Time for Falcons to open offense (and defensive fix coming)
Minnesota end Ray Edwards could help Falcons' defense. (AP photo)
One pick into the NFL draft and some Falcons fans already are apoplectic over the decision to trade a bunch of picks for the chance to select Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. Sorry, I don’t get it.
Obviously, there’s a gamble element to the move. But as I wrote last night, I like it for two reasons: 1) This team needs a few more playmakers — and, yes, that includes the offensive side of the ball; 2) There was no difference-maker available to draft for the defense. The only defensive player the Falcons were enamored of in the first round was Texas A&M defensive end Von Miller, and he went second overall to Denver.
Drafts are all about player evaluation — sometimes accurate, sometimes inaccurate. But if a team identifies a player it believes can make a difference, I’m all in favor of going for it. That’s what Thomas Dimitroff did.
With that brief rant out of the way, here are five things to keep in mind moving forward:
Smith and Mularkey need to get creative. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
♦ 1.) UNLEASH THE FURY! Coach Mike Smith says he is excited about the Jones. But I have to admit, the look on his face reminded me of a parent the first time they throw the car keys to the teenager. Smith is a terrific coach but he can be a little conservative and predictable with his offensive philosophy. With Jones and Roddy White now starting at wide receiver, Smith needs to throw offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey the keys and let him open up the offense. That doesn’t mean it has to be a bombs-away attack. But Mularkey can be a creative guy and we haven’t seen enough of that. Calls plays that allow Matt Ryan to get the ball to the playmakers in space. Keep defenses off-balance.
♦ 2.) GOODBYE, JENKS: I’ll be stunned if Michael Jenkins is back. He’s a decent option as a third receiver but he makes too much money ($3.5 million in 2011; $4.25 million in 2o12) for what he brings to the table. The Falcons can find a less expensive option in free agency if they feel they need to bring another body in, but they might be fine with Harry Douglas, Kerry Meier (who missed his rookie year with a knee injury) and Eric Weems as the Nos. 3-4-5 receivers. Most likely, Jenkins will be traded (possibly for a pick next season).
♦ 3.) HELLO, DEFENSE: Dimitroff will not ignore the defense the rest of the draft or in free agency. Here are two names to keep in mind when it comes to improving the pass rush: Ray Edwards and Charles Johnson. Both are left defensive ends (opposite side of John Abraham). Edwards (6-5, 268) had eight sacks last season for Minnesota and is affordable (he made $2.521 million in 2010). The Falcons like him a lot. Johnson you may remember from his Georgia days. He was a disappointment his last season in Athens and started slowly with the Carolina Panthers. But he jumped up to 11.5 sacks last season and he’s also an unrestricted free agent after making $2.375 million last year.
Julio Jones on right. Some other guy felt need to get in picture.
♦ 4.) MORE ABOUT JULIO: The two knocks on him are injuries and drops. The Falcons’ aren’t concerned about either. Alabama coach Nick Saban will tell you Jones played through injuries at Alabama, missing only one game, and that’s a trait coaches sometimes don’t see with elite wide receivers. Dimitroff said, “Looking into his injury background, they weren’t injuries that were of concern to us.” As for dropping passes, here’s Dimitroff’s take: “There are going to be drops at every level. A lot of receivers are competitive, they’re turning up field to try to make plays or they’re thinking about the next step. Some of the best receivers in the league have drops. He’s got 10-inch hands, exceptional hands. He’ll continue to work on his concentration. That was not a concern for us.”
♦ 5.) EVEN MORE ABOUT JULIO: Wide receivers have a reputation of being divas. That’s not the case with Jones. He’s known as a team guy who loves to block, which should please Smith. But here’s something else: Jones sent this message out on Twitter this morning: “Atlanta is my new home life’s GREAT and I want to ask all of my fans to send prayer up to the big man for everywhere that the tornados hit.”
Feeling any better about Jones and the Falcons moving forward now, or do you still have doubts?
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Last few posts
– Falcons pick right time to make big move, get Julio Jones
– Playoff hangover driving Dimitroff, Falcons
– Cam Newton will succeed, Tim Tebow won’t
♦
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185 comments Add your comment
Alternative Rocker
April 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
Jeff, you aren’t a true San Franciscan are you ? You know, the one that McDowell hates ???
tiger7_88
April 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
All I know is that at crunch time, Auburn made Julio sit on the bench right next to Greggie Mac and Darius Hanks as all three of them sat there watching bama’s season slip, slip, slip away! Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
UGA83
April 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
Terrible move, sold the farm for one iffy pick. There are no sure things, especially fast, skinny wide receivers and by the time we pick again, late in the 3rd, there won’t be anything left but special teamers. And with the first and fourth gone next year too……….
Joe Tess Fish House
April 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
Anyone esle notice Juliet Jones father dreses like a pimp?
Glenn
April 29th, 2011
2:20 pm
If the owners get their way and secure a rookie salary cap, then the Falcons basically forced themselves into paying for high priced free agents, lower tiered draft choices, etc. to meet their player/personnel requirements. Missing out on the first shot at the top tier rookies at a lower wage scale financially, just to move up for one player this season, is bad business.
I would also suggest that in a couple of years, Calvin Johnson will be a free agent and the money the Falcons will be guaranteeing Jones, an unknown quantity, they could have ready for an all-pro receiver who wants to come home.
Julio may turn out to be a fine receiver, but you don’t mortgage the farm for one player when you have multiple needs and already know the risk that players on your current team have injury issues, will become free agents, etc.
Football isn’t checkers, it’s a game of chess – you have to anticipate several moves ahead, not just playing for the next year. If Jones is a bust, or if Roddy White gets injured (heaven forbid), or someother unforeseen circumstance occurs that impacts your basis for making this one-sided trade for one player, then the Falcons will be in a world of hurt because the Saints and Bucs have been making positive strides in the division and a mistake could set the Falcons back for years.
The GM has made a few decent moves (Ryan and Turner), but quite a few questionable ones as well, especially in the draft, taking players with histories of injuries, etc (Jerry – who has had a hard time getting/staying on the field and Moore who also missed a year before he started playing any decent ball).
idot
April 29th, 2011
2:21 pm
Unlike many of the folks here, I don’t know the ins and outs of the Falcons personnel.
I think that TD knows a lot more about it than everyone else here, my opinion.
I know he has a plan.
UGA83
April 29th, 2011
2:24 pm
Don’t need a speed receiver when Ryan can’t consistently throw the deep ball. Please not ehow his m=numbers went down, and picks went up when they let him throw some deep balls in year two, Year three was much better beecause they kept him under 15 yards almost all the time. In GB Julio muight be a smash, here he’ll just get lots of running and chasing bad balls practice!
idot
April 29th, 2011
2:25 pm
I agree with JS, about the offense, Mike Smith needs to let Mularkey take the resrictor off the pedal, and open it up.
#2 overated
April 29th, 2011
2:28 pm
Jone goes deep. Who going to get him the ball? Ryan please!!
Joey
April 29th, 2011
2:43 pm
He better know how to block, cause as conservative as Saban’s O was at Bama, he’s about to get a reality check in this offense.
Run, run, pass (if 3rd and more than 2), run, run, and pass, etc. Unless, unless we get behind very late in the game. Then Ryan passes the offense right down the field.
Marty Ball.
Mike Jay
April 29th, 2011
2:43 pm
Glenn,
You are harping about betting the farm on Julio but willing to roll the dice that you will be able to sign CJ in couple years? i think that is a much bigger risk than this. You just suggested they fix one of their glaring needs by waiting a couple years for free agent. T
cajdawg
April 29th, 2011
2:45 pm
I don’t understand this move at all. The entire offseason the fans have heard “we want to be more explosive on offense”. Jones is not explosive. He plays slower than his timed speed. I’m not saying he isn’t a good receiver and think he could be a very good pro, but I can’t ever remember Jones catching a ball and flat running by defenders. He is a physical possession receiver with slightly above average speed, for a possession receiver. DeSean Jackson is explosive, Percy Harvin is explosive, Mike Wallace is explosive.
Two years ago we heard we want to get more physical on defense, so we draft a 6′ 2” 290 Peria Jerry DT. Casey Hamptons left pinky finger weighs more than 290. Don’t draft a 290 pound DT and tell me the team is trying to get more physical
What T.D. says he wants to do in the draft doesn’t line up with who is picking.
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
I was also immediately horrified by the Peria Jerry pick. It’s one thing to pick an injury prone player, it’s quite another to pick a 25 year old injury prone player. You better be NFL impact-ready at 25, because you already have a short career window at that point. (Players tend to peak 25-31). With the exception of Matt Ryan, I haven’t been enamored with any of the early Falcon draft picks. (And honestly, there are a lot of concerns about Matt Ryan at this point. When he is bad… he is REALLY bad, and two of those games have been our two playoff games under his watch. We may have drafted Vinny Testaverde). TD has found some gems in the later rounds, I give him that. But this will go down in history as an Aundray Bruce-type disaster.
