GM Thomas Dimitroff is clearly building through the draft
Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, left, talks with head coach Mike Smith during the morning session on the second day of NFL football minicamp at the team's training complex in Flowery Branch, Ga., Saturday, May 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)
FLOWERY BRANCH – A quick report from around the league reveals that the Falcons are amongst the leaders in a key category.
(A special thanks to Darin Gantt of the Charlotte Observer for compiling and sharing the data.)
Successful teams in the NFL build through the draft. It’s no coincidence that the Cleveland Browns only have 17 of their draft picks on the 53-man roster, which was submitted at the Saturday deadline.
Green Bay, generally considered a playoff contender, led the league with 36 drafted players.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers are second with 35 drafted players.
The Falcons were eighth with 31.
Indianapolis (34) and New England (32), two teams the Falcons have patterned themselves after, are also near the top the list.
The number includes only drafted players on the 53-man roster, not including undrafted free agents or guys on injured reserve of the physically unable to perform list.
A total of 12 of 22 projected starters were originally drafted by the Falcons. Seven of those projected starters were drafted by Dimitroff.
Another key factor in Dimitroff’s drafts has been his focus on drafting seniors that have been consistent and who improved over their collegiate careers. (And who didn’t play in the Big Ten!)
Over the last three drafts, 24 of the 26 players that the Falcons have selected were college
Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive back Shann Schillinger runs after intercepting Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle in the third quarter. Schillinger and the other five 2010 draft picks all made the team. (Photo by Jimmy Cribb, Atlantafalcons.com)
seniors, while 15 were either named or voted team captain by their coaches or peers.
Here’s a list of teams and how many players they drafted who made their 53-man roster.
TEAM DRAFTED PLAYERS
Green Bay 36
Carolina 35
Pittsburgh 35
Indianapolis 34
Tennessee 34
New England 32
Oakland 32
San Francisco 32
Atlanta 31
Dallas 31
New York Giants 31
Baltimore 29
Houston 29
Tampa Bay 29
Cincinnati 28
Jacksonville 28
Philadelphia 28
San Diego 28
Buffalo 27
Minnesota 27
Arizona 26
Chicago 26
Detroit 24
Kansas City 24
St. Louis 24
Seattle 24
New Orleans 23
Denver 22
Miami 21
New York Jets 21
Cleveland 17
Washington 17
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92 comments Add your comment
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
1:07 pm
I USED to think Howie Long had good perspective.
dbird1
September 9th, 2010
1:31 pm
Howie Long….you are out of your mind
The G
September 9th, 2010
1:40 pm
Howie Long – The Ravens were a much better team than the Falcons when they drafted Flacco. They did not have to re-build as we have. By the way, Flacco was the starter by default in 2008 when their starter was hurt and out for the season. He’s made the most of it, but to compare the two franchises since that point in time is not comparing apples to apples.
truth
September 9th, 2010
1:43 pm
Falcon Jim….correct pre-season really doesn’t reveal what a team will do in the regular season. It it did the Lions would have won serveral superbowls by now.
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
1:56 pm
Yup, gotta love them Lions…………….
FrontRow
September 9th, 2010
2:10 pm
Get your bags here…great preseason price before the rush.
truth
September 9th, 2010
2:25 pm
I gotta bird for you FrontRow and it aint a Falcon.
FrontRow
September 9th, 2010
2:51 pm
you got 2 of them?
AT WORK
September 9th, 2010
2:56 pm
Dimitroff will be the downfall of this team..His drafting will do he and the falcons in..
i love the fact that he is not afraid of going into the small school rank and file and find players..But the ones he got and the overated Lofton and Ryan will also be big disappointments this year and for years to come..
Its seems that the fan base is ok with mediocre with the likes of Ryan who will get pass after pass after pass from the yaa hoos down here,who don’t know jack about football..
I know enough after being around the game in HS,COLLEGE,AND PROFESSIONAL settings..
remember fans,
i told you first..
5-11 or 6-10..
It all comes to a hard fall this sunday..
