LB Mike Peterson signed by Atlanta Falcons (1 Viewer)

[Fighting Noles]

Per Rotoworld & NFL.Com - A 3 year deal.

Rotoworld also "speculates" that he'll play WLB (taking Brookings' spot), Lofton will stay @ MLB, & Nicholas/Wire will battle it out for SLB. Thoughts from anybody else on this? Coach Smith does know Peterson from his days as DC @ Jax....

 

[kethnaab]

what does this do for Lofton? help/hurt/neutral vs. having Brookings over there?

 

[Bob Magaw]

Rotoworld also "speculates" that he'll play WLB (taking Brookings' spot), Lofton will stay @ MLB...

that was my first thought... can't see him displacing lofton, & while he has demonstrable, proven positional versatility, he is a natural WLB... peterson was a WLB in IND (& i think in college), prior to making the conversion to MLB in JAX, where he did acquit himself well before getting bit by the injury bug in recent years... he has likely lost a half step since his IND WLB days (but imo no more), though is probably a half step faster than brooking...if peterson can stay healthy, he could have upside & be a very pleasant surprise...there must be lots worse places & situations he could have landed in, for peterson owners... should be interesting to see the terms of the three year deal, how much guaranteed money, can he easily be discarded after a year?as noles alluded to, can't hurt that HC smith worked with peterson when he was at his best for the jags... he knows how to use him, what his strengths are, etc...

 

[Jene Bramel]

Peterson won't take over for Lofton in the middle.

I think Nicholas is probably better suited to the strong side than Peterson, though the Falcons could use some right-left alignments (as Mike Smith did in Jacksonville at times). Nicholas has the trust of the current coaching staff in coverage and nickel packages, which also makes the left side a little more likely for him. It'll be interesting to see who gets entrusted with the every-down role. It could turn into a three headed OLB rotation again, with Wire and Peterson on base defensive downs and Nicholas in the nickel.

No official comment from the team yet.

 

[BearsFan]

It'll be interesting to see who gets entrusted with the every-down role.

You mean on the OLB spots, right Jene?Lofton still looking like 3-down?

 

[Jene Bramel]

It'll be interesting to see who gets entrusted with the every-down role.

You mean on the OLB spots, right Jene?Lofton still looking like 3-down?

I think so, yes.