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With the No. 19 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the Atlanta Falcons selected linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.
“This is a guy we targeted and all the contemplation went out the window when we had this guy in our sites,” General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said Thursday evening, moments after the selection.
A tackling machine at Missouri, Weatherspoon left school with more than 400 stops. The Associated Press named him a second-team All-American last season. He posted 41 career starts, 415 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 43.5 tackles for loss on his collegiate resume.
He was also on the mock draft radar for the Falcons for weeks and Weatherspoon himself had a hunch this would be the team to draft him.
“It’s an honor. It’s a blessing from God,” he said. “When I got the call I was smiling from ear to ear because I knew it was about to go down.”
The Jasper, Texas native is third in Missouri history in career tackles and 10th on the Big 12’s all-time charts.
“We’re very excited for the opportunity to take an outside linebacker who is going to ramp up our speed, our enthusiasm (and) our athleticism,” Dimitroff said. “In our minds he’s a guy that’s going to be a four-down player for us.”
Loading ...Head Coach Mike Smith — a defensive coordinator before taking over in Atlanta in 2008 — likes Weatherspoon’s versatility.
“He’s an urgent, passionate football player that can play both (outside) linebacker spots in our scheme,” Smith said. “Our outside linebackers are interchangeable… He will be competing for an outside linebacker position.”
http://video.atlantafalcons.com/video/295241/295241_2010-04-22-224851.flv
WEATHERSPOON HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Dimitroff said the team also spoke with William Moore — a 2009 second-round draft pick that played at Missouri — about Weatherspoon, who will become a teammate again.
“You always seek insight from teammates,” he said. “It’s not the end-all, obviously, but it’s important to discuss interaction… William was very positive and I know through our interviews with Sean he was positive about having the opportunity to work side-by-side with William.”
Weatherspoon, who has remained active and conversational on his Twitter feed during the pre-draft process, said he’s looking forward to talking with Moore and using him as a resource in learning the team’s defense.
At the close of the first round the Falcons did not have a second-round selection, but Dimitroff said the team would consider opportunities to get into that round, which starts at 6 p.m. Friday.
MORE ON WEATHERSPOON:
- BIO: Weatherspoon’s bio on AF.com
- PHOTOS: Images of new Falcon Sean Weatherspoon
- VIDEO: NFL Network highlights of Weatherspoon
WEATHERSPOON HIGHLIGHTS:
- YOUTUBE: Universal Draft Presents
- YOUTUBE: Sean Weatherspoon “Right Now”
- YOUTUBE: Post-Practice Interview
- YOUTUBE: A Day in the Life — Sean Weatherspoon
MORE NFL DRAFT COVERAGE:
- DRAFTCAST: Video coverage, photos and a fan chat from The Branch
- DRAFT BLOG: All my draft-related updates
- TWITTER: Follow me on Twitter | Other Falcons users
- FORUMS: Talk about the draft with other fans
- HOMEPAGE: Complete draft coverage from AtlantaFalcons.com
49 Comments
Love Sean W from Mizzou. Watched him there for years. Great guy. Quick. Positive energy. Super Pick
Great Pick
THATS RIGHT BABY!!! WELCOME TO ATLANTA!!!
I like it alot! A olb is what we needed, although other talent was available in other positions.
Welcome to ATL SPOON!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll have your jersey asap!
welcome to atlanta.
All i have to say is look out NFL. This is the exact pick I wanted. Atlanta Falcons year 2010 Super Bowl Champs.
Yeah! We now have a LB core that strikes concern to opposing offenses! Spoon will be the man in the A, for years to come! Great pick!
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
Sean Weatherspoon is a classy, talented addition to our defence with a near-unlimited motor and a passion to ball hard.
Added to that, he’s also the most charismatic guy in the draft, as attested to by nearly every mock expert – he’s the perfect fit in our town.
WELCOME SPOONY!
For a while I left pro football and concentrated on college football, but from the time Dimitroff and Smith took over I have come back to the falcons in a big way. From the time they started cutting the dead wood I knew it was going to be different. Win or lose I am a fan because they are building it the right way.
SPOON AND LOFTON TOGETHER IS SICK!!!!!!! BAD NEWS FOR THE REST OF THE NFL!
As a Mizzou grad I had the pleasure of watching Spoon’s entire career. I can tell you firsthand that Falcon fans will LOVE this kid. Great character, unreal motor and always has a smile on his face. But he’ll knock the hell out of you!
