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
Big Lou
March 16th, 2012
5:36 pm
First?
Nothing But The Truth
March 16th, 2012
5:37 pm
No real playoff success = keep the same group and hand out extensions.
Sounds like every Atlanta sports franchise.
Big Lou
March 16th, 2012
5:37 pm
I’m thinking they’re being hush on the LT situation. I expect Baker to be cut for McNiel. Go Falcons! Hey, Jeff, I guess the ‘no sacred cows’ comment made by A. Blank meant the coaches…?
DMO
March 16th, 2012
5:42 pm
I’m hesitant, Abe is “log in the tooth.” but the next best option out there. He’ll never make it 3 full seasons. I’ll wait to give my grade next season like TD said. I hope the new OC and DC can make some improvements scheme wise.
James
March 16th, 2012
5:44 pm
Sign McNeil and not a bad FA period. And we can still pick up OL in the Draft.
mountain_jim
March 16th, 2012
5:46 pm
I also am hoping that if McNiel comes in and passes a physical and gets signed, then Baker can be cut. When another hole gets filled in FA then Ovie gets cut to pay for that.
I am glad to have HD back and hopeful that Abe can do better in a new,more varied, scheme.
Joey
March 16th, 2012
5:47 pm
I believe in Dimitroff.
I don’t believe in Mike Shottenheimer Smith.
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
5:48 pm
Well, considering the head coach continues to believe it’s the 1970’s and not the 2010’s, there’s not much hope for this team at all.
Matt Ryan is a prototypical WCO QB. He excelled in the offense in college. He’s smart, can run an offense on his own, makes quick decisions, reads defenses well. Yet Smith is AGAIN chaining him to a run-first offense, only this time, instead of playing in mostly 2-WR sets that have the receivers running a lot of out-routes, NOW, Smith wants Ryan to take 7-step drops and wait for his 2-WRs to get separation in vertical routes.
It’s stupid and backwards, and with THIS offensive line (new coaching only polishes a turd), he’s going to get KILLED.
Smith proves again and again and again that he’s a swell guy, but his Martyball football philosophy won’t win anything of substance in the NFL.
This team had a chance to become aggressive on offense. Instead, they hire Dirk Koetter. Smith makes some talk about screen passes or what have you, but Koetter runs an antiquated, 2-back, 2-WR offensive that DOES NOT spread the field and try to take advantage of match-ups.
The modern NFL is a PASSING LEAGUE. And in a passing league, WHY is Mike Smith still determined to be a run-first offense that employs a FULLBACK, of all antiquated positions?
Signing HD would’ve been a great allocation of funds if the team would actually USE HIM!!!
So, Smith sees what the Saints, Packers, and Giants have done, all running 3-WR 1-Back sets, spreading the field, winning Super Bowls, lighting up the scoreboard, and he says, “Nope, that’s not for me or my team.”
Someone please tell me how that makes sense? THEN, he and TD completely ignore what you do on defense to win: PASS RUSH.
They throw all this money at Grimes, a CB who is only good in soft zones (which Smith prefers, but maybe Nolan won’t be a pushover as BVG sadly was), who CAN’T play bump and run, and completely ignore the pass rush.
Had the team cut Baker, a complete bust, had they cut Ovie, a guy who is a dinosaur in the modern NFL and costs WAY too much money, had they NOT tendered Grimes, they could’ve gone after Mario Williams and improved their BIGGEST weakness: PASS RUSH.
Then, sign a CB who can complement Robinson, who is a very good physical, man coverage corner (and who has been used so poorly by Smith’s stubborn refusal to play ANY man coverage), and BOOM, an aggressive DC like Nolan makes that work.
Unless Smith keeps on interfering in the defense, demanding all of these vanilla schemes and soft-zones. Which, let’s be honest, he probably will.
This team goes 8-8. They hired a great DC, but I don’t for a second believe Smith will allow Nolan to run his own defense and they hired a horrible OC, and Mike Smith is stuck in the past and refuses to join the modern NFL.
He has 2 more years as Falcons coach before Blank has enough. Most of us fans have already seen enough of the Marty Schottenheimer, I’m sorry, I mean the Mike Smith Show.
Mitch (the one in Rome)
March 16th, 2012
5:50 pm
Gonna see more man coverage and lots more people coming with ears pinned back. Should see pressure and that will make Edwards and Abe look good. Our corners can play man great, and that should free up Peters to get pressure up the middle. Good man coverage makes the D-Line look great and then the D-Line makes the corners look great. Team game, but that team has to run a scheme that they are built for.
That zone coverage we ran was horrid. Our corners are man to man guys and they can get that done.
Looking forward to watching the D this year.
