LIVE CHAT: WWTDD — NFL Draft Day 3
Falcons head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff could get "some bonus" to go shopping with. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC).
FLOWERY BRANCH – Things are underway on Day 3. WWTDD — ‘What Will Thomas Dimitroff Do’ today?
My laptop and my "thinking cap" for Day 3 of the draft.
I’m projecting that the Falcons take a DT, TE, KR/PR and a backup QB.
The Falcons are sitting out the fourth round as part of the Julio Jones trade. The Browns have their fourth round pick — 23rd (118 overall).
The Falcons will pick 157th and 164th in the fifth, 192nd in the sixth and 249th in the seventh.
I know people are killing TD for picking the Lamar Holmes pick. He was considered a fifth-rounder by most. Mel Kiper had him rated as the 29th best tackle in the draft.
Dimitroff noted that some former Junior College players are stigmatize
Beverages and Brownies for snack time.
and under-rated by draftniks.
“We waited a whole round to jump into our offensive linemen sweepstakes and it was something that we were focused on through the offseason,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “Both Smitty and I spent a lot of time focusing on the offensive line and how we could acquire some more size, strength and stoutness to help bolster our roster.”
He took some heat for taking Corey Peters in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2010 draft. That picks is working out just fine so far.
So fire away! I have some time for questions until the Falcons start picking in the fifth.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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196 comments Add your comment
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
1:32 pm
@South ga boy in the atl
That only tells me that the Falcons found something out about Massie that they didn’t like. These analyst don’t know everything. Maybe they did not like his interview. Maybe he wore his clothes too baggy for them. Who the heck knows? The fact that Massie was still available has gotta tell you something. He didn’t get picked until the 4th. What’s up with that?
South ga boy in the atl
April 28th, 2012
1:32 pm
Thanks for the comment D Led
splendid splinter
April 28th, 2012
1:32 pm
OK – I made the right call for Boykin but the for the wrong team – LOL. Just as I was writing that the Falcons should take him, the Eagles selected him.
gabuldawg
April 28th, 2012
1:34 pm
D Led, Have the Falcons been scouting any WR that might be on the board in the 5th? Seems like after our top 3, we are pretty thin.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 28th, 2012
1:34 pm
ATLJBO – A. Rob just went to Giants. Drop one of your videos on us today.
J.J.M.
April 28th, 2012
1:37 pm
falcons dont need anymore WRs…
gabuldawg
April 28th, 2012
1:39 pm
If you check their depth chart, they definitely do need another good WR. Mostly projects after the top 3.
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
1:39 pm
DLed;
Thanks. But I don’t think this had anything to do with AJ Green. I honestly think teams spend hours figuring out how to disappoint me personally. Seems like out lot of effort, but I am pretty sure I am that important.
(Why is there no I in Sacarsm?)
Billy Bob
April 28th, 2012
1:41 pm
I think the selection of Konz says the Hawley pick was a miss.
Anyway, back to the present….I like Brandon Washinton as a Guard with the 5 th pick, but doubt the Falcons will take another OL. Don’t tell me they don’t need one with McClure and Clabo retiring and Baker hitting the road. But, OK, then I like the OU TE James Hanna or else Marcus Forston at DL.
ATLJBO
April 28th, 2012
1:43 pm
Yea.. I just saw that.. When i get a chance…I was thinking about doing a video of Samuel and Grimes (together) called the pick 6 factory (The name samuel came up with) or one of our draft picks but lineman dont make good highlight videos..lol
South ga boy in the atl
April 28th, 2012
1:43 pm
Mr Phil- that may be true about Massie although he went middle of the 4th. My point about Holmes is NOBODY had him even in the top 20 OT’s. You believing the Falcons see something in him that nobody else does is like someone saying that “somebody has got to win the lottery.” Yea but I don’t want to count on it. No other teams were waiting with baited breath to get this guy IN THE 3rd RD. MEANWHILE WE LET A POTENTIAL “BIG DIFFERENCE MAKER” IN A GAMEBREAKING TE GET AWAY FROM US. I GUESS YOU HEARD THAT TONY G IS GOING TO RETIRE AFTER THIS YEAR, RIGHT ? TONY G CAN’T STRETCH THE FIELD ANYMORE ANYWAY BUT A GUY 6′6″ THAT RUNS A 4.53/40 IS SOMETHING YOUR BOT INTERESTED IN. MAYBE YOU WANT US TO DRAFT THE 29th RATED DT ALSO.
ATLJBO
April 28th, 2012
1:43 pm
D-Led…
Yea.. I just saw that.. When i get a chance…I was thinking about doing a video of Samuel and Grimes (together) called the pick 6 factory (The name samuel came up with) or one of our draft picks but lineman dont make good highlight videos..lol
senior falcon
April 28th, 2012
1:47 pm
TD has done well on his later round picks. So for you nay sayers: Get in; sit down; hang on, and shut up.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 28th, 2012
1:50 pm
Late last night, I asked TD what made the Falcons comfortable taking Holmes in the third. Here’s what he said. ” Lamar Holmes is a big guy as we mentioned. He has versatility as we mentioned. He has long arms, he’s a 35-inch plus arm guy. The versatility to be both a left and right (tackle) was important for us as well as his toughness. He’s an ornery guy.
“I can’t comment on why he was projected late. He had a really nice East-West game. Having been a Junior College transfer, I don’t know if people . . . again, I can’t comment on other teams. But what I do know, is that sometimes when you have a JC transfer type of player they are behind in the recognition standpoint from the prognosticators and such.”
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
1:54 pm
@South ga boy in the atl
All I am saying is that we have not seen this guy. And really, the analyst have only been watching him for the past year. So the truth is nobody knows anything about him good or bad unless they have been following him since junior college. Now TD says he has had an eye on him since high school. The question is who else have. All we know is what the media has him ranked as. We don’t know which teams have been watching him and what they have him ranked as. I promise no GM is calling Mel Kiper, Ron Jaworski, Todd Mcshay, or any of these other guys and telling them who they are watching.
Look at the Saints pick. Some DT from Canada. Canada….really? Canada….
I am just saying we don’t know who has eyes on who. Maybe TD knew of another team or two that who had Holmes on their board. He has already said he has talked to Belichik in the past about players. Maybe these guys all get together, play golf, and talk about what idiots ESPN and PFW analysts are that they missed on this guy or that guy.
Mike Franklin
April 28th, 2012
1:56 pm
Be interesting to see how Holmes plays out. Understand he won’t be starting… but would like to see what he’s got every chance I can in the preseason. He’s a curiosity-making acquisition.
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
1:56 pm
BTw, you’re welcome DLED. I deliberately left AJC sports writers out of the previous hypertheticl golf conversation. I know TD would never let another GM call you guys idiots.
Mike Franklin
April 28th, 2012
1:58 pm
Dang, FINALLY into the 5th round!
ATLJBO
April 28th, 2012
1:59 pm
Yea D-Led… It looks like the Panthers liked what they saw when they worked him out. http://ubin.cc/IvTol7
ATLJBO
April 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
Myles Wade would be a nice late round NT prospect
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:05 pm
“The Panthers were the sixth NFL team to have an individual workout or visit with Holmes; The others were the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/huss-70292-panthers-works.html#ixzz1tMLwyGme…...
He’s a draftable kid,” said Ray Brown, the Panthers’ assistant offensive line coach who conducted the workout. “I just wanted to interact with him and get to meet him. He’s a player. That’s what we all do know.”
Read more: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/huss-70292-panthers-works.html#ixzz1tMM8UjMC“
Left Coast Dawg
April 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
What’s wrong with baggy clothes?
