First, the good news. Finally a win against GTU in baseball. Just what the doctor ordered, a quality win and also a much needed win for our NCAA tourney hopes. Team is now 22-20, 11-7 in SEC play. Next up is a weekend series against Arkansas, the co leader the SECw btw. But for now, let's just enjoy the win over the Nerds-a team ranked as high at #9 in one college baseball poll, a team that he beat us 5 straight times over the past couple years. Also a team that we could very well face in the regional if we can make the tourney-getting a win against them can only do us good if that happens-knowing you can beat a team is a big thing as opposed to knowing that same team swept you the past two years. I did not get to watch the game or listen to it, for those like me, here is an AJC article about the game. Injured player Jonathan Taylor showed up and stayed at the game for 4 innings before going back to the Shepherd Center, where is rehabing his injury.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/uga/uga-wins-prevents-tech-926092.html
This brings us to the bad news announced yestereday. Justin Houstin failed his drug test at the NFL combine. Ok, I love our players and always wish them well but sometimes you have to tell it like it is. HOW STUPID can you be to fail a drug test you KNOW is approaching? A player only gets one chance to make a first impression on a team-and from all accounts, Justin Houston had made a very favorable first impression with many NFL teams. Enough of a positive impression that he was nearly but not quite a lock for the first round. First round money is a LOT better than second round money. In fact, I have always said, if my son were in line to be drafted in the first round in any sport at any time-whether out of HS or college, I would advise him to go right away. This coming from someone that values education as much as anyone else but c'mon, I work in the real world where my salary for the year is made by these guys in probably one day of work-depending on their contracts or course. So, when you have a chance to be a 1st round pick, you do EVERYTHING in your power to make a positive impression on the NFL folks. The drug test announcement yesterday might very well cost Justin Houston a drop to the second round. If a player knows what he knew before the combine and still failed the test, how can you trust that this guy is going to make the right decisions on or off the field when he has a ton of money in his pocket. I still believe JH is a good kid and will be a very good pro football player but sometimes, you really have to question the intelligence of these kids. Here is an article also from the AJC that talks about how Houston was subjected to drug tests while in Athens-and if you remember, two years ago he had to sit out games due to being suspended for undisclosed team rule violations-which leads you to speculate that he failed a drug test. Remember, UGA has STRICT rules on drug testing, you lose 10% of your season with your first failed drug test, which equals two games. Guess how many games JH missed that particular season, 2 games.
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/04/26/justin-houston-was-subjected-to-drug-testing-at-uga/?cxntfid=blogs_uga_sports_blog
Finally, this is an interesting read and I as much as I love AJ Green and his talent, just not sure this makes sense for the Falcons, a team that needs a LOT of help on the defensive side of the football. As Bradley points out, for the Falcons to move into the top 5 or so, they would have to give up more than their #27 and a number two pick this year. Likely they would have to throw in a talented player, probably have to throw in a #1 from 2012 etc, and to me AJ is not worth that-he is worth a lot but not that much. We shall see what happens but I just believe you can find quality WR's later in the draft. I still look at the guy in New Orleans, Marques Colston, 7th round draft pick in the 2006 draft from Hofstra. Guy has had two straight seasons over 1,000 yards receiving. My point, WR is a position where you can find a quality guy in later rounds that can contribute. I really like Randall Cobb from Kentucky, I can gurantee he will be available in round 2 or maybe even 3.
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2011/04/26/from-peter-king-falcons-trying-to-trade-up-for-a-j-green/?cxntfid=blogs_mark_bradley_blog
You're 100% dead wrong when you say the Falcons "need a LOT of help on defense." Let's take a look at the defense position by position:
ReplyDeleteWe're set a corner with DR and BG.
WM is certainly a starting safety for the future.
TD is still a young safety at the other starting spot.
Two of the 3 LB spots are filled with two young early round picks SW and CL.
We have 3 DT's that you know for a fact are solid on the roster, PJ, CP, and JB.
So that leaves two spots where I can see us going on defense in the first round, DE and OLB. So to say the team needs "a LOT" of help on defense simply isn't true because we already have the majority of the starting spots filled with young and/or recently acquired (DRob) players.
Thanks for your comment-I disagree. I think the Falcons needs help along the DL-Jerry is still unproven and injury prone, for sure they need a stud DE because Ab is getting older, the secondary could use an upgrade-if you watched the Packer game, hard to argue we don't need an upgrade across the board on the D-I love Grimes and Robinson signed the big contract but didn't show me much last year-I wouldn't mind grabbing another good corner-they don't grow on trees. I love BVG but heeds more help and it makes no sense to trade up for a WR or offensive player when you can upgrade a need area like DE/OLB in the first round. That would be my first pick at least.
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