Did Atlanta Falcons make the right Draft choices? Consider this while we wait and see
The Atlanta Falcons’ offseason additions running back Todd Gurley, pass rusher Dante Fowler, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and tight end Hayden Hurst in recent weeks were nice. But they did not address the team’s most glaring needs.
Those needs were cornerback, defensive lineman, linebacker, safety — that pretty much covers it on defense, does it not? — and interior offensive line.
While the Falcons have not received high marks for their 2020 draft picks — mostly due to widespread doubts about A.J. Terrell of Clemson, their first pick — consider how they spent their first five picks:
A.J. Terrell, cornerback, Clemson
Marlon Davidson, defensive lineman, Auburn
Matt Hennessy, center, Temple
Mykal Walker, linebacker, Fresno State
Jaylinn Hawkins, safety, California
Say this for the Falcons: Whether they chose the right players remains to be seen. But they clearly recognized and addressed their needs. As obvious as that may seem, that’s not always been the case. What doesn’t matter is the factor that Terrell struggled trying to cover LSU’s receivers in the national championship game. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson did a lot of damage to everyone they faced, especially with Joe Burrow putting footballs on the money play after play.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney dismissed any criticism of Terrell on Atlanta radio station The Game 92.9.
“First of all, you take anybody and put them in that last game and probably have the same results,” Swinney said. “You turn on the TV every Sunday and there’s not an All-Pro corner that doesn’t get beat by great wideouts from time to time. I went over and told A.J. after that first play, ‘There’s nothing that you could have done.’ Sometimes it’s just a perfect ball. I thought he did a lot of good things in that game. But obviously in a game like that you have a couple of plays that get magnified. But I think it was more the other 29 games we won in a row how he played in his career. Anybody can nitpick a play here, a play there, going against the best of the best. But he was a dominant football player and won two out of three national championships against Jerry Jeudy, (Henry) Ruggs and all those guys.”
All those guys.
That’s an excellent point. In his time at Clemson, consider some of the players Terrell faced. Just start with practice and quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receivers Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross most recently, Hunter Renfrow and Deon Cain before them. Regular season opponents include Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Playoff opponents included Alabama twice, Ohio State and LSU.
Best of the best indeed.
Terrell has the height and long arms to cover tall receivers, something scouts covet. But Swinney thinks Terrell’s strength is his makeup.
“He was everything we thought he was coming out of high school,” Swinney said. “But what you don’t know about a guy until you start coaching him is what is his true mental makeup, especially at that position. What’s their mindset? What their daily demeanor and approach and respect for what it takes to be great and the love do what it takes to be great and that’s what makes him special.”
It’s what Swinney said next, though, that makes it hard to dismiss Terrell based off one game.
“I describe him as the Deshaun Watson at his position. That’s the best way I can describe him. And what I mean by that is just who he is as a person, his consistency, his competitiveness, his love of preparation, his football IQ. You cannot coach him enough. He wants it every single day. He’s always the same person. He is a big-time winner. And that’s what I mean by making that statement because that’s what made Deshaun (great), those rare intangibles to go with the great measurables. And that’s what he has. He has some rare intangibles.”
Sure, you’d expect a college coach to speak well of his former players. But in private conversations, coaches are bluntly candid with other coaches and scouts. Swinney spoke just as glowingly of Terrell in private conversations with the Falcons.
It’s not as if Desmond Trufant, the guy whom Terrell is replacing, set the bar very high.
The NFC South is stronger than ever. Tampa Bay has added Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to go with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. New Orleans still has Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara. But the Falcons can still win the division with the changes that they’ve made.