Sunday, April 25, 2004
Atlanta Falcons Day 1 Selections
So far So good :)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Players selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL draft Saturday
FIRST ROUND / No. 8 overall
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech, 5-10, 197, junior - First-team All-Big East performer finished three-year career with 8 INTs (1 for TD). Two-year starter made 190 tackles and forced 2 fumbles. Owns school record with 5 punt returns for TDs.
Strengths: Blazing speed. Ran 4.34 40-yard dash. Excels in man coverage. Good leaper, breaks up passes. Fluid athlete. Can hit and tackle. Very dangerous kick returner. Played well against Miami. Has experience as receiver. Big upside.
Weaknesses: Not as tall as teams would like. Should be more aggressive. Will bite on play action. Must improve in zone coverage.
___
FIRST ROUND / No. 29
Michael Jenkins, WR, Ohio State, 6-4, 217 - Three-year starter made 165 catches for school-record 2,898 yards (17.6 per reception) and 16 TDs in conservative offense. Program has sent a slew of skilled wideouts to NFL.
Strengths: Enticing combination of size and speed. Ran 4.38 40-yard dash. Excels on the sideline, runs solid routes. Rangy target. Good body control, adjusts to ball well. Makes clutch catches. Returns punts. Really came on against top competition late last season. Big upside.
Weaknesses: Not very physical. Struggles against press coverage. Must do a better job of competing for the ball. Needs to make catches with his hands instead of body. Lacks a burst, needs time to build up to full speed. Might be more of a possession receiver.
___
THIRD ROUND No. 90
Matt Schaub, QB, Virginia, 6-5, 237, senior - Accurate passer was ACC Player of the Year in 2002. Bounced back from separated throwing shoulder last season. Stock rose in days leading up to the draft. Projected as a second-round pick, he went lower than expected.
Strengths: Effective throwing the short- and medium-range passes, which will be at a premium in Atlanta's West Coast offense. Expected to have a short learning curve. Good decision maker, hard worker and effective leader.
Weaknesses: He's not a veteran, which is what the Falcons appear to need at backup quarterback. Now, they are committed to Schaub or little-used Ty Detmer at No. 2.
¶ 4/25/2004 12:06:00 AM
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Players selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL draft Saturday
FIRST ROUND / No. 8 overall
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech, 5-10, 197, junior - First-team All-Big East performer finished three-year career with 8 INTs (1 for TD). Two-year starter made 190 tackles and forced 2 fumbles. Owns school record with 5 punt returns for TDs.
Strengths: Blazing speed. Ran 4.34 40-yard dash. Excels in man coverage. Good leaper, breaks up passes. Fluid athlete. Can hit and tackle. Very dangerous kick returner. Played well against Miami. Has experience as receiver. Big upside.
Weaknesses: Not as tall as teams would like. Should be more aggressive. Will bite on play action. Must improve in zone coverage.
___
FIRST ROUND / No. 29
Michael Jenkins, WR, Ohio State, 6-4, 217 - Three-year starter made 165 catches for school-record 2,898 yards (17.6 per reception) and 16 TDs in conservative offense. Program has sent a slew of skilled wideouts to NFL.
Strengths: Enticing combination of size and speed. Ran 4.38 40-yard dash. Excels on the sideline, runs solid routes. Rangy target. Good body control, adjusts to ball well. Makes clutch catches. Returns punts. Really came on against top competition late last season. Big upside.
Weaknesses: Not very physical. Struggles against press coverage. Must do a better job of competing for the ball. Needs to make catches with his hands instead of body. Lacks a burst, needs time to build up to full speed. Might be more of a possession receiver.
___
THIRD ROUND No. 90
Matt Schaub, QB, Virginia, 6-5, 237, senior - Accurate passer was ACC Player of the Year in 2002. Bounced back from separated throwing shoulder last season. Stock rose in days leading up to the draft. Projected as a second-round pick, he went lower than expected.
Strengths: Effective throwing the short- and medium-range passes, which will be at a premium in Atlanta's West Coast offense. Expected to have a short learning curve. Good decision maker, hard worker and effective leader.
Weaknesses: He's not a veteran, which is what the Falcons appear to need at backup quarterback. Now, they are committed to Schaub or little-used Ty Detmer at No. 2.
¶ 4/25/2004 12:06:00 AM
