable. As you mentioned he is someone who has taken both those guys Under his wing. In particular richie grant and that i think is going to pay dividends over long term and i really love. The falcons have brought guys like that. That are mentors. Now hawkins in grant again last year hawkins was able to play a little bit until he got injured in in sort of missed out on the last several games of the season when he was in there I thought he played fairly well. I did not anticipate sort of the jump that he would make from last year to what we saw this. Preseason his individual play preseason looked really a big leap forward. Richie grant i think fans need to understand. Dean pees asks a lot of the players in his second year. He expects all of these guys to know every position in the responsibilities of those positions. And that's gonna put a lot of pressure on those safeties on the linebackers and you know grant is probably gonna need some time to get used to all of those responsibilities. He can't just learn being a safety. He has to know what it's like to be a corner. He has to know what it's like to be linebacker. That is a big ask and for any rookie to come in. It's gonna take time and if he's not on the field up immediately that does not mean he's bust. The talent is there. I think he's going to be fine. I'm really bullish on what he is going to do. On the back half of this year and in the twenty twenty two. So what do you feel about hawkins grant in their long term potential. Yeah and you're totally right about the days. And i think that's why we saw the falcons make a lot of the choices. We did in the draft saying anything groundbreaking. It's been a hundred times a day. Targeted intelligent guys An older guy seniors captains guys who appeared to have their head on their shoulders. The defense is not easy to learn. There's a lot going on But that was that was one that was my that was my own hocken. Felt like hey you know. He looks like he's really developing. I think that's something. A lot of people were banking on to start season And that's very encouraging. Besides i gotta shot him out. When i was out and breakfast got absolutely lost. Our trust i mean i remember. I was like somebody's house. Because i didn't know parker has to. Whoever you to you know one of the fifty tight end behind had out there like somebody just got eight up august. You know he. We saw i make a couple of good plays during the free stephen shoring up that back in play in that centerfield role and i think he's i think he's gonna see a lot of wing-pong especially in nickel and i trust the. I think he's gonna be okay back there. I'm not really worried. About and Yeah richie granted. Didn't look spectacular. But the thing is he's a rookie. you'd like you said there's a lot to learn a decent and i think the guys ahead of him i will allow him to come on and spots and kind of get get some feel for the game. Get some of that game sets. He has great instincts he had things. Ucf that's obviously a big jump in competition. And and and i think he will grow into. I think by you the season we're going to be feeling a lot. Better about rich brent. Yeah hundred percents Do want to note. The falcons have tj green listed as a safety. He's probably going to be more of a quote unquote. Db where he is going to see. Time both at safety and a corner He's a bigger player. I think he's like six foot three but he's a player that i think is well is he's gonna be more of a backup anyways but he's going to be deployed by ps sort of all over the field when he does come in so another player that i'll just mention him. But how do you feel about the safeties and what. What kind of grade would you give this unit. You know this. This is one that. I wrestled with By the way shut off. Cj green good for many or that's body played really well.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Whether or not the falcons would keep a fourth guy back there. And it's during ethridge. Who played a fantastic game in that first. Preseason ended up arguably being a little bit more consistent than some of the guys. He was competing with. He has made the initial fifty three man roster. I feel like this is a position that it's going to be relatively stable. Enroll thompson was one of the guys. That was in competition here. I could see him. Potentially going to the practice squad for this team really liked what he did as well in this preseason but right now during ethridge the only other undrafted free agent other than philippi. Franks to make the fifty three man roster. I think he's relatively safe. I think we can run with this now as we get into the defensive backfield. This is where things get interesting. The falcons are going to be running running with eleven total defensive backs now. I think most people thought the max number for the defensive backs it was going to be around ten. So they're they're running one heavier than what most people projected really with that being sort of four safeties five corners and in that that tenth player being sort of a hybrid player that can play both safety and corner. Let's start with the safeties obviously drawn harmon. Eric. harris or the to presumed starters the veteran starters the one year rentals at the safety position and then of course. You've got At the the the backups. For those guys Richie grant who our second round draft pick and then jalen hawkins arguably one of the most improved players from last year to this year Who we think also is going to see a lot of playing time now. The corner position. This is where. I think things are a little bit interesting obviously. Aj terrell fabien moreau or the to pencil in starters. They've looked good from what we've seen from them. In camp in limited playing time in the preseason and then behind them. you've got isaiah. Oliver who is the presumed nickel corner. Who has actually played pretty well. I think he played pretty well in the back. Half of last year in this revised position for him. And then darren hall and avery williams the to drafted corners. They have made the roster. Darren hall maybe a little bit more surprised but again. I don't think the team wants to walk away from any of their drafted rookies. The they wanna hang on to these guys whether they play him or not so hall could be someone that In the very similar way kept inactive on game days and they're keeping him to pull him into the twenty twenty two season unless injuries of course happened. The head of him every williams. Clearly i think is going to be the punt returner of choice for the team going forward. Tj green who. I feel like really had a very very strong season in the last couple of preseason games that last one may have played him onto the roster his player. It's got some size. He's one of the guys. I think that can sorta platoon. Between safety and corner. He has made the roster so kudos to him and kendall. Sheffield is currently on the roster. Here's a guy that i felt was on the bubble. He did not play at all in the preseason. He is barely practice in fact. I don't know that. He is practiced once many of us thought he would either be put on the pup list or put on injured reserve. This could be something where he could be returning in the very near future. And the falcons just are not willing to move on from him yet. But he has for now made the roster. I will say this. I do feel like this is a position. Where if they're going to add another offensive lineman or even potential another running back. I like one of these defensive backs could be the guy to go and honestly. I still think i'm going to continue to say that. I think kendall sheffield's going to be that guy simply because his second season was such a downturn of performance the injuries this year i could see them trying to stash him on the pup list and obviously that would be six weeks before you would be able to see him again. I feel like there's maybe an additional change coming for the defensive back so this is definitely wanted to keep an eye on but right now sheffield has made the roster and of course the the specialist. Josh harris long snapper young way coup. For the kicker and cameron is lack has made it as the punter The former holder or former teammate of young way coup is also now made the roster as well so kudos to those guys As i mentioned before this is and you're going to see a lot of people saying this and it bears repeating. This is the initial roster. I think we're going to see more moves made even possibly today or tomorrow as these other guys are cut. The falcons are pretty high in the the chain for claiming guys off waivers because of the record last year so if they go and claim a guy there's a good chance that they'll get him likewise if a veteran this cut a specially again i think on the offensive line because of the lack of depth there. I think that is a position. They can look to address. End some of the guys. I think even though right now they're on the roster who are are not necessarily on sure footing. If you asked me to put that down to a list i would say number one. Felipe a franks do think. They'll try to put him on the practice squad at some point. But i just don't see them trying to carry three quarterbacks all year long Josh rosen again. I think this is more about the team wanting to give him a longer. Look but i don't think he's unsure for either. I think the team could still look for another veteran quarterback to be the true. Backup to matt ryan this year. So the two quarterbacks behind matt ryan or on my list for a.