On The Clock: Atlanta Falcons

Record: 11-5, 2nd In the NFC South
General Manager: Thomas Dimitroff, Head Coach: Mike Smith (2nd Year), Offensive Coordinator: Mike Mularkey (2nd Year), Defensive Coordinator: Brian VanGorder (2nd Year/3rd with the Falcons)

Offense Rankings: No. 6 Overall, No. 10 Scoring, No. 14 Passing, No. 2 Rushing
Defense Rankings: No. 24 Overall, No. 11 Scoring, No. 21 Passing, No. 25 Rushing

Last Five Years: 41-39; Last Playoff Appearance: 2008; Last Playoff Victory: 2004 (47-17 Over the St. Louis Rams)

2008 Draft: (1-3) QB Matt Ryan, (1-21) OT Sam Baker, (2-37) LB Curtis Lofton, (3-68) CB Chevis Jackson, (3-84) WR Harry Douglas, (3-98) S Thomas DeCoud, (5-138) LB Robert James, (5-154) LB Kroy Biermann, (6-172) RB Thomas Brown, (7-212) CB Wilrey Fontenot, (7-232) TE Keith Zinger

Top Picks Last Five Years:
2008 – (1-3) QB Matt Ryan, Boston College & (1-21) OT Sam Baker, USC
2007 – (1-8) DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas
2006 – (2-37) CB Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
2005 – (1-27) WR Roddy White, Alabama-Birmingham
2004 – (1-8) CB DeAngelo Hall, Virginia Tech & (1-29) WR Michael Jenkins, Ohio St.

Booms: CB DeAngelo Hall, Virginia Tech (1st Round 2004), QB Matt Schaub, Virginia (3rd Round 2004), LB Demorrio Williams, Nebraska (4th Round 2004), WR Roddy White (1st Round 2005), DE Jonathan Babineaux (2nd Round 2005), DE Chauncey Davis (4th Round 2005), LB Michael Boley, (5th Round 2005), RB Jerious Norwood (3rd Round 2006), RB Jason Snelling (7th Round 2007), QB Matt Ryan (1st Round 2008)

Busts: LB Jordan Beck (3rd Round 2005), CB Jimmy Williams (2nd Round 2006), DE Jamaal Anderson (1st Round 2007)

Additions:
MLB Mike Peterson (Free Agent)
C Brett Romberg (Free Agent)
OT Will Svitek (Free Agent)
CB Tony Tiller (Free Agent)

Subtractions:
LB Michael Boley (FA-New York/NFC)
LB Keith Brooking (FA-Dallas)
DT Rod Coleman (FA-New Orleans)
CB Dominique Foxworth (FA-Baltimore)
DT Grady Jackson (FA-Detroit)
WR Laurent Robinson (Traded)
OT Todd Weiner (Retired)

Keepers:
DE Chauncey Davis
S Jamaal Fudge
LB Tony Gilbert
DT Jason Jefferson
P Michael Koenen (Franchised)
TE Justin Peelle
C Ben Wilkerson
OLB Coy Wire

2009 Picks:
Round 1, Selection 24
Round 2, Selection 23
Round 3, Selection 26
Round 4, Selection 25
Round 5, Selection 2 (From St. Louis)
Round 5, Selection 7 (From Oakland)
Round 6, Selection 3 (From St. Louis)

Team Needs – Players of Interest (Day One):
1. Outside Linebacker: Brian Cushing, USC; Clay Matthews Jr.; Clint Sintim, Virginia; Marcus Freeman, Ohio St.
2. Defensive Tackle: Peria Jerry, Ole Miss; Evander Hood, Missouri; Jarron Gilbert, San Jose St.; Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn
3. Tight End: Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma St.; Jared Cook, South Carolina; Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss; Cornelius Ingram, Florida; James Casey, Rice; Travis Beckum, Wisconsin; Chase Coffman, Missouri
4. Defensive End: Tyson Jackson, LSU, Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech; Aaron Maybin, PSU; Paul Kruger, Utah; Lawrence Sidbury Jr., Richmond
5. Safety: Louis Delmas, Western Michigan
6. Cornerback: Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest; Jairus Byrd, Oregon; D.J. Moore, Vanderbilt; Darius Butler, UConn; Sean Smith, Utah; Keenan Lewis, Oregon St.; Macho Harris, Virginia Tech; Mike Mickens, Cincinnati

Photo Credit: College Press Box (Boston College, Georgia Tech)