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
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:23 pm
Now look at the players around the 21st pick to the 27th and on. Do you think there are any immediate playmakers on the field there. I think not. If TD had not traded up to get Jones you would have the same idiots on here knocking TD for not trading up to get him.
GO PACK GO
April 28th, 2011
10:24 pm
falcons just traded their future. it’s going to be great watching the packers and eagles tear up your defense. again.
How smart is Cleveland
April 28th, 2011
10:24 pm
Do you think there are any immediate playmakers on the field there.
Mark Ingram??
Cleveland stinks
April 28th, 2011
10:25 pm
They aren’t smart. They’re CLEVELAND! It’ll take 100 years for them to do anything right.
5150 UOAD
April 28th, 2011
10:26 pm
a lot of non-big name players taken.`
i still sat this is a weak draft. paying some of these guys 1st round money is a huge joke.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:26 pm
Packers are one year wonders.
How smart is Cleveland
April 28th, 2011
10:26 pm
They aren’t smart. lol They had to be smart to take all of those picks from the dumb falcons
JSS
April 28th, 2011
10:26 pm
That crack about Tuscaloosa was as tacky as they come… Why do you people feel compelled to be so distasteful?
Mystikal
April 28th, 2011
10:27 pm
Perhaps if we hadn’t given up SSOOOO much we could trade back into 1st round to take Cameron Jordan and damn the rest of the draft!
Simon
April 28th, 2011
10:27 pm
@Bo Diddley ‘Nuff said.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:27 pm
If the NFL scouts think that Ingram is an immediate impact player why is he still on the board?
The Big Chill
April 28th, 2011
10:28 pm
Good Pick!! They can address the defense with free agency. Young guys are not going to impact the defense right away. Julio on the other hand will have a huge impact on the offense. The guy is a stud!!!
How smart is Atlanta
April 28th, 2011
10:28 pm
Not smart to give up basically their whole draft, atlanta fans are delusional
drmondo
April 28th, 2011
10:28 pm
Got to have faith in TD, Smitty and the scouts. They’ve earned it with their unprecedented (for ATL) steady success. I admit to being really nervous that we gave up more than we should have, but I was also one of those guys who listened to the talking heads about Dorsey vs Matty Ice. They proved me wrong then and I expect this pick will turn out to be a winner. Thank God this isn’t the old Falcons…Jones won’t be another Aundrey Bruce.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:28 pm
Maybe it’s because Ingram has no speed. You can run around college defenses with no speed but not NFL defenses.
Tide Rising
April 28th, 2011
10:29 pm
Dimwit-troff,
Talking smack son? Like all the smack talkers on here tearing down Julio and saying that AJ is all that. Give it a rest son. But before you give it a rest why don’t you have saint Richt teach his players like Justin Houston the most basic common sense and some damn discipline. What manner of an idiot smokes some dope right before the combine- thereby costing himself millions of dollars in lost draft status. All for a joint. But that’s typical of just how damn stupid and undisciplined Georgia players are.
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:29 pm
Mark me down as one of those who thinks we gave too much for too little. That being said, Dimitroff has done an excellent job overall with the Falcons personnel and we’ve reaped the benefits on the field. So while I question giving up so many picks for a WR when we have so many more obvious defensive needs (pass rusher, linebackers, line) in a defense-rich class, I gotta trust him. Go Falcons. Hopefully we can outscore everyone else since I don’t see us stopping anyone much.
Bo Diddley
April 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
AJ Green = Jabar Gafney
5150 UOAD
April 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
i guess the owners will make sure not to have any of the rest of the players sign contracts. I bet you could get better undrafted players cheaper than most of the so-so players left.
Orange11
April 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
Maybe they will trade up for Snooki next. Heck, she can wrestle.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
People are making comparisons to what Ditka did. No comparison. As I remember Ditka traded every pick in the draft away. TD wasn’t going to do that.
gcs
April 28th, 2011
10:30 pm
The Falcons need to think about today. Tony Gonzalez is probably in his last season. Roddy & Turner are pushing 30 (which is old by NFL standards for skills position players). This is a good pick to push the Falcons towards a Super Bowl. The future is now.
.
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:31 pm
Picking Jones clearly puts Witherspoon, Peria and company on notice that it is time to produce. Maybe something will finally light a fire under Jamal’s considerable backside and he’ll produce something, too. Time for the defense we got to rise up, since they ain’t getting any help in this draft.
Hollywould
April 28th, 2011
10:32 pm
War Eagle here, Great move. This guy is a beast. Roddy on one side/Douglas in the slot/all will have one-on-onecoverage. You have Jerry and Witherspoon coming back/defense is young/you only have so much time as a team. Now is the time GREAT MOVE
Tide Rising
April 28th, 2011
10:32 pm
kerryb,
Jerry Rice’s combine result was 4.6 or 4.7 and Knowshon I think ran a 4.62 which is what Ingram ran. But Ingram had not fully recovered from an injury and he ran his 40 time at Bama’s pro day and ran a 4.5. He’s plenty fast.