Perry & Leo
April 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
Falcons brass will be p;icking their noses in the 2nd round…
extremus
April 29th, 2011
2:56 pm
Before we grade the Falcons and Dimitroff’s decision to trade all of those picks for Jones, please remember that the dealing is likely NOT done, not by a long shot. If Dimitroff and Blank are that seriously ticked off about how the season ended last year, that bodes well for the Falcons gaining more difference makers before all is said and done. Now if we can just get this stupid labor issue out of the way…
PaulieOldschool
April 29th, 2011
2:56 pm
I love Julio Jones; the man has talent to spare, speed, huge hands, fire in the belly, and he WANTS to be here. Excellent pick up. I would love to have either Edwards or Johnson, I have loved Johnson since UGA and would welcome his fire here, too. I agree with your comments re the Coach, JSS. We need to open up the field. No tears on Jenkins, he never fit into the plan in my opinion. So far, so good as far as I’m concerned.
Kramer
April 29th, 2011
2:58 pm
DAMN! I love seeing all the arm chair GM’s on here who think they know football. News flash, you don’t! That is why we watch the game and let people like TD run the team. It is one thing to have an opinion but, it is another to act like that opinion is solid fact. Opinion’s are like a**holes and everyone has one. A few of you are acting like one as well. Right #2 is over rated? Riiiiight.
Mike Jay
April 29th, 2011
2:58 pm
Julio jones may not be Desaun jackson explosive by himself but he certainly makes the ATL offense more explosive which is the point. His ability to block downfield will lead to more long yardage, extended plays. He is plenty fast, scoring on two end arounds last year for Alabama. Roddy white was a top 3 reciever last year with a below average receiving corps around him. What kind of number can he put up this year? Good luck Double teaming someone or trying to stuff the run by loading up in the box. ATL’s offense was good but boringly efficient last year and just got vaulted into the top 5 easily.
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
April 29th, 2011
2:58 pm
Joe Tess your such a IDIOT!
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
3:01 pm
When #2 stops throwing interceptions in playoff games, I will back off. Until then, it is completely reasonable for me to at least CONSIDER that he is over-rated. A good, but not great QB. Not by a long shot.
Dale in Newnan
April 29th, 2011
3:27 pm
Love the pick! Love the pick! Love the pick! UGA fan, but JJ is an absolute stud who can and will block. Does not fear the middle, and is used to big-time football. Do not forget that he was well coached at Alabama. Roddy also had issues with catching the ball his first year; now he is a stone cold badass. With those two on the field you have the potential of having the most physical WR tandem in the game. They have no fear and will not your head off if given the chance. If they can sustain more drives that will help the D; way too many 3-and-ots last year.
DJ Sniper
April 29th, 2011
3:29 pm
I don’t know if anybody has mentioned this yet, but here’s a thought: It’s being talked about that the Saints may release Reggie Bush. He’s owed $11 million next season, and I just can’t see them paying him that for his level of productions. If that happens and the price is right, snatching him up would solve our issue of needing a change of pace back. What say you Falcon fans?
Unimpressed
April 29th, 2011
3:31 pm
The way that Julio knocks down passes, maybe he can play some defense where help is really needed. Won’t help that he can get open 30 yards downfield. That’s about 15 yard further than Matty can throw it.
GTBob
April 29th, 2011
3:38 pm
Kramer, you are right. No one should ever question what NFL teams decide to do because they know better then we do and it always works out and makes their team better. We should sit quietly and not speak. Got it.
Jeff (not Schultz)
April 29th, 2011
3:56 pm
So Schutz, your answer (along with many other fans) for the Falcons obvoious shortcomings on defense is to sign an older, more expensive guy as a free agent?
Think about it: we don’t know WHEN OR EVEN IF we’ll have free agency this year! That is a HUGE gamble and risk to take! And you can’t TELL me that none of the eight defensive ends drafted in the first round last night couldn’t help the Falcons!!!
It’s not like there is a Bruce Smith or Lawrence Taylor in their prime, just waiting to sign with Atlanta. More likely, we HAVE TO ASSUME with the current labor unrest that the Falcons defense as currently constructed (and the one that got torched by Green Bay) will be the EXACT SAME defense that takes the field this year (when and if we have games).
Julio is a great receiver, don’t get me wrong, but offensive talent was NOT a weakness for the Falcons, nor was it ANYTHING that should have been addressed in the first round. The Falcons should have used the bulk of their draft picks on defense this year.