Pitt.22-Atl 17
Howie Long
September 9th, 2010
3:05 pm
All you Falcons hopefuls must be sleepwalkin’. I tell you Falcons fans must be the most delusional fans in all of sports. You guys have been conditioned to think that a 9-7 season is the best thing that happened to us. A 9-7 season is the Super Bowl for your conditioned minds, lol. The Falcons have done very little to put together a chamionship team. Just look at the wide receivers you got butter fingers Roddy White pretending to be a #1 receiver and Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran pretending to be NFL athletes. We have a college NCAA offense and defense that can’t score, stop the run or pressure the pass pretending to be a NFL pro offense and defense. All we can do is score field goals and we don’t have a kicker that is consistently good enough to do that. The Falcons havent had a real chance of winning the Super Bowl since the days of DVD ( betcha dont know what that means Falcon Jim and DBird1 patheic screen names by the way). I refuse to jump aboard this Falcons rollercoaster, Rise Up hype marketing scheme mumbo jumbo. NOW!!!!! As I said earlier GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leave it to the ladies to bring us the championship our city deserves.
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
Howie Long
September 9th, 2010
3:08 pm
Thomas Dimitroff has not a clue of what he is doing. At the rate we are going we won’t see a SB championship for the next 10 years or so. I’m tired of waiting, I’m beginning to feel like the Falcons won’t win the Super Bowl in my lifetime. I think the team took a big step back with Rich McKay and an even bigger step back when they hired Dimitroff. Look at the B-More Ravens with Flacco, I think that Ryan is the better QB but the Ravens are clearly the better team and organization. They have surrounded J. Flacco with proven talent, they’ve given him everything a young QB needs to succeed in this league WEAPONS. They see a need and they fill it. Its obvious that that franchise is trying to win a Super Bowl NOW. What’s obvious with the Falcons? I’m beginning to think that this team cares more about selling seats than winning the Super Bowl. Mark my words Flacco and the Ravens will win the SB before the Falcons do. As for Mr. Blank, I think he has lost his vision, his drive and motivation. Remember the speeches he gave when he acquired the franchise. Mr. Blank should allow his wife to run this organization I think she will do a much better job. Much like Mrs.Georgia Frontiere did with the Rams when they won the Super Bowl. I love my city, my state and I feel we deserve a Super Bowl Championship even more than New Orleans, but I don’t think it will happen with the Falcons anytime soon. I wish we were a state that had 2 football teams and basketball teams. Go DREAM!!!!!! It seems they will get our city a much deserved championship before these other Losing pathetic poorly run franchises will.
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
Howie Long
September 9th, 2010
3:09 pm
All you Falcons hopefuls must be sleepwalkin’. I tell you Falcons fans must be the most delusional fans in all of sports. You guys have been conditioned to think that a 9-7 season is the best thing that happened to us. A 9-7 season is the Super Bowl for your conditioned minds, lol. The Falcons have done very little to put together a chamionship team. Just look at the wide receivers you got butter fingers Roddy White pretending to be a #1 receiver and Michael Jenkins and Brian Finneran pretending to be NFL athletes. We have a college NCAA offense and defense that can’t score, stop the run or pressure the pass pretending to be a NFL pro offense and defense. All we can do is score field goals and we don’t have a kicker that is consistently good enough to do that. The Falcons havent had a real chance of winning the Super Bowl since the days of DVD ( betcha dont know what that means Falcon Jim and DBird1 patheic screen names by the way). I refuse to jump aboard this Falcons rollercoaster, Rise Up hype marketing scheme mumbo jumbo. NOW!!!!! As I said earlier GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Leave it to the ladies to bring us the championship our city deserves.
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
Howie Long
September 9th, 2010
3:16 pm
Hey Falcon Jim and DBird1 if you guys want my autograph and to enroll in my class “Football 101: NFL Football for Dummies” i will be at Taco Mac tonight watching two real NFL franchises go at it on the gridiron. Go Vikes!!!!!!!! The only team in “recent” Super Bowl history to screwed out of a trip to the Super Bowl.
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
GO DREAM!!!!!!!!!!!
AT WORK
September 9th, 2010
3:24 pm
HOWIE,GIVE IT UP..THEY DON’T SEE WHAT IS PLAIN AS DAY CONCERNING TD..
1ST OFF,HOW DO YOU GET EXCITED BY A GUY WHO WORKED WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP ORGANIZATION,AND IS YOUNG AND HAS A LOT OF TIME TO GIVE TO AN ORGANIZATION,BUT,THE PATS JUST LET HIM GO!!
NO FIGHT,NO COMPENSATION,NADA!!!!
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU IF THEY JUST LET HIM COME TO ATLANTA?
IT SOUNDS LIKE,THEY HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN THIS GUY AND HE MAY HAVE EVEN BEEN THE “GOFER” FOR THE PATS FRONT OFFICE..
