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DTs of interest for Atlanta - Senior Bowl
By Dean Legge Publisher
Date: Jan 28, 2005
With starting defensive tackle Ed Jasper on the verge of retirement from the NFL, Atlanta could try to replace him in this April’s draft.
The Atlanta Falcons signed several defensive ends to the squad today in both free agent and practice squad transactions; however, the franchise didn’t sign a defensive tackle.
The free agent period will begin soon and that could be the way the Falcons go about filling Jasper’s spot. Antwan Lake, Jasper’s back up, has been with the Falcons since late 2003. If the Birds want to go the Draft route, however, there seem to be some quality defensive tackles practicing in Mobile at the Senior Bowl this week.
Lorenzo Alexander, Jonathan Babineaux, Atiyyah Ellison, and Anttaj Hawthorne are practicing with the North squad this week. It appears that Cal’s Alexander is having the best week of the four defensive tackles on that side of the ball.
Alexander’s speed and quickness off the ball are getting him high marks in Mobile. His strength might be a little less than the other defensive tackles on the North squad, but he has beaten double teams more than once this week to make plays on the ball. Alexander could be a bargain in fifth or sixth round if the Falcons are interested.
Anthony Bryant, Ronald Fields, Mike Patterson, and Shaun Cody make up the South squad’s defensive tackles. Cody has actually been lining up at tackle and end this week. Patterson, Cody’s teammate at USC, has been taking advantage of the fact that the terminology being used by the South coaching staff being the same terminology used at USC. That factor and Patterson’s ability make him far and away the best defensive tackle in Mobile this week.
Patterson won’t be around for the Falcons to nab him, but Ellison and Bryant could be. Both have good lateral speed, but have struggled in Senior Bowl practices at times getting off blocks.
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