The TD Show takes combine by storm
Falcons general manager was a big hit during his media session at the NFL scouting combine.
He touched on several topics from the Falcons not being major players in free agency to what he looks for at the safety position.
Dimitroff and his staff are on a mission to find the next Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed.
Let’s wish him good luck on that because if he’s successful that would extremely fun to watch on Sundays.
Here’s the best of “The TD Show” at combine:”
ON MOVING FORWARD AFTER LAST SEASON: “We were encouraged by our 2008 season in Atlanta. We are fired up about moving forward and going on into (2009). We have a lot of work to do. A lot of roster calibration to do. We’re excited about it. We have a number of free agents right. We have 13 that we are trying to decide on. We are still in the process of that.”
HOW HE PLANS TO FOLLOW-UP LAST SEASON’S SUCCESSFUL DRAFT: “Last year, it was no surprise, we spent a lot of time and a lot of money in the draft and free agency on our offense. Obviously, we’ll be focusing on both sides of the ball with an emphasis on defense as well. . . we will definitely try to build through the draft and be mindful of free agency to supplement. . . Our focus is not to be a major player in free agency, but to be focused on this process here and try to get young and energetic, fiery football players that we can continue to build with.”
FALCONS ARE NEEDS BASED DRAFT TEAM (Not best player available): “In the very end, we have a system-specific scouting system. We are needs based. So we will make sure that we focus on the players that we feel will help us to continue to build. . . but I want to make sure that we continue to get speed and urgency on this team.”
HOW SMITTY WON THE LOCKER ROOM: “Mike came into our situation in Atlanta, following up a very tumultuous situation in 2007 season. His stance, again, was very, very real in that circumstance. He’s about being real. He’s about selling it straight to the players and they really appreciate that. He doesn’t like to posture any which way. They know he’s the head coach. He’s very fiery when he needs to be, but he also knows when to pat them on the back.”
ON EVALUATING TIGHT ENDS WHO PLAY IN SPREAD OFFENSES: “This is a good tight end draft. I think you get a chance to see certain players like (Missouri’s) Chase Coffman. He’s a very accomplished receiver. With his abilities you have to project him inside. . . For instance, we have tend to project a little bit to determine if he has the whole operation and control as far as blocking and pass reception.” (ASIDE from “THE TD SHOW”: Our old pal Jim Mora, Seattle’s new head coach said that spread tight ends are offering teams practice film that shows that they can block.)
ON STAFFORD AND MORENO: “They are not in need areas for us. We’ve had the opportunity to see them quite a bit. Not to get into a whole bunch of specifics about players. I don’t want to give you my scouting report necessarily, but I think those two guys are going to make a lot of money. Obviously, (owner) Mr. (Arthur) Blank is happy that we are not picking in the top five.”
ON REBUILDING THE DEFENSE: “There are some nice defensive tackles in this draft. . . It’s nice to be in the 20s, to be honest with you to acquire players of that caliber that will allow us to continue grow and learn.”
ON QB PAT WHITE AND THE WILDCAT OFFENSE: “Obviously, Pat White is an incredible athlete. I think the Wildcat situation is something that a lot of us are trying to figure out what’s the best way to defend it and as well as use it. I think Mike Mularkey has a very good understanding of that as well. I think it will continue to bring players to the forefront that are a little bit of that slashability, where they can also toss the ball. That’s also important as well.
“If you can get that runner who can run as well as be a receiver . . . versatility in this league is huge at any position. But when you get a receiver slash skill position guy, who has the versatility to run it out of the backfield, to me that adds a whole different dimension.”
ON BROOKING: (DOL’s intreptation: Falcons want him back, but looks like they aren’t ready to break the bank to keep him. Also, Brooking could face a challenge for his starting spot.)
BACK to The TD Show: “We are in the process now of having discussions with his representatives. Part of this process here is determining what is out here in the draft. What are the possibilities verses what we have. We have not made that final decision yet. That is part of the reason why we are here to determine if we are going to go forward with some of our players.
“To be quite honest with you, with Keith he has to decide what’s best for him. (Translation: We’re not showering him with loot.) We’d like to have him back, but he has to decide what’s best for him in free agency.”