Bo Diddley
April 28th, 2011
10:33 pm
Wonderful gesture to recognize our troops. But, Gawd, that Lee Greenwood song is cheesy.
Tdawg
April 28th, 2011
10:33 pm
I like the trade. Yes I do wish that we could have gotten AJ. We didn’t but we did get the next best thing. What was it that we would have gotten with the 27th pick that was going to help the Falcons. Jones will in my opinon help the Falcons immediately. Better in my opinion to get one player who has a chance to be a great player than to get 3 or 4 who might help.
How smart is Atlanta
April 28th, 2011
10:33 pm
Delusional falcons fans thinking Mark Ingram is slow, how delusional. I bet he is fast than slow burner turner
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:33 pm
When it comes down to it we traded 2 picks in this draft and one in next draft for a big physical playmaker with speed that we needed. I think that was an even trade.
FugitivePoet
April 28th, 2011
10:34 pm
Where have the football people gone? Rise up indeed.
JJ will be huge. Recall the double team and eight in the box of the playoff game? Remember the three and outs as a result?
Now, while Da Birds methodically move up and down the field and destroy the clock defenses will not know whether to shit or wind their wristwatches while our defense stays fresh and ready to crush on the sidelines.
Imagine the result of Rodgers if never getting on the field.
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
10:34 pm
You know who else has amazing speed? Darius Heyward-Bey
Hollywould
April 28th, 2011
10:34 pm
GCS/ I was typing as you posted/ I totally agree/ Go for it!!!!
5150 UOAD
April 28th, 2011
10:34 pm
snookie can wrestle with your tube steak but i wouldn’t want be be in the same zip code with that yankee POS tramp.
Bo Diddley
April 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
Still no Bowers or Marvin Austin?
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
I agree that we need to make a go now, so give Ryan the tools and lets see what he can do. I just think we need a few defensive pieces now, too, or we’ll never get to the SB. Maybe the O-line can hold it together another year, and the D can find a way to stop Green Bay twice next year, and a healthy Turner and Ryan keep putting points on the board.
Lesa
April 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
I agree with you, Jeff. TD made a gutsy move that I believe will pay off big time for my birds. Welcome to Atlanta, Julio. GO FALCONS!!!!!!
Who Dat Nation
April 28th, 2011
10:35 pm
Lets GO Saints
drmondo
April 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
I think we’ll have an active free agency period. If they stick to last year’s rules, there aren’t many good young DEs because of the 6 yr rule. I’m not as nervous as some about the OL. I think their success is more because of PB’s scheme and not the players. With the exception of Baker, none of them are top draft picks, but are aggressive and willing to play Paul’s way.
Mike
April 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
No hands…Gave up way too much for a so so player…Defense wins championships…Defense would have beaten the packers…
disgusted
April 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
i loved the ryan pick, but this one stinks!
How smart is Cleveland? They suck. Forever.
April 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
Julio will be a better player than anyone they would’ve taken. And they’ll still win less than 6 games.
Rozeman13
April 28th, 2011
10:36 pm
To drunk to blog anymore tonight. Been going strong since the first pick still dont know why Panthers took Green #1. When i wake up tomorrow afternoon i sure hope the falcons got a wide out at 27. Maybe that playmaker Cobb at Kentucky Goodnight yall enjoyed the evening
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:37 pm
We traded 3 picks this draft, and 2 picks in the next draft….and that’s too much for a WR when we need Defense.
Chris
April 28th, 2011
10:37 pm
I wish we could have gotten A.J. but we are so close to winning a championship hopefully this takes as all the WAY!!!!!!!!
Clay
April 28th, 2011
10:37 pm
Its apparent that most of these posters are complete morons about football. especially Noodle Arm.
athdogbirdbrave
April 28th, 2011
10:37 pm
Chill folks…first off, Joe Tess, please find a spell check, will you? You make the idiot yankees’ who move down here and complain about the schools seem as though they know what they are talking about.
Maybe we should’ve gone defense, but I trust TD, and don’t forget at some point there will be some version of free agency.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:37 pm
Harry, We have been picking defensive pieces for the last two years. Time for a great offensive player. I don’t think there is that many great defensive pieces left at he 27th pick.
5150 UOAD
April 28th, 2011
10:38 pm
Maybe we can get Ant Allen from Tech and go for the ALL HAIR team.
Mystikal
April 28th, 2011
10:38 pm
Julio Jones will be a really good receiver in the league. Just so happens that AJ Green will be better. Either way it was a very heavy price to pay. I’m glad that we’re making bold moves, though. We can still address d-line in free agency. The only “defensive” game changers in this draft all went in the top 5 picks. And there wasn’t gonna be much there at 27 anyway so…
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:38 pm
Julio is a WR who drops passes. Hmmmmmm, and we traded UP to get him?