The NFLDraftguys staff is going simulate playing the GM of each of the 31 teams picking in the first round and justify their picks. You can look forward to a new pick every other day leading up to April 28, when the staff will be in Radio City Music Hall to see if they took our advice.
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Follow the progress of the On The Clock Draft Board, where you can see exactly how the first round would play out if the NFLDraftguys staff were making the calls in the war room.
Sean Baca
With the 8th pick in the 2007 NFL draft the Atlanta Falcons SHOULD take LaRon Landry, FS, LSU
Atlanta is a few weeks away from having one of the best secondary's in the game. Hall, Milloy, Rossum and possibly the best safety in the country in Landry. The Falcons gave up over 3,600 yards thru the air last year and that ranked 29th in the NFL. That is truly rank.
Landry is a heat-seeking-missile along the line of scrimmage and has no fear at all about getting in the trenches. He is a sure tackler who drives hard thru a runners legs and seldom if ever is trying to arm tackle. He has played linebacker in nickel coverage as well, displaying amazing heart and versatility. His leaping ability and soft hands show just how well rounded Landry truly is. The single greatest impact he could have as a Falcon would be to free up an aged Milloy and allow him to ball-hawk again, as well as play in the box and allow an eight-man front with base personnel. Versatility begets versatility. I'll take "multiple blitz packages and tighter coverage on the corners" for $500 Alex.
Marc Faletti
With the 8th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons SHOULD select Patrick Willis, MLB, Mississippi.
In the real world, Landry will probably be available, but he's already gone in my draft. While the Falcons could easily trade back down if they want Willis, he strikes me as the surest impact player on defense after Landry and worthy of a top-10 selection. Recent 3rd rounder Jordan Beck is currently slated to man the middle in Atlanta, but he's a deeply unknown quanitity (11 career tackles and an injury concern) at a critical position.
Not too many 238 lb. men run under a 4.4 40, and unlike some track demons, Patrick Willis' speed translates to the field. He almost always bursts his way into the heart of the play, even through blockers, and he controls the running game as well as possible from the MLB position. The book on him says his pass defense needs work, but with his body control and footwork, he can improve in that area.
Of course, the biggest reason the Falcons need Willis is leadership. Vick displayed immaturity too often last year, and Willis could grow into the inspiring presence their locker room needs. He's considered one of the finest leaders in college football, and more than anything, the Falcons could use a dose of that.
Cecil Lammey
With the 8th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons SHOULD take LaRon Landry, S, LSU Tigers.
The Falcons traded Matt Schaub to the Texans and swapped first round picks (and Houston threw in a couple of 2nd rounders). My pick for the Falcons did not change, regardless of if they are in the 10 slot, or the 8 slot. Landry is the player that can make the Falcons a much better team in a hurry, and they will be happy to draft him.
LaRon Landry can do it all. His textbook tackling technique (say that 3 times fast!) is what stands out the most to me. He loves to hit and will wrap up his target with great intensity and fervor. Wide Receivers that are going over the middle have to be on the lookout for this hitting machine. Experience from starting 4 years in the SEC will help him tremendously at the next level. He is rarely caught out of position, showing great discipline as a defender.
The Falcons were 29th in passing yards allowed in 2006 and that simply won't do. Landry is going to come in and start immediately. I am incredibly biased, because LSU is my favorite college team, but Landry can make an impact from the get go. Atlanta's defense will not be a pushover as in year's past, LaRon can be a field general in the mold of Ed Reed.
Sigmund Bloom
With the 8th pick in the 2007 NFL draft the Atlanta Falcons SHOULD take LaRon Landry, FS, LSU
Landry is one of a handful of true franchise players in this draft. He can make an impact with big hits in run defense, ballhawking skills and legit deep speed in the pass defense, and the kind of range only exhibited by guys like Troy Polamalu and Sean Taylor in both.
Atlanta is sitting pretty at #8, almost guaranteed of getting Landry, potential franchise LT Levi Brown, or one of top DE (Gaines Adams, Jamaal Anderson) to replace Patrick Kerney, who moved on to Seattle in free agency, The move up from 10 to 8 helped cinch this, because Miami is surely taking a long look at Brown and Landry.
Given the choice between Brown and Landry, the Falcons should opt for Landry because he is the true blue chipper. Yes, LT is a more crucial position, and Atlanta's pass protection last year was poor to say the least, but it's becoming clear that safety can be just as crucial, when you have a do everything player there like Landry. A player like Landry allows the CBs to play more aggressive because they know they have rock solid deep help. Landry allows the other safety to freelance. He gives the defensive coordinator a multiuse weapon which helps disguise coverages and blitzes, because he's a threat to do just about anything in just about any set, Brown could become Vick's bodyguard, but there's no "could" about Landry's game, he's one of the surest things in the draft.
