One year ago I was a little down on the Atlanta Falcons 2010 draft class. Of course I was down on their third round selection of DT Corey Peters but he really came on in camp and played very well for this team. In the end this was a draft class delivered to a very good team so they did not need big time production immediately from it. This team still went 13-3 and these players will get more time to develop.
A quick look at the 2010 Falcons draft class:
- Round One- LB Sean Weatherspoon
- Round Three- DT Corey Peters
- Round Three- G Mike Johnson
- Round Four- C Joe Hawley
- Round Five- DB Dominique Franks
- Round Five- WR Kerry Meier
- Round Six- DB Shaun Schillinger
So Weatehrspoon missed some time with a knee injury but racked up 42 tackles and a sack. Peters ended up with 32 tackles and a sack. Johnson was a game day inactive for all 16 games. Hawley saw some special team action and may end up as a starter. Franks had an early pick, but sat out the final 13 games. Meier spent the year on injured reserve. Schillinger played on special teams and had eight tackles there, and eight tackles playing on the defense is a reserve role.
All in all it was not terrible, and I think as time moves on we will see these players take on a larger role for this team. For now I feel like they have earned a pass. I give them a pass for now based on their 13-3 record and the fact that these players were drafted to a very good football team.
Related Links:
- Atlanta Falcons War Room
- Joshua Lobdell.com