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
JSS
April 28th, 2011
10:40 pm
If Frank Gore, Cadillac Williams, and Ronnie Brown can make a living in the run game; the Ingram kid can as well…
vuduchld
April 28th, 2011
10:40 pm
This pick is a joke. Julio Jones would have been available in the lower first or early 2nd round. To trade away 5 players for a wide out who will be average at best in the NFL is another example of why the Falcons will never be ready for primetime. Can anyone say Herschel to the Vikes! LOL
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:41 pm
Wrong Harry, We traded the second and fourth in this draft. We just switched places from 27th to 6th. They only traded the first pick in next years draft.
Mora less Petrino
April 28th, 2011
10:41 pm
Awesome pick! If this keeps the offense on the field longer, then the D just got better. Roddy & Julio! Sweet baby, sweet!
Cousin Vicker
April 28th, 2011
10:41 pm
Okay, I’ve come to my conclusion: We drafted a Darius Heyward-Bey/Michael Jenkins hybrid. At SIX. UGH
PMC
April 28th, 2011
10:42 pm
Ingram has great vision. You don’t need 4.3 speed if you have great vision and you are very skilled. 4.5 is about what Turner runs on a good day. Ingram breaks tackles and his vision leads to his elusiveness. He also catches the ball well.
he won the Heisman at Alabama. That takes some doing.
One Nation Under educated
April 28th, 2011
10:42 pm
Two years worth of high draft picks for one guy that catches 15 balls a year?
First there was Len Barker.
Then Aundray Bruce.
Then there was Brett Favrrrre.
This one takes the cake, takes ‘em all.
Loserville. Oh god the losing-est city fo-evah.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:42 pm
vuduchld, we only traded 3 picks for him.
Hollywould
April 28th, 2011
10:43 pm
Harry, did you happen to watch Jones in his career? Wake up man, this guy is the best receiver around. Dumb statement
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:43 pm
Maybe Jones only caught 15 balls because he didn’t have a top QB. Now he does.
GT81
April 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
who was available at 6 who could upgrade any position on D the way JJ upgrades WR? have faith people…….
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
I make a lot of noise, but I really don’t take the draft very seriously at all. Apart from the occasional Matt Ryan franchise-pick, drafts don’t make championships, developing players does. Paying millions to kids is a bad idea in the first place, so TD and AB can draft and pay whoever they like….Just as long as Coach Smith and staff can work them into a team.
SouthGa Falcon
April 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
For those making the Peterson argument, put the tape of Peterson vs jones and Peterson vs green. Jones wins!
PMC
April 28th, 2011
10:44 pm
They took a ton of depth in last seasons draft. This year. We get a play maker!
5150 UOAD
April 28th, 2011
10:46 pm
pmc
uga & bama only have 1 Heisman winner. many schools have none. it is hard to do at any school. the Stanford kid should have won it but they GAVE it to BAMA for the first time.
Julio will be way better than Green.
April 28th, 2011
10:46 pm
1) Cincy wasn’t going to move. They wanted Green. If ATL moved up to 3, TD might’ve had to trade all 7 picks this year or something.
2) Julio won’t have to be the man here like Green will have to be up in Bungle Land…..withOUT a quarterback.
3) Roddy White will either draw the double teams and allow Julio to make hay deep, or White will benefit tremendously with one on one coverage.
4) I bet Harry Douglas and Jerrious Norwood are on notice. Cut, traded?
5) With all the $$$ we saved here, you can bet the farm TD will be going wild in free agency to win a Super Bowl.
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
Hollydid: I watched 12 Alabama games this year, and I agree that Jones is a good receiver with good route-running and blocking skills. I also maintain he drops too many catchable passes for a first-round pick and is not a viable deep threat in the NFL.
The Truth
April 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
who was available at 6 who could upgrade any position on D the way JJ upgrades WR? have faith people
Nick Fairley could have because Peria Jerry sucks
jfreak13713
April 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
Falcons in difficult position with low pick and having pretty big needs on both sides of the ball. I assume that Falcons determined there would not be anyone of any real value at 27 and no sure defense option at 6? We know they HAD to have a WR to get offense moving. Small window with Turner who will age fast as RB. They still have Free agency to pick up some defensive help and I”m sure they will. I’m crazy about giving up 2 first round picks but if you figure the Falcons will be good and have low picks the next two years then you have to also assume Julio Jones will be better than any two pick that would have gotten in the first round over the next two years? Assumptions, but the guy is talented and has real chance of being the “John Taylor” the Falcons need to make this offense move?? Don’t worry about late round picks they rarely produce anything more than backups or RB gem?
Hollywould
April 28th, 2011
10:47 pm
Falcons needed this more than defense. let’s be honest/ the Packers did not win because of defense. Good Move.
Chaos
April 28th, 2011
10:49 pm
All you na sayers! you should know by now that TD and the gang know what they are doing. They will still get a playmaker on D, just remember what you all were saying about Grimms in his frist year…We moving foward not backward,,,, get on board!
Tide Rising
April 28th, 2011
10:49 pm
vuduchld,
You’re a complete idiot if you think Julio may have gone early 2nd round. He was projected to go no later then the no. 10 pick by practically every draft analyst out there. Now STFU moron.
Scott
April 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
I was certainly hoping for defense, but especially moving up that far. I hope they’re right, Go Falcons!
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:50 pm
Jones played in a college offense that likes to run the ball. Bama fans can correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t believed they threw the ball alot downfield. Now Jones can get NFL coaching at that position so I believe that his pass catching skills will improve greatly and he has 4.3 speed to stretch the field. He and White will be hard to defend. Look how Green Bay tore us using more than one receiver and the Falcons only had one big receiver to go to.