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86 comments Add your comment
SeminoleWarrior
February 22nd, 2009
5:51 pm
Falcon 4 ever: Our Birds should let Norwood be the fulltime kick returner as he will never be a fulltime back. Snelling offers more power, better blocking skills, and is an impressive receiver as well. His (Snelling) is the one that should be sharing more time as the alternate power back when MT is not in the game.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 22nd, 2009
5:56 pm
WHO’S MISSING FROM THE LIST OF TOP 10, 40 TIMES FOR RUNNING BACKS?
Name Time
Peerman, Cedric 4.45
Johnson, Ian 4.46
Sheets, Kory 4.47
Brown, Andre 4.49
Brown, Donald 4.51
Williams, Javarris 4.52
Goodson, Mike 4.54
Scott, Bernard 4.56
Coffee, Glen 4.58
Lucky, Marlon 4.59
Wells, Beanie 4.59
SOUTH COBB HIGH’S KENNY McKINLEY (South Carolina) HAS TOP 10, WIDE RECEIVER TIME:
Heyward-Bey, Darrius 4.30
Wallace, Mike 4.33
Knox, Johnny 4.34
Butler, Deon 4.38
Thomas, Mike 4.40
Underwood, Tiquan 4.41
Harvin, Percy 4.41
Byrd, Demetrius 4.42
Murphy, Louis 4.43
McKinley, Kenny 4.44
TOP 10, QUARTERBACK 40-YARD DASH TIMES:
Name Time
McGee, Stephen 4.66
Bomar, Rhett 4.82
Boltus, Jason 4.83
Wilson, John Parker 4.87
Daniel, Chase 4.92
Reilly, Mike 4.92
Brandstater, Tom 4.95
Freeman, Josh 4.97
PRIORITIES ON DEFENSE: I think you have to go SAFETY with the Falcons parting ways with Milloy. Then LB and DT.
Sage of Bluesland
February 22nd, 2009
5:57 pm
What do you expect, Redbird, truth and honesty from the AJC?! Keep looking! Nothing but emotional drivel of our precious Hometown Hero when it comes to Brooking…
(At least the writer is getting his NAME correct these days! Impressive progress, Darrell! My expectations are pretty low of the AJC clowns, but that was a new one to me…)
Supes
February 22nd, 2009
6:27 pm
If Milloy is let go, and Brooking is resigned, TD will lose all credibility.You can argue that Milloy was actually the one veteran player who should have been brought back, not Brooking!
KB better be playing for someone else in 2009.
Todd McShay ripping KM for his slow 40 time…please when are people going to STOP paying attention to those meaningless stats. If you are a FOOTBALL player, that should be enough. Looking pretty in shorts and running fast IS NOT what being in the NFL is all about.
Hoping that Moreno goes to the Broncos and proves everyone wrong who is doubting him b/c of his slow time that he ran at the combine.
Stirg d'Nahsif
February 22nd, 2009
8:02 pm
D.O.Led…
With your ranking the Falcons priorities on defense (S,LB,DT), who do YOU like in the draft to fill those positions? Who do You like in free agency?
Big Ray
February 22nd, 2009
9:35 pm
Ken,
That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking. A lot of maneuvering and mind-game playing goes on behind the scenes, and not just in football. When a team wants to use the “unofficial” methods to secure a player, a lot of times you see a guy not working out as much as you think he should…
I have plenty of faith in Dimitroff. Not worried a bit…
Ken Strickland
February 22nd, 2009
9:38 pm
ORLANDO LEDBETTER-thanks for addressing my question about DEF priorities. After asking the question, I discovered Malloy wouldn’t be back. That assured me that SS would be our top priority, especially since Fudge, Malloy’s primary backup, is also a FA. Malloy and Brooking were the leaders on DEF. And knowing Malloy wanted to leave, and since both starting OLB’s are FA, they decided it would be prudent to try and resign Brooking, which makes since to anyone with any football sense. The return of DT Trey Lewis, and with Babineaux firmly establish as the starting RT, the DT position wouldn’t be as high on the priority list.
It’s my opinion we’ll select SS Moore from Alabama with our #24 pick, if he’s available. He played under HC NSaban, which means he’s probably more familiar with playing SS in a pro style DEF than the other SS’s. Also, being an Alabama player could have a positive impact on attendance.
