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IDP Spotlight: Curtis Lofton (1 Viewer)

Aaron Rudnicki

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2009 IDP Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The IDP Forum here has grown quickly over the past few years and is probably the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things related to IDPs. In what we hope to make an annual tradition, the IDP Spotlight series will be a key part of our preseason effort this year. As many of you know from what has been done with offensive players over the years, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. This year, we hope to publish IDP Spotlights for approximately 20-30 players, which should account for many of the most interesting IDP starters for this year and possibly years to come.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discuss expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week (or possibly longer) of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways.

1) At the end of the week (or longer when necessary), we will tally the projections into a consensus.

2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Curtis Lofton, LB, Atlanta Falcons

http://subscribers.footballguys.com/players/LoftCu99-1.php

Curtis Lofton Player Page

Each published article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player or players in question, and your expectations for said player(s)
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, we request that you provide projections for the playerProjections should include the following categories at minimum:

For DLs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, PD
For LBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PD
For DBs: Solos, Assists, Sacks, INT, PDNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 
Last year he had 94 total and 67 solos and 1 sack as a 2 down LB.

I say 110 total with 74 solos and 2 FF, 3, PD, 1 FR and 2 sacks.

 
Last year he had 94 total and 67 solos and 1 sack as a 2 down LB. I say 110 total with 74 solos and 2 FF, 3, PD, 1 FR and 2 sacks.
With the likelihood of ~50% more snaps, he'll get 16 more total tackles (7 more solos)?T=106 A=30 S=3.5 FF=2FR=1I=1PD=7
 
Now that he knows the scheme and Peterson is there to help him I believe that Lofton could challenge for the #1 LB spot this year if his big plays increase this year. I believe that they will with the additions of both Shockey (basically) and Winslow to the division.

Solo - 107

Assist - 35

Sacks - 2.5

INT - 3

PD - 9

FF - 2

FR - 1

 
For a guy who made only 67 solos in 2008, Curtis Lofton isn't flying under the radar at all this year. And he shouldn't be. 67 solos in part-time duty (only 60% of his defense's snaps) last year, a clear path to every-down duty this season, turnover at both OLB positions and at strong safety, a young and improving offense that should have the Falcons playing from ahead more often than not and all kinds of talent will come together in a perfect storm for Lofton this season.

104 solos, 36 assists, 2 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 1 INT, 6 PDs.

 
For a guy who made only 67 solos in 2008, Curtis Lofton isn't flying under the radar at all this year. And he shouldn't be. 67 solos in part-time duty (only 60% of his defense's snaps) last year, a clear path to every-down duty this season, turnover at both OLB positions and at strong safety, a young and improving offense that should have the Falcons playing from ahead more often than not and all kinds of talent will come together in a perfect storm for Lofton this season.104 solos, 36 assists, 2 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 1 INT, 6 PDs.
Is this fair?You get to do your projrctions for the site...:goodposting:Just messing with ya' Jene...
 
For a guy who made only 67 solos in 2008, Curtis Lofton isn't flying under the radar at all this year. And he shouldn't be. 67 solos in part-time duty (only 60% of his defense's snaps) last year, a clear path to every-down duty this season, turnover at both OLB positions and at strong safety, a young and improving offense that should have the Falcons playing from ahead more often than not and all kinds of talent will come together in a perfect storm for Lofton this season.

104 solos, 36 assists, 2 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 1 INT, 6 PDs.
Wouldn't that hurt him?
 
For a guy who made only 67 solos in 2008, Curtis Lofton isn't flying under the radar at all this year. And he shouldn't be. 67 solos in part-time duty (only 60% of his defense's snaps) last year, a clear path to every-down duty this season, turnover at both OLB positions and at strong safety, a young and improving offense that should have the Falcons playing from ahead more often than not and all kinds of talent will come together in a perfect storm for Lofton this season.

104 solos, 36 assists, 2 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 1 INT, 6 PDs.
Wouldn't that hurt him?
I think the tackles are there. Playing ahead might bring him a little more big play opportunity. When you're looking at a marginal talent, more rushing attempts against may be a factor. When you've got a big time talent without clear competition for tackles, a little extra big play value pushes that player higher in a given tier for me. Though I didn't project him for many, it's entirely anecdotal and it sounds counter-intuitive, I think this is something that has worked in the favor of guys like Ray Lewis in past seasons.
 