I wonder what number he’ll wear? I’m thinking 51.
I like the pick, lets pick up Osi now for a 3rd or even 4th!
spoon and lofton meet at the guy with the ball get use to it good luck other 31 teams you will need it great pick go falcons
great pick although i would traded down for him picked up 2rd pick so we can get a wr to help out wr core and give matty more weapons
Great pick. Now figure out a way to get Jerry Hughes here in the ATL. Go Falcons
Nitpick:
“This is a guy we targeted and all the contemplation went out the window when we had this guy in our sites,” General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said.
I think he means they had him in their sights.
I’m split on this one. I like “Spoon”. Looks great. But my problem is that he is another tackler like Lofton. Racking up tackles is great, but your a LB, of course you are a tackler. We need sacks, batted balls, fumbles, strips, and pass rush. A contest between Lofton and Spoon on who gets the most tackles will not help us with a ring.
I do however trust TD and the staff though so I’m very hopeful on any pick they make.
Welcome Spoon!
GREAT PICK!!! LOVE HIS EXPLOSIVENESS AND HIGH MOTOR THAT NEVER STOPS. WELCOME TO ATLANTA WHERE THE FALCONS PLAY!!!
i hope he turns out to be like Ray Lewis, I Hope hes not a Bust like Jamal Anderson the worst pick, we could have drafted Adrian peterson, who was one pick be4 us that year but nooooo worst pick we ever had in a long time, so i just hope this guy turns out a BEAST cuz im tired of falcons picking up bust on defense side of the ball
One of the best things about this pick is that the Saints really wanted this guy. I am super pleased. Spoon will bring the nastiness out of our D. Lets trade a 4th for Osi. I am still a little concerned about a DE. I love the Beerman and Sid but need another vet out there in the rotation. It appears that JA98 is suited for a third down DT and thats fine but it leaves a spot open.
Stop with the adrian peterson thing. He practically gave the saints the win in the nfc championship game with his fumbles n turner is really good just got nicked up with a helmet to the ankle. I don’t mind u saying we passed on revis or patrick willis cuz that hurts me more than all day I fumble.
haha yeah ! what did we say ? haha we proved them guys who thought Graham was going to the Falcons wrong !
I believe the Falcons have vastly upgraded their whole team with this one pick. Weatherspoon is a spark plug; absolute lightning in a bottle. He was a tremendous tackler but more importantly he would vocally motivate others to give their all. He should be a stable Keith Brooking type LB for the Falcons who will lead them for years to come. What a great 1st round can’t wait for round 3.
Very pleased with this pick and think we are getting much improvement this offseason. Combine that with the players that were injured last year coming back, now this D will become “slap yo mama in the mouth” nasty. I’m now wanting to see Osi traded to the birds for a third or fourth round pick. Then get Iceman a nice little present in the form of a big receiver. Excited for this season!!! Light it up Falcons!!!
Im a big fan of Sean Weatherspoon, always have been always will be, but i dont like the pick. GA has two big colleges with alot of talent and every year we go to other areas picking up talent when we have home grown talent right here in the Atown. I think that the LB core we have here in the A is already A+ (it was our strongest position last yr). WR or DE would have ben a better selection. Roddy White needs help, Mike Jenkins is not a true number 2 receiver (he is a 3 or 4) and big John could use some help up front. I don’t know where the Falcons are headed but Demaryius Thomas would have been a good pick at 19. Hopefully we can address our WR woes in the 2nd rd with Benn from ILL, but with all do respect I really didn’t feel that pick.
i agree with wood i like spoon i just wish he had more versatility when it comes to play making. he wasn’t big on interceptions and forced fumbles but i like are coaches and he has the athletic skill to be anything just hope he pans out to be a star and not just a solid player
Stupid pick. Why get someone to take the load off shoddy white. Lets get another bust on defense.
Todd Mcshay talks bad about our pick-
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5121863
mcshay comments were not that bad and we pasted on dez bryant only time will tell if that was a mistake
Todd Mcshay talks bad about our pick because there is very little good to say. We just spent a fortune on a nickel/dime package linebacker with small size, 4.7 lack of speed and a horrible “football IQ”. Wow..he is a rah rah go team guy…you just hired 40 cheerleaders to do that for you. Why in the world didn’t you fleece all those picks out of Denver??
