Falcons’ additions will get them back into playoffs
The drafting of Sean Weatherspoon is one of the moves by Thomas Dimitroff that will get the Falcons back in the playoffs. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Two years ago, we expected too little. One year ago, we expected too much. So it’s safe to conclude that even with all that Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith have accomplished during their brief reign with the Falcons, they’ve managed to keep at least one tradition in tact: The team is still keeping us guessing.
But not this time.
Last month, they signed a legitimate cornerback (Dunta Robinson). This allowed the Falcons to cut back on its janitorial stuff because now somebody won’t have to run onto the field to sweep up the ashes after every opponent’s pass play.
Then came the draft. They needed an outside linebacker who could drop into coverage, help create some mayhem on the pass rush and, if at all possible, hit somebody. They found Sean Weatherspoon. They needed linemen on both sides of the ball. They took a defensive tackle and two guards with their next three picks. Think of a draft as you would an exam. Nobody is guaranteeing an A. But at least we know the Falcons studied the right chapters for the test.
Loading ...At the very least, they will make the playoffs. If body parts don’t spontaneously combust as a year ago, they are capable of doing something special.
If reading that leaves you cross-eyed, think of this: What were the expectations of the New Orleans Saints a year ago when they were coming off two non-playoff seasons and a record of 15-17? Super Bowl champions?
Dimitroff isn’t the type to make guarantees. The most he would allow Saturday was: “There’s no question people should have expectations. Very solid expectations. We feel we’re going in the direction of a team that will be a perennial playoff contender.”
They went 11-5 when everything right. They went 9-7 when so much went wrong. Think about that: nine wins in a bad year. And then consider this:
♦ The schedule will be significantly easier in 2010. The combined record of opponents (127-129) ranks 20th, compared to last year’s schedule (150-105-1), which ranked fourth. Also, three outdoor road games in cold-weather cities – Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Philadelphia – all take place by mid-October. No snow.
♦ Logic says the Falcons will have better fortune on the injury front. Last year wiped out the seasons of Peria Jerry, William Moore and Brian Williams early, and dented Michael Turner and Matt Ryan late.
♦ Look around the NFC: Philadelphia jettisoned Donovan McNabb and will be transitioning to an untested Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Arizona saw Kurt Warner retire, which means Matt Leinart just lost his safety net. The Eagles and Cardinals are two of last season’s six NFC playoff teams. The Dallas Cowboys’ schedule is ranked as the most difficult in the conference and No. 3 in the league (opponents’ record of 139-117). The Saints will still be good. But they open against Minnesota, play at Dallas on Thanksgiving and have four night games on their slate — “rewards” for being a marquee team.
The Falcons are not without questions. Sam Baker hasn’t proved he’s worthy of being a starting left tackle, let alone a first-round pick. Defensive end John Abraham has to stay healthy (and preferably visible). There is a significant drop-off at wide receiver from No. 1 (Roddy White) to whomever is No. 2 (Michael Jenkins, Harry Douglas, street free agent to be named later).
Also, there’s the Matt Ryan question: Were the bumps in Year 2 just normal signs of the NFL learning curve?
Dimitroff wouldn’t call 2009 a step back, saying only, “We learned a lot about a very young football team.”
Then he reiterated, “People should have expectations that the arrow is pointing up. It’s not static or sideways.”
High expectations seem safe this time.
♦
Earlier Falcons draft posts
♦ Falcons still need linemen (and Weatherspoon video-palooza)
♦ Weatherspoon helps Falcons fix the right side of the ball
♦ Draft night (LIVE): Behind the scenes at Falcons’ HQ
♦ Draft day (Part II): Tebow top 15, Morgan to Falcons?
♦ Draft day (Part I): Falcon options; Berry rips Deion; Tebow to Vikes?
♦
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325 comments Add your comment
Alan
April 24th, 2010
5:46 pm
Dash (my god, here we go again) how much is the NFL paying you for your draft knowledge? GET OUT OF HERE, YOUR’E NOT NEEDED. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JEFF
April 24th, 2010
5:47 pm
Ok smarty pants. Name 2 impact players from this years draft that will put us over the hump in 2010.. You can’t name one.
vp dik chainey
April 24th, 2010
5:49 pm
Everyone of these guys except Franks was a Team Captain. Give TD and Smitty some slack.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
5:49 pm
Jeff, I think Beerman and Snelling will emerge in 2010. I also am curious about Sidbury. That is 3.
JEFF
April 24th, 2010
5:50 pm
Shultz, you are more qualified to cover the spirit than the falcons, if you these players will put us in the playoffs this year.
Dumb thought.
JEFF
April 24th, 2010
5:52 pm
Mr Charlie- We didn’t draft them this year.
Beirmann- 3rd year
Snelling 4th year
Sidbury 2nd year.
Thus what I have said all along we didn’t need linemen. OL or DL
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2010
5:55 pm
I’ll bet the Falcons put in a play for Meier where he goes in motion and quick kicks.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
5:55 pm
Oh, this year, well, what rookies were drafted by the Saints in 09 that pushed them into the Superbowl? Very stupid question.
Alan
April 24th, 2010
5:55 pm
Some people amaze me, they can’t see the trees because of the forest, by the way the trees grow from seedlings and create the forest- IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT UNDERSTANDS THIS PROCESS?
GO FALCONS & GO SOUTHERN RUSH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2010
5:56 pm
Meier could also drop back and execute a double pass.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
5:56 pm
Del, I get they put a play on with Meier where he takes a pass, and airs it out to Roddy streaking down the sideline.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
5:57 pm
Meier is tough, smart, and a team player. Nobody wants to lose the QB job, but, how did he respond? By catching 100+ passes over the next two years, and getting drafted into the NFL. Life is not what happenes to you, but what you do about it.
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2010
5:58 pm
“Southern Rush”? I thought that stuff was legal only in California for medicinal purposes.
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2010
6:02 pm
I’d say Biermann and Jenkins have already emerged. Jenkins has a 140 yd. game, and Biermann has mad a lot of big stops and some sacks. He is a “no quit” guy.
Delbert D.
April 24th, 2010
6:04 pm
Duh…I meant Snelling, not Jenkins…
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
6:05 pm
I do not know about Jenkins, for a number 1, I would have expected more by now, but hopefully you are right. He is fast, remember when he ran that guy down one the interception? That was impressive.
JEFF
April 24th, 2010
6:06 pm
Jenkins Stinks. He needs to play for Detroit or St. Louis. Maybe Miami, but not ATL.
Alan
April 24th, 2010
6:07 pm
Here we go again(STUPIDITY)- thanks for your insight Delbert D., now go back to newsvine and play with your friends that have no idea about whats going on with any given subject.
bamaguy
April 24th, 2010
6:07 pm
The Falcons should sign Colin Peek as a free agent. He would make a great target for Matt Ryan.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
6:08 pm
Yea, Snelling, I agree. He was a 7th rounder who has shown some real potential. I think that is why we did not draft a RB.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
6:09 pm
Jenks has been a disappointment. He is a long strider, average hands, and not a great route runner.
JEFF
April 24th, 2010
6:09 pm
I think I will sign off and just watch the Hawks win. I hope a FA signing of some impact will happen now, when we re-evaluate the draft.
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
6:10 pm
Rashad Jones screwed up.
Gwinnett Fred
April 24th, 2010
6:11 pm
1) I have faith in the front office (as an original old fart Falcon fan, I haven’t been able to say that very often)
2) I have no problems with this years draft – they did an excellent job at addressing needs
3) It will, however, certainly show TD’s abilities vs. the “experts. While none of their picks (well, maybe the last one) got a bad grade in and of themselves, it would seem the folks they got, they could have gotten later (as in trade down a time or two) – but that’s something we’ll never know.
I am glad that Myron Rolle (the FSU Rhodes scholkor) went to an AFC team as that’s a kid I really am pulling for and would hate to root against him should he have landed in the NFC South.
FINALLY – HERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT, NON-OPINION FACT TO BOOST FALCON FANS SPIRITS!!!!!
YES, THE SCHEDULE IS EASIER THAN LAST YEAR REGARDING STRENGTH, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEREAS LAST YEAR WE PLAYED FOUR GAMES AGAINST TEAMS COMING OFF A BYE WEEK – THIS YEAR THAT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE (and that one is a home game!!!). I think this is just as important as the easier strength of schedule!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Charlie
April 24th, 2010
6:14 pm
Well, it is hard to say how hard the schedule will be, because you never know who will emerge as a good team. With the exception of the Pats and Colts, the “best” teams are different every year.
tony43
April 24th, 2010
6:14 pm
why did’nt we get jordan shipley from texas?he’s a winner.he went the very next pick after ours…omg!!!
Stat Man
April 24th, 2010
6:18 pm
Great point G-Fred and we only went 2-2 in those games, losing to the Cowboys (when they were struggling) and the Giants (in the OT game we should have won), games we very easily could have won without the opponent having the extra week to prepare.
tony43
April 24th, 2010
6:20 pm
we should put a package deal with jenkins and jamaal anderson(he really sucks)and get us another reciever.roddy white needs a distraction on the other side
Keith
April 24th, 2010
6:21 pm
For everyone who is still questioning TD, he has 2 very good drafts they will be great if the players get healthy- Baker, Jerry, Moore. Lofton was a steal and the anchor of the D. Does anyone think we should draft Dez Bryant or others like him. TD may go down as one of the best.
OhMyGod
April 24th, 2010
6:22 pm
Terrible draft! Hawley was projected as a free agent signee by NFL.com. Most others went 2 rounds too high. Last 2 picks are total unknowns.
Brian F.
April 24th, 2010
6:23 pm
Too many people getting caught up with certain names that we should or should not have drafted. Please people, quit publishing your arrogance. TD & Smitty know exactly what they are trying to get accomplished. They are trying to comprise a team that plays with one heartbeat. This being a key component to any Championship aspirations. Sit back, have some faith, and let them build a team that will compete for Championships. These Monday Morning Armchair GM’s crack me up !!
bass stringerfish
April 24th, 2010
6:24 pm
Oh man… I LOVE all these arm chair GM’s. Wannabe players. Geeze you folks have no clue what you are talking about. God. Makes me sick to even read your dribble posts. did you spend a million bucks on scouts to go see the players? Did you give a 2 hour try out? Did you talk with anyone drafted? Did you stay up and watch film until 3AM? Are you a professional evaluator of talent? NO so shut the F up. You whackos are also forgetting that we have 3 draft picks from last year coming back…in essence, if you count these folks that we lost early last year…NOW how do you grade the draft.
Morons…quot bitching because your hundred dollar bill is wrinkled…
I LOVE the draft BECAUSE we took players the fit the Falcons not names for the wannabes and could of been’s…..
I am not an Expert like you are.
April 24th, 2010
6:25 pm
To those who are criticizing the picks, what was the greater need in this draft a rush end or an outside linebacker? I would believe the outside linebacker for the very reason stated by Mike Smith. If we were to select the pass rusher, would we not be giving up on Sidbury after just one season and Bierman after two seasons, despite the improvement Bierman has shown. GO FALCONS.
Stat Man
April 24th, 2010
6:25 pm
tony43:
By all means, get on the phones and call the other 31 teams and see who would give us more than a tackling dummy for Jenkins & Anderson and let TD know.
It’s amazing how some people just think it’s so easy to package up your teams problems and think another team will give you something of quality. Go back to trying to rip off idiot fantasy league owners and leave the real thinking to those that know what they are doing.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:25 pm
Matthew — I don’t grade drafts. I know it’s popular but I think it’s one of the most stupid things the media and “experts” do. You can’t grade drafts for 3-5 years. (Or in the case of Jamaal Anderson, maybe 6 months.)
WreckinBall
April 24th, 2010
6:26 pm
Falcons win the NFC South at 13&3. Believe it, it’s going to happen in 2010, only play one team coming off of their by-week this year.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:27 pm
Chem — same way you judge any OL — protection and run blocking, but with LT it’s more the former because he protects Ryan’s backside. In Baker’s case, health has been an issue obviously.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:27 pm
John Falcon — Who was passed up that you believe should’ve been taken?
GT97
April 24th, 2010
6:27 pm
Not Impressed with Falcons. It seems this GM is trying to find that diamond in the rough. That’s what unsigned rookie free agents are for. I surely expected them to get a running back because of the problems with Norwood staying healty. I don’t even think Norwood has been resigned yet has he? If not Dwyer, whose cheeseburger fetish obviously has cost him, then some other quality RB.
jerry
April 24th, 2010
6:28 pm
Jimmy Claussen said on tv that he wanted to beat the Falcons and Matt Ryan. So they better watch out.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:28 pm
Wayne — I agree help is needed at WR, but I think linemen were more important. Plus, WRs often are available in free agency. Some names may pop free.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:29 pm
J-man: Pretty sure T.O. is not happening here.
tony43
April 24th, 2010
6:30 pm
whats in ah name anyway half of the top guys will be a bust anyway!!! I like what we did i just wish we could have gotten more help at the wr position…CAN YOU SAY T.O. OR MARVIN HARRISON!!!
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:30 pm
Supes — Not spinning. I don’t do that.
WreckinBall
April 24th, 2010
6:31 pm
All the folks calling John Falcon—- He has already left the post to go pick his date for the Prom.
WreckinBall
April 24th, 2010
6:32 pm
I meant he left the post to go pick UP his date.
WreckinBall
April 24th, 2010
6:34 pm
Norwood and the punter resigned today.
WreckinBall
April 24th, 2010
6:35 pm
Or is it re-signed with the Falcs.
Jeff Schultz
April 24th, 2010
6:36 pm
Jeff (the other one): You’re right. Speaking for the rest of us here, we all wish we were as smart as you.
tony43
April 24th, 2010
6:36 pm
stan man…im glad your the expert in this thing,its nothing wrong with packaging up a deal to get something good in return potnah!!! if there not helping the team do what you can to get them out of there