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
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 29th, 2011
9:51 pm
The Eagles got Jackson in the 2nd round and Maclin in the late 1st round and didn’t lose any picks.
You have to have quality GMs and Coaches to analyze talent. Dimitroff, Smitty and CHOKE are JOKES
truth
April 29th, 2011
10:52 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
April 29th, 2011
9:51 pm
The Eagles got Jackson in the 2nd round and Maclin in the late 1st round and didn’t lose any picks.
You have to have quality GMs and Coaches to analyze talent. Dimitroff, Smitty and CHOKE are JOKES
Choke, to bad the man your mother paid $20.00 to sleep with her didn’t use a better condom.
truth
April 29th, 2011
10:55 pm
vuduchld
April 29th, 2011
11:10 pm
Is this guy the secind coming of Jerry Rice? Nope! It’s clearly evident you know zippo about football. I’m not knocking Julio Jones, he will have a good NFL career, but a player of his caliber was available in the lower portions of the draft. To trade away five potential players over the next two years for a wide out who will have a decent NFL career shows how desperate the Falcons have become in trying to make themselves as an “upper tier” team. Notice the other trades going on? Team s were trying to trade DOWN because there were value players to be had. De’Quan Bowers didn’t go until mid second round. Yes, he had knee issues, but teams filled needs. The Browns, Patriots, Bears all made trades where they got more players. Sorry, da birds don’t have a clue!
joe
April 29th, 2011
11:30 pm
If he can be a play maker then the draft picks we gave up will be worth it, but I agree, got to open the offense up to compete with GB and NO Adding an effective DE thru free agency would help sooth the loss of draft picks….
MaxxFalcon
April 30th, 2011
12:16 am
Jeff!! You knocked it out of the park with this blog. I couldn’t agree more. We are getting either Edwards or Johnson this offseason. Julio’s physicality and Fullback-type mentality is rare for a Wideout. I’m loving this move, I can’t wait to see this team in the Fall. Go Falcons!
MaxxFalcon
April 30th, 2011
12:18 am
Sidbury and Franks will get their shot this year too
Cousin Vicker
April 30th, 2011
12:39 am
Truth,
Can you not disagree strongly with a trade without being accused of being a Ryan/Falcon basher and/or Vick lover. For the record, no I’m not a big fan of Ryan. He is a good QB, and portrays an image that I wish Vick had when he was here. I just don’t think he is elite. But I am a huge Falcons fan, have been since I started following sports. I want Ryan and Julio to prove me wrong. I’ll be right here to admit it if I am. But I have my opinion on things, and I won’t apologize for them.
IF that isn’t enough to sway you, how about this: Choke should have been banned from this entire site a LONG time ago. He’s the Joke that goes by Choke, and every person on this blog knows it.
BC
April 30th, 2011
1:08 am
I give the Packers a lot of credit – & rightfully so, they won it all. Truth be told, they literally should not of made the Playoffs last year. Eagles don t blow a 4 TD lead with 8 minutes left against the giants, the “champs” arent even in the Playoffs. That being said, I think hey have already cashed all their chips in, not so worried about the pack this year.
falconfanintitantown
April 30th, 2011
1:34 am
Remember the playoff loss. We couldn’t keep up in a shootout (as previously stated), We needed an impact player on offense to be able to keep up with other teams with explosive offenses. It hurts to give up so many picks, but I like this move. None of us know how this will turn out, but I am impressed that our organization is DEDICATED TO WINNING! When was the last time you could say that about our BELOVED FALCONS. RISE THE #$@%&* UP ATLANTA AND SUPPORT THIS TEAM, I DO ALL THE WAY FROM NASHVILLE BABEEEE!
Pepe Frias played here.
April 30th, 2011
7:02 am
Dont you prevent a shootout with a strong defense? I dont like this pick at all. Jones has hands made of stone.
Samuel
April 30th, 2011
7:30 am
One thing you can’t argue about- the Falcons are trying consistently to get better. Now with the linebacker Dent will they part ways with Peterson, Cory Wire or Nick…
HJones
April 30th, 2011
7:35 am
Jeff, No 1 is truly an understatement:
—————————————————————————-
♦ 1.) UNLEASH THE FURY! ,,,,,, 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. …………….. Calls plays that allow Matt Ryan to get the ball to the playmakers in space. Keep defenses off-balance.
