With Lawyer Milloy off looking for a new team at 35, the Falcons are set to re-vamp their secondary. They were at the combine, and it was a known secret that they were snooping around the safety and cornerback groups.
But Milloy provided leadership and helped to hold together a young and leaky secondary. He was ticked at times about his money because he took a University of Washington-homeboy discount to play for former coach Jim Mora.
He also thought the Falcons were Super Bowl contenders coming off of their trip to the NFC title game after the 2005 season. But we don't have to recount what all transpired from Mora getting fire, Michael Vick going to jail and the Bobby Petrino experience.
Milloy and free safety Erik Coleman served as the last line of defense for the Falcons in 2008. Coleman led the team in solo tackles with 82 and Milloy was third with 76. They were second (127) and third (117) in overall tackles behind weakside linebacker Keith Brooking (133).
Milloy had a role in two Arizona touchdown plays in the Falcons' 30-24 wildcard playoff loss to the Cardinals. He made some missteps on Anquan Boldin's 71-yard touchdown catch and came up too fast on a flea-flicker touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald.
In an attempt to replace Milloy, the Falcons were busy interviewing some of the top safeties at the NFL scouting combine. They interviewed Alabama's Rashad Johnson and Missouri's William Moore. They also are scouting Western Michigan's Louis Delmas closely.
"I sat down with the defensive backs coach," Johnson said. "We went through some defenses. I showed him some things. He was really impressed with the details and the terminology that I used."
Moore also enjoyed his interview with the Falcons.
"They seemed very interested," Moore said. "They are a great football team. I can tell that's the missing piece to their football team. That kept them from the Super Bowl."
Johnson is especially attractive because he played in a pro style defense under Nick Saban.
"His system is very complicated, but at the same time when you learn it and get the details of it, that helps you in becoming a play maker," Johnson said. "You make the calls out there on the field. You put yourself in what you think is the best possible coverage to play."
