Dimitroff: ‘Insinuation we’re not being active is incorrect’
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been trying to do the most he can with a limited budget. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
In his first four years as the Falcons’ chief architect, Thomas Dimitroff didn’t have to convince anybody that he was being aggressive.
There were screaming headlines every offseason as evidence: Free-agent signings (Michael Turner, Dunta Robinson, Ray Edwards), a trade for a Hall of Famer (Tony Gonzalez), draft picks for franchise anchors (Matt Ryan, Julio Jones).
Yet, here we are in mid-March, and the headlines haven’t been screaming. Re-signing John Abraham was significant. It broke the silence of spring. But whether that’s enough to douse perceptions that the Falcons aren’t doing nearly enough to improve their product is another matter.
To say that Dimitroff disagrees with those perceptions would be an understatement.
“The insinuation that we’re not being active and doing everything we can to improve our football team is, in my mind, incorrect,” the Falcons’ general manager said, measuring his words carefully. “We’re doing everything in our power to analyze and improve this team.
“We said we’re going to be aggressive and make changes, not just tweaks. Between [placing the franchise tag on] Brent Grimes and [signing] Abraham, and the new coaches we’ve brought in, we feel we’ve been making significant changes.”
Abraham’s signing helps. If he had not accepted the Falcons’ contract offer — and there were concerns in the building that their best pass rusher was going to sign elsewhere — Dimitroff would have sought help in the free-agent market. But Abraham was his preferred option. (There is still a chance the Falcons could re-sign linebacker Curtis Lofton, but he’s drawing interest from other teams, including New Orleans.)
But here’s where the divide between perceptions comes in: Whereas fans, media and others off the team’s Flowery Branch campus hear the words “aggressiveness” or “change” and equate that to “new,” Dimitroff is factoring in signings and negotiations with existing members to preserve the team’s core.
He has a point. Several Falcons, including picks from Dimitroff’s first draft in 2008, had expiring contracts. Identifying the key players in a team’s core is part of building a winner. The question is whether this will be good enough.
Dimitroff believes so. He expects Smith’s new coordinators, Dirk Koetter and Mike Nolan, and offensive line coach Pat Hill to have significant impacts. “When you get new coaches in, it’s a fresh perspective,” he said. “Both [coordinators] came in and had real positive feelings after analyzing our roster. We said we’re going to make changes, and this is a big part of that.”
One obvious area in question is the offensive line. There’s still a chance the Falcons will bring in another veteran (center Todd McClure remains unsigned). But Dimitroff thinks the change to Hill, who replaces the fired Paul Boudreau, will help the existing cast.
“We needed to truly analyze what the issue was with the offensive line,” he said. “They were back on their heels too much, literally and figuratively. We have the makings of a gritty, physical line. We like the foundation of our line.”
And yes, he is including the oft-maligned left tackle Sam Baker. “He’s been a part of many wins for us over the last four years,” he said, then referenced Baker’s injury problems.
Which means either don’t expect a change, or there’s one surprise left to come.
Dimitroff touched on several other topics during an hour-long interview, including:
• Being so close to the salary-cap ceiling makes many more moves difficult, unless more space is created. (He didn’t expand on that, so I’ll translate: A veteran would need to be cut or traded. With Baker getting the vote of confidence, that leaves fullback Ovie Mughelli as a likely candidate. His salary: $3 million.)
• Dimitroff considers cornerback Brent Grimes (who was franchised) part of the team’s core and still hopes to get him signed to a multi-year contract.
• He was relieved to get No. 3 receiver Harry Douglas signed to a new deal, believing the team might lose him. Keeping both Douglas and Eric Weems wasn’t likely (Weems signed with Chicago).
• He believes defensive end Kroy Biermann and safety Thomas DeCoud, despite some issues last season, are versatile and fill needed roles, which is why they were re-signed.
Bottom line: Dimitroff likes his team.