“HEY THOMAS,I ASKED FOR MOCCA NOT THIS SH–!!!”
AND THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL ATTACK ON THE GUY,BUT,HE MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE WAY THERE..AND THEY ARE HAPPY HE IS GONE..
I FEEL FOR ARTHUR..
1ST YOUR FRANCHISE QB B.S. NOW THIS..
Howie Long
September 9th, 2010
3:31 pm
Well said, i agree. I couldn’t have said it better myself “AT WORK.”
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
4:35 pm
Well, first of all, I think these two genius clowns simply are trolls, which means there is no credibility to start with.
Second, I’m SO impressed with Howie’s ability to copy and paste. Gee, I wish I could learn to do that.
Third, “AT WORK” is obviously a real pro. He’s “been around football at the H.S., COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS.” There’s no question about it, guys, he’s the man. No one dare question HIM. He’s “AT WORK.”
Fourth, Howie, the only reason I would want your autograph would be on a check made payable to me.
Fifth, you guys have so much patience. Jeez, entering into the third year and you are burying them?
That’s just insane.
Sixth, again impatience. How can you disparage young players that are early in their career and are very well regarded around the league. Again, this goes to your (lack of) credibility.
Seventh, who do you really work for and why are you even on a Falcons blog?
Eighth, GET OFF THE POST, YOU BIG DUMMIES ! !
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
4:36 pm
Well, first of all, I think these two genius clowns simply are trolls, which means there is no credibility to start with.
Second, I’m SO impressed with Howie’s ability to copy and paste. Gee, I wish I could learn to do that.
Third, “AT WORK” is obviously a real pro. He’s “been around football at the H.S., COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL SETTINGS.” There’s no question about it, guys, he’s the man. No one dare question HIM. He’s “AT WORK.”
Fourth, Howie, the only reason I would want your autograph would be on a check made payable to me.
Fifth, you guys have so much patience. Jeez, entering into the third year and you are burying them?
That’s just insane.
Sixth, again impatience. How can you disparage young players that are early in their career and are very well regarded around the league. Again, this goes to your (lack of) credibility.
Seventh, who do you really work for and why are you even on a Falcons blog?
Eighth, GET OFF THE POST, YOU BIG DUMMIES ! !
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waynelaster
September 9th, 2010
4:38 pm
We need debt at WR but we have to play the hand we are dealt, barring injury we should be fine 11-5. Trade Finnerman lol
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
4:38 pm
blockhead, bonehead, cretin, dimwit, dork, dumbbell, dunce, fool, ignoramus, imbecile, jerk, kook, moron, muttonhead, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, out to lunch, pinhead, simpleton, stupid, tomfool, twit
(Just getting my frustration out……………)
dbird1
September 9th, 2010
4:41 pm
Falcon Jim,
I bet these guys were all on board in 08(after we made the playoff of course). I’m sure Howie really called the Saints a “real franchise” befor last year. Break out the facons jersey as soon as they do well. but a couple preseason games that don’t mean anything and now the sky is falling. Get these losers off our blog
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
4:47 pm
I’m with you dbird1. You know, I sitting here just thinking, what losers !
Man, I’m looking forward to Sunday.
btw, I’ve been making a pitch for everyone to make note of the fact that the Falcons have never won in Pittsburgh. Make it a rallying point, kinda like breaking the jinx of no two winning seasons in a row.
Orlando – DOES THE TEAM KNOW THIS?
F.J.
hiramsaint
September 9th, 2010
4:57 pm
y’all got the steelers sunday yet everyone is concerned about the saints…and rightfully so
dz
September 9th, 2010
5:19 pm
Just because of how annoying you Saint’s Fans are. All you do is post about how it is your time, blah blah blah blah blah.
Then as soon as somone from another team, not necessarily Falcon fans, try telling you that your season was incredibly lucky last year, and your team did not UPGRADE at ALL in the off season, you guys start runnin your mouths.
Do you even read DOLs articles, or are you just on here to start crap.
Makes me wonder..