Lofa Smith
March 16th, 2012
5:52 pm
Falcon faithful, we need to chill and remember where this franchise came from and what has happened since Thomas Dimitrof & Mike Smith arrived on the scene. I would say 4 winning seasons in a row – 3 of 4 years in the playoffs speak well of this group. The disappointment of 0 of 3 in playoffs doesn’t alter the direction of the team, which still points up. I know we are a heck of a lot closer to a Championship than we were before this group took over. So quit with the negativity and let’s see what happens when the season begins in September – Go Falcons!
Hillbilly D
March 16th, 2012
6:07 pm
On the one hand, even though they haven’t made any big moves, I doubt they are just sitting there and not trying to put anything together. On the other hand, it sounds like somebody is beginning to feel some heat.
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
6:08 pm
Mitch, correction, ONE of our corners is a physical, man-coverage corner, the other is strictly a Ronde-esque cover-2 guy.
If we switch from zone to man, next year, people will be killing Grimes for sucking just like they’ve killed Robinson the last two years.
If the Falcons are truly abandoning the all-zone, all-the-time scheme, then signing Grimes makes absolutely NO SENSE.
Larry
March 16th, 2012
6:09 pm
“…and the new coaches we’ve brought in, we feel we’ve been making significant changes.”
They resigned voluntarily to pursue other opportunities, or so you said, Thomas. So, to suggest you have effected changes in this regard (referencing the two new coaches “brought in”) is factually incorrect. Factually they were replacements for open positions.
Elijah Snow
March 16th, 2012
6:29 pm
Look, who knows, maybe this strategy will work out and the new coaches will significantly improve the team. I suppose it’s possible.
But the problem with this team is that it treats its fans like idiots who don’t deserve a truthful explanation of our strategy — and the local media is more than happy to go along with the party line. Due respect, TD, but seriously: “change” means “decide which of our current group we keep”? Only someone with nothing but contempt for the fan base could make a statement like that. And when the next line in the story is “he has a point,” you know exactly where the journalist who’s writing the story stands. He has a point? Are you insane? He literally just said “change means stay the same,” and you said he has a point.
We deserve better. We deserve someone who will press Dimitroff on that kind of pathetic rationalization, who will explain what a public relations disaster this off season has been for the fans. We have signed the OC of the worst offense in the league. We have made no significant changes in free agency. We haven’t even been in the conversation for big free agents at key positions that every fan knows we need to improve. We have no first round pick in the draft. The playoffs were a total embarrassment. Even when we got rid of two coordinators that every fan knew needed to go, we were told that move was more of an accident than a purposeful change. Now Dimitroff acts like getting rid of Mularkey and BVG was their big plan for the off-season. We deserve a real explanation, even if that explanation basically amounts to “look, we don’t have the money or the picks to do anything right now, so we’re stuck with what we’ve got.” That, at least, would be honest.
But Dimitroff, Smith, and Blank know they don’t have to be honest. They don’t have to give us an explanation. They’re the only game in town, and they know damn well that none of the journalists in this town will ever hold their feet to the fire. We deserve better, but we’re not about to get it.
Chub Rock
March 16th, 2012
6:32 pm
Jeff Shultz I’ll tell you what I love most of all about this time of year. You can post comments straight from the horses mouth as it pertains to what this team wants to do in a given situation then somebody will read it word for word and come up with some BS theory that is the antithesis of what you just posted. Un-freakin-believable how thick headed some fans can be. People are trying so hard to read between every line its crazy…and sad at the same time.
Kingdaddy
March 16th, 2012
6:33 pm
If some of you bloggers had your way, you would censor any negative criticism of your Falcons. Construtive Criticism IS HELPFUL. I’ve got two eyes and I can see for myself what is or isn’t going on at Flowery Branch. If you think the Falcons have improved enough to not get swept by N.O. this year, that’s Your Opinion. Me, Myself and I don’t think our present personnel are up to the task
The Giants DESTROYED this group. So don’t tell me not to be negative when I see upgrades NOT being made on personnel because T.D. gambled with J.J. and essentially left us with few draft-picks and no cap-space to work with! Then he tries to blow smoke up our tailpipes by telling us how active he has been in F/A. I’ve got eyes and they’re WIDE-OPEN …
Heath
March 16th, 2012
6:34 pm
Considering the regular season success, I think they are right that coaching changes were more important than roster changes. Failing to get a first down on fourth and one multiple times and not even having a running back on the field during the playoffs shows that coaches in place had run out of ideas.
Pastor Mackdaddy
March 16th, 2012
6:38 pm
@UGAbugkiller – you are way too pessimistic and assume the worