The promising second-year player is poised to assume the

role of starting corner."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Isaiah Oliver will start at cornerback in 2019 Youth Calvin Ridley Jersey , and that’s a good thing for the FalconsNew,58commentsThe promising second-year player is poised to assume the role of starting corner.EDTShareTweetShareShareIsaiah Oliver will start at cornerback in 2019, and that’s a good thing for the FalconsBob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsIsaiah Oliver will be a starting cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons in 2019. If it wasn’t obvious where the team was leaning when Robert Alford was released, Dan Quinn made it official this week with his comments to the mothership’s Kelsey Conway during the 2019 NFL Annual Meeting:“Yes,” Quinn responded, when asked if Isaiah Oliver would be the Falcons’ starting second outside corner in 2019. Quinn continued:Isaiah Oliver was a fringe first round prospect heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, and was widely heralded as a second round steal for the Atlanta Falcons at pick 58. We were still rubbing our eyes, digesting, and interpreting the selection of wide receiver Calvin Ridley when he landed in the Falcons’ lap — the big, long corner out of Colorado was Atlanta-bound. That pick would prove pivotal and signal a shake-up in the secondary going forward, leading to the eventual release of stalwart defensive back Robert Alford after six seasons. The reins are now firmly in the hands of Isaiah Oliver, and with his performance in 2018 there’s definitely reason to be optimistic of that reality. With a 6-foot frame and 33 ½ inch arms accompanied by 4.5 speed, Oliver has the length and legs that will make him a true asset in Atlanta going forward. As evidenced by his increased playing time in the final four games of the 2018 season, the Falcons are high on their second-rounder — as they should be. Over those final four games Isaiah Oliver averaged a PFF defensive grade of 69.2 (nice), including a coverage grade of 68.85, and a tackling grade of 63.1. For a full perspective of his rookie production, in 183 coverage snaps Oliver graded out at 70 on defense, 69.6 in coverage (nice) Stitched Alex Mack Jersey , and 77.6 tackling. For comparison, with 600 coverage snaps in 2018, Robert Alford landed at 56.6 on defense, 53.1 in coverage, and 62.8 tackling. It’s obviously a small sample size from Isaiah Oliver at the NFL level, but with his late-season showing the Falcons deemed Alford and his salary expendable.So why should you be comfortable with Oliver on the outside opposite Desmond Trufant? Because he’s the big, physical corner that Dan Quinn has wanted on this team since Jalen Collins shot himself in the spikes multiple times. His college tape is jam-packed with highlights that make him such an enticing starter. He defended 25 passes in his three years at Colorado, putting his timing and hands on full display. When targeted over those four games at the end of his first NFL season, he tallied an average of 26 yards allowed per game with 50 combined snaps. Sure there were some ugly moments (as with all rookie campaigns), but Isaiah Oliver established his value with increased snaps toward the end of the season. That made Robert Alford a cut candidate — and eventual cut recipient — and Oliver the heir-apparent to the CB2 spot on Atlanta’s defense. With Coach Dan Quinn’s comments this week, all thoughts of selecting a cornerback in the first round should be tossed in the nearest garbage can. The Atlanta Falcons are entering the 2019 with second round draft pick Isaiah Oliver as a starting corner, and with his limited snaps at the NFL paired with his college production, it’s something you should be excited about. The time has come at last: my first scouting report of the 2019 NFL Draft class is finally here! Falcons fans voted, and the DT position won by a narrow margin over EDGE.If you’ve been following my NFL draft takes closely, you should’ve already known who I’d scout first. As the creator of the #FallOverForOliver movement, I’m happy to reveal my scouting report for the incredibly talented Houston DT, Ed Oliver. Read on for an in-depth look at Oliver’s strengths, weaknesses Youth Alex Mack Jersey , and an analysis of his fit with the Falcons.Scouting Report: DT Ed Oliver, HoustonSize: 6’2, 2802018 Stats: 54 total tackles, 29 solo tackles, 14.