I’m really hoping we can get into the 2nd round, there are some serious players there that could impact the team ASAP. Make it happen TD!!
i cant believe we passedp on dez bryant but im glad drew brees is going to be on the cover of madden so he can get the madden curse
somehow get golden tate
Mike peterson, curtis lofton and sean witherspoon, im thinking not one runningback gets 100 yards on the birds this season
That’s what I’m talking about, SPOOOOOOOON, DEFENSE!!!!! GO FALCONS!!!
You nay sayers kill me. This guy can play. We’re lucky to have him. As far as Mcshay, or other s are concerned,they are seldom right about anything.
No ones aying that he can’t play…I think the guy is a beast on the football field but our defense wasn’t really the problem last yr. Our OFF avg. about 15 ppg. i think we should have took a WR at 19…Roddy needs help. We are not going to beat to many teams scoring 15 ppg. If you and another big name at WR then you can take that eighth defender out of the box and force teams to play with teir front seven. Tihs equals a big day for Mike Turner and also helps out your young QB
Sorry for the typos….No one’s saying that he can’t play…I think the guy is a beast on the football field but our defense wasn’t really the problem last yr. Our OFF avg. about 15 ppg. i think we should have took a WR at 19…Roddy needs help. We are not going to beat to many teams scoring 15 ppg. If you add another big name at WR then you can take that eighth defender out of the box and force teams to play with their front seven. This equals a big day for Mike Turner and also helps out your young QB
I CAN FEEL IT BABY, I SMELL PLAYOFFS! The Weather Man was 1 of 4 guys
on my list prior to the picks. Nice going to the Falcons Management. I like
to see a DE that can replace J Anderson. I throught about move JA to the
linebacker position. Now I am wondering if the ATL. has decided to leave
Anderson alone? With that said I think the Birds need a good backup Guard
on the O-Line or Center.
Cmon, you can’t use stats from our offense last year with all the injuries. Turner was out a long time, Ryan was out, Norwood (naturally),…Stats are out the window.
Shoulda, coulda, woulda. If if and buts were buffalo nuts we’d all be riding bison to work.
Don’t get me wrong…I like the guy, but I really think he would have been still there in the second round. I would have preferred to have traded down to pick up a second second round pick, but maybe there weren’t any offers at the time…I don’t know. If that was the case, I still think I would have taken some of the other choices that were out there instead of him.
But what do I know!? I trust TD and MS, they’ve made some fantastic moves thus far and I’m looking forward to seeing Spoon lay some hurtin’ on some people!
Welcome to Atlanta! Fun part is over…Now the work begins!
I’m not for sure if this will be taking into consideration but i support the pick of sean witherspoon a stud at linebacker. we are in need of DE and i wonder would the name osi umenyiora interest you. It has been plenty of trade talks of him going to the eagles but i really doubt the would trade inside the division unless the offer is GREAT!!!! I figure we could give the a 3rd round pick for him that would in my opinion give us one of the best D-Lines in football. It would give us great pressure and with a play maker like Dunta Robinson another chance to have a year better than his rookie year. Also it would allow us for more blitzing and produce more turnovers. I have been a fan since day one i would feel proud to have our defense to be rank among the elite because offense will do there thing but whats an offense if your defense cant prevent the opponent from scoring. Food for Thought!!!! Thanks and i hope this comment grabs some attention.
Great pick Thanks alot and great job TD and Coach Smith. Now could you imagine trading into the second round and picking Sergio Kindle. 2010 linebacking core looking like this WLB Spoon, MLB Lofton, SLB Kindle, that would be amazing. But if not yall know whats best, keep up the great work.
I am very happy about the Spoon pick. I would love to see a 2nd round too but may or may not happen. For all the people who think Spoon wasn’t a good pick obviously have never seen film on him. Mark my words: ” He will be the next R. Lewis”. He is a very hard nosed and vocal leader who will bring something to ATL that has been missing. Great pick TD!
After the Matt Ryan pick in 08, I wont ever doubt the staff that picks these guys. We need a defensive boost and this guy is great. He’s under estimated when it comes to his pass coverage in the middle of the field. He’ll cause some problems for other teams for years to come. Also, in 08 he had 155 tackles. And, to everyone who thinks he’s just a tackler and cant cover the pass, remember that 08 was the year the Big 12 did nothing but pass the football. He only played against passing teams. So even he dont intercept the ball and all that mess, he’ll still shorten opposing yards after catch. He’ll get the job done in Atlanta. Great pick.
SPOON, Wellcome to the Falcons!!!
I can’t wait to see you crush someone real soon!
falcone where a good team now with the picks they made there a great team falcons are playoff bound
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