Falcons pick right time to make big move, get Julio Jones
Julio Jones will help the Falcons open up their offense after averaging nearly 15 yards per catch at Alabama.
(Originally posted: 9:13 p.m. Updated: 10:30 p.m)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Last week, I had a private conversation with a general manager (guess who?) of an NFL team (duh) about his team’s draft plans. Because of what just happened, I feel safe in concluding that the Falcons’ Thomas Dimitroff won’t mind if elements of that conversation now go on the record.
Me: “Go get A.J. Green. He’ll probably have the greatest impact of any player in the draft.”
Dimitroff: “How do you think people would react?”
Me: “More than half will love you. The rest will think you spent too much and should draft for defense. But I’m guessing you won’t do it.”
Dimitroff: “Why not?”
Me: “You won’t want to trade that much for one player. You’re conservative.”
Dimitroff: “Hah! So what you’re saying is, if I make a trade, you’ll write that you goaded me into it.”
Me: “Yeah, probably.”
We laughed, and I eventually hung up the phone believing Dimitroff would stay at 27th, at best moving up five picks for a defensive player he liked. I was wrong about Dimitroff. He’s not conservative. He rolled the dice and made a move that, while expensive, was a risk worth taking. The Falcons dealt a boatload of draft picks to Cleveland Thursday night to jump up 27th to sixth in the first round, where they took Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.
The Falcons needed to make a splash after the January playoff beatdown by Green Bay. Sports franchises that believe they’re on the verge of something big have a window in which they feel they can make this move. This was the Falcons’ window.
“Our feeling was where we are on the draft, where we are as a team, where we are on our roster … we felt we needed to make a bold statement as far as an impact type of player,” Dimitroff said.
Dimitroff will face some criticism for sacrificing so much for an offensive player after the Packers shredded their defense in the 48-21 playoff game. But there wasn’t a defensive player in this draft, save Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, he viewed as a difference-maker. Dimitroff’s focus has been on Green or Jones for several weeks.
“I’ve been very open about the fact that we needed to add explosiveness on the defensive side or the offensive side,” he said. “In our mind, the explosiveness we were going to get with a player like Julio outweighed what we were going to get on the defensive side. We’ll never get away from the idea that if we see something we want, we’re going to jump up and get aggressive and go after it.”
That is the attitude you want a team to have.
Dimitroff made a significant statement about the franchise’s goals and expectations. He attempted to swing a deal for a pick as high as No. 2, ostensibly to get Green. But he has known for a few days they would end up at six or seven.
The cost of moving up: steep. A No. 1, 2 and 4 this year and No. 1 and 4 next year. But Jones is a playmaker. He’s a burner. He ran a 4.39 at the NFL scouting combined despite having a fractured foot.
Alabama coach Nick Saban praised Jones, Dimitroff said: “Julio embodies what Nick coaches – hard-nosed, competes on every play, goes up for the ball, sacrifices the body and plays to the whistle.”
It doesn’t fix the defense? But it enables the Falcons to open up the offense and take over games when they couldn’t in the past.
The Falcons still have time to add pieces to the defense. But understand: It’s not like they’ve ignored building that half of the depth chart. Since taking over as general manager in 2008, Dimitroff has invested heavily first- and second-round picks and free agency on defense: Curtis Lofton, William Moore, Peria Jerry, Dunta Robinson and Sean Weatherspoon. Compare that to four early picks or acquisitions on offense: Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Sam Baker, Tony Gonzalez.
Dimitroff and the organization, still somewhat hung over from the loss to the Packers, realize they are at the point where people are going to start focusing more on the team’s postseason results (0-2) than the regular season (33-15). “That’s what adds to some of my drive at this year’s draft,” he said.
It drove him to make a big move. It was a risk worth taking.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Last few posts
– NFL draft: Playoff hangover driving Dimitroff, Falcons
– NFL draft: Cam Newton will succeed, Tim Tebow won’t
– Hawks need more from Joe Johnson (whether-he-likes-it-or-not)
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812 comments Add your comment
Jay
April 29th, 2011
7:30 am
It is done… get over it! or get on board and be excited. your decision.
Mark, Mark---The Hair Lip Dog
April 29th, 2011
7:36 am
At least Julio will finish the drill, unlike A. J. (Ain’t Jack).
Samuel
April 29th, 2011
7:44 am
Dan, The Colts won a superbowl without a good defense. I’m glad the fans don’t make our football decisions. Most of them haven’t a clue on how to put together a fooball team.
woeisme
April 29th, 2011
7:45 am
This trade has done tremendous damage to the Falcons in the future. Dimitrof got
reamed in this deal. Before this I thought TD had done fairly well, but no more,. his
judgement is now in question. Does he or the Falcon brass have any? I’m not sure.