Now, Atlanta has another good receiver, but we don’t pick again until No. 91, and players at that level might not make an immediate impact. I wanted Atlanta to draft some guys who could START on defense from day one.
If John Abraham struggles with injuries this year, and if Robinson has another poor season like he did last year, the Falcons defense will struggle mightily. And with a tougher schedule, I see Atlanta winning 6 to 7 games and taking a step back.
Teams that already have all their other pieces in place can afford to jump up and draft a wideout (a team like Green Bay or Pittsburgh or New England or New Orleans). Teams that have some OBVIOUS needs, like the Falcons did, need to address them ASAP, not wait until the 6th round.
The day after the Green Bay game, I wasn’t worried about the Falcons OFFENSE… I was worried about how to fix the DEFENSE. Did you people watch the same game as I did? Just curious.
That being said, welcome to Atlanta Julio… let’s hope your defensive teammates can step it up this year!!!
Mark
April 29th, 2011
4:00 pm
He fits into our culture we are building perfectly so I love the trade overall. I just hope we make some free agent D moves too.
retired
April 29th, 2011
4:06 pm
if we go after Reggie does the Kaardasian itchbay come too!
Mike
April 29th, 2011
4:15 pm
Did not give enough for J Jones. He can make this offense great. We can outscore or run the ball better than any team. The Green Bay game would off been a whole different game if we had J Jones.
Great pick, JJ & A J Green come around one every ten + years. Winning 7-11 games a year, the Falcons would of never had a chance to pick up a Quality Game breaker. Great pick
DJ Sniper
April 29th, 2011
4:25 pm
I’ll admit to having a WTF moment when the Falcons first pulled this deal off. I was fine with drafting a WR, but I didn’t expect us to give up what we did. Now that I’ve had a day to digest this, I’m not really panicking about what we gave up. Teams should now be able to start discussing deals for other players, and I believe that is where the Falcons will address some of their other shortcomings, especially at DE. Yes, there were several DE’s available in the first round, but we all know it’s rare to get a DE who can make an immediate impact as a rookie. I like the idea of going after someone like Ray Edwards, Charles Johnson, or whoever else may suit their needs.
Another reason I’m not panicking is because the last time I gave the Falcons this much grief was when they picked Matt Ryan. I wanted them to get Glen Dorsey. This is why I am not the general manager. lol
moriler
April 29th, 2011
4:51 pm
same ol’ same ol’. To everyone gripin’ about what we gave up: who were the difference makers y’all were gonna pick with our 2nd and 4th this year, kids? how deep you think this draft was? And the 4th next year in another crappy draft class? Who’s gonna be a senior next year that we’ll want?
To the Calvin Johnson hopers: Detroit will franchise him, fool. Waitin’ two years for nothin’ is stuh-oopid.
To the people saying “shoulda done the defense first!”: OK, at least this is a sane gripe. But right now, you can look at the offense and say DONE and DONE. The necessary personnel are all in place. Now you can turn around and spend money and effort on the defense — which wasn’t all THAT bad last year. Plug up a couple of the weak spots and it might be dangerous, especially with more power for the offense to keep our D off the field longer.
You gotta have a good defense — but you can make up for it if you have a helluvan offense. And vice versa; see how good Detroit is looking on the “D” side of the ball since those fools ahead of them let ‘em get Fairley? Kitty got some claws now, son.
woeismesince66
April 29th, 2011
5:15 pm
DUMBMOVE!!!!!!DUMBMOVE!!!!!!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!
DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
5:58 pm
TD says today “We are not one player away”. Huh. Is that why you gave up this years and next years draft for an unproven wr? Gotta love that strategy.
Slick
April 29th, 2011
6:42 pm
How did we give our draft away? We still got 6 picks. We got 2 less picks this year than we started with – a second and forth rounder. You guys are hard to please. Who was going to matter at 27? Get the Green Bay game out of your head. Yeah it was an ass beating and I hated it as much as yall, but Rodgers would have shredded the 85 Bears that night. The 16 games prior to that the defense played well enough to win 13 of them. And in 2 of the 3 we lost the defense gave up 15 (in overtime) and 17 points. At least wait until after the draft and FA is over, then bitch if you got to.
truth
April 29th, 2011
6:46 pm
UGA83
April 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
Terrible move, sold the farm for one iffy pick. There are no sure things, especially fast, skinny wide receivers and by the time we pick again, late in the 3rd, there won’t be anything left but special teamers. And with the first and fourth gone next year too……….
You could go to the Bungles board and root for AJ……..good day..bye..bye.
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
6:47 pm
The corner that went at 27 (Jimmy Smith) would have been a better pick than Julio… it would have met our needs more, and we would still have all of our picks. This was just a terrible, terrible move. He certainly won’t be a factor in year one. WR’s just rarely are. Silly
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
6:49 pm
TD says we aren’t one player away, yet makes a move that completely contradicts that statement. I am just dumbfounded.
JULIO
April 29th, 2011
6:50 pm
What #2 corner in the league wants to cover a freak like Julio Jones one on one. Hello, with Gonzo and Roddy, there will be no more double teams. As a matter of fact, this will open our run game up to scary proportions. I think defensive coordinators are not going to sleep ATL week. This makes Atlanta’s offense scary to face. If you want proof, just watch the LSU film when Julio took a hitch route against Peterson for 80 yds. Get off me. JULIO biotches.
truth
April 29th, 2011
6:50 pm
woeismesince66
April 29th, 2011
5:15 pm
DUMBMOVE!!!!!!DUMBMOVE!!!!!!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!
DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you speaking of the time when your dad slept with your mother and you were conceived?
truth
April 29th, 2011
6:52 pm
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
6:49 pm
TD says we aren’t one player away, yet makes a move that completely contradicts that statement. I am just dumbfounded.
We’re all dumbfounded as to why you are not on the Eagles board rooting for your lineman.
Slick
April 29th, 2011
6:56 pm
We just signed a corner to a big money deal last year and the other corner made the Pro Bowl. As far as I know there are only 2 corners in a base 4-3. Falcons were not drafting a corner first round Cousin.
full speed
April 29th, 2011
7:04 pm
MUST HEAR ATLANTA FALCONS FANS!!!! WOW!!!! SOMETHING BIG COMING!!
http://limelinx.com/files/afafb7bc5fef442dc4200a8d1ae6bf9d
Braves place Roger McDowell on 'administrative leave' | Jeff Schultz
April 29th, 2011
7:19 pm
[...] – Time for Falcons to open offense (and defensive fix coming) [...]
sticky fingers
April 29th, 2011
7:19 pm
`
6′4″ Michael Jenkins could play tight end, if he gains about 30 pounds.
tim
April 29th, 2011
7:30 pm
If the falcons have patterned themselves after the patriots, they sure deviated from it by trading away so many draft picks that are early rounds.
ejj
April 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
Yes, I still have my doubts, Jones played in the SEC which is a plus, but he will be lining up across from NFL cornerback, it will be totally different.
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
Truth,
My screen name has nothing to do with Michael Vick. Wouldn’t that make me Cousin Vick? I am a life long Falcons fan. Doesn’t make this horrible trade any less horrible.
Tidegirl
April 29th, 2011
7:33 pm
I can’t freakin’ wait to hear the Dome chanting Juuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllliiiiiiiiioooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
7:35 pm
Slick,
I don’t know how confident the Falcons are in one amazing season by the lil spark plug. And Dunta was not exactly a shut down corner. You can never have too many good dbs. You CAN have too many average wide receivers.
truth
April 29th, 2011
9:06 pm
Cousin Vicker
April 29th, 2011
7:32 pm
Truth,
My screen name has nothing to do with Michael Vick. Wouldn’t that make me Cousin Vick? I am a life long Falcons fan. Doesn’t make this horrible trade any less horrible.
Your smoke screen doesn’t full anyone.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 29th, 2011
9:46 pm
All I have to say about Thomas Dimitroff is……
HA HA HA
They are so desperate to win a playoff game that they have set the franchise back to the 2007 team
Who is going to throw the ball to Julio Jones? The Falcons were last in the NFL with 9 passes of 30 or more yards. We all know who was first (Mr. NFL Vick himself).
Here is what the Falcons have done to make CHOKE a game manager:
- Signed a Pro Bowl Back (No playoff wins)
- Signed a Pro Bowl/Hall of Fame Tight End (No playoff wins)
- Drafted 2 offensive linemen in the 1st round (No playoff wins)
- Have a Pro Bowl Receiver (No playoff wins)
- Signed a 50 million dollar d-back (No playoff wins)
- Gave away a 2nd round pick in 2009
- Gave away 5 high picks
Now if the Falcons don’t go to the Superbowl or even win a playoff game, will CHOKE finally get the blame that comes along with being the franchise qb?
I doubt it
Now look at Tampa, they will win the NFC South this season, with all those quality picks in the draft.
CHOKE is a bust, no matter how much talent you place around him, he will SUCK
This draft has just extended me a few more years of blog time