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:52 pm
I love the Falcons. I love Dimitroff. I love Arthur. I love Coach Smith. I wish them all the best of luck in bringing us a Lombardi trophy. I trust them to do so. I will cheer as loudly for Jones as for anyone else they could have possibly drafted in any position, BECAUSE they drafted him. That doesn’t mean I have to shut my eyes and my mouth on the only day of the year when the teams all take an absolute craps-shooters chance at picking the next best thing. Go Falcons, and I’ll go to bed.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:52 pm
JFreak, The Falcons did not give up two 1st picks. They swapped to the 6th place and traded next years 1st pick.
Seahawks take a 2nd round grade guard?
April 28th, 2011
10:53 pm
Wow. Now that’s dumb. Who reaches for an offensive guard in the 1st round?
Joe Tess Fish House
April 28th, 2011
10:53 pm
I love me some dong!
Cowboy Mouth
April 28th, 2011
10:53 pm
“It’s like they’ve ignored building that half of the depth chart.” Not?
DB
April 28th, 2011
10:54 pm
All I want to say is last year we never got a hand on Aaron Rogers….Jones don’t play defense……please we don’t need a Charles Rogers, Dwayne Jarrett and don’t forget Mike Williams….please Mr Jones….BE GREAT!!!!!
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:54 pm
Why does it seem like we are wanting defensive picks every year? Answer this question. If you trade a second round pick and a low 1st round pick for a playmaker that helps you win a championship isn’t it worth it?
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:55 pm
I think it’s worth the shot.
doggoneit
April 28th, 2011
10:55 pm
I have never read so many negative responses before. This was a great pick! This man is a difference maker. Our defense was middle of the road last year. Guess what? so was the green bay packers! Who won the Superbowl! Wow, your smart! Great great move!
Jeff deep down you know this move was awesome!
DB
April 28th, 2011
10:55 pm
We gave up a bunch for this receiver!!!!
HarryHawkins
April 28th, 2011
10:55 pm
Hollydid: I beg to differ. I would say that GB scoring 48 points does reflect badly on our defense. Granted, some of that was because of turnovers, but I will agree that if Peria and ‘Spoon play up to potential we might be good enough if we can still outscore the bad guys.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
10:57 pm
Don’t be surprised if the Falcons pick Demarco Murray in the 3rd round if he’s there. They will then have upgraded speed at WR and RB.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 28th, 2011
10:57 pm
This pick says “WE ARE GOING FOR THE LOMBARDI TROPHY IN 2011!”
I like it..I’m proud to be a falcon fan tonight..we finally do things other winning franchises do..take a big gamble for a big payoff!
Joe for 3
April 28th, 2011
10:58 pm
Completely agree on previous comments about Bama being a run heavy offense.
3lanes2nj
April 28th, 2011
10:58 pm
So 90% of your readers are trolls,eh? I mean all the hate, who has the Gray’s Sports Almanac, who knows for sure if this was a good or bad pick? Of course, the fair-weather ATL fans, who bitch about everything from Hall of Fame players on their teams, to the unrivaled successes of their teams, against their own history, and the All Stars that lead them. As a fan, I hope this is the greatest trade in franchise history. It probably won’t be, but let’s just see what happens before we jump off bridges. On second thought, if I’m making you feel froggy please leap.
Joe for 3
April 28th, 2011
10:59 pm
And yes, this is a troll heavy board.
GTBob
April 28th, 2011
10:59 pm
kerryb, you are an excellent spin master, ill give you that.
Stuart
April 28th, 2011
10:59 pm
You would think that giving up all those picks would actually get you the best receiver in the draft…
Big Dawg Cobb
April 28th, 2011
11:01 pm
HUGE MISTAKE, Julio ain’t worth the farm….
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
11:01 pm
I think the Defense played pretty good last year. Green Bay picked on Chris Owens filling in at the nickle corner which was smart on their part. So it’s not like our defense is horrible. If we sign another solid CB the D will be okay.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
April 28th, 2011
11:01 pm
Julio Jones IS the best receiver in the draft..woof woof 6-7
Tdawg
April 28th, 2011
11:02 pm
Bo Diddley stick with what you know, which obviously ain’t football. Jerry rice was not a speed deamon. His career worked out pretty well don’t ya think. There are a lot of 4.3 players out there that rarely see the field. There is not a player in college today that can go up and get the ball better than AJ Green. If the ball is in his area code, AJ is coming down with it. Most of the experts say that AJ Green is probably the best offensive player in this draft not just the best reciever. I think that they may just know a little more than you do. Having said all of that, I am happy that we managed to get young Mr Jones and I will be rooting for him as hard as I can. In my opinion we got a pretty good reciever which we need badly.
5150 UOAD, after some serious reflection and deep thought, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that you are a friggin idiot.
GO PACK GO - 48-21!!!!
April 28th, 2011
11:02 pm
name one receiver that changes games in the nfl. steve smith, calvin johnson, larry fitzgerald…. they do not win games. terrible pick. this is not collegiate football.
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
11:02 pm
The Falcons did NOT trade the farm. Ditka traded the farm which is all of your picks.
Stuart
April 28th, 2011
11:02 pm
JEFF,
In the second-to-last paragraph, Did you mean to say, “It’s NOT like they’ve ignored building that half of the depth chart.”
…?
kerryb
April 28th, 2011
11:04 pm
GTBOB, no, I’m pretty sensible about it. Several people on here are complete morons about it. Drafts are a crap shoot. When you have a chance to get a player you believe can help you now you get him.