DMR
April 29th, 2011
7:47 am
Playoff hangover? It is hard to argue with what this Administration has done with the Falcons. However, this feels like a complete over-reach. A.J. may…I repeat, may have been worth this steep price. I am not sure Jones is. Big, strong, fast, but hands are suspect and route running…not so much.
Dimitroff must believe the Falcons are in a position to handle their needs when free agency starts, because that is the only thing that makes sense for this to work.
Dave
April 29th, 2011
7:48 am
I just think the Falcons did not see any players that they were really thrilled getting at their pick in round one. If you want a comparison I just think the Falcons see Matt Ryan as a young Peyton Manning. What did the Colts keep doing they kept getting Manning receivers and he was the focal point of that team. I know Roddy White will be 30 years old 11-2-2011. Michael Jenkins will be 29 in June. I just think the Falcons are getting Ryan his receiver that will grow with him as Roddy White falls by the wayside. This is Matt Ryan’s team.
All Smiles
April 29th, 2011
7:52 am
Great move. For the record we DIDN’T give up our #1 pick this year – we swapped it for a better one. Next years #1 will most likely be way down near the bottom so what’s the big deal?
Having White on one side and Jones on the other will be huge. I hear all the “More Defense” but in reality if we can keep the ball and score some points the defense becomes less a factor.
I’m confident we will improve the defense with a free agent or two and our young guys will be better with another year of experience.
FultonCo.Stadium
April 29th, 2011
7:52 am
You people are to hard on your team I think its just that ol slave and slave owner mentality of Ga. that comes out of half you guys this team has never been this Good we gotta a good thing going they are drafting from a good pool of atheletes the SEC look at Kansas City and New England they get it all they contributing players have SEC ties now all we got to do is collect some of those Miami Hurricanes I bet you can name a few that are not producing for there team pay attetoin and stop being so quick to judge TD I get it keep up
JROLL1
April 29th, 2011
7:56 am
GAVE UP WAY, WAY TO MUCH!
Jimmy Crack
April 29th, 2011
7:56 am
Totally agree with you Jeff. Looking at mocks for next year, there just isn’t the talent. We will do much better in free agency looking for a pass rusher. A worthy sacrifice for a stud WR.
This guy will make smaller CBs look silly.
honest_abe
April 29th, 2011
8:02 am
ramble on: your education says it all. learn to read fella. i said they played the worst division in football. aka the nfc west. read before you talk you bumbling idiot.
honest_abe
April 29th, 2011
8:05 am
only stupid teams put the majority of the money into the wr position. pathetic.
Walker, Texas Ranger
April 29th, 2011
8:06 am
Based on the last 2 drafts, this is what the Falcons drafted in these same spots: Weatherspoon, Peters, Hawley, Jerry & Sidbury. Based on their history, I think this was a pretty good move becuase I would trade these 5 guys for Jones today.
By the way, about all we have done is draft for defense
fastfreddyford
April 29th, 2011
8:08 am
IT IS NOW EVIGENT THAT TD DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE ON HOW TO DRAFT. LOOK AT THE LAST THREE YEARS. GAVE UP WAY TO MUCH FOR A NUMBER TWO RECEIVER. I HOPE HE GETS FIRED.
reebok
April 29th, 2011
8:18 am
terrible terrible terrible idea. our defense is less than mediocre. what difference would julio jones have made3 against the packers? Falcons losing by 18 instead of by 27?
Hike
April 29th, 2011
8:28 am
If JJ helps the offense make 1st downs and “keep the ball” away from the other teams offense….Isn’t that….”good defense” after all. The defense will be better by just getting everyone healthy and allowing the rookies time to mature. The Green Bay game was poorly “coached”. We were flat as a pancake and GB played their best game in years.
I can’t wait to see JJ and Roddy together. The offense will be unstoppable…from 13-3 to Super Bowl Champs.
Texan in Georgia
April 29th, 2011
8:30 am
Julio has the best hands in the draft, no doubt, but hopefully the Falcons didn’t give up too much. But after seeing that embarrassing defensive display against the Packers, they really need help in the secondary.
o-my
April 29th, 2011
8:30 am
good good good good idea. Our D won 13 games. get a life.
PreyDawg
April 29th, 2011
8:35 am
Bo Diddley, you will probably never see this but thanks for your insights. You actually WATCH the games and evaluate the talent. I agree with you 100%. Guys…all you haters….if Jenkins doesnt fall on his butt in the endzone in that Green Bay game and instead catches the darned football for a TD it is a totally different game. Granted the D was horrible and as always we need ANOTHER defensive back and a pass rusher. But until the nickel got hurt we were good enough most games. Jerry, Moore, Lofton…these guys are young. They will gell and the D will improve by default. The O had leveled out at a talent ceiling. Jenkins would not be a starter on any other play off team. Most of our losses were because the Offense did not score enough touchdowns. Not because we didnt stop people.
Now if Jones cannot stay healthy….that is a different matter.
Whisky Breath
April 29th, 2011
8:38 am
I was feeling pretty good about the pick until Jeff put his blessing on it.
He also thinks CMR knows what he is doing.
Saints R.E.A.M.
April 29th, 2011
8:38 am
The truth of the matter is that the draft is 50% skill & 50% luck. The scouts and GM’s make as educated decision as they can make & then they have to also get lucky that the player pans out. Draft philosophies differ. if you have 5 picks you have made 5 educated decisions….BUT the big part is you have 5 chances to get LUCKY. Lucky that the guy is a much better player than his resume, lucky that there are no injuries to keep them from being able to contribute to the team this season. If anything happens to Julio….off the field issues, ankle twist, chicken pox, girlfriend cheats on him, grandmother gets sick….anything that affects his play….and he becomes a bust. The draft is a gamble…there are no sure things…thats what makes giving up so many picks extremely risky and why many think the Birds gave up too much.
We’ll see.
Mike
April 29th, 2011
8:39 am
I like the move and I like the gamble – congrats, Dimitroff. Nice show of guts. But with all such moves, you will either be the hero or the bum. A better offense will allow for a better defense. Keeping the ball longer, converting on crucial and close downs – keeps the defense off the field. A great defense will get the ball back, but if your offense can’t move, the defense will be right back on the field, growing more and more tired with each series. I like the move especially when you consider the defensive players we would have had access to late in the round.
A UGA fan, I would have liked to see them get AJ. But JOnes, is larger and stronger and I hope more durable in the pro game. Time will tell.
Jason Collier
April 29th, 2011
8:41 am
You guys are idiots. JJ is an impact player that will start immediatly and open up our offense tremendously. We can shore up defense via FA when that starts.
Cam's (Fig) Newton
April 29th, 2011
8:42 am
U Falcons got no D and u wont stop me……
Big Waster
April 29th, 2011
8:43 am
I can understand having to give up this years & next years #1’s but to include this years #2 & #4 and next years #4 seems way too much for a oft-injured receiver. Cleveland got over on Atlanta big time.
tony
April 29th, 2011
8:47 am
That guy (dimitroff) apparently doesn’t know the history of this franchise. How many super bowls have this team won with a poor pass defense?
2006 Rank 29th
2007 Rank 23rd
2008 Rank 21st
2009 Rank 28th
2010 Rank 23rd
In 2008 our rush defense rank 25th but he takes a qb instead of Glen Dorsey…..Kansas seems to be doing very well without a high pick qb. This trade is the worst I’ve ever seen this franchise make. That young man (Muhammad Wilkerson-DE) is going to make dimitroff look like a fool for not taking him. Could of been Muhammad Wilkerson and Glen Dorsey in the same defense. Julio Jones isn’t much better than Randle Cobb and on top of that he had injury issures. The guy doesn’t learn from his mistakes(taking injury prone Peria Jerry).
They better sign Charles Johnson-DE!
GTT
April 29th, 2011
8:47 am
No, they didn’t give up to No. 1 picks, but they essentially used two No. 1s to pick one player. Plus a No. 2 where you usually get a usable guy, often starters. Plus, a fourth, where you often get quality special teams guys.
Still, way too much to give up on a WR. This is a Matt Millen move.
CMS
April 29th, 2011
8:48 am
Of course I would have loved to get AJ Green, and I’m glad TM had the guts to do it. But the truth of the matter is that Julio and AJ are going to be great receivers. Its just a shame AJ went to NFL He!!in Cincinnati.
1eyedJack
April 29th, 2011
8:50 am
“Sports franchises that believe they’re on the verge of something big have a window in which they feel they can make this move. This was the Falcons’ window.”
Jeff, I think this statement nailed it. It’s time to win and win now! Surround Ryan with more weapons, just like Indianapolis with Peyton and New England with Brady.
Too bad we couldn’t give Cincy the rest of our picks this year and swap Julio for AJ.
Get a pass rusher through free agency and use the rest of this draft for building depth or addressing special teams needs.
come on son
April 29th, 2011
8:51 am
Expect Jones to hold out for a large contract, his agent knows they are going to have to sign him based on the amount of picks he gave up. A hold out situation would look very bad for the Falcons, especially if it turns into a Crabtree situation.
Mike
April 29th, 2011
8:53 am
Tony, yea we can use more defense – no question. But who was available to pick at no. 27 in the round? No body that can help!!! Its not always a matter of what’s best in the draft, it is who is available at your turn. We are picking up bones and pieces at 27. Dimitroff really had little choice. Even making this move for a defensive player that we really could have gotten – is still not as good a move as Jones.
