Atlanta Falcons All-Falcons Poll: Free Safety
By Dustin Black
Sep 25, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons free safety Thomas DeCoud (28) intercepts a Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman (5) pass intended for tight end Kellen Winslow (82) during a game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Fernando Medina-USA TODAY Sports
Well here is yet another poll series where you as the fan can pick which player is your favorite player at each and every position on offense and defense. The basics are as follows:
Each position will have its own set of parameters for a player to make it onto the list, each poll will be accompanied by a chart that shows each players statistics compared to their peers to illustrate why they qualify for the poll and for the readers base of knowledge, the defensive scheme will be a 4-3 (2 CB’s, 1 FS, 1 SS, 2 OLB’s, 1 MLB, 2 DE’s, 2 DT’s), the offensive scheme will be the I-formation (1 RB, 1 FB, 1 QB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 2 T, 2 G, 1 C). The end of the series will be either a chart on who plays each position and a poll to see how well you think it came out. This paragraph will precede each poll for reference.
This poll will deal with the free safety position. I would like to start by stating that some players will overlap from one poll to another because out of fairness they do fit the parameters of set forth for both positions.
In the case of a player winning both positions I will use the position that gets the most votes, and the remaining position will go off of the second or third place finisher. Now after some research the parameters for the free safety position are:
The player had to play on the team for AT LEAST 3 consecutive seasons, they have had to record 10 career interceptions , and lastly the player DID NOT have to begin or end their career with the Falcons. So there are the parameters for the free safety position. Let’s see who we have ad how they stack up (All statistics brought to you by pro-football-reference.com.):
| Name | # of Years in League | # of Years on Team | Career INT’s | Career FR’s |
| Ray Brown | 10 | 7 (’71-’77) | 38 | 7 |
| Thomas DeCoud | 5 | 5 (’08-Present) | 14 | 2 |
| Scott Case | 12 | 11 (’84-’94) | 30 | 7 |
| Ray Easterling | 8 | 8 (’72-’79) | 13 | 6 |
| Tom Pridemore | 8 | 8 (’78-’85) | 21 | 13 |
So now that you have all of the information let’s see what the fans opinion is for the free safety position. Pick 1 of the 5 options and if you have the time tell us your thoughts on this series of articles, the list of players so far, or anything else you feel is comment worthy.