Feb 26, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Desmond Trufant runs with the ball after catching a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the Draft the last few days, I think it’s safe to say quite a few of us were a little confused here and there.  But the First two rounds could tell us a lot about what’s to come this season.  As we all know, the Atlanta Falcons drafter CB Desmond Trufant in the first round after trading up 8 spots to the 22^nd pick.  A lot of mock drafts had him falling to the Falcons, or had the Falcons trade up to get him.  This is no surprise to me.  The Falcons only had one known starting Corner with high hopes for Robert McClain after Three starting caliber corners left.  They definitely needed a defensive back and got a great one in Trufant.

What was a little confusing, and most people would probably agree with this, is watching Dion Sanders call out a name who many of us probably didn’t hear much of, followed by the position “Defensive Back.”

“What?  Didn’t we just get one?  You know we need a pass rusher!?  Do you know Damontre Moore was RIGHT THERE!?”  I believed that the dream picks for me was Trufant in the first and Margus Hunt in the second.  I was surprised he lasted as long as he did.  I was even more surprised that Moore dropped to the Falcons.  When they announced they picked another Corner, I would be lying if I said that my first reaction wasn’t anger.

After I cooled down a little, I repeated to myself “In TD we trust.” Knowing it was for a good reason.  After thinking about it and watching Robert Alford tape, I started really liking this pick for the following reasons:

Comfort and Familiarity:  Last season, the defense wasn’t great, but it was pretty good.  About the only thing we lacked was linebacker coverage (which could have been a scheme problem and not a personnel problem) and a legitimate pass rush.   The Falcons went a long way with those problems and after losing three corners in free agency, there was a huge hole in the defense.  Last year, the backfield was a strong point.  Nolan would have to make a lot more changes to match a strength in pass rush and a weakness in the backfield compared to the same strengths with an upgraded pass rush.  So first things first is to make the secondary a strength again.  With better depth and a step up from Robinson, It’s safe to say that’s a done deal.

Still Need a Return Game:  The last punt return that went all the way was two years ago against Tampa Bay with Eric Weems.  Since then, the return game was never very effective.  Robert Alford is a very good return man.  He’ll definitely take the job away from Fair-Catch-Franks and will add another threat to this high-scoring team.

Next Man Up:  Two Defensive ends were drafted, but neither of them will be automatic starters. We all know TD is a mastermind.  I didn’t like them getting rid of Tyson Clabo, but you know damn well that he wouldn’t do that if there wasn’t complete trust in how far Lamar Holmes has come.  I seriously doubt that the Falcons would pass up on the talents of Damontre Moore if there wasn’t a lot of confidence in the next man up.  Who is that?  Jonathan Massequoi.  He’s a great build for a pass rusher and very young.  He could step up and work on the other side of Umenyiora and be a major contributor.  I have a lot of high hopes for this guy.

It’s hard to criticize a guy like TD when the only flops under his belt are an overpaid Ray Edwards and Peria Jerry.  I’m betting these picks will go a long way.

May 12, 2012; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi goes through a drill during Falcons rookie camp at the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

In looking around the internet for reports on new NFL rookies, I stumbled upon this article from Yahoo! which spoke specifically to 5th round picks. The article talks about 5th round draft picks who were terrific values– players who when graded on skill set had the possibility of being drafted higher, but fell to later rounds. Only five players were in the piece, and one of them was the Falcons’ Jonathan Massaquoi.

The Yahoo reporter spoke very highly of Massaquoi. As a matter of fact, back in February there was another Yahoo piece ranking Massaquoi as the 50th best prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft. Granted, this guy is not a professional scout and is not currently in the front office of an NFL franchise, so there is a reason Massaquoi was drafted in the 5th rather than the 2nd round. However the point must be acknowledged that the Falcons drafted a Defensive end who has the size to potentially play Outside Linebacker in a 3-4 front, and to play at a high level.

While he may have a great burst off the line, tremendous agility, a good bull-rush for his size, and a tremendous motor, Massaquoi is not without his flaws. He is raw, and since he had success against less than elite competition hasn’t had to develop a very big pass-rushing repertoire of moves which is something that is absolutely necessary from a pass rushing specialist in the NFL today.

The good news is that there are multiple sources who feel that the Falcons got a tremendous value pick in the 5th round, and have a player who could develop into a stater at DE in the future. While he will only be a situational pass rusher or a DE in a rotation with John Abraham, Ray Edwards and Kroy Biermann, it is positive that there is so much potential and upside to Massaquoi. All that is needed is for him to be developed properly, something the Falcons have already begun to work on.

Replacing John Abraham will doubtless be the prime subject of the Falcons 2013 Draft process. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-US PRESSWIRE

Its very early to be thinking about such things, but I’m very curious as to what position/s the Falcons will target highest in the 2013 NFL Draft. It’s probably a result of just having done so much draft preparation and draft recap, but I am fully locked into prospects for the 2013 season.

I think it is obvious that the Falcon’s most dire need will be to augment the pass rush. As has been chronicled in a multitude of locations, John Abraham is not getting any younger, Ray Edwards may not be the player we signed him to be, and all indications are that Kroy Biermann, Lawrence Sidbury and Jonathan Massaquoi are not much more than role players at this point. All of that is subject to change, but I think we all have a pretty good idea of what all of these players are capable of.

Defensive tackle also needs to have talent added to. Peria Jerry can’t be tossed aside quite yet, but the production that was expected when we drafted in the 1st round in 2009 simply hasn’t been there. Jonathan Babineaux was once the best DT in the NFC South, but like Abraham he is also aging. The brightest spot at the position is third year player Corey Peters. He truly came into his own in 2011, and while he wasn’t statistically a monster, he made his presence felt on every play and allowed his teammates to make the plays.

There are other positions that will certainly need to be addressed on the other line. We have answers at Right Tackle, Left Guard, Right Guard and Center this season with the addition of Peter Konz in the 2012 Draft, but there are question marks for the present and future. In 2012, we will need to see how well a healthy Sam Baker plays. If he is serviceable like he was from 2008-2010, the Falcons may not have to address the LT position immediately. If he can’t do any better, LT may be the number one need in the 2013 Free Agency period/Draft. In 2013 another interior line position will also need to be addressed. Todd McClure will almost certainly retire after the 2012 season, meaning Peter Konz will shift to center and the Falcons will need to look for a Right Guard, or Konz will stay at RG and the Falcons will have to find themselves a Center. I’m not completely ready to give up on Joe Hawley playing Center in the future, but we will have to see how it plays out.

There is also the matter of the TE position. After this past draft we can see that the TE position does not need to be targeted in the 1st round, but good quality players can be had in the 3rd and even 4th rounds. Tony Gonzalez certainly needs a replacement who is an excellent pass catcher, and the Falcons will almost certainly deal with the TE position in 2013. Someone needs to stretch the field up the seam of the defense.

There are some other positions that have some need for depth, but they are not nearly as glaring as other positions at this current time. The truth is, this is where the weaknesses appear in the Falcons roster in the offseason before the 2012 season; what seems a weakness now may become a strength as the season begins, or a strength may end up being one of the blatant weaknesses. Only time and actual game experience will show exactly what the Falcons’ needs in 2013 will be and where the need to patch up positions, of do a wholesale gutting of the depth chart at that position.

What do you think are the Falcons greatest needs to address in the 2013 NFL Draft?