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"I mean the fact that michael walker who could start on just about any other team is going to be more of a rotational player. Just based on the scheme is crazy. richie graham. We saw some him he look good. Yeah i mean this is a bunch. I mean every week. There's been a bunch of defensive players. A lot of them younger guys Every williams actually. I mean you've talked about in past episodes. You know him. Being on that. Punter battle competition with the chris rolling. I thought he really stood out at corner in this game You know roland did have What a- catcher. Whatever but every williams in corner looked good. I mean you wouldn't be like starting corner anything on this team. But if he's like your fifth or sixth corner I mean you ain't gonna hear any complaints from me and which is what he will be. And that's a completely fine and again he is. He's a plus athlete. Who were we brought on primarily for special teams. So if you're getting quality corner play From from a depth standpoint again not for this guy to be a starter clearly. It's really good. He was our third highest grade player on. So that's really encouraging and to your point. Tj green was her highest graded player by pf and for those who are unfamiliar tj. Green was a two thousand sixteen. Second round draft pick by the colts Alek clemson four. Three four speeds six-foot-three if this guy can be a depth player for us like that's you know that's some high pedigree and in a amount of times with these guys you know. We talked about this before the team that drafted them you draft someone that high in the second round you're really wanting them to eventually become starter and if that player just doesn't turn into that you feel like you have to move on from the atlanta as a place where he could go and potentially just be a rotational guy like you said moving from safety the corner. He doesn't have to be cornerback. One or two or even three like right now. Isaiah oliver's are nickel someone like tj. Green i feel like is he's going to be a good fit as that fourth or fifth corner someone you can turn to in really sub packages or someone that can come in and in in substitution or during injury and fill in spots. And that's you know those guys matter they help fill out the roster and to your point i think he made a strong case for making the fifty three man roster this week. He's one of the names. I'm going to be paying attention to to see if he sneaks in at the end the other name that popped he got twenty six snap. Second highest graded on pf marlon davidson. His second preseason game and he second strong performance he missed the second preseason game he played in the first one. Look good in that one Played in this. One has looked good in this one. So knock on wood. Hopefully this is a sign that marlon davidson is going to have a much better year than his rookie year All right the the the secondary we didn't see much of the starters at all I think Eric harrison drawn harmon. Did not play but we did get to see a good of resell harmon out there. Did he play. He may have played a few. No air cares. Definitely but i i right arm in harmony. Play like a couple you know. He played ten snaps so he was out there. But i think primarily the falcons leaned on jalen hawkins who had forty two taps And richie grant. Who had thirty. Two sam's and i've got to be honest. I am actually really excited about how. These two guys are developing. Obviously richie grant second round. Pick a lot of people him to be a starter right now and i just don't think that's in the cards immediately. I'm not saying that can't happen this year but jalen hawkins like again he. He graded out fairly well on. Pf he's had a really strong. Preseason what do you think about the two safeties. Because i feel like this is This could be preview. Who are starters are in twenty twenty two. Yeah i mean. I i like talking even last year before. He got injured This preseason he's really showcase that e could technically start for this team In obviously he's from the last regime so it's not like Arthur smith in being. Pc came in thinking about jalen hawkins thinking they had a starting safety in him because he hadn't had a lot of tape From missing games last year. So could he technically start. Yeah but you know they do. Have these two guys the in harmony in harris who are technically the starters but you might see hawkins in there as a rotational player. Just because he's been too good to kind of take off the he'll again. It was preseason but he's really good in You know dean pees a sent him even on blitzes where it's gone up middle and got a sack during preseason I think they really like him in a feature depth safety. I mean that's very good exactly and again When when you've got these guys essentially in the rookie. General hawkins d play last year. I get that but essentially you know. These guys are still very young. And you you can put the behind veterans. Let them grow and develop. It's such a perfect situation for them right now. There's no immediate expectations it lets them play little bit more free as you mentioned. I think hawkins think he feels the same sort of well a pressure and now he's able to just you know play as a reserve and come in and just ball out and and make his case. And you know the same will be true for richie grant who has a rookie. His head is probably swimming as many are so good opportunity for them to you. Do you find it interesting. That both are starting safeties. You know we talked about on previous episodes but they'll technically the week one not playing together like that will be their first time playing the other. Yeah because a lot of times have to be on like similar pages and they will have no game experience together. Yeah that's I guess some of this comes down to the whole debate about how much the preseason games actually matter versus the practices and in versus You know what they did miami with the joint practice. We seems to be out in just reading. The tea leaves from how arthur smith's has has talked about this. Preseason my bet is. The falcons are going to lean more heavily on joint practices in the future. And they're gonna. They're just not interested in playing starters in preseason games. I think the joint practices where they feel like they get their best look at what the team's but see that's what it's like for example. If i was in charge. I probably would have played harris over having like. Aj tyrel out there right like. Because i think it. You know knowing you have jalen hawkins like god forbid and this has nothing on eric harris. It's just he's new here like you kind of want I'm not trying to like attack. Eric harris it's just like i mean it makes sense to have like dionne jones or grady jared out there but air is their level like i don't understand really why he wasn't you know out there in.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Expect it to be five. Who would rolling be knocking out of a job right. Like we know ridley gauge zacchaeus. They're safe then. You have two more. Would you really stash rolling just for punt returns. The omni not. that's done he's not it's not like he's breaking ankles out there and stuff like he's just doing he's doing a serviceable serviceable job. At least increase season like is not awful or anything but he's not really making it to where we must keep him. Yeah and that's i think that is the key is when you look at roster composition. I think that's what gives williams the edge here so yeah and there's no way right now that would take roland over touching chartres or even frank darby who i think is beginning to come along a little bit more so yeah i think right now over williams until this third preseason game unless role in just blows the doors off in shows he runs a four to forty and we just haven't seen it. I'll be surprised last one punter because this one is Interesting i think what last week. It was Cameron ms right I think it's the xilai zaylon. But i have no idea. People have been telling me how to correctly. Say an iky. Just forget it so. I've been calling him cameron all week. Cameron he. He had a solid solid but actually really good game. One and didn't one the punted in this game was not a he is in what i found fascinating about. It was on coups. Loan field goal attempt. it was cameron mozelle lack. Who actually held it. I thought i thought they were. When i saw manji out there doing plans. I assumed he was gone. Full load of everything doing place holding in. I believe it was designed like who also did the Kickoff kickoff right. So i i don't really what is going on but yeah continue on mogae. Oh sorry yeah. I mean maggio had some good putts i but again i think in the same. Your point is actually the one that i think needs to be made here. Maggio may end up ultimately auditioning for another team through what he's doing here because as long as cameron cameron as long as cameron shows that he can do it a good job with what he's done so far that appears to be the case the fact he is. You know the guy that you can count on for kickoffs and also for you know place holding. That's that matters. And that may ultimately be what gives him the edge here module may ultimately be auditioning for another team at points at affair fair. Take or do you think