Atlanta's class of 2008 looking better all the time
November, 2, 2009
Nov 2
9:19
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas
NEW ORLEANS -- Wow, all the people who talk about New Orleans’ defense being the one that comes up with big plays, they just got a very strong argument from the much-maligned Atlanta defense.
The Falcons forced a huge mistake by Drew Brees, who doesn’t make many. Atlanta took a 14-7 lead when safety Thomas DeCoud blitzed, sacked Brees for a 10-yard loss and forced the quarterback to fumble near his own goal line. Defensive end Kroy Biermann picked up the ball for the touchdown.
One common theme on that play: DeCoud and Biermann both were members of general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s first draft in 2008. That class already has gotten lots of attention because of Matt Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton. But that draft class continues to appear deeper and more impressive.
NEW ORLEANS -- Wow, all the people who talk about New Orleans’ defense being the one that comes up with big plays, they just got a very strong argument from the much-maligned Atlanta defense.
The Falcons forced a huge mistake by Drew Brees, who doesn’t make many. Atlanta took a 14-7 lead when safety Thomas DeCoud blitzed, sacked Brees for a 10-yard loss and forced the quarterback to fumble near his own goal line. Defensive end Kroy Biermann picked up the ball for the touchdown.
One common theme on that play: DeCoud and Biermann both were members of general manager Thomas Dimitroff’s first draft in 2008. That class already has gotten lots of attention because of Matt Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton. But that draft class continues to appear deeper and more impressive.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Pat Yasinskas
Yasinskas joined ESPN.com in January 2008 after covering the Carolina Panthers for The Charlotte Observer for nine seasons. He began his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune in 1990.