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
February 22nd, 2009
11:12 pm
Madame President Charean Williams (President of the Pro Football Writers of America, D. Led is 2nd Vice President) of the Fort Worth Star Telegram is reporting that Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno, the top rated back in the draft, ran a hand-held time of 4.53, which was at least a 4.60 electronic time. That would have landed him just outside the top ten. The NFL only releases the top 10 times. Moreno is training in McKinney, Texas at the Michael Johnson Performance Center. He was on Charean’s plane — in first class — on the way back to Dallas and complained of the slow track at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The slow run should not hurt Moreno much. Minnesota Vikings RB coach Eric Bienemy sent me a text on Moreno. “Overall, he had a very good workout!” E.B. wrote.
I’m down for a while. Got to get some sleep. Headed back the ATL in the morning. Will drop by tomorrow. Will try to blog on the Climbers and Sliders after the combine is over on Tuesday.
KEN STRICKLAND: Moore is from Missouri. Rashad Johnson is the Alabama safety.
SdN: Safety and LB are depth positions in the draft. The good DTs — Raji and Perry — will be gone with the Birds pick in 1st round. So that means they may have to get a DT in Free Agency or just roll with Babs, Trey Lewis, Jamaal Anderson and Kindal Moorehead. Jason Jefferson could be brought back, too.
Wildebeast
February 23rd, 2009
12:27 am
WOW! What incredible coverage of the Scouting Combine by the AJC. I could have got more information living on Mars!
KrisG
February 23rd, 2009
7:30 am
Birdy… since when is Keith Brooking a smart guy? The reason I’m so done with him is that he makes dumb decisions 12 years into the league. His physical skill is gone, and he was never all that bright.
KrisG
February 23rd, 2009
7:40 am
crabapplejoe: “God help you if the Falcons do resign KB56! Never have I seen so much hatred and vitriol directed at one player”… you have GOT to be kidding me… I just they’re just getting the internet in certain parts of Georgia.
Harry
February 23rd, 2009
1:23 pm
Peter King says in his column today that it’s no wonder that Milloy was cut. Says he was a real pain the a– in the locker room. Ledbetter- knowing how you like to be buddies with players (i.e. MeAngelo), what’s your assessment of Milloy?
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
1:26 pm
Wildebeast: Don’t know where you’ve been. Trying to diss our coverage. We broke three national stories from the: Falcons not interested in Haynesworth, Mayock thinks Michael Johnson is a stiff and the Lawyer Milloy want be back story. You got Stafford and Knowshon updates and notes every day.
Also, we brought back profiles of 300 players, execs and coaches that will add our draft coverage immensely.
GLAD YOU’RE NOT MY BOSS!!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
HARRY: You’re tripping!!! That’s not even close to my rep. I’m not buddies with the players. I cover them hard, shot them straight and remain fair and objective. Milloy was fine with the media. Even after his DUI. He was a pain to management because the kicker was making more money than him. But when we’d ask him about it, he wouldn’t talk about it. So he wasn’t a pain to me. DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THAT FROM. Sucking up to players has never been my M.O. even from days with the Packers and Bengals. Just ask Seth Joyner who threaten to throw me into a trash can, head first in Green Bay.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
1:30 pm
shoot
Sage of Bluesland
February 23rd, 2009
1:57 pm
“…threaten [sic]…”
You ARE improving, Darrell…If only I had known how easy it would be to be an AJC writer…
Reno 911
February 23rd, 2009
2:32 pm
Just watching some of the USC OLB’s work out on NFL Net: Cushing doesn’t look as good as I’d thought he would in the drills. To be honest, Clay Matthews and Kaluka Maiava looked more natural, and if I didn’t know what order conventional wisdom had them in, and just watched them work at the drills, I’d rank them Matthews, Maiava, Cushing. Of course, how players work in shorts and tshirts really doesnt matter much, but just a thought that Matthews and Maiava may be great values if either one of them lasts until the Falcons’ second round pick. The way Matthews looks, though, I’d doubt he makes it that far. He may be working into the late first, early second.
Stirg d'Nahsif
February 23rd, 2009
3:52 pm
What’s going on D.O.?
I finally finished the garage. Thanks; the laptop idea helped.
I talked with TD (the dog) today and asked for his opinion on safety or linebacker (We were watching the combine). I told him to bark when a player catches his eye. True enough, he went crazy when J. Cook was on screen. He was barking like a guest on the Arsenio Hall Show.
Question. Do the Falcons spend their number one pick on a player whose position is of least priority to the team, simply because they slipped down to the 24th spot, e.g. J. Cook or A. Smith? If other needed positions are still on the board, do You think the Falcons will draft on need (at least for the first round) as opposed to the best player on the board?