there might be a competition. Yeah i think so. I mean there's probably competition just because neither of these guys have an actual regular season to their name So you don't want to just hand someone a job. The team has done previously. Did it work out So i think it's gonna be cameras. I lack Overall you know. As i mentioned him pleading for in this game kind of opened my eyes but also when they weren't they were teammates. I've mentioned on previous augments. They were teammates with the atlanta legends. In the af in two was perfect. I think he was seventeen for seventeen or fourteen. Fourteen one of those two With the legends and that was his placeholder. Like they're very familiar with each other They when they signed cameron. I think to shared something on his instagram story about them. Being united reunited. You know you want your kids to be comfortable so why not give the guy. He's literally been comfortable with previously hundred percent and on that note coup did have a fifty three yard field goal in the game So that was good to see him bounce back after missing along one last week are bouncing back to the defense any. Did anyone else stand out to you. Evan that you wanted to point out or a name that maybe stood out for the wrong reasons where we felt like. Hey this guy needed to show more. And he didn't show me enough. I don't wanna. I don't really see anybody who did it. Show me enough But jalen hawkins continues to impress Yes i think. He was one of those nights where he was mixed in the safety group. I think e solely like made like a name for himself this preseason intended cemented a role. Honesty defense. I don't think he's going anywhere. He's just looked really good From what i've seen But overall now i mean there's always players who could do more and stuff. I don't wanna take any shots but Yeah i i could get promising You know some of these younger guys especially the undrafted one. Step up Because i think there's a tight errol thompson. I really like him. But he He was injured during the game. i'm not sure what the update was on that. I think it might have been concussion. Related so i hope he's okay because it seemed like Bring him back in. They did clearing. Miguel okay okay. Good into it seems like campo you know really tight battle. Going on for linebacker debts Schrief miller i really like he. He did really well last week in You know. I wanna see more him going forward to Yeah i mean that pretty much sums it up on defense is a lot of young guys who are trying to make himself stick on the roster. So yeah i'm particularly encouraged by jalen hawkins mike walker to guys who are in their second year two guys that had rough rookie years because of the what we talked about before the lack of a preseason lack of real training camp both guys appear to have a big step forward at least from the camp reports in what we're seeing in these preseason games they they're both making an impact and that's good to see and they're and what's great is neither of them are necessarily being cow. Navan as starters immediately for the season Michael walker obviously has jones and foyer lewis. Couldn't in front of him Jim hawkins has eric harris drawn harm in front of him but if they continue to develop that could be guys that not only get snaps this year but pushed for roles in twenty twenty two that includes some starting opportunity so really really want to see how these guys turn out again for guys who are taking on day three this is. This is a promising start so any last final thoughts on this game four. Wrap up podcast Nah just forget about it. Yeah on preseason preseason deny saying linearly anytime Whether i'm on here the alcoholic live during preseason the two thousand eight detroit lions anytime you get frustrated with creases and thank them way..
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"There's a lot of fun drastic. Guys who thought looked really well Michael walker continues to look good in. I know he maybe in this team is in a starter. But he is a starting linebacker. I believe caliber. Why so if. He's a depth linebacker for the team this year. That's crazy solid. One of the starting guys has to come out. And he's a guy that if he gets like a third of the snaps a defensive snaps He's equality. He's looks like he's going to be some quality depth with like you said the potential to fill in for starters maybe long-term even more Which is considering his draft. Pedigree is is really good. You mentioned jonathan bullard. I wanted to point out as well for him again. Another cast off from the chicago bears where he was draft in the third round of two thousand sixteen so again there's some draft pedigree there that maybe hasn't worked out entirely For his time in league but he is Someone that you know. I think when you draft someone in the third round and they don't meet your expectations you move on from them. Well we're expecting him to be like a rotation guy is perfect for us right. And that's that is what we're sort of expecting all guys like that. A couple of things that point out that stood out to me on. Pf yard pace as you mentioned. Have one of the best coverage scores. The second highest coverage score though during the game was a second. Pick richie grant. So that's that's promising. The pass rushing scores. Bullard was one of the highest rated pass rushers but right behind him deady condensing so who has been flashing name. Spain coming up yep and he did have a mistake. oh which actually had. He made that tackle with killed. A one of the dolphins offensive drives. So that's going to happen and you want that to happen. In the preseason but logan digi is making a push to get significant snaps amp potentially at some point maybe this season be a starter on this defense. That is really encouraging to see of him. As far as run defense that was sorta spotty because our best run defenders were like corners. Tj green Del rick abrams. Were both are dwayne johnson. All of whom are in the secondary where our best run defenders so that that probably needs some work of all things considered and favorite monroe was highest graded player on the day. Which makes some sense again. He's he's a starter. You expect him to play well. But some other name jalen hawkins. I thought had a fairly solid game as well. So there's i think if you look at the individual performances again keeping my most of these guys are going to be rotational guys. They're not most of them with the exception of just a few like favor. Moreau are not expected to be starters near one. A lot of these guys thought had moments in did fairly well at very specific things so they're showing the potential to grow into significant rolls over time not immediately. If we're putting a williams out there as a cornerback number three something has probably gone wrong But there is a. There is some signs of of development in some of these young guys speaking of williams special teams. Which evan. oh you you're a big fan of and we actually have to do another podcasts. About special teams in pre going into the season but the put returner Race to this point has been primarily between williams and chris roland where do you think that stands after two preseason games for for those two guys i think amy williams for a couple reasons He looks to more explosive per stopping in this game. Against the dolphins there was only one punt return so it wasn't we get a fair like look at anything and it was just chris roll into bed four yards but i think avery williams just brings to the table. Because i think he's better even right now as at his actual position being cornerback. Been chris roland Being a receiver. Because we as you mentioned we have other receivers not that all of them are great or anything like our death. That receiver is fantastic. But they're going to need better corners than they're going to need more you know of wide receivers at the same level Sophie comes down to it in there like okay. We have to decide between williams enrolling. I think it's going to be williams because not only is he. There guy like rolling from the last regime williams is from this one He's just bringing more to the table at his true position. Plus you look how. He's doing kick returns advocate in this last game. He averaged all three of twenty six point. Three yards and rolling had one kick return any average sixteen Which is in bad or anything. But i think williams is just bringing more to the table so right now. I'd give him the leg-up No fence to roland or anything You know. I won't best man to win. So yeah and i think with you for all those stated reasons and i think the important piece that you really hammered on as well. Is that right now. Every williams is making contributions at his quote unquote position which is a defensive. Back and williams is getting some snaps their turn just a handful. Ten twelve per game in these preseason games. But he's shown that he has a level of competence at the position again. I want in there as a potential starter nickel corner but something that maybe you can work with that. You can develop the put. They're in a spot. If guys are banged up or injured. So i i think. The long term development potential for williams is is big and the the kick returns. We shouldn't discount that because even though we all know quarter o- patterson is going to be kick return this year. He's only here on the one year deal. So the falcons are thinking long term. Twenty twenty two twenty two twenty three twenty twenty four. Who's going to be that guy we're going to put put back there in. Every williams looks apart right now for kick helix more explosive like the eye test take all the stats out of. Yeah exactly one of them was if you told me. One of them took it to the house. I'd say really roy about how he looks when he's running so yeah absolutely I'm with you. I think roland. I think has to show demonstrably that. He's significantly better than williams in this last game. Or i think they're going to default to williams as you mentioned because he is the draft. Pick the thing that he has to be pretty amazing because he'd be knocking one of these receivers off of the roster Night at alcoholic dot com does a roster projection or depth chart projection every week before the preseason game in east he had on the last one. Correct me if i'm wrong. But i believe he had five receivers about ins and a lot of people. Expect it to be five. Who would rolling be knocking out of a job right. Like we know ridley gauge zacchaeus. They're safe then. You have two more. Would you really.