The Falcons focused on defense first by selecting Florida safety Keanu Neal in the first round and LSU linebacker Deion Jones in the second. Atlanta has only five picks in the draft, including only one after the fourth round. Neal was also partially responsible for massive blown coverages in that same game against Alabama in which he met Henry head-on and won, and he was thought of as the lesser of Florida’s two safeties in pass coverage.
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Riskiest move: Jones, who was drafted in the second round with the No. 52 overall pick.
“We’ve looked at all of the different scenarios this year”, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. Neal’s play at South Sumter was impressive enough to earn a scholarship offer from the University of Florida, where he became one of the most respected defensive backs in the Southeastern Conference. He played the last 3 seasons making 134 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. “You have to have the run-and-hit factor of playing a linebacker because we play our safety so close to the line of scrimmage”. Although his catches and yards went down from 2014 to 2015, he set a career-high in touchdowns (6) during his junior season.
“One of the cool parts about the system is (all positions) have a pass-rush component to it”, Quinn said.
Hooper was projected by most services to get drafted in the second or third round thanks to his pro-ready size, versatility and physicality, though he still has room to improve with his hands and his route-running.
“I’ve kind of wanted that to be the team I went to”, Neal said. When he was still available with the 17th pick, Dimitroff said there was little doubt who the Falcons would take.
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Quinn’s first team began last season 6-1, but as the Falcons lost seven of their last nine games, he already looking at ways to compete better in a division that includes quarterbacks Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Jameis Winston. The Falcons are coming off an 8-8 season, and the defense ranked 22nd, according to Football Outsiders’ metrics, and were equally inept against both the pass (21st overall) and the run (25th overall). If such it’s true, then let’s see if Falcons coach Dan Quinn can get it out of him.