—————————————————————————
The trade will be a bust if Mike Mularkey continues to call the same sequence and type of plays next season. Blank and Dimitroff must read the “riot act” to Coach Smith and Coach Mularkey about the offensive strategy and play calling.
Jeff, is the problem here Coach Smith or Coach Mularkey?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 30th, 2011
8:58 am
For all you clowns out there that continues to use that “The Ravens win on good defense”, well how did they get that great defense?
Dimitroff is no Ozzie Newsome
If you have a mediocre defense, you don’t give away the WHOLE draft and spend it on offense
CHOKE is a loser and that is based on his impressive playoff success
I repeat: The Eagles got Desean Jackson in the 2nd round and Maclin in the last 1st round. You remember those guys that torched the Falcons the past 2 seasons with a combined score of like 71 – 24
Real Talk
April 30th, 2011
3:02 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
April 30th, 2011
8:58 am
This guy aint talkin about NOTHINGGGGGGGG!!! LMAO
Men lie, Women lie, But numbers dont!! – Hova
ENOUGH SAID!!!
Real Talk
April 30th, 2011
3:07 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
This dude a lil hoe!!! Lol Cryin because his BF(Vick) no longer plays here..Reminds me of an ex gf!! BITTER!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
When was the last time the Falcants won a playoff game?
Oh damn my bad – He plays in Philly
Stats don’t lie
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
The big question on week 2 will be this………….
Who will get the most cheers….. CHOKE or Vick?
That will show who’s City Atlanta is
Now that will be so embarrassing if Vick owns 2 Cities
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
WE WANT VICK
HA HA HA
Falconsfan13
April 30th, 2011
7:34 pm
I LOVE the FALCONS!!!!!! Welcome Julio to the Falcons!!!! Dirty Birds baby!!!!! Sometimes the best Defense is a great Offense and that is what we are going to be!!!!! Mike Smith, put it on Matty Ice’s shoulders and he WILL deliver. Let’s go Falcons!!!! Ready for football
Joe
April 30th, 2011
11:35 pm
There’s more than two knocks on him. He’s also a poor route run and was never a deep threat at Alabama because he couldn’t get separation down the field.
JSS
May 1st, 2011
8:07 am
Jeff Schultz
April 29th, 2011
1:38 pm
“Well, hell. Dick “Night Train” Lane wasn’t drafted by anybody. So maybe teams should just forget about drafting altogether.”
You realize that you’re addressing that statement at a fandom that worships Tom Pridemore, Scott Case, and thinks that just because laid some wood on a number of tackles that they were great players?
@ the Rich McKay haters…
Without him you’d never lucked into Grimes or Weems. Moreover, you’d have Dimitroff distracted in trying to aid Blank in his stadium folly… That is the main reason Rich McKay still has a job in the Atlanta organization…
Just Saying...
May 1st, 2011
8:10 am
Felling better.
JSS
May 1st, 2011
8:32 am
@ MCR…
Have a good off season, they’ll (the Falcons) will get tested right out of the chute. Well, that is only if the appellate court has come to their senses since Friday when they convene on Monday to address the “temporary stay.”…
tony
May 1st, 2011
9:20 am
I’m not excited about this draft but I’m thrill about Jacquizz Rogers.
YourPoliticalAnimal
May 1st, 2011
10:04 am
Reggis Bush as a possibility is very intriguing, but he might be too expensive . . . when are we going to dump that Arkansas atrocity, Jamal Anderson??? That was coach what’s-his-name’s idea of a cruel joke . . .GO FALCONS!!!, GO BILLS !!!
YourPoliticalAnimal
May 1st, 2011
10:06 am
If you’ll give me tickets to the week 2 Eagles-Falcons game, I’ll let you rent my beach front condo in Montana . . .
tony
May 1st, 2011
10:40 am
The Falcons will win the Super Bowl if they sign Richard Seymour-DT and Charles Johnson-DE
JSS
May 1st, 2011
11:24 am
Seymour? He signed an extension months ago before the lockout, $30 million dollars for two years!
Foley Dawg
May 1st, 2011
5:41 pm
Yes, Julio was expensive (5 draft picks), but he is worth it. After watching him IN PERSON all through High School here in Foley and then see him play at Alabama all I can say is just wait and see. Even in High School he was a MAN in a kid’s game. The dude is quite frankly a “BEAST”!!!!!! I have been a Falcons fan since 66, growing up in Atlanta and a Dawg fan for life. I really wanted them to get A.J., but as far as pure strength Julio has it all over AJ. There were times (a lot ot them) during his career at Georgia that AJ would take himself out of a game after a catch or two. Julio won’t do that. And just look at the guy, he is RIPPED from head to toe. No JUICE, just pure freakish strength and dedication to working out. He has a great desire to win and is a great young man to boot. Coach Watkins @ Foley High School did a great job with this young man moving him from RB to WR and then working with him to get him on his way to success.
YourPoliticalAnimal
May 1st, 2011
6:10 pm
People keep saying that the Falcons gave up “five draft picks” to get Julio Jones. In the first round of this year they only swapped a 27 for a 6. They gave up their 2nd and 4th for this year, and their 1st and 4th for next year . . . they gave up four picks, not five . . . If I have a suit and paid $27.00, and you have a better one but you only paid $6.00, you are at a distinct advantage . . . that’s exactly what happened with the 1st round swap this year . . . 27 . . . 6 . . .
Ed
May 1st, 2011
7:52 pm
I love the Julio Jones pick for so many reasons not only is he going to make our offense more vertical but he is also a great route runner and blocker. Also love the Akeem Dent pick in the 3rd round and Jacquizz Rodgers was also a steal in the 5th. I think he will be that change of pace back that the Falcons really need to compliment Turner and Snelling.
Sara Teagarden
May 1st, 2011
11:14 pm
Solid info! I wonder if this’ll show up on CoachWatcher. CW is the place to go for all the coaching info, news, and rumors. http://www.CoachWatcher.com
RMikel58
May 2nd, 2011
3:29 am
Good call by Atlanta to just go for it! You may draft 6 players and only end up with only a good 1 out of the bunch. Atlanta was looking for an “impact player” like Jones. If they had set back on their hands and hoped for the best then they might have stunk in the draft.
Then we’d all be on here calling them names because they were not bold enough to trade up!
He’s tall, he’s fast and has heart. The rest will come as he grows up in this level. This kid plays hard and blocks very well.
When they eventually settle this lockout and start playing im looking for the Falcons to go to Free Agency to bulk up their Defense in a couple areas. Arthur Blank is the most committed Owner in the NFL to succeed and win a championship.
We’re very fortunate to have a decent human being that loves winning, loves his players and this city and is willing to do watever it takes to get us to the next level. Wish i could say the same for the Braves, Hawks and Thrashers.
RMikel58
May 2nd, 2011
3:57 am
Damn Whiners! How many times in the past has the Atlanta Falcons picked a #1 player in the draft and won a championship? This is all i used to hear about how many number 1’s they got and most of them either got traded or were played seldomly or turned out to be crap.
Yeah Brett Favre went to Green Bay so what! So there have been players that went on to better careers after leaving Atlanta…….so what.
This happens in all sports not just here. You ppl think you have all the answers then why arent you coaching the Falcons or doing Dimitroff’s job?
Arthur Blank has stallions in his organization, thoroughbreds unlike some of the jackasses here. Not 1 person here can make any solid predictions on what Julio Jones will turn out to be, only Julio knows. You have the crystal ball to life? You play the Quija Board alot? Youre psychic? You have a PHD in sports? You carry a Rabbits Foot wherever you go or maybe you have a Jeannie in a Bottle.
Fact is none of you here including me can make any predictions of what Atlanta will do once the season starts but we can all hope for the best.
I’d rather put my faith in the Falcons on their decisions then listen to your outlandish criticism of their draft picks.
I in my opinion have heard nothing in this room that makes any sense of why the Falcons made a mistake getting Julio and its my hopes that after the season starts he will make all of you fair weathered fans eat crow” .
Im just glad i dont have to sit next to you in the seats and listen to all of your belly aching while im trying to enjoy the game. Its a friggin sport…..get over it.
Quincy Q
May 5th, 2011
8:54 am
Thomas Dimitroff was on the scout department in Cleveland Browns 1998-2001 and Detroit Lions scout department from 1994-1997 and both of those teams did not draft well and they both had losing records Dimitroff doesn’t evaluate talent well.