Falcons have verstile linebacker in Lofton

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/28/08

Flowery Branch — Curtis Lofton, the Falcons' second-round draft pick, is the heir apparent to Keith Brooking at middle linebacker.

"He's another guy that brings leadership to the program," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "He has athletic drive. He's rangy. He's going to sure up the inside."

Lofton, the 37th player taken in the NFL draft, played the strongside linebacker position for most of his career at Oklahoma. He was eventually moved to middle linebacker.

"After my visit, I talked with my linebacker coach and discovered that he'd talked to Thomas Dimitroff," Lofton said. "At first, I was a little unsure if they'd pick me, but overall, I think it was awesome."

Lofton has a reputation for stopping the run and can deliver big hits. He was projected to be a first-round selection before he ran a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash at February's NFL scouting combine. He improved to a 4.63 at Oklahoma's pro day on March 11.

"As a freshman, I came into Oklahoma as a middle linebacker and also played during my sophomore year," Lofton said. "They had a guy go down at the strong-side linebacker position and I was up for a job as a linebacker, so they switched me over.

"I started at that position for five games and it felt really good. At the start of my junior year, my linebacker coach moved me back to middle linebacker, and I've been there ever since."

The Falcons also could use Lofton to backup Michael Boley at strongside linebacker.

"I feel comfortable anywhere," Lofton said. "I definitely feel comfortable playing the middle position, but I also feel comfortable playing outside, too."

Lofton fits the mold of players the Falcons are attempting to amass.

"Our plan all along has been to add tough, physical football players," Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

The Falcons got a good recommendation from Lofton's coach.

"Bob Stoops, the head coach there at Oklahoma, stated that he's probably the best linebacker that has come out of that program and they've had some great linebackers through the years there at the University of Oklahoma," Smith said.

Lofton, the Big 12 defensive player of year, entered the draft after his junior season.

Last season, he averaged 11.2 tackles per game to ranked seventh in nation. He also had a sack, 10.5 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.

His 157 total tackles were the most by an Oklahoma player since George Cumby had 160 tackles in 1979. Lofton started 19 games for the Sooners, and played in 39.

Lofton was the second linebacker taken in the draft. Cincinnati selected Southern California's Keith Rivers with the ninth overall pick.

glad to hear he can play 2 LB positions and knows how to play each posistion.

This guy Lofton has been described (by an outside source) as a pure tackling machine.
His measure ables might not have been the best but the film on him reveals he is a badazz.

In the tradition of Nobis, Tuggle and Brooking.
Do have ourselves a LB player in the making? fgtb76

I compared him to Tuggle before he was drafted. I told my friend during the first round (before we trade up for Baker)..."We have three picks left today. Who's someone I like? I really like Curtis Lofton but I don't think we'll draft him." We did and I couldn't be happier, he was one of my favorite second round prospects. Baker was too, for that matter, and I don't feel he was a reach at all since there was a run on tackles. At the time the only two good offensive tackles left that could potentially play well on the left side were Baker and Brown, both of which went in the 1st.

that would be awesome, i'm really lookin forward to him starting after next year, cuase i think this is brooking's last year.

Oh yeah, Brook gonna groom this boy. :D
The way Tuggle groomed him. 7i87,m7t8

lets hope so........hopefully brookin doesn't teach the kid on how to pull off your teamate from tackling like he did to lewis sanders against the saints this year.

Was that in the Petrino (I quit) game or the 1st one? :huh:
At any rate, I`m anxious to see the kid play.

the first one when reggie bush got his lame ass TD. Brooking just pulled sanders off of bush allowing him to put up 6.