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Nice to see him. He's actually he's gonna carve out a role of this water. We're going to see we're going to see him on the field this season on in a rotational off it east. Someone that has a variety of Moves he someone that you know has has the length that you look for in a defensive end It's pretty shocking. That he fell all the way to the six around. But the falcons are better for it. And you know. Marlon davidson is someone. Who who. really whom. The falcons really really need to have a good year. If this of this defense is gonna do anything. He was the second rounder last year. But this is his defacto rookie year after going through kobe in going through injuries and never really never really having any sort of a chance out of the starting last year this year feels like it's his it's his actual rookie season and you know. He was outright dominant. When we saw him on the field up in first quarter he was taken out very quickly afterwards up. Because i think smith in peace had seen enough from him. But that's definitely someone whom we had high hopes for when when the falcons took him to be that standout next to grady jarrett and without player. Who will get that. Press shop the middle and make everything easier for the edge players and remember davidson. Wasn't wasn't even a late second round pick he was. It was pretty early. Second rounder as well like this. This is someone who was expected to contribute right away. Didn't work out because of Because of the circumstances last year but He's someone i i'm i'm doubling keeping my eye on the season and someone who who. I'm really really satisfied to see playing well right from the get-go yeah i agree Yeah i pretty much agree with everyone. You guys brought up. I mean i think dory ethridge is the headliner with his. Thirteen tackled three tackle for loss day. Which is crazy. know. I think he. He wasn't fantastic and coverage but when you're that explosive and powerful as a run defender and as as a playmaker you know it's going to cover up a lot of issues on that token errol thompson the other undrafted linebacker similarly had a great day. That is by far the most competitive battle on the roster. Right now between those two guys. And whoever doesn't make the falcons rodgers probably getting a call for another team. Because they've been that impressive so really just depends on who the falcons sort of wine for that last spot at bridge more of that traditional like more more versatile linebacker that can do a little bit more coverage to a little bit more but he's lighter athletic whereas errol thompson is old school thumper he is big. He is a big nasty physical inside linebacker. Three four you do not want to see him in coverage ever. but if they don't really have archetype out brandon copeland is another really big guy that can play inside linebacker. But if they're looking for a thumper someone they can bring in as a short yardage guy as a sort of plug in the middle of the defense for specific plays you know errol thompson is. That's player marlon. Davidson was dominant. Which is exactly what you want to see from your second round pick you want to see him dominate backups. And that's exactly what he did. I mean he was just taking their lunch money which was nice to see. The password has whole was productive. Jonathan bullard i think has has earned a roster spot. I think he's going to be on this roster he can play inside and out ogan. Dj he's gonna be part of the rotation. Does he start. I don't know probably not at least initially. But he someone who's who's made a name for himself and then to me. The kind of surprising one was actually avery. Williams late in the game after some impressive fraternise. He got out there on defense against thirteen guys and he was impressive. I mean he was aggressive. He was playing really tight coverage they went after him multiple times on on tobacco as he was having none of it he was fired up. He was getting pass breakups. So i think honestly every williams on defense is someone to watch because look if he can make a case. Like i'm the best returner. But i can also play corner if you need me. I mean that that's gonna sure his roster spot and i think of the depth corners. He was the most impressive so good game for him. Jalen hawkins is the other guy in the secondary that just really put on a show. Had a really strong game overall had a sack coming flying blitz. jalen hawkins I think he's pretty much locked up his roster spot at all if it was ever really in question but you know the defenses a whole much better overall performance despite being i mean giving them twenty three points when your offense manages just three and it's basically just leaving on three and outs every other play putting you and red zone situations constantly do turnovers. I mean allowing just three points. That's not bad. I mean that's a solid performance from a defense especially when their backs against the wall and they're on the field the whole game so good on them for for that game. And i definitely like dean pees preseason style a lot better than dan quayle says for damn sure so. Let's let's transition to the special teams conversation. Because i know evans itching the whole show evan. I'll let you take it away. What's your biggest special teams..
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Yeah i mean. I thought it was several guys who really stood out In absolutely ethridge. I think was the top name as you mentioned. All this tackles three of those tackles for loss. So this wasn't like a paul were lows situation. Where he was tackling is ten yards. Past the line of scrimmage he had three for loss and as you said he was constantly around. The ball really really excited to see if he can keep this up again one game. Let's see if he can do this again. in the next couple of preseason games but he is someone that i think made a very strong case for one of those last roster spots as mentioned are linebacker depth are inside linebacker. Depth is actually pretty good so he's got an uphill climb but man. He made impression the other player. I felt like really helped his case. You mentioned him just second ago. Jalen hawkins sort of the like. It's funny he's sort of the forgotten draft pick from last year. In some way you know we talked about marlon davidson and in some of the rest. And hawkins is the only carryover safety from twenty twenty like we lost counter. Neil we cut ricardo allen. We didn't resign demonte. Casey gillan hawkins is the only one that carried over. And we've heard that he's had a strong camp and man. He looked solid in this game. Both in coverage and as you mentioned on that blitz where he was completely untouched and absolutely crushed quarterback So he's a guy that i'm really excited to see if he can build on that in. I want to be very clear. I don't think that this means that either of these guys are going to be starters sir. Okay but at minimum. These are guys who could be decent depth and you look towards the long-term where you've got to starting safeties right now in air cares and drawn harmon. Who were one year. Stopgap veteran signings can't jalen. Hawkins use this year to get some snaps in slowly developed into a potential starter And that is where i get excited about. Some of these young guys can ethridge become someone that makes an impact on special teams in becomes a good rotational depth. Flare as an undrafted. Free agent if you find guys like that as drafted free agents. That is a major win a so. Yeah i'm with these guys stood out. I would say the the only other name that really jumped out significantly was Our second round draft. Pick from last year marlon davidson. He came into and there's been a lot of stories about how he has sort of refocused. After the crazy bad season he had last year. Not not just purely. From a performance standpoint. I think with getting injured and getting coveted and getting injured again. He just had a horrible ricky season and he looked good. he was Absolutely you know what you would hope. He was blowing up that offensive line on the regular he was making. Plays at the line of scrimmage d- He was showing what you would expect to see from a second round. Pick this going up against backups. Now whether that translates into better performance Against starters is remains to be seen. But i felt like he was also a standout Some of the guys that was hoping to see more from at least in my eyes. They didn't really jump out enough for me to noticed. Significantly to quan graham Are i think what our fourth fourth-round fifth round pick this year and then Eddie organ deja I felt like he had half a sack but he seemed to be invisible for for periods of time So really want to see more from the two young guys that was there anyone else that you are sort of focused on. Maybe you felt like they didn't do enough or you wanted to see more of them I wanted to see more johnson bullard he had one of those sacks looked really good but again it's first preseason game if they're potential starter or anything close They're probably not going to get a whole lot of usage so not a big deal. We'll see more going forward. Yeah yeah and that's these first. Preseason games like as we're recording this just for reference. Justin fields is playing for the bears and has scored a touchdown. And we're already seeing the anointing of him as the next great quarterback and look i get. The bears have been starved for. Qb played for longtime but It is so easy and it happens every single year. You and i've seen this evan. From past several years people get so hyped up about what happens in the preseason game and it's just never translates and the police. Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying justice fields is going to be a bust. I just find it. Funny when we get way over hyped or way invested into a preseason game on you know like we know we go through this every year. It's a it's kind of funny today so Anyhow the falcons in this game. I feel like they didn't assuage any concerns. Maybe on the defense they did. The defense made the fans feel better. About what dean pees is gonna do assault a lot of people going on about how great dean piece is going to be. And i certainly hope that holds up but what was your overarching takeaway from this game. Even if anything our defense like you said more boomer bust it'll be more exciting more hits and hopefully more sex were used to seeing. The offense debt needs some more work Offensive line is. Death is not great but aside. From that i mean this is pretty much what you expected. First preseason game People are going to overreact. That's fine happens literally every year except for last year because code but happens all the time It'll probably happen after the next game too like it's preseason um there's been teams who literally win no game in the preseason them wind up in the super bowl i think the lions that one year where they didn't have a regular season win i think they one other preseason games like it really does the niger. In fact yeah right so it literally does not matter as much as people think certain positions it gives you a better look at players. But that's what it's used for like like. I don't even care about the score. Because i wanted to see specific players in. I got to see specific players. And you just watch those battles as we go forward They have to make. I believe five Roster cuts by the next game so Not sure where that's gonna come from probably from receiver probably from maybe one of the backup tight ends will see but there's gonna be some moves made before they suit up again against miami. And that's i'm not expecting any big surprising cuts like josh andrews right but Yeah we have to lose five. And honestly i think were. It's going to be a blip on the radar but yes to echo your point. I think we're we're seeing a lot of people sort of freak out a little bit in. It's just not worth it it. These games are meaningless especially on the offense. Look at the individual performances. Look at what. These guys did In one on one situations. And i think that's where you'll find the most takeaways even at that it is still somewhat limited. I don't think we can say with certainty. That kaleb Is better than Jv and hawkins that's remains to be seen so we'll see how this plays out but like you and like most of the fans. I was excited to see a defense. That at minimum is not going to be what we've had in atlanta since two thousand fifteen which was very vanilla very boring rush three rush In hope and pray it looks like dnp's is going to give us a defense that they may not be great but the probably going to be fun and that's better than what we've had passed six years all right evan with that. Why don't you remind listeners can find you have going.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"You know the quote unquote official depth chart and my takeaway is. We're all the rookies are this is. This is a group of coaching staff. That you know is not just gonna hand Draft picks starting spots. They're going to earn it whether you know where they're at on. The depth chart is accurate. I mean how pisses the obvious example him with the second team. That's that's foolish to think that that's true but other than like audio daisy again. Not too far off the safeties but just to throw him out. As an example he's been running with the first team and he's at the fourth string string right outside linebacker again. Maybe that's not accurate but again they he's doing this for a purpose and i think in the long run. They're going to be that much better off. But they're definitely gonna lean on the veterans because they do wanna win right now. I mean whether people believe that or not they. They wanna win right now. They want to build up some goodwill with arthur blank and stack. Those ws because again. Nfl stance for not for long job. Security isn't promised danny of these coaches no matter what they did in their previous stops. You know with richie grant again. It's a long. It's a long term picture as well and they even noted as far as they're playing. They wanna win now. But it's also about the future. Richie grant is a big part of their future. So if he's not mixing in there right away all. I can say to those. Listen and is just you know. E patient trust the process. Richie will be a factor His college state pretty much said it. He's a very he's a very good player What he did in mobile at the senior bowl the versatility. He showed their even place the corner. I mean this guy's gonna get on the field It's just a matter of when and again this isn't an easy system. Just pick right up so I do. I do anticipate the at the end of the year. The snaps are going to be split. Where if it's not even you know. Maybe richie grants edge amount. But i do think the ideal year end plan is is to have a true platoon of richie grant drawn. Harmon air cares. And who knows. Maybe john hawkins supplants one of those veterans and you had the best veteran out there and then you have hawkins and grant That's probably true. Best case scenario yet. You mentioned hawkins. He's sort of the odd man out with The rookies from last year. That came into the league. You know we've talked about matt hennessy. And you know him being rookie last year and Sort of being functional rookie. This year with the crazy offseason. Those guys had Age israel and the remarkable season. He had michael walker Really having a decent rookie year given the challenges of not having a training camp for preseason jalen hawkins kind of gets forgotton in the mix of all this He was the only safety left after the three left in free agency or were cut and yet we're hearing reports from camp that he's actually holding up pretty well looking good out there Fourth pick from last year out of california. And he's a guy. I think we need to pay attention to as well. They have him To your point about the depth chart they have him with the second team along with tj green and again. I don't want to put too much on the depth chart. We all know that. Can change blah blah blah. We talk about that a lot But i do think. Hawkins also has a role on this team. What do you think about hawkins in what he can offer within the defense yeah. He flashed a little bit. He's he's certainly the forgotten man There's no question about that in that. Twenty twenty class a guy that went drafted. I was like who He definitely wasn't on my radar and certainly not on most draft pundits radars data early in the draft. But falcons certainly saw something in him Did did show a good amount of all production at cal in for gordon that circle and to the point earlier as far as you know i think he's a better fit in this defense because of his experience kind of playing you know both coasts. In the line of scrimmage in up top and you know he he had quite a bit of all production over the top that one play. I know that got pushed out there on social media against stanford where he made a ridiculous one handed grab who fallen backwards so he has that ability of being comfortable on the back end again. That's we talked about it all throughout the show. That's what dean pees looks for. Is that versatility to play ball spots whereas dan. Quinn didn't prioritize that so in this defense. I think there's a future for him And so far again. It's just practice a you know. There's there's no tackling so that'll be important because again As a safety tackling is of the utmost importance. Especially if you're that last man that last line of defense so We'll have to see in there but again You like the fact to east coast controlled. I think that part of it is why he was one of the three that was brought back. He was not a free