“Everybody in the organization is held accountable and asked to improve, and that starts with me,” he said.
Ultimately, he knows: The real grades won’t come until next season.
By Jeff Schultz
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232 comments Add your comment
Dash Riprock
March 17th, 2012
7:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Dash Riprock
March 17th, 2012
7:14 pm
I guess the thing that bothers me is how the OC and DC were supposed to be making all these changes — the old Mike Smith, “Well, we had some problems and we’re going to fix them, believe you me.” And, in reality, nobody was remotely up to the job. Nothing ever got fixed, but we all knew it was the OC and DC who were destroying the entire year
Now, we feel like the lines are the main areas of weakness and… well, nothing. I’m sorry, but the Comade has lost the ability to tell me that everything is under control as of this moment in time and I should go back to my lunch instead of worrying my pretty little head about football things I don’t really understand.
Offensive line. Defensive line. What have you made better, I wonder?
kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
7:23 pm
@Joe
Pass-rush will probably come from LB blitz packages installed by Coach Nolan using bettet speed by Dent and Vince T. Coach Nolan will have to be very creative, but it can be done.
kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
7:28 pm
@Dash R.
Move along folks, nothing to see here. Oh yeah,ignore that person behind the curtain,nothing to see here…
kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
7:34 pm
Paddy
YOU SHOULD BE IN SAVANNAH. Great name…Sorry folks gotta go drink some green beer just to see if it turns my p** green. Happy St.Patricks Day…
Falcons R Weak
March 17th, 2012
7:42 pm
Its pretty sad for the GM to say the Falcons are “agressive” when they have signed 2 injury-plagued players only. Resigning your own players doesn’t count. That cannot be an UPGRADE since we know how those players will play. Big money to Abraham for 9.5 sacksi s retarded. Until the Falcons sign an impact player that will make a difference save the time writing about them…
Falcons R Weak
March 17th, 2012
7:44 pm
If linebackers blitz quick passes to running backs and tight ends will result in touchdowns. Its the defensive ends job to rush the QB.
Kenneth
March 17th, 2012
7:59 pm
Wow, golly, that’s a really super neat update, y’all! But, I heard Matt Ryan stubbed his toe on a sand dollar while beachcombing at Sea Island on Fridy!! Guess I’m not the only one reporting importnat news on the Atlanta Falcons this spring!
Go Birds!
Kenneth
Lofa Smith
March 17th, 2012
8:40 pm
techmule, u be da man – but da Falcons be da football team !
Falcons R Weak
March 17th, 2012
8:43 pm
Dimitroff :
“We said we’re going to be aggressive and make changes, not just tweaks. Between [placing the franchise tag on] Brent Grimes and [signing] Abraham, and the new coaches we’ve brought in, we feel we’ve been making significant changes.”
I honestly can’t believe he said that. Hiring new coaches in no way makes your players better. Only better players make your team better.
Falcons R Weak
March 17th, 2012
8:49 pm
Grimes and Abraham were already Falcons. So credit Dimitroff for keeping Matt Ryan,Michael Turner,T.Gonzalez, heck the whole team while you’re at it. Same players will equal same results.
Those new coaches came from sorry Jacksonville not New England or Green Bay. But they are somehow going to make Falcons players better ? Why couldn’t they do it in Jacksonville ?
tom
March 17th, 2012
9:17 pm
You fail to mention the duds the GM brought in to make improvements. Edwards, Jerri and others. Keeping Grimes was a major mistake. If every team next season would target Grimes every down with a tall receiver or tight end you would see Grimes greatness deflated in a major way.
Who Me?
March 17th, 2012
9:29 pm
Dimitroff is going to need asbestos underwear by the time this season is over. He’s cooked, and all that “blah blah blah” you’re reading above amounts to diddly-squat.
When are they going to stop using Jacksonville as their AAA farm team? Why haven’t they cleaned house yet? If this team doesn’t produce at least one playoff win this year, sayonara knotheads. Hopefully Blank will pull the trifecta and waste McKay, Dimitroff, and Smith on the same day….
