Falcons Draft Grade

By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Atlanta Falcons exceeded expectations in Dan Quinn’s second year as head coach.

They finished with an 11-6 record, 2nd seed in the NFC and advanced to Super Bowl LI. As you all know they blew a 28-3 3rd quarter lead and lost to New England in overtime.

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Best Case Scenario

By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I’ve mentioned before how little faith I put into mock drafts and after this year’s first round you can see why. If there was a NFL Draft Bracket, similar to March Madness, predicting the events of Thursday night would’ve been like predicting South Carolina to make it to the Final Four.

Well, I put about as much stock into the post-draft grades as I do the mock drafts. So, rather than give each team a grade that will surely come back to bite me at some point, I’ve listed each team, along with the best and worst outcome they can expect from their drafted players. Some of these may or may not be realistic. I’ll let you decide.

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Jaguars Draft

By: Jason Bishop

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Jaguars came into the 2017 NFL draft on the heels of a very disappointing 3-13 season. The poor 2016 season was preceded with a 5-11 record in 2015 and 3-13 in 2014. You get my point right?

There were high expectations coming into last season as far as improving the team. Several free agent signings and a couple of really good drafts made things look as if they were improving. That did not happen, at least not in the sense of wins.

Head Coach Gus Bradley was fired and Doug Marrone has been named the full time coach after filling in as the interim. The Jaguars also hired former Head Coach Tom Coughlin as Team Vice President and now are applying pressure to starting quarterback Blake Bortles to turn the corner.

With all of that going on the Jaguars entered the 2017 draft with some glaring needs on the field as well. Jacksonville needed a serviceable running back, and to upgrade the depth on the offensive line. However, I guess when you are 3-13 there are really needs all over the place.

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Super Schroder

By: TJ Hartnett

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs yet again, but yet again they couldn’t push their way into the Finals.

This year the killing blow came in just the first round, a step back for a team that just two years ago seemed to be changing the way great teams were put together.

However, there was a bright spot for Atlanta during their losing series against Washington, the emergence of a certain young German point guard.

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NFL Draft Quarterbacks

By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Every year there are NFL teams who are in dire need of finding that franchise quarterback to lead them to the promised land.

A tradition unlike any other, the Cleveland Browns are yet again in that same category, and this year they will be joined by other teams such as the 49ers, Texans, and Saints.

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AFC South Draft Preview

By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The AFC South has been one of the weaker divisions in the NFL over the last few years. The Indianapolis Colts have dominated since its inception but recently the Houston Texans have taken over. Let’s check the first round draft picks and see if anyone can change that.

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What Is Next For D’Antne Demery

By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Last June as I watched D’Antne Demery commit to The University of Georgia at a ceremony at Brunswick High School and I was overcome with pride as ‘Big Man’, as we call him, became the first Pirate to sign with UGA right out of high school at a position of need for the Bulldogs which is offensive line.

Now 10 short months later I read this on the internet posted by several UGA media sites copied from Police Reports:

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SEC To Dominate NFL Draft

By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I put about as much stock in mock drafts as I do in preseason rankings. They’re great to talk about and they do happen to give you at least a sense of what may take place on draft night, but there are way too many variables that could alter the outcome.

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Tribute To Hank Aaron

By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I sat at my favorite watering hole and was glued to the television, watching all of the opening day festivities associated with the Braves new home SunTrust Park. What a magnificent facility it is and the Braves opened the new park with a four game sweep of the San Diego.

As I was watching the ceremonies leading up to the game the event that touched me the most was when the Braves honored their retired numbers. 83 year-old Henry Aaron was introduced and I choked back tears because of what that man has meant to the city of Atlanta, the State of Georgia, and influence the man has had over generations of youth all across this great country of ours.

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G-Day Preview

By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Rejoice Georgia Bulldog fans, the first game of the 2017 season is upon us!

Ok, so it is actually the second if you count National Signing Day as a competition, and it is only a scrimmage.

However, it is not a replay and for those of us starved for football at this time of year, we will take it!

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