Jackets21
April 29th, 2011
8:53 am
Another brilliant move by Dimitroff. No that’s not sarcasm. Everyone talks about how much was paid for the trade, but the deal works for both teams. The Falcons and Browns are at completely two ends of the NFL spectrum. The Browns need a whole lot of players for a whole lot of wholes. The Falcons need one or two outstanding players to move them up amoung the elite of the league. When most of your players are below average as the Browns are, you are willing to accept a handful of average players. Above average players, as in 2nd round, fourth round and even 1st round picks all way back in each round where the Falcons draft, are not what the Falcons need. Generally the Falcons are full of above average players and some elite players. Adding JJ is adding another elite players. Love the pick, Dimitroff. Have no doubt you’ll be proven right in short order.
1eyedJack
April 29th, 2011
8:54 am
AJ didn’t appear that pleased holding up the Cincy #1.
Saints R.E.A.M.
April 29th, 2011
8:58 am
Uhhhhhh…..Roddy White doesn’t seem to like the move as much as many other Falcon Fans….
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/20555/falcons-go-all-in-for-julio-jones
RambleOn84
April 29th, 2011
8:58 am
Well in that case, “honest_abe,” you’re not a liar; you’re just stupid.
We played all of three games against the worst division in football.
We played six games against one of the best divisions in football.
Three more games against probably THE best division in football (the NFC North, as evidenced by the ensuing Playoffs).
Remind me again what your point is.
Mike
April 29th, 2011
8:58 am
Jackets21 – You are dead on the money … Jones will be worth the risk.
Tech Fan
April 29th, 2011
8:59 am
GOOD LORD!!! I cannot believe the amount of crap I am hearing from this blog..as if there are a bunch of experts in here…just freakin chill and lets wait and see. He was abviously rated one of the best picks in the draft for a reason…freaking wierdos
coach smith
April 29th, 2011
9:04 am
To give up that much you BETTER get the BEST player in the Draft at their position!!!!!! The Falcons gave up a boat load of picks to move up and get teh SECOND BEST PLAYER at his position!!
They should’ve either got a deal where they moved up for AJ Green or stay at 27
cccc
April 29th, 2011
9:08 am
Tech Fan I am with you a bunch of p#ssies, First off we don’t need more young talent we are loaded with young talent, Julio is going to be Larry Fitzgerald good. Now we need to draft a TE, RB and get a DE, DB in free agency and we are set, and yes there is going to be free agency the owners lost there appeal and football is back in business without salary cap!!!!!! Spend Arthur Spend
Julio can play a little runnimg back too !
April 29th, 2011
9:11 am
Julio Jones accumulated 3,084 all-purpose yards in three years at Bama.
Last year he also averaged 16.9 yards per carry rushing the ball.
ATL Rocks
April 29th, 2011
9:15 am
Fortunately, Blank is in a position to write a check for some talent in free agency to add to the D. I don’t think that Smith/Dimitroff would have made the Julio move without scoping out some defensive free agents for the defense first. Go Falcons!!!!!!
mcgdawg
April 29th, 2011
9:16 am
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS….DOES JULIO PLAY SOME DB AS WELL?
reality
April 29th, 2011
9:19 am
Great move!! Jones was clearly the best receiver in the draft.
Big Waster
April 29th, 2011
9:20 am
Yeah, I do hope falcons can sign A DE,DT,and DB in free agancy. Those are the gaping holes on defense as Green Bay exposed.
dan
April 29th, 2011
9:21 am
Like the Julio move!!! With losing the draft picks this year and next doesn’t this now make that floating money out there not being spent? What I mean is, can’t that money be used now on signing our own free agents and signing Ray Edwards, Mathias Kiwanuka or Charles Johnson? Interesting tweet reported last night at the end of the draft after the Saints drafted Mark Ingram? Bush tweeted ” Its been fun New Orleans”. How would Bush look in a Falcons uniform? Would you define Bush as explosive? We grabbed Dunn a few years back from Tampa Bay why not Bush from the Saints?
TD has No clue
April 29th, 2011
9:21 am
Usual stupid TD pick. Another injury prone player. But NO makes another great pick with the RB out of Ala.
Julio can play a little Running Back too !
April 29th, 2011
9:21 am
220 pound Julio Jones
is a much better selection than A.J. Green,
who is still searching for his first 1,000 yard season.
Big Waster
April 29th, 2011
9:22 am
There was no pass rush on Rodgers (DE) no push up the middle (DT) and nobody could cover Driver (DB). So yeah, the Falcons need big help on defense.
Tech Fan
April 29th, 2011
9:22 am
Have you heard of free agency?????? Novel concept right????? Have you heard of a guy named Aurther Blank?????? He may have founded a store named Home Depot???? If you have heard of it…..we will be spending some money this year, count on it mc…whatever dawg..
Big Waster
April 29th, 2011
9:23 am
Bush is more injured than Julio Jones is. Why you want him ?