Bee Gee Bradley
March 17th, 2012
9:30 pm
Remember last year when Grimes was resigned at last minute ? No other team wanted him.
Calvin Johnson,Andre Johnson,Hakeem Nicks,Marques Colston make Grimes look like a little boy…
Abraham is not the Abraham of 2009. He is slower. Jared Allen had 22 sacks last year and Abraham had 9.5.
SAFETY VIKING
March 17th, 2012
9:36 pm
Anyone else get the feeling -when they read TD’s words- that he sounds an awful LOT like Kevin Bacon’s character in the closing minutes of Animal House? “REMAIN CALM!!!! ALL IS WELL!!!!!!!”
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
9:38 pm
Dimtrioffe must think that the fans who support the team, help pay his salary, and make this sport one of the greatest sports in the world, are ignorant!! To bring in an OC from Jacksonville is shame!! What has he accomplished in the NFL? Coach Smith is scared 2 get a real offensive
minded genius because it will expose him as a coach that is not a very good coach! He cannot prepare his team for Big games, and his philosophy is outdated!! Mr. Blank please go and get a Bill Cowhart. We need someone who will hold players accountable and play hardnose football with a high energy, fast no huddle offense!! Is Matt Ryan the QB that will get us a Championship? I hope that this organization proves me wrong, I am beggining 2 think that we are afraid to look at the blueprint of other winning teams and immulate them!! The Saints won a Super Bowl before we did. Are we really commited to go ALL THE WAY? Comments please!!! I will not travel with the Team this year, I don’t believe the crap that they are saleing!!
Real Talk boy!
March 17th, 2012
9:45 pm
DMACK…that is the pure un-adulturated but people who drink the kool-aid will not agree. Dimitroff, Smith, and Ryan have served their purpose of providing stability to an organization that was at the bottom of the bucket, now we need to bring in the real deal style of GM, coaching and QB who can take us to the next level. I personally think those three should be a group package to any other organization who just can’t seem to get it right, right now. All three of them should go to Jacksonville.
SAFETY VIKING
March 17th, 2012
9:48 pm
Oh boy….LAST?!
The Monger
March 17th, 2012
9:48 pm
The thing you have to go thinking about now with the LT tackle position is…okay, both LT’s Sam Baker and Marcus McNeil are coming off injuries….and I think both have had at least 2 now, Im not sure with Baker, but I remember his back this year, and his leg last year or something. Thats pretty scary to be injured so much by like what…25? 26 years old?? So anyways its pretty much an equal risk with either of these LT’s. So you have to ask who has been the most dominant, the most solid, best protection LT in both the run and the pass, and that is easily Marcus McNeil. So you have to go with the greater reward…McNeil. While Baker is above average to good at his best, McNeil is good to great at his best, not an ALL-Pro, but pretty dominant none the less in pass protection ( I mean he has blocked for Brees and Rivers, and some #1 offenses in his days) and pretty good as a run blocker, not great but better than Baker. So he beats him in both run and pass, and he is a bigger, more vicious mauler, which is what I think TD is looking for…some more beef on the O-Line…Clabo is like 320, Vince Manuwai- the guy TD just brought in is 340, we need a new center or go with Joe Hawley who is 310. Although I think TD may bring in a Veteran C in Free Agency with a little more beef, maybe 320-325. Blaylock is 330. and if we bring in Marcus McNeil in Free Agency who is 345. We would have a MONSTER strong, and pretty nasty O-Line which is what this team NEEDS!! To run a smash-mouth approach with Ovie and Turner, we need more beef, more like the O-Lines of the Steelers or Ravens. I think We need this on the O-Line and I really think TD is leaning this way as well….. Welcome the BIG BOI’S Atlanta!!!!!! (Anyone notice the pun?)
