The Falcons' Trade

I'm sure most Atlanta Falcons' fans know this by now, but Atlanta was involved in a three-team trade recently, trading halfback T.J. Duckett to Washington and getting wideout Ashley Lelie from Denver. I've read some mixed feelings on the trade. I, for one, like the outcome of the trade, but am confused on why Lelie is already being set at 3rd receiver behind Atlanta's first-round draft picks last year and the year before, Roddy White and Michael Jenkins. In all the reports I've read, it claims that Jenkins and White will be the 1 and 2 receivers (or 2 and 1). I understand this for early in the season, as the pre-season is either half or three-quarters over for most teams and quarterback Michael Vick has a greater feel and chemistry with White and Jenkins than the newcomer, Lelie.

Ashley Lelie is entering his 5th season, while Jenkins and White are entering their 3rd and 2nd. Lelie has scored 12 touchdowns in his four years at Denver, posting 3,007 yards on 168 catches (17.9 per catch). He's also a good size at 6'3''. Vick loves the taller receivers. His two favorite coming into this season were Alge Crumpler and Brian Finneran, but it was Finneran's unfortunate training camp injury that prompted the trade for Lelie. While Michael Jenkins was used little if at all in his rookie season, he finished with 508 receiving yards a year ago on 36 catches (14.1 average) with three touchdowns. Jenkins also stands in at a good size, 6'4''. Roddy White produced fairly well as a rookie last season, especially during the tail-end of the year, finishing with 29 catches for 446 yards (15.4 average) and 3 scores.

Like I noted, early on, I can understand why Lelie would be the number three receiver, but if Lelie ever lives up to the hype (he did for a year in Denver), he should have the opportunity for the 1 or 2 spot. The situation partially reminds me of one in San Diego (although, not nearly as bad). The Chargers just up and let go of Drew Brees, so that they could stick with their investment, in 1st-round pick Philip Rivers. Why not give the job to the guy that's producing the best of all three of them? Why just automatically go with the two draft picks? If Vick and Lelie click with one another, there's no reason why Lelie shouldn't get a starting job. I'm not saying it's going to happen. Perhaps Jenkins or White will excel this year. I'm just saying that Atlanta shouldn't rule Lelie out as a potential starter depending on how all three of them play. He's produced well in the past, has exceptional speed, is a major deep threat, and spreads the field to open holes in the running game and to aid Vick in the passing game. Either way, I think it was a needed trade for Atlanta and they have quality talent at their top three receiver positions.

P.S. Third round draft pick tailback Jerious Norwood is already looking like a steal for the Falcons and he fits much better into the Falcons offensive scheme. He's a north-south type runner with great speed and an extra gear that most players don't have. The trade also allows Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp to utilize him a bit more than what was originally anticipated at the start of the pre-season. While Duckett was usually solid in short yardage and goal line situations, he's not as good a fit to the Falcons offensive set-up and blocking scheme as are the likes of Warrick Dunn and now Norwood.