Oklahoma associate head coach Brent Venables was hoping junior linebacker Curtis Lofton would return for his final season with the Sooners.
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After what transpired at 5:57 p.m. local time Saturday, Venables is leaning more in the other direction.
The Atlanta Falcons chose Lofton with the 37th pick in the draft and made him the third linebacker selected overall.
Did Lofton make the right decision leaving one year early for the NFL?
"Absolutely,” Venables said with conviction Saturday night. "Strike while the iron is hot. It was a win-win for Curtis. I felt like he was at peace with leaving early.”
Leading up to the draft, Lofton had been told he'd be picked anywhere from No. 15 to No. 40.
"Nothing surprises you,” Venables said of the wide-range prediction for Lofton. "Just look at the draft today. There are countless examples of people being surprised. I felt sure just because of his productivity compared to other linebackers.”
Lofton's numbers last season with the Sooners were borderline ridiculous with 157 tackles (94 unassisted), first as a strong-side linebacker for 10 games and then as a middle linebacker for the final four contests. That's the most tackles at OU since George Cumby had 160 in 1979.
Lofton also had three interceptions and scored two touchdowns.
But put a stopwatch on Lofton and make him run in a straight line, and the wow factor dipped. It didn't plummet, but it did dip a tad.
Running a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine is pretty good — if you're a defensive lineman who starts each play with a one hand on the ground.
It's not a great time for an upright man in the middle expected to cover large chunks of territory.
The 6-foot Lofton also scared away some teams with his lack of height.
The Falcons obviously liked what they saw in Lofton, who was saved by his immeasurables.
"When it comes to the first round, getting drafted is often right off the measurables,” Venables said. "Right, wrong or indifferent, that's just what it is.”
Venables said Lofton's intangibles helped his cause.
"He'll be a terrific fit for them,” said Venables, who is OU's defensive coordinator. "Dependability, accountability and consistency. He's just a first-class individual that you would want in your locker room. He will take the utmost professional attitude to work every day. He has some real intangibles that not everybody possesses.
"That, combined with his productivity, makes him a slam dunk. He's that type of guy.”
Had the Falcons passed on Lofton, he likely would have ended up with the San Francisco 49ers, who had the No. 39 pick. The Niners' brass evidently was envisioning Lofton alongside 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis.
The Falcons franchise cleaned shop following the sudden departure of coach Bobby Petrino. New faces abound in the Falcons' offices.
Earlier in the week, Venables had lengthy conversations with Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and defensive coordinator Brain VanGorder.
Venables said the Falcons run a 4-3 defensive scheme that is similar to what the Sooners use.
"I think while watching film with them (the Falcons), Curtis was able to articulate things because of those defensive similarities, which really helped his cause, too,” Venables said.
The Falcons already have a pair of stout linebackers in Michael Boley and Keith Brooking.
"There's two veteran linebackers there, and I see them as great (players),” Lofton said during his telephone interview Saturday night with Atlanta media. "I'll try to get in there and learn as much as possible from them. I'm just excited to play with them.”
Asked where the Falcons want him, Lofton said: "They feel like I can play all three linebacker positions. I'm pretty confident in my ability. I think my tape stood right up there with anybody's. It's funny how things worked out, and I'm at the place where I'm supposed to be at. And I'm excited to play.”
Lofton's NFL quest has just begun. Who knows how much playing his senior season at OU might have helped?
But Venables is betting Lofton will make it.
"He's got a good grip on life,” Venables said. "Money won't poison him. That's what a lot of people fear. When you don't truly know a guy and what he's about, people get leery about that. That should be the least of your worries with him.
"He's just a good ol' Oklahoma boy who's trying to make you a good hand.”
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"Other than Lofton (whom many say is slow) I give the Falcons a D- in the draft,"...You may want to ask all the RB's Lofton tracked down last year if they think he is too slow...I think he will be solid IF he can stay away from the injuries that seem to plague about 90% of all former Sooners in the NFL...Congrats Curtis
Bad draft for Sooners, Lofitn goes to a team with veteran LBs, Kelly to a team with veteran pass catchers and is the 3rd one they drafted this year. They are going to have to prove themselves early.
Bad draft for Sooners, Lofitn goes to a team with veteran LBs, Kelly to a team with veteran pass catchers and is the 3rd one they drafted this year. They are going to have to prove themselves early.
Great to see a Sooner finally come here to ATL. But the Falcons are still gonna suck. How the hell u gonna pick Matt Ryan #3 ?! He's not a franchise QB. We have no O-Line or D-Line and mediocre WR's. Just shows that Vick was a 1 man team. We cOUldve gotten Dorsey (or even better, McFadden) and a better O-Linemen than we got. Other than Lofton (whom many say is slow) I give the Falcons a D- in the draft, but I hope they prove me wrong.
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