FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons continued to tinker with the pass defense Sunday morning by closing out their third-round of picks with California safety Thomas DeCoud (98th overall). The team selected LSU cornerback Chevis Jackson with the first of three third-round picks.
DeCoud has been described as an athletic pass defender with the quickness to play cornerback. He's also known for his skills on special teams.
Falcons coaches, including Head Coach Mike Smith, look for him to make an impact on special teams and play at either free or strong safety.
Despite his lean frame, he has also proven to be a solid tackler, relishing his role of taking on ball carriers on outside running plays.
"Thomas has been very productive as a special teams guy," General Manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "I think he had six blocked kicks over his last two seasons with the Cal Bears. He has free safety (and) strong safety ability. We feel he has a strong understanding of the defense and will continue to grow in our safety role here."
He played every position in the secondary at California.
"I've been hit by everybody on the team," Cal tailback Justin Forsett told the San Francisco Chronicle. "When Thomas hits you, it's not something you want to remember."
"I’m an aggressive safety," added DeCoud after he was drafted. "I like to hit and play up against the run. I am also very confident in my coverage skills and my ability to cover smaller and bigger receivers."
DeCoud took over free safety duties, starting the team's first four games ins 2006 before missing two games with a right knee sprain. He returned to action as a reserve making 45 tackles (20 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and three pass breakups.
As a senior, DeCoud was named the defensive captain, picking up Cal MVP and All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention. He started the first 12 games, registering a career-high 116 tackles (71 solo) to lead the Bears' defense. He added a sack with three stops for losses. He also had an interception and four pass deflections.
"I’ve been looking forward to coming to Atlanta ever since I visited the city and saw the facility," he said. "I really like the area and I really wanted to contribute to their program."
MORE ON SAFETY THOMAS DeCOUD:
- VIDEO: Highlights from AF.com
- AUDIO: DeCoud Combine interview
- NFL.com: Thomas DeCoud profile
- NEWS: Falcons focus on secondary, add hard-hitting safety | Quotes | Photos
- AF.com: Click here for complete NFL Draft coverage