For a guy who made only 67 solos in 2008, Curtis Lofton isn't flying under the radar at all this year. And he shouldn't be. 67 solos in part-time duty (only 60% of his defense's snaps) last year, a clear path to every-down duty this season, turnover at both OLB positions and at strong safety, a young and improving offense that should have the Falcons playing from ahead more often than not and all kinds of talent will come together in a perfect storm for Lofton this season.

104 solos, 36 assists, 2 sacks, 2 FF/FR, 1 INT, 6 PDs.
Wouldn't that hurt him?
I think the tackles are there. Playing ahead might bring him a little more big play opportunity. When you're looking at a marginal talent, more rushing attempts against may be a factor. When you've got a big time talent without clear competition for tackles, a little extra big play value pushes that player higher in a given tier for me. Though I didn't project him for many, it's entirely anecdotal and it sounds counter-intuitive, I think this is something that has worked in the favor of guys like Ray Lewis in past seasons.
My only concern as a Lofton owner is if the offense is able to control the ball too much, the opposing offense ends up throwing more as they play from behind, I don't know about the 100 solos. Only 5 players netted 100 solos last year, out of those only Ruud played for a team whose offense wasn't in the bottom 10 in plays.
 
lofton is imo a legit talent...

he impressed me on film... a new orleans-based independent scout once told me that the single most important trait he looked for in a LB prospect was their first step... he has a good one (& looks instinctive)...

ATL offense ahead of the defense... they could be on the field a lot = bigger numbers...

seems destined to crack the top 20 LBs... top 10 & even top 5 possible...

95 solos, 32 assists, 1 sack, 2 FFs, 0 INT, 5 PD

 
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Lofton was maybe even better than advertised as a rookie. Despite playing only as a 2-down LB he managed 94 tackles.

What's changed: 3-down LB role, expected offensive improvement, Mike Peterson addition, no Keith Brooking, no Michael Boley

Discussion in this forum has repeatedly focused on Lofton's ability to make 94 stops when playing only 60% of the Falcons defensive snaps. And with good reason.

Prediction: with even static tackle opportunity in 2009 it isn't hard to see why a breakout season is almost a certainty. With more passing situations an increase in glory stats should accompany a substantial tackle increase. The benefit of an every down LB role should provide Lofton a LB1 ceiling and a LB2 floor. The top 10 is a distinct possibility.

92 solos, 32 assists, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT, 4 PDs

 
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Figured I'd resurrect this old thread (and move slightly off original topic) rather than start a new one: anyone see him play on Saturday vs. the Chargers? Yahoo has him credited with 7 solos, an assist, and three passes defensed--not half bad for a real game, let along preseason in which he might not have played past 2 to 3 quarters.

Any observations? Just idle curiosity as he's already on my roster.

 
They took him out on 3rd downs early in the game but when they left him in he did pretty well. He defleted one pass, on another he separated Michael Bennett from the pass when he slammed him to the ground.

I think he'll play his way into an every down role.

 
Thx!

BTW, we just got DVR--can't wait for the NFL season to start and load that sucker up with games!!! Gonna practice tonight with the Denver-Chicago game.

 
bcr8f said:
They took him out on 3rd downs early in the game but when they left him in he did pretty well. He defleted one pass, on another he separated Michael Bennett from the pass when he slammed him to the ground.I think he'll play his way into an every down role.
Hmmm. What lb's were in? The articles I've read here seemed pretty sure he'd play every down.
 
he definetly was coming out in nickel situations early in the game like the other poster mentioned. in the nickel it seemed like a mixture of Mike Peterson/Coy Wire/Stephen nicolas platooning

 
#

Wed, Sep 2

LB Curtis Lofton has lowered his body fat and lost some weight in an attempt to improve his speed and quickness. He is set to play on all three downs. He came out in nickel situations last year.

(Yahoo! Sports)

 

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