Harry
February 23rd, 2009
4:23 pm
DOL: go read Peter King’s column today. He reports that Lawyer was a “yapper” in the locker room and didn’t fit with Smitty’s team first attitude. I’m more interested in how Lawyer was perceived by teammates (as opposed to you). Weren’t you in the back seat of DeAngelo’s car when he and Moron Jr. ditched the Team movie?
Birdy
February 23rd, 2009
5:44 pm
Why did the Falcons players vote Lawdog Milloy team captain and yet management decided he was expendable?
Furthermore, why did teammates NOT elect the Hometown Hero Keith 3:16 to be team captain? And why has management not severed ties to Keith 3:16?
Kris, when I deemed Brooking “smart” I meant only in the sense he knows how to play the Falcons management like drums. He has mastered the craft.
D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER: Brooking was due a $1 million roster bonus today. Did he receive it and/or an extension? What is the word on his negotiations?
darrell starks
February 23rd, 2009
5:47 pm
Some time we get caught up in the combine, and we have to look beyound that LETS TAKE A LOOK at history JEERY RICE THE GREATEST RECIVER to play the game ran 4.7 in the 40, joe montana THE GREATEST QUARTERBACK TO EVER PLAY the game couldnt even throw more than 50 yards, RAY LEWIS GREATEST LB EVER RAN 4.8 IN THE 40 SO SOMETIME WE CANT get caught up with the hipe on what they do.GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reno 911
February 23rd, 2009
5:56 pm
I tend to get caught up in the hipe. Especially with great players like Jeery Rice. He was a great reciver.
Sage of Bluesland
February 23rd, 2009
6:31 pm
Reno–LOL…Now you’re spelling like Darrell here…
Darrell: I agree with Birdy’s request–Can you get your lips off of our precious Tankler’s backside long enough to find out what the status of the contractual negotiations are?
It would be nice to know, as she was due a bonus today.
crabapplejoe
February 23rd, 2009
10:18 pm
@SageofBluesland: Wow, you really know how to shut down a thread with your intelligence, tact and insight. I hope these traits are not necessary skills in your job description. What do you think about the combine performances of LBs Cushing and Matthews? How are you dealing with the dumping of our defensive “leader” Milloy?
Ken Strickland
February 23rd, 2009
10:23 pm
Has anyone heard anything about the status of LB MBoley and any possible contract talks with the Falcons? Resigning he and Brooking would make it a lot easier to address our SS, DT and TE needs in the earlier rds. With them signed, we would only have a definite need for a starting SS, and maybe a TE. DT Trey Lewis was scheduled to be a starter until he reinjured his knee. GJackson was signed to replace him, so his return is like signing a FA. A simular injury to CB VHutchins caused us to trade for CB DFoxworthy. So his return will also be like signing a FA.
Also, resigning Brooking and Boley allows us to retain the experience and leadership they provided, although Brooking might be replaced as a starter by SNichols. It would allow us to draft a highly rated SS with our 1st pick and a DT and TE with our 2nd and 3rd rd picks. For the rest of the draft, we go for depth.
crabapplejoe
February 23rd, 2009
10:46 pm
@Ken Strickland: I would agree that, at this point, trying to resign Boley is a good idea. His 2008 season probably killed his FA chances of a big contract but he did play well in 2007. He’s not my favorite…but bringing both he and Brooking back allows us to focus on SS and DL and that’s where the focus needs to be.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
10:56 pm
SAAAGE Of BlewLand: You’re a hoot. The last year of the contract was void because he played more than 35 percent of the snaps. So he wasn’t due anything today. We were misreading the KonTRAct. Got the clarifications later. Team has him on his list of free agents. As far as getting an update on his plight. I just sent in the story (KB’s headed to FA according to my man Pat Dye Jr. One more thing, Dude, I’m a LEGEND N Dis GAME. Do some homewerk and quit trying to clown folks. Just google D. Orlando and Legend.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
11:00 pm
HARRY: Peter King is MY Man! (We overlapped in Cincinnati before he left to cover the New York Football Giants for Newsday. I was the “young guy” on the staff. We had a baseball team together in our office fantasy league. Super guy and Hall of Famer. We chatted at the combine during Stafford’s session. He noticed a few gray hairs and said “You can’t be gray, you’re the young guy.” I told him “not anymore.”)