agent or do not have a high cap. It so you know why not bring him and see what she got there and and hopefully you know he can carve out a role if nothing more special teams. He's going to have to the cut it there as that safety So so see where he's being played on on special teams when you watch you know. Fridays preseason game in addition the preseason games what again he flashed a little bit. I remember that green bay game where you know. Casey did tears achilles and monday night. Football game he. There wasn't many bright spots in that monday night football game. He stood out a little bit. So again Maybe he's doing the same now nearly portion of training camp and that's that's carrying through You know in his rise up the depth chart so again certainly an intriguing one to watch someone that any of us expected to do much but Right now at the season where start tomorrow. Hawkins i believe would be the third safety in three safety sets. Yeah Which is a great point. And i think the important thing is we do have the recording us on thursday We do have the preseason game on friday and more than likely we are going to see a lot of jalen hawkins and richie grant over the next several gains. So we're going to have you know some impressions of these young guys where they are in their development. I think we'll see air in drawn harmon of little bit. But i think the coaching staff knows what they have. Those guys so more likely. We're going to see a lot of young guys. And i'm gonna keep my eye on. Hawkins wanted to see what he can do with some extended playing time in the preseason can be critical since honestly he didn't get last year and as you mentioned some of his first snaps in the nfl game. We're in the regular season which is a hell of a way to throw young guy into into the throws at the nfl. All right so Safety group We all know there's question marks on his defense. The defensive line is obviously one of the big ones. How do you feel right now. Matt about the safety group as a whole the quality of the unit your trust in the unit going into the season. You feel comfortable. You still feel like it's a area weakness or do you feel like there's a lot of potential upside but it just seems to come through so as a whole and if i'm comparing him to other parts on the defensive debt roster i probably put safety third behind linebacker i think i trust the most. I like You know greg. Jarrett obviously carries more than his weight and the interior. But i do like interior defense align probably second and then i put safety third. I'd put cornerbacks fourth which there's a little bit of a gap there and then i put the edge rushers fifth but again a and a similar answer that after the russians that had with the safeties. I trust the scheme in the coaching. A lot when it comes to these positions. And you know what i mean by that. Is you know. I trust steam. Ps to put veterans like draw harmon. Air cares in the right place to have the most success in a again was. Was that a a fall. The previous coaching staff. I'd argue. probably yes that. They always use the talent in their best role. And i think again talking about safety. I think that had a lot to do with ricardo allen. A bit falling off. I mean especially when you have a debilitating injury like an achilles and your safety in your ass to play..
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"With him. When i was doing some research. I i was kinda surprised. I guess i shouldn't have been. But i was surprised. He's only been a sixteen game starter once in his career and now last year in detroit right. He's he's spent the duration of his career prior to that in a platoon in three Safety system with the new england. Patriots alongside patrick chung and devin mccourty. So it ideally. That's the role he's gonna play in atlanta like he'll start out as the defacto like free safety starter. But you know if all goes according to plan your mixing richie grant in their year. Even maybe mixing jalen hawkins in there. And he's continuing to thrive in the role that he's thrived his entire career. And that's a three safety looks. So that's kinda my outlook I guess to throw in one. More name You know it seems like this is a five person race Tj green has has been one of the surprise standouts. A guy that came over to the team last year former second round. Pick of the colts in two thousand sixteen has bounced around indianapolis seattle new orleans in in private atlanta. He spent some time in carolina Very good athletic. Testing a six two and a half two hundred nine pounds ran a four three four which is really impressive for guy that size Thirty nine and a half inch for ten foot nine inch broad so guy that has the athletic profile that you look for from db in there is a connection as well. The falcons on offense Outside linebacker coach ted monitor. Chino was defensive coordinator indianapolis. Oh i don't know if that has anything to do with You know him getting a real hard look and you know knowing what they have in the building in him. And then also terry fought. No you know. I mentioned he. Greenspan a season in new orleans dairy no ran the pro personnel department there. So i'm sure he had a huge hand and bringing him there for a season so he's wanting to watch he's been cross training. Not only at safety net. Cornerback owner those with kennel. Sheffield being out so certainly intriguing. Name that again depending on how the development of which grant goes which. I'm sure we'll get into in a little bit. You could see some significant time. Early on as richie acclimates and south to the nfl. Yeah absolutely. I think same pages you. Eric harris formerly undrafted. He's thirty one years old Obviously I think they're really hoping that one whether the young guys whether it's tj green or you know even preferably Richie grant ultimately leapfrogs harris. I think they would be pleased if that happened. But he fits the profile. He's a guy that you know. He's got the size He can move around well enough You know looking at this. Pf grades a his best. Year was a couple years ago when he was in the mid seventies which is not bad for a for a guy his draft capital just to say none and to add on that that mid seventies grade came when he was kind of a a rotational player. So again and you can. You can say the same thing about their on. Harman i you know. His best grades came when he was in that platoon. So that's that's where. I think the falcons wanna get. These guys is not playing significant snack. When they do things could maybe get a little bit dicey there back there. So that's where we see exactly. It's the right when they started getting more snaps their scores start dropping now in fairness that could be you know when i look at harmon in you. You realize okay you know. He was in there in the world. That's where he had his best grades. Or i'm sorry not new orleans new england and he finally did get Over a thousand snaps with detroit. He was still decent of his. You know we're looking at his. Pf grade who was in the mid sixties which sounds bad. But it's not like a high school grading score that's sort of an average. Nfl player by their by their metrics prior to that he had several seasons in the mid the high seventies. so harman's got the capability to be a good a part time starter and a guy like you said who is part of a platoon and not necessarily carrying every single snap at position In again for the fact that these two veterans they've been in the league for a while. I think the the intention here was instead of just turning over the safety position which is very important in. Dp's defense instead of turning it over to a bunch of young guys that are unproven. That have never started in the nfl before it made sense to bring these guys in in my feeling. Is the minute the minute. One of the young guys is ready to take on significant snaps. They will supplant eric harris or harmon or both at some point during the season if they are not ready. Then you've got these two veterans on your rental deals and no harm no foul so it. It was a smart move in my mind from tariff on note to bring these two guys on it. This is the kind of signing. it doesn't get you a lot of a fancy points with the fans. People they wanna see. Richie grant out there. Because he's the second round pick they wanna see him jalen hawkins because he was a draft pick from last year but really to stabilize the center of that defense Having news These guys out there. Even if they're not necessarily going to be top tier players. They should be decent enough. And i can already hear fans complaining about. Oh we should want decent players. Well honestly decent players are what you need to help you transition to the next tier of guys to bring up the young guys. These are the kind of guys that help you. Bring along richie grant at the proper speed instead of You know we talked about on your podcast this week. You throw richie grant to the wolves that could absolutely decimate his confidence You have those veterans walking him to the process the available to him to answer questions to.