Go Falcons.
hiramsaint
September 9th, 2010
5:32 pm
why /is d-led some actual authority? do blindly believe all that he writes? i like him personnally but he is a homer which makes good ammunition for us. we were lucky but also very very good last year. y’all were unlucky and very very bad but this is a new season so worry about that steeler D and playin’ away this week. we’ll still be around in 3 weeks win or lose tonight
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
5:43 pm
At least Mr. Ledbetter is out there talking to the pros. More than I could say about anyone else on these blogs…………………
hiramsaint
September 9th, 2010
5:49 pm
he got to interview the steelers ’cause you certainly can’t be calling the falcants pro’s! LOL LOL
truth
September 9th, 2010
5:52 pm
oK…….Let me get this straight. TD and Smith have drafted and cosched this franchise to their first back to back winning seasons and they’re suppose to be losers?!?!?!?!?
How dare those two men do that when they don’t know what the heck they’re doing!
truth
September 9th, 2010
5:53 pm
Flame away Hiram. If your team loses tonight be sure to come back on the board with your excuses. However, ya’ll will most likely win. I don’t see prima farva doing much. Good luck.
hiramsaint
September 9th, 2010
5:53 pm
whats up truth? hadn’t heard from ya in awhile. you been doin’ o k?
truth
September 9th, 2010
6:34 pm
doing well Hiram just very busy. Please tell someone to smack favre like a rag doll. Can’t stand that guy.
hiramsaint
September 9th, 2010
6:41 pm
i really can’t believe he came back for another year. i can’t see how he’s possibly gonna make it thru this season. good luck against those yankee boys this weekend!
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
I’m ashamed that Mr. All About Me was originally a Falcon……….
mpbuzz77
September 9th, 2010
8:06 pm
Yet another day of reading blogs from quite a few fair weathered Falcons’ fans. Not too much real football analysis on here. Let’s just look at the facts under this management/coaching/operations staff. Record: 11-5 (playoffs), 9-7…2x winning seasons. Remember, never done in this city for pro football. Last year was an injury disaster…which I will say is part of the game of football. For the Ryan critics…of course he looked bad in the preseason. But his #s for the first 2 years are admirable even missing 3x games last year (not 2). For all you Vick lovers…and I was too…he thought he was the man for throwing 20 TDs in 2006. In my professional opinion on QBs and football, there is no comparison between a Mike Vick and a Matt Ryan. We have a QB that is undoubtedly the caliber of the league’s best. Let it play out. The roster is strong from one side to another. Upgrades were made appropriately. Finally…GO FALCONS!!! Bring one home from Pittsburgh…
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
11:30 pm
Good assessment, Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
truth
September 9th, 2010
11:52 pm
Favre looked very rusty. The old fart is in way over his head.
Falcon Jim
September 9th, 2010
11:52 pm
Last…………
Big Ray
September 10th, 2010
1:05 am
Falcon Jim ,
That likely was not a couple of trolls. More likely a troll who had to post as himself and talk as someone else, just so he could find somebody to agree with him….
Hiramsaint ,
Congrats on the victory. Figured y’all would win that one with Favre throwing the obligatory INT, and barely completing more than 50% of his passes (not impressive). I knew he’d do it. He always does…Dude is a fool. Despite whatever glory hound idiocy clouds his mind, if he’s not careful, he will leave the League in unkind fashion: with a career-ending injury that will stay with him the rest of his life. I’m not wishing it on him, but I can see it happening. All it takes is one good shot…
DC Dirty Bird
September 10th, 2010
7:24 am
Falcon Jim and dbird,
I don’t completely agree with Howie Long and the multiple iterations of that poster yesterday, but I too believe that TD has been a big to “careful” with his draft/free agent strategy. Some players are high risk/high reward. I just think we seem to eschew the high reward just to avoid the risk. How many draft picks/free agents do we have on our team that make folks on the outside say “he’s talented but they don’t need him” or “they really took a chance on him”.
marcus
September 10th, 2010
8:40 am
i think we should go pick up meiers ex team mate dezmon briscoe who looked good in the preseason but was released by the bengals he’s a big wr with good hands
Howie Long
September 10th, 2010
5:20 pm
LMAO!!!!! Thanks for the laugh Falcon Jim, I needed that. That was a good come back, great reply sir. DC Dirty Bird I’m glad you’re one of the few who sees things how they truly are with Thomas Dimitroff. I’m a Falcons fan but I’m just fed up with how this organization is run. There is no sense of urgency. Good free agents like Julius Peppers and T.J Housh have been available and those were two players that our offense and defense really needed, but we just looked over them. Those two players alone combined with what we already have would have made us a team that other teams would really have to game plan for. They woud have truly raised the level of excitement as well as taken us to the next level.
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