South ga boy in the atl
April 28th, 2012
2:09 pm
Mr Phil. Your wrong if you think these former players and coaches (not talking about Mel) don’t have a good idea which teams have an interest in certain players. It’s interesting how you give so much slack to Holmes when just 2 yrs ago all Falcons fans were saying “Hawley who”, “Garret Reynolds who” “Mike Johnson who” in the 3rd rd (sound familiar). Now you can’t have it both ways. If Hawley and Johnson and Reynolds were working out then we wouldn’t have to be picking both Konz and Holmes. We are right back where we were with the O-line 2 yrs ago so I think some of us have every reason to question why we took a guy in the 3rd that nobody else seems to have rated higher than a 6th. Otherwise, we would have taken care of this 2 yrs ago with 3 O-lineman taken back then. In late rds I might add
THE REAL PHIL
April 28th, 2012
2:10 pm
ATLJBO see if you can find a better video of the first guy we picked. I watched the one you asked me to. vs Nebraska. First play on the tape his man tackled the runner in the backfield. Third play he lets a guy run free to the QB. He pulls on a reverse to block a CB who is STANDING STILL. He BARELY touches the CB’s ankle and I mean BARELY. Once he cuts the MLB who promptly gets up and tackles the runner for a loss. EVERY effective block he had on that tape was part of a double team. I hope he had better games against someone else.
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:10 pm
@Left Coast Dawg
Nothing wrong with baggy clothes. Just making a point.
DC Falcon
April 28th, 2012
2:11 pm
TD has become an average talent evaluator at best. How do you justify picking Holmes in the third round when nobody in their right mind would pick him before the 5th? This just doesnt make sense. I think its time for him to step down b/c it looks like Falcons are headed backwards while the rest of the teams in the South is moving forward. When is this guy going to take some heat for these bad picks??
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:12 pm
@south
I am just saying let’s give the guy a chance. Maybe we just picked him so the panthers couldn’t have him.
hbcuclassics
April 28th, 2012
2:12 pm
HBCU Classic Sports
S, Christian Thompson, SC State
Drafted #130 Rd. 4 by Baltimore Ravens
1st HBCU Classic off the board
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmReZgNHY0o
J.J.M.
April 28th, 2012
2:13 pm
kerry meier is a nice 4th WR falcons just need to give him playing time…if they draft a WRit will be to replace weems for the returns
Left Coast Dawg
April 28th, 2012
2:13 pm
Thanks Phil, just wondering because I haven’t accepted the tight Euro suit look, so I wear a 44 long to get a little looser.
falconhawk
April 28th, 2012
2:14 pm
I’m sure TD doesn’t make a pick all by himself, but you do have to wonder about the advice he’s getting on lineman. Lamar is a C- pick according to some. He’s referred to as a “project”. He’s not particularly fast or fluid. Nice attitude but you got to wonder what TD is thinking?
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:16 pm
Heck maybe they just decided all the other OT’s ust plain out sucked, the TE’s were a waist of time, and we just needed to wait to see what’s out there in the fifth and sixth.
Besides, success in te NFl has less to do with what a guy can do than with what you’re asking him to do.
Also, Todd Mcshay is not a former player or coach. He used to work for a former NFL scout. Doesn’t me he actually knows anything or has any real NFL contacts.
And Jaworski has been out of the game so long. He ain’t even worth discussing.
Sam
April 28th, 2012
2:17 pm
Zebrie, Zebrie, Zebrie!
ATLJBO
April 28th, 2012
2:17 pm
THE REAL PHIL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szc_lifemDE
oldbird
April 28th, 2012
2:18 pm
Cincinatti is now officially my second favorite team. They now have six Bulldogs. Atkins, Boling, Green,Charles, Geathers and Roland. Perhaps they should change their mascot to Bulldogs.
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:18 pm
@Left Coast Dawg
44’s would be a little tight on me. But I get what you’re saying.