HOWEVER, I’ve got to disagree with that seeing as how I was in the locker room every day and Peter I think came by for a few days this season. But somebody is telling him that. Smitty kept Lawyer around last year because he needed a vet in the DB room. He was voted Team Captain by his TEAMMATES. As I stated previously, there was one issue, $$$$$. But he signed the contract. He didn’t like that the kicker made more loot than him.
You’ve got the wrong guy. D. Led is a man of the PEOPLE!!! WOULD NOT be caught dead in D. Hall’s Bentley with Coach Jimmy. TAKE IT BACK!!! Now if he had a Purple and Gold pickup truck . . .
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 23rd, 2009
11:04 pm
BROOKING UPDATE:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2009/02/23/falcons_keith_brooking.html
LOOKS LIKE CHUCK BARKLEY is headed to jail. Wonder if this will hinder his chances of becoming Gov. of Alabama?
Ronnie
February 23rd, 2009
11:22 pm
DOL, oh that’s fantastic news about the Falcons nudging Brooking toward free agency. Nice reporting.
I hope Brooking signs with a team on our 2009 schedule. Dimitroff, stick to your guns, and lock the door once he’s gone!
Supes
February 23rd, 2009
11:25 pm
Good news that Brooking and the Falcons are “apart” on terms of a potential contract. I hope they “don’t meet his demands” and he goes elsewhere to make tackles 10 yards down the field.
Redbird
February 23rd, 2009
11:37 pm
Hit the market Keith and see what this organization has failed to see(or turned a blind eye too because you read for kids) for the past 3 years….you are a fraud.
crabapplejoe
February 23rd, 2009
11:58 pm
Supes wrote: “I hope they “don’t meet his demands” and he goes elsewhere to make tackles 10 yards down the field.” Damn, Supes, you didn’t get the new “memo”….all of KB56’s tackles are now officially “15 yards downfield”…you can go to NFL.com where they have a special section for “fans” guessing just how far downfield KB’s tackles are….its easier than going with real stats…see above. You see, in the old days, before there was Brooking, we just registered tackles, sacks, etc. Only with the advent of KB did we start the new NFL stat of “how far down the field” the tackle was made. I go to Ravens.com and Bears.com and there is this consistent diatribe about how far downfield their LBs are making takles….nobody ever asks where the other 10 defenders were…..ROTFLMAO
Ken Strickland
February 24th, 2009
1:59 pm
ORLANDO LEDBETTER-Politically speaking, there’s a lot of backward thinking going on in Alabama, as is elsewhere. Considering some of the corrupt governors Alabamians have elected, that should have been sent to jail, CBarkley wouldn’t be out of place. I spent some time there during the presidential election and all I heard from the Republican candidates was the use of the word “LIBERAL” and the phrase “THEY DON’T SHARE OUR CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN VALUES”, and we can all figure out what that means.
Looks like we’ll have to replace our staring SS and both starting OLB’s, unless Boley is resigned. Drafting 2 starting OLB’s and a starting SS will be highly unlikely. Therefore, we’ll probably get a starting LB through FA and promote Nicholas. That will allow us to draft a starting SS and TE with our 1st 2 picks and a backup LB in the lower rds. Man, this whole thing is getting really interesting.
Ackshun
February 27th, 2009
10:29 am
I hate to see everyone downing Keith Brooking. He has stuck with the team during some pretty rough times and it is always amazing to see those cats who forget that he was an absolute beast coming out of Georgia Tech (where rumor has it that he once got benched for laying the wood to an offensive team mate during a practice). Brooking did not lose the Arizona game by himself. Arizona was clock watching the whole night to get the jump on the o-line and we didn’t adjust in time to stop them period. Dimitroff is doing the right thing with a veteran player who is a bit past his prime but can still contribute. Keith loves Atlanta and this game. I see him back in a Falcons uniform in August fighting for a roster spot (for a bit less money).
Chris
March 15th, 2009
10:13 pm
In keith brookings career (12 yrs) he has 972 tackles in 161 games 760 of which are solo tackles he also has 12 int.
Brian Urlacher (10 yrs) 137 games 931 tackles 703 solo 17 int’s
not much of a difference for these two yet everyone says Urlacher is one of the greatest linebackers ever not very true evidently because if he was so much greater than brooking they would be almost dead even in tackles and solos.