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"I had to bring on guests. Because we've had this conversation just recently. In fact he is. The host of the talking birdie podcast. I'm talking about matt corolla. Matt Dwi thanks again for having me talk. The last time i was on. We're talking. twenty. Twelve draft class probably As depressing as low as a topic darkens phantom over the last decade has it can. I don't think it'll be reached those levels with the safeties. But it's certainly not the strongest position. I'd say on the depth chart. Yeah this one is going to have i think. A lot of question marks Honestly probably one of the ones where it may be better than what. I think we anticipated. It would be going into the season So let's sort of set the backdrop last year with the twenty twenty season. We lost demonte. Akc to an achilles injury which was just absolutely dreadful. Luck because of the fact that both ricardo allen and kiani will also suffered the achilles injury and then of course count and they also had a tornado. Yells years back So devastating injury to casey in the year where they were running. A lot of three safety looks kiani. Looked like he was a little bit better than the at been. Ricardo fell off a cliff. And of course going to this off season we had. We started a defense with three starting safeties. None of them are returning. Ricardo allen was cut primarily for cap reasons. But i i would say his performance fell off a little bit as well On the they opted not to try to retain him Probably because of the injury history. Of course he ended up signing with dallas and then k z also signed with dallas both Chasing after former. Head coach of falcons dan quinn. Who is now the offensive coordinator with the cowboys So that has set up the team to where they basically had to restock the position Almost entirely the only real carryover to this point is a player. We'll talk about a little. Bit jalen hawkins but matt right now. We're looking at the depth chart. You and i talked a little bit earlier this week. I was on your podcast. Which was fun we did. We talked about safeties. We talked about Richard grant the player that draft in the second room. But what's interesting to me is right now. If we look at the depth chart the two names at the top are the two veterans air karras and doron harmon. These guys are obviously intended to be stopgaps. they're both on a one year deal Neither guy is is the kind of guy that you're planning to build the future the position around but there should be serviceable starters drawn harmony. Think is Had some good seasons as well So what are your thoughts on. Eric harris drawn harmon. What they offer to the falcons this year. And what you think. Their potential for starting the entire year is going to be. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said there stopgaps. That's what they were brought in for. You want veteran presences in the building. Because you knew you were gonna overhaul the position. You knew you're going to get younger there. Which is what they did. When they drafted reggie grant fortieth overall. And then you know as you mentioned they retained jalen hawkins who the twenty twenty draft pick so again not sure hawkins if he's a long-term answer there the early reports at a camper promising now that he's he's made an impact to he's made plays on the ball so i am intrigued to see what he can bring. And you know what. I would say that hawkins before i get into some of the others. I think he's a better fit in dean pees defense and he would have been had dan quinn in the long-term head coach in. And i say that. Because i think hawkins is a bit of a twitter like he didn't fall into that prototypical strong safety dan. Quinn looks for allah kiana neil. And he's not really you know the cover one rangy free safety that you look for in say you know the prototype narrow thomas. He's more of a guy that again can do both things ten play. Closer to the line of scrimmage but he can also drop deep. You don't want him playing that cover one has said Would rather be covered to split safety. Look which again fits right into. What ps two. He runs more covered to than you know. Cover warner covers three. So i think there could be something there with him You know we'll see what the future holds. But i am more intrigued and we're optimistic about his fit enroll in impedes off a defense long-term. Then i would have been in dan. Quayle now looking at the veterans again. Eric would have never guessed he'd be the first free agent signing in the arthur smith terry gano era. But you know here. We are A guy that they prioritized in you know. I guess terry did have a connection to Being that eric harris started his career in the nfl. With the new orleans saints so a guy that he knows a lot about and again someone that Is is a great locker room presence going to be a great mentor already has shown already to be a great mentor. Richie grant as those to train together in the off season even prior to grant even becoming a falcon. So i thought that was pretty interesting and again i i do. Expect him to get a lotta run. I mean he was. He was a two year starter. The last couple years With the raiders again. I consider him a competent level player. He is not someone you want long-term but certainly can get the job done And you know hopefully it's more in a limited role and they and they work in the younger guys now withdrawn harmon similar.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Dot com. All right we're back. Just walk around. The alcohol podcast. So we're talking about what to look forward tonight in the falcons. First preseason game going up against the titans in atlanta. We talked about the offense in the first half top defense. I want to start in the trenches guys like grady jarrett tyler. Davidson highly unlikely. They're gonna play again if they play. It's going to be one series at most. The guys i think are going to be really getting some significant opportunities in this game number. One player that i think last year many of us were hoping he would have a bigger role but injuries and covert and and all of that sort of contributed to a lackluster rookie season. That's marlon davidson. All signs are that this guy is coming to camp in great shape He looks like he's ready to take on a bigger role in his second year I expect to see him. Play a significant number snaps in this game So definitely look for him as one of the key players to watch in that defensive line rotation likewise sort of one of the guys in this draft classic keeps getting forgotten about to quan graham. I think he's also going to get some opportunities. Maybe more in the second half of the game to show what he's capable of haven't heard much about him in camp again you know. He's he's a day three rookie. So i think expectations going in. We're load begin with but he's a player that's got again. This long wingspan. Some potential for growth in upside down the road Be interested to see how he performs in this game. Probably again in the second. Half john kaminsky who contributed to good bit last year. I think we'll see some of him as well on that defensive line and then a name that's been flashing a lot and camp. Jonathan bullard so definitely pay attention. See if he get some snaps some opportunities and whether he's playing earlier later in the game now outside linebackers it seems unlikely that dante fowler who just recently came back in the same timeframe. Kaelin mcgarry did. He is unlikely to play so the big name here for the assad linebackers to pay attention to is add a ogan digi. He is the the one that's recently be sort of been rising up the the the the depth charts at outside linebacker. For the falcons getting some run with the ones When guys like stephen means in jacob to yo to mariner have been getting some rest ogan deja has been getting in there and apparently has been impressive. now. I don't think we can pence a starter just yet. He is a day three rookie but he is definitely named to pay attention to. And if honestly this is probably the weakest position group. On this falcons defense this pass rush is going to anchor off guys like this. So hopefully ogan deja has something he can offer more. So than like stephen means and two to t mariner because i love what those guys can as rotational pieces. But as starters. I just don't think the quality is there so hopefully ogundipe can surprise us definitely named that. I'm going to be keyed in on linebacker. Dion jones lucon probably again as as veterans. Not gonna play a ton of snaps. Michael walker the rookie from last year. I think he's going to see a lot of action. He had a promising rookie season with limited snaps. He played about one third. The snaps of what dion jones did during the season but walker is someone that i think has got some upside. Sounds like he's had a good training camp. He will probably get a lot of snaps in tonight's game and then passed him during ethridge and rural thompson again to other names to pay attention to that linebacker spot. Now the corners. Aj rail has been tearing up camp. Will we see much of him tonight. I don't know you know. He played an entire season last year. He's not yet quote unquote a veteran. This is only his second year. I think we will see him out there somewhat but maybe not as much as some of the other younger guys so probably see a series or two with aj trail out there Fabien moreau probably not gonna play. I think really the guys. We're going to get a really good long. Look at chris williamson. darren hall avery. Williams williams is also in competition for that punt returner spot. So we're probably going to see a good bit of him on special teams as well Williamson has been a guy. That's flashed a lot in camp. Let's see