South ga boy in the atl
April 28th, 2012
2:20 pm
Mr Phil- don’t get me wrong. I like TD and think he’s done a good job, overall. But, sometimes, a guy can be too cute by half. He seems to like to “think way outside the box” at times rather than being a little more conventional. There has to be a good balance of conventional and outside the box thinking. I just mentioned our previous 3 O-line picks from 2 yrs ago and they were something of “head scratchers” at the time and they haven’t exactly been outstanding. I just think TD “tries to out think the room” a little too much after the 2nd rd with his draft picks
oldbird
April 28th, 2012
2:22 pm
At least we traded down to get Holmes, but I think we could have traded much further down and still got him. He had a 5th round grade from what I read. I guess this is not as bad as trading up into the 1st round to get Baker, who obviously no one else had rated that high and rightfully so.
J-Man
April 28th, 2012
2:23 pm
Have you talked to TD yet about his pick and what he is targeting. Also if you have will you tell him about Jordan White he is there and will make plays for him.
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:23 pm
@south
Ok. well, let’s say we meet back here around week 3 of the regular and try this conversation again.
Big Crimson 75
April 28th, 2012
2:29 pm
Good to see Josh Chapman selected by the Colts!!
A true Champion. Chapman played over half the Season last yr with a torn ACL!!
The Colts, btw, are having a Great Draft!!
The Falcons need to select a TE, QB, DT & ILB with their last 4 selections!!
Von”Blaze” Burfict needs his BLACK dot removed from the Falcons draft board!!
The guy may be an idiot, but He can Ball when motivated!!!
Falcon2
April 28th, 2012
2:29 pm
Whether Holmes is a player or not is not the whole story. If you can get him in the 5th then you can take a player, maybe a TE and then still grab him later. Where Kiper has them rated means little but we seem to reach often.
I like Julio but this goes to show we gave up too much, especially during the first rookie wage scale years. Look how willing teams are to trade up now. Does anyone feel like we have have built real depth the last couple of years. We use Free Agency to bail ourselves out often, that bill will come due eventually.
There will be several FA TEs and we are not in need until next year. Good thing…
Take Kellen Moore!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 28th, 2012
2:30 pm
J-Man – TD has not been today yet. We think they are going NT right here at 157.
South ga boy in the atl
April 28th, 2012
2:35 pm
Lol. That’s fine Mr Phil. But if you could be objective for just a minute and analyze TD O-line picks: Baker, Hawley, Reynolds, and Johnson. I can defend TD on most of his picks but any objective evaluation of his O-line picks would have to say they have “come a cropper.” I like the value for Konz in rd 2 but Holmes falls into the category of “head scratcher” along with Baker, Johnson, Reynolds, and Hawley. We need to do better than hit on 1 out of every 5 O-line picks. But feel free to defend Baker, et al, Mr Phil
stizz
April 28th, 2012
2:36 pm
Say it aint so Dled. We could easily snatch Franklin after the draft. I’d much rather give Tony a student in James Hanna.
Junkyard Dawg2011
April 28th, 2012
2:42 pm
Hey D.Led, with out O-Line shored up, who do you see the Falcons picking with their two 5th round picks? I can see us either shoring up the interior d-line or possibly trying a reach for an OLB.
Falcon2
April 28th, 2012
2:43 pm
They only way we take a NT…
“I can’t stress enough how important it was for us that he not only plays NT, but can double as a punter.” -TD
Mr. Phil
April 28th, 2012
2:46 pm
@south
You got me with Baker. But the story isn’t told with Hawley yet. I think Johnson and Reynolds wil make good backups. I see the Oline being Konz at C Clabo at RT Blaylock/Hawley/Mawuai at G’s and ? at LT
J-Man
April 28th, 2012
2:47 pm
Hopefully we can get a guy over 325 if we do go NT but we need to get to him about Jordan White
gabuldawg
April 28th, 2012
2:49 pm
Cameron Johnson might be available. He was projected to be taken in rounds 2 or 3.