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 2 FF, 2 PDGames Watched: Navy (2018), Texas Tech (2018), Rice (2018), Navy (2017), Memphis (2017)StrengthsExplosive burst off the line of scrimmageExpert at shooting gaps, makes his living in the opponent’s backfieldImpressive strength—rarely pushed backExcellent understanding and usage of leverageActive hand fighter, understands how to disengage from blocksElite foot quickness and change of direction abilityHigh motor, tenacious in pursuitFerocious tackler, hits with physicalityPlayed at both 1T and 3T at Houston, even lined up occasionally as a 5T DE in 3-4 packagesLots of experience working against double and even triple teamsHeads-up player in the passing game, multiple batted passes in each seasonWeaknessesSize concerns due to low weight and average lengthHad a down year in production in 2018 Stitched Vic Beasley Jersey , missed several games with a knee injuryAggressive, penetrating style leads to missed opportunitiesToo often bites on play fakes and takes himself out of the playLimited repertoire of pass rushing counters, still has room to grow in his techniqueGrade: 1* (elite, top-5 prospect)AnalysisEd Oliver is an elite DT prospect at the NFL level. He’s an ideal fit at 3T in a 4-3 defense, though he’s got the potential to be moved around—particularly in a scheme like the Falcons use. His movement skills, deep understanding of leverage, and impressive strength make him a 3-down player that can excel against both the run and pass—despite concerns about him being “undersized”.It’s not often that you find a player of this size with Oliver’s level of lateral mobility. Even his long speed is impressive—there were times on tape that I saw him running downfield and mistook him for a LB. He’s an elite athlete in every sense of the word—explosive off the snap, incredibly quick with his feet, and downright dominant with his physicality. In short, there is no reason whatsoever that Oliver should be anything less than a top-5 pick.I’ve picked out a few plays from the tape that show off some of Oliver’s talents. Below, you’ll see Oliver split a double-team block and impact the RB with such force that he bowls the RB and the QB over.On the next play, you’ll see Oliver one-on-one with the right guard on a pass rush rep. The guard actually does pretty well at first, keeping Oliver outside the pocket and giving the QB a lane to step up into. Then, in the blink of an eye, Oliver disengages from the guard, resets his feet, and drives on the QB for a sack. The fluidity with which Oliver made this play is amazing.This final play shows off Oliver’s ability against the run. Oliver gets a rare one-on-one opportunity against the center, and sheds him almost immediately on his path to the backfield. He breaks through just as the RB gets a half-step behind him Youth Vic Beasley Jersey , but Oliver is able to flip his body around and seal the tackle-for-loss from behind with excellent physicality.I understand that fans have soured on “undersized” defensive linemen because of a bad experience with Vic Beasley. Those same fans—and NFL teams as a whole—would be foolish to overlook Oliver because of size. Oliver has consistently demonstrated his ability to hold up against the run on film—even against double and sometimes even triple teams. That’s because he has an advanced understanding of leverage and possesses elite strength for a player of his stature. Both of those characteristics tell me that Oliver is a hard-worker—in the film room and in the weight room.It’s possible that Oliver could add more good weight to his frame, but I’m not sure it’s needed. His special attributes are his movement skills, and the added weight might take away from them somewhat. In terms of his other weaknesses, I don’t see anything that can’t be corrected. Oliver is an aggressive gap penetrator, and that led to some missed opportunities and cutback lanes for opponents. His style also led to him biting on a lot of fakes. Both of those things are easily fixed with more coaching.Oliver still has room to grow as a pass rusher. While he’s an active hand fighter, he doesn’t have many counter moves yet. He’ll need to develop some if he wants to consistently beat NFL offensive linemen. Still, Oliver’s natural physical gifts are plenty good enough to start from Day 1 in the NFL and make a significant impact. Plus, playing next to Grady Jarrett on the interior will give him an abundance of one-on-one opportunities that he rarely had in college.One more thing while we’re here: Oliver and Jarrett can absolutely play together at the same time. If you think otherwise, you really haven’t been paying attention. First of all, Jarrett played 1T to begin his career in Atlanta and was very good at it. Second of all, Oliver also played a good deal of 1T at Houston and was pretty good as well. Neither are “prototypical” run-stuffing NTs, but that isn’t a big deal for a 4-3 team. Third, the Falcons regularly used two DTs—both lined up at 3T—in their pass rushing sets, particularly when they had Adrian Clayborn.There is no reason that Oliver and Jarrett can’t coexist. In fact, they should be an excellent pairing for years to come. They are both elite penetrating defensive linemen that can absolutely hold their own against the run. That’s what Quinn covets—far more than he covets big behemoths in the middle of the line. If the Falcons wind up getting Oliver, it wouldn’t be all that difficult (or expensive) to sign a run-stuffing NT in free agency.What say you, Falcons fans? What are your thoughts on the Falcons potentially getting Ed Oliver in the 2019 NFL Draft?