Bee Gee Bradley
March 17th, 2012
9:52 pm
Somebody has a hardon for Hawaiin fat linemen…
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
10:03 pm
THANKS REAL TALK BOY, I LOVE MY TEAM AND WE HAVE ALL SPENT 2 MUCH MONEY OVER THE YEARS TO KEEP GETTTING TEASED! I KNOW MR. BLANK MEANS WELL BUT HE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT SUPPORTING CAST! MAYBE AFTER WHEN ARE SENT HOME THIS YEAR IN THE PLAY-OFFS, IF WE EVEN MAKE IT, BECAUSE CAROLINA AND TAMPA BAY HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED WE WILL GET REAL CHANGE!! KEEP IT REAL MY BROTHER!
Bee Gee Bradley
March 17th, 2012
10:04 pm
They should have signed Abraham to a performance-based contract. A flat $2 million then: He gains a million for every sack over 15 and loses a million for each number under 15.
The Monger
March 17th, 2012
10:06 pm
what do ya’ll think about getting Andre Gurode in Free Agency to fill Todd McClure’s respected seat at C as well as Marcus McNeil to play LT for Baker? I mean we could create cap space by cutting Baker and Ovie to free up 5-6 million and we could get a cheaper FB to replace Ovie. Although I really like Ovie, and understand what a blocker and overall MONSTER he is opening holes; we can, if we have to, find a younger FB in Free Agency who has that tenacity and bulk that Ovie had and start the grooming process. I would like to keep Ovie if we can, and see if maybe cutting Baker and signing Grimes to a more reasonable long term contract will free up this room. If we can get these 2…this is what our O-Line will look like… Nice, Very Nice….We would have some real bulk and resemble those MONSTER O-line’s in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and New England….
2012 (Potentially)
RT- Tyson Clabo- 6′6 331 lbs.
RG- Vince Manuwai 6′2 333 lbs.
C- Andre Gurode- 6′4 334 lbs.
LG- Justin Blaylock- 6′4 329 lbs.
LT- Marcus McNeil – 6′7 336 lbs.
What do ya’ll think of that O-Line?? I understand size is not everything in the NFL, or not even paramount to success, but is that not a nice sized line to run behind?? Not to even mention the talent level…I mean tackles Clabo and McNeill on the same team blocking the rushers and opening holes is great…Blalock and Manuwai are both strong physical guys and good to great blockers in the middle, if Manuwai can stay healthy…and Gurode is an awesome C. That looks scary good for an O-Line…
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
10:13 pm
WE NEED REAL CHANGE!! I HOPE THAT I AM WRONG BUT I THINK THAT THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE SOUTH ARE CATCHING UP WITH US!! REAL TALK BOY, CONTINUE TO KEEP IT REAL! I AM JUST TIRED OF TRAVELING TO GAMES ALL YEAR FOR US TO FLOP IN THE PLAY-OFFS!!
NO OTHER ATLANTA FRANCHISE IS EVEN CLOSE TO BRINGING HOME A CHAMPIONSHIP!! FALCONS PLEASE HELP US BE PROUD!!! BRING HOME THE GOLD!!
Bee Gee Bradley
March 17th, 2012
10:17 pm
If they signed Abraham to my performance based contract he’d owe $7 million back to the team….
Real Talk boy!
March 17th, 2012
10:29 pm
If New Orleans doesn’t receive a hefty penalty this year, we will be 4th in the NFC South this year unless Dimitroff pulls something out of the hat. Which we all know will only be an injured player most likely. So I will go with being 4th in the NFC South. We will not make the playoffs this year. I hate to say this but I give us a 8-8 win season at the most as we are right now because of the moves that the other teams are making in our conference. A few screen plays designed by our new OC will not get us to the SB, Im sorry.
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
10:31 pm
GREAT IDEA BEE GEE!!! 8 MILLION DOLLARS WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE OLD PASS RUSHER THAT CAN’T GET PASS A DOUBLE TEAM AND SACK A BAG OF ROCKS! HE LET MORE QB’S SLIP AWAY FROM HIM THAN HE SACK ANYWAY! “COMEON MAN” !!!!!!