if that carries over to an actual game. He is a definite name to pay attention to that. Could be part of the rotation if he can keep it up and again you know. This is really the first opportunity for many of these guys who've made a name for themselves in count show that translates into the game and williamson is one name that has really popped recently. Now the to starting safeties. Eric harris drawn harmon both veterans again. Maybe you see him for a series. But i think this is the perfect opportunity to get guys like jalen hawkins last year's rookie Safety in the only carryover safety from the dan quinn era. We lost three of our safeties. As you remember. Richie grant our second round draft pick. This year is probably going to see a ton of playing time in this game Tj green who has been getting snaps and both safety and a quarter. He is someone to pay attention to hear. I think he's one of those players that this coaching staff loves. They love the versatility of him being able to move from safety to corner. So let's see how he does with that in the game so definitely at the safety position. Pay attention to the jail. Hawkins richie grant and even some of the guys behind them and whether or not they can make a case for themselves but right now it seems like the two primary names because they could legitimately get some snaps during the season and significant. Ones are grant hawkins. Pass that to finish off. you know. We talked about special teams the kick returner. Spot is clearly oro. patterson's. I don't think there's going to be any competition there. We know he's he's a dynamic returner and kick returns but from a return standpoint It sounds like it's down the chris rowland and every williams and williams in college was just explosive at the position. So definitely something to pay.
The Falcoholic
"jalen hawkins" Discussed on The Falcoholic
"Be honest with the i know it. It like riles people up. And i didn't have making the roster and he's not. I don't think he's necessarily like not going to make the roster. But i think it's certainly something that should be on people's radar thing. Yeah i don't think what no offense. No great great athlete. I think he deserves to be on a roster but all all he does is run very does run extremely fast. That's what he has. He has good sized too. I mean i think he plays her two hundred so he's got to see. Has it helped. The graham statler techniques need still need some polish Niessen polish heating bala tracking abilities still needs some polish again. The only league thing do very well is he can run as it sounds like a special team has sound like a key guy. You're cornerback rotation. So i think he'd really is fighting force. Flatman is not a guaranteed. Unless you're things yeah. So yeah. So i i like that. We are also hearing. Is oliver getting the first chance in the slot. Play a lot better there. Yeah so you know. That's that's cool. avery. Williams and darren hall. I don't you're the one that's watch holiday. You think he's more of an outsider slot guy in the nfl. I think hall was more of a balaji corner hall is is going to be the one that's gonna give sheffield a fight for that russia spot. I think halls gonna make the roster. It'd be now he's you know he's gonna saying like if if sheffield wants to stay on the roster he's gone best that's one guy that he's going to have to be better than and i'm not quite sure he will be to be honest with you. darren hall is the what darren hall has that jeff doesn't show is this stakes are gonna stand out or did he ever harbor interception already at some point otas rookie navy. Maybe that yeah. I think he was the one that did come down with something like his first. The first or second Rookie minicamp so it was like this right there. He's already showing went as better than kenosha. Yeah that's the thing like an indian. Ps defense you just gotta be opportunistic. And like i think. Ship dan quinn. You know. Valued athletes at corner a lot. More and i think we've seen from the two picks the falcons had they went after guys. Who were ball hawks. Some guys that are opportunistic. Because i think the fa- dp and the facts understand like look. We're not going to out talent. He went on defense especially this year. So like we just need to come up with like a turn if we can average like one turnover a game better like that might be enough for our offense like if our offense is what we think it can be and we can run the ball a bit better like we might not need to be a great defense. We just need to create a turnover to shorten the game a little bit and then we could get by with blitzing and kind of covering up in papering over the weaknesses on this defense by being aggressive. And look. we're gonna make mistakes too. But i think that's the best strategy so we said that after the draft we pointed out the fact that what they have in the secondary right now are are a number of guys that are able to capitalize on turnovers because of their ball skills. This is going to be a. We may not see a guy that has the visit sax this year. I'm willing to bet that. But i think we'll ps is going to try to incorporate. Is that aggressive front. Seven and a back in a secondary that is able to make those plays. Because again you're going to see you wanna see some rush throws you're going to see some overthrows piracy's and tip passes. You're gonna see some some quarterbacks that are fluster trying to make a play and on backing unique guys that can turn into receivers with the ball near. And that's what they did with darren hall and enrichment so yeah. Yeah so it's yeah. I think the secondary is kind of coming together a little bit. I mean. I think it's gonna be great. But you know as opposed to where we stood after they cut ricardo allen. And let walk. And let davante as you walk like. It's doron harmon. Richie grant eric harris eight. That's decent three safety group. Like i mean it's not maybe the highest end group in the nfl but it's very versatile. All three of those guys can play in the box poor deep or cover to look so they can move around like the. Mp's likes you know. I think the corner group is not great. I mean we'll have to see how the rookies do. And i do think they make another addition cornerback or a linebacker. Probably the two most likely spots that are maybe edge on defense but like like. Jc jackson would be perfect like that. I think would really take this over the edge. You don't have to force fabian. Moreau to star outside. But i think they'd be moreau's probably better as like your corner three your primary backup and then you. Can you have oliver in the slot or whoever but more rose. I think i think so. Too honestly. like marc mckee's farm jesse jackson. But yeah right is. He's not he's not. You know a special type of talent but you know. He's i think he's gonna be just fine out there he. He played very well at times in washington on edge it was it was the slap where they try and the washington try to make him be a slot corner in s mathis day. And and that's where he that's why he went awry I think a like a monday or manage. Yeah yeah. I liked that a lot better to see. We'll see what darren hall and avery williams. Like i don't know if he's going to get a lot of run on defense this year but i think they're going to see what they have and see if they can trust him to play the slot in the future. Maybe he's a guy that just needs more experience. I think but. I think his freshman and sophomore year. She had eight and nine pass deflections in each year. So he's a guy that can get his hands on. The football size is really his thing. So we'll see if We'll see if he can carve out a role too. But yeah i mean williams's path will be special teams and we haven't heard too much about how that competition between him enroll into going. But i think darren hall. Probably pretty safe kendall sheffield. Is someone who we talked about. Probably going to have to show something in camp. Unless he's banking on them keeping six corners which we know dean pees likes to run a lot of three safety stuff so you know them. Keeping six is not a guarantee they might want to keep five safeties. Tj green guy. A lot of people don't know he did. Green is a good player. Like he's he's a decent. You know extra safety and they still jalen hawkins too so they might want to keep five safeties. I think a lot of that also is going to depend on. And we got. We just got done with this. What is not the result of a. Julio trade is far as clearing that castaways because they get the cap space that they're looking for they're going to have some extra cash to to bring in some free agents all season and you're still a couple of guys at there on on the market as safety that i think you know the team may give a look me cooker is one guy that comes to mind Often injured but you know if he's healthy and he's he's able to incorporate those ball skills as well right. He's going to be a nice pickup for this offense secondary month. Yeah i agree. I agree so all right next. Topic left guard battle. One of the most interesting battles most important battles of training camp so far it looks like josh andrews is leading the competition which is surprising because like we said like twitter. He's a veteran. he's probably going to get the first crack just because of experience but Evan i'll let you get a word in here we just been talking. But what do you think about the left guard battle so far..