Falcons have told pot head Ray they will Draft him at #7

[PntherPryd]

At only 240, he's definitely not a fatty.

 

 

 

he could balloon up to 420 and still be a wasted pick.

[davos]

Superb.  I don't think he will be a good player in an NFL 4-3 system.  You have to put on the muscle to be good there.  I mean this isn't the 1950s' NFL.

 

Yeah but the defense they're installing is the Bradley/Quinn 4-3 that uses the weakside edge rusher (Leo) for ~40 snaps/gm.  A Fowler/Beasley fit that well.  Maybe Ray.     

[Matthias]

Yeah but the defense they're installing is the Bradley/Quinn 4-3 that uses the weakside edge rusher (Leo) for ~40 snaps/gm.  A Fowler/Beasley fit that well.  Maybe Ray.     

 

That's true.  Plus their coach was able to make Bruce Irvin work in their scheme in Seattle.

[davos]

That's true.  Plus their coach was able to make Bruce Irvin work in their scheme in Seattle.

 

Yep that's what he plays there.  Word is Bradley really wants his guy down in JAX for it as well which makes Beasley/Fowler Jr. a good possibility down there.   

 

 

I agree though you need a foundation in place before getting a guy at the Leo though and ATL is in desperate need for a big 3-down DE.  Good thing there's no elite ones near the top this year. :thumbs up:

[TheWiz]

Russell who?

never heard of him

[top dawg]

He is a budding talent.

But the falcons would have to be dopes to pick him with that chronic toe.

I can see what you did there.

[Matthias]

Yep that's what he plays there.  Word is Bradley really wants his guy down in JAX for it as well which makes Beasley/Fowler Jr. a good possibility down there.   

 

 

I agree though you need a foundation in place before getting a guy at the Leo though and ATL is in desperate need for a big 3-down DE.  Good thing there's no elite ones near the top this year. :thumbs up:

 

Interestingly enough, I believe Vic Beasley could put on the pounds to be an every down 4-3 end.  He has the workout mentality to get it done and if he was still available at 25, he should be our pick hands down.

[gettlemanjack]

ex-scout Bucky Brooks of NFL.com wrote "I'm convinced he can be a Pro Bowl -caliber pass rusher in the NFL...he is the kind of alpha dog that all defensive coordinators desire... he should generate 10-plus sacks annually as a designated pass rusher in an aggressive scheme."

Then listed his 5 best fits:

#13 Saints

#5 Redskins

#6 Jets ( Bowles' ultra-aggressive blitz schemes could help the rookie notch 10-plus sacks as a first-year starter.")

#7 Bears

#8 Falcons - "The Falcons hired Dan Quinn to bring some swagger to the Georgia Dome and repair a leaky defense that hasn't generated consistent pressure on the passer since John Abraham departed years ago. Ray specializes in blowing past blockers on speed rushes, but also flashes an inside move that allows him to slip through cracks on the interior. With the Falcons poised to implement a simplistic scheme that allows defenders to utilize their natural talents to win individual battles, Ray's polished rush skills could make him a nightmare to block in Atlanta.

...

He's arguably the best pure pass rusher in the 2015 NFL Draft, exhibiting a frenetic style that overwhelms blockers at the point of attack. ... Ray is a menacing presence off the edge, exhibiting the first-step quickness to blow past offensive tackles ... Ray has a natural feel for setting blockers up with stutter-steps and quick inside moves, leaving offensive tackles uncertain of how he will attack on each snap. With Ray also flashing the awareness, instincts and savvy to win on stunts and loops, the Missouri standout is tough on offensive tackles lacking the patience, footwork and body control to handle a Tasmanian devil off the edge.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000487837/article/shane-rays-best-nfl-fits-include-redskins-jets-and-bears

[gettlemanjack]

CBS Sports

April 27, 2015

There are only five can't-miss players in the 2015 NFL Draft

"one of the scouts I have come to respect immensely is adamant that there is no top 10 in this draft. He doesn't see any natural delineation at that number, if you will. He sees a clear cut top-five players in this draft, and then a significant drop in class from them, and then another drop in tier after the next handful of players, and so on and so on.

"This is it," he said. "I've got five, I don't have 10. I don't have six. This is the five, and then there is everybody else."

1. Leonard Williams

2. Dante Fowler, Jr.

3. Shane Ray - "Next to Gregory, this is the best pass rusher in the group. Fowler might be a little better against the run, a little more polished, but Ray is going to be a handful. This kid is going to impact games. ... he can play. You can talk about him maybe being a liability against the run, or there being questions there, but 12 sacks a year sounds pretty good to me. That's what he is. I could see him in a 4-3 or a 3-4. Either way, he's getting to the quarterback."

4. WR Kevin White

5. WR Amari Cooper

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25164871/there-are-only-five-cant-miss-players-in-the-2015-nfl-draft

[rmoneyg35]

I hope they do draft Ray. He is probably the least talented of the first round edge rushers and now he has got in trouble for pot.

[gettlemanjack]

April 24

Bill Polian calls Shane Ray “Near a Hall of Fame player. People who don’t like him are going to say he’s narrow of build and therefore can’t stand on the line of scrimmage, and that’s fine. I don’t want him to stand on the line of scrimmage, I want him to go chase the quarterback, and he’s about the best in this draft at doing that. ... I’d be praying that he’d fall to me.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/24/bill-polian-sees-shane-ray-as-the-next-robert-mathis/

[Kettle]

[coughing]smoke screen[/ coughing]

[Rubi]

Smoke and mirrors

[gettlemanjack]

What would the smoke screen be? Everyone already has the Falcons pegged as taking a pass rusher. They aren't telling us anything new