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
10:57 pm
I think U are right Real Talk, but I sure hope we a wrong on this one! It doe’snt look promising for the Jacksonville Mud Ducks this year! OOOOps I meant Atlanta Falcons.
hbcuclassics
March 17th, 2012
11:01 pm
HBCU Classic Sports –
2012 Draft Board Preview (1-10)
1. Ryan Davis 6’3, 245 DE Bethune
2. Adrian Hamilton 6’3, 250 DE Prairie View
3. Christian Thompson 6’2, 220 SS SC State
4. Mario Louis 6’1, 190 WR Grambling
5. Dominique Ellis 6’0, 185 CB SC State
6. Donavan Robinson 6’2, 230 LB Jackson St
7. Reggie Sandilands 6’1, 230 LB Bethune
8. Ryan Lewis 6’3, 225 LB Bethune
9. Sanford Banks 6’5, 300 OL Grambling
10. Micah Pellerin 6’0, 196 DB Hampton
http://www.hbcuclassics.com
Bee Gee Bradley
March 17th, 2012
11:04 pm
I watched 10 teams single block Abraham and he had zero sacks. Those double-teams are your imagination. He had 6 of his 9.5 sacks against 2 teams. He & Joe Johnson legally steal money…
PMC
March 17th, 2012
11:07 pm
It’s not so much inactivity as it is the activity. People don’t understand how a roster that has been over matched massively in it’s last two playoff wins after pretty good seasons is going to somehow achieve more.
PMC
March 17th, 2012
11:08 pm
Thomas has the right to be confident in the guys he’s brought in, but at some point, he’s going to have to admit he missed.
Sam Baker, is a really really big miss.
PMC
March 17th, 2012
11:11 pm
Dimitroff hasn’t come out and said it, but he’s essentially said through retaining all these players, that the last two coaches couldn’t hack it, he made all the right moves and they were garbage.
PMC
March 17th, 2012
11:14 pm
Sam Baker is a decent player, he’s just was a big reach and it hasn’t really panned out injuries or not.
Dmack757
March 17th, 2012
11:24 pm
Now as I recap the games U are right Bee Gee, my Bad! We have just been robbed Again!!
PMC
March 17th, 2012
11:26 pm
We all know Baker went where he did because there was a run on tackles and the Falcons didn’t have a tackle. Can’t have a brand new QB and no tackle. It made sense, the thing that hasn’t made sense is continuing to believe Baker was going to turn into a star.
I don’t think there is any one problem, but they can’t be hard headed either. We can’t wait forever for guys to develop.
Again, it’s not like they had a bad core. I get what the Comrade is getting at. I understand him, but seriously, the problem is still that they don’t have enough play makers and they don’t make enough plays. My issue with this off season is that they team is not elevating the talent from what it was when they were obviously over matched.
I just don’t see how the same group is going to be significantly better even with other talented coaches on the roster. It’s not like the talent we had was just stagnant or making mistakes, they COULDN’T make the plays against Green Bay, Thomas, they were in the backfield and COULDN’T make the play.
GDawg
March 17th, 2012
11:35 pm
I love being a fan of a team with so much fan support. Everyone continue to stand behind your team so once again next year we can be voted number1 worst sports city. GO ATL
SawThat1nce
March 18th, 2012
9:11 am
I don’t know as much about running a NFL team as Dimitrof, or some of the geniuses on this blog.
But, I do think that there is an serious need to improve that OLine, and I don’t think that getting a new OLine coach and OC is enough to accomplish this, not with their current linemen.
I hope that the GM will make whatever deals that are needed, to sign bigger, stronger, and quicker OLinemen.
IMHO, that is the key to their future success. The QB and his recievers need more than 2.3 seconds of protection, to develope passing plays.
Arnold Ziffel
March 18th, 2012
9:58 am
What about the need for “more aggressive” players as was stated by TD and Blank in season ending press conference? Guess that can wait until next year.
The Falcons will see how their offseason strategy goes over with the fans by ticket sales. I’m betting there will be a lot of empty seats at the dome this year.
BigGAdawg
March 18th, 2012
11:16 am
Sign Todd McClure to a two year deal and find a way to draft Ben Jones. The next coaching staff will appreciate it.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
12:22 pm
A TYPICAL CHOKE TREND…………………
2008 1 & Done………………Maybe next year
2009 No playoffs…………………Maybe next year
2010 1 & Done (Embarrassed at home)………….Maybe next year
2011 1 & Done (Zero Offensive Points)………………..Maybe next year
2012 No cap room, No money to resign vets……….Maybe next year (Again)
What’s wrong Falcants fans? Fresh out of CHOKE failure excuses?
2004 & Counting LOSERS……………….
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
12:25 pm
CLASSIC QUOTE:
“I’m the last coach to win a playoff game in Atlanta”
- Jim Mora Jr.
Falco Peregrino
March 18th, 2012
1:24 pm
From an outside perspective, it’s seems obvious the Falcons are not being aggressive in the free agent pool.
This leads me to believe one of two reasons:
1.The Falcons management is convinced the problem is schematics, and the new coordinators will fix things.
2. The Falcons believe they have spent good money on free agency and not gotten results they feel the should have, and are holding back to see if regime change is needed. Thus, Mike Smith is on the hot seat, and he’s not getting help, thus far.
If the latter is true, I don’t expect the Falcons to do much this season as they have lost players and not trade out on the free agent market. Without a 1st or 2nd round draft pick, they can’t improve on what they’ve built.
Are they secretly eyeing Bill Cohwer?
D man
March 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Hmmmm, let me see. 4 winning seasons in a row, 3 playoff appearances out of 4, keep all of our players that we can. Seems to be the right thing to do. Good job Thomas D.
JJ
March 18th, 2012
3:13 pm
The Monger, great posts. You really need to come over to the birdcage. I cut/paste your 2 post over there and gave you props. You’ll find some better falcons talk over there than this site which still loves the dogkilla and aints.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
3:27 pm
JJ
March 18th, 2012
3:13 pm
The Monger, great posts. You really need to come over to the birdcage. I cut/paste your 2 post over there and gave you props. You’ll find some better falcons talk over there than this site which still loves the dogkilla and aints
_______________________________________________
HA HA HA
Clowns trying to recruit more blood to the DELUSIONAL blog………………
HA HA HA
I hear D3 calling you
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
3:30 pm
D man
March 18th, 2012
2:31 pm
Hmmmm, let me see. 4 winning seasons in a row, 3 playoff appearances out of 4, keep all of our players that we can. Seems to be the right thing to do. Good job Thomas D.
______________________________________________
You forgot to mention these 2 milestones:
2010 Worst playoff lost in team history.
2011 First in team history to have ZERO offensive points in playoffs.
GREAT job indeed.
HA HA HA
JJ
March 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
Ckoke, best thing about D3 and the birdcage???
You were BANNED many yrs ago and cannot log on to spew your hatred.
LMAO, choke on that!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
JJ
March 18th, 2012
3:34 pm
Ckoke, best thing about D3 and the birdcage???
You were BANNED many yrs ago and cannot log on to spew your hatred.
LMAO, choke on that!!!!
____________________________________________
Yet here you are over here.
Must be SOOO exciting over there……………..
HA HA HA
Capt. "NO COMEBACK" Vick
March 18th, 2012
3:57 pm
ON SALE NOW!!!
Brand new state of the art Mike Vick playoff win!!!
These puppies (no pun intended) haven’t been around in 8 yrs!!!
2004 and counting for the GREATEST qb ever
note* in 2004 Mike Vick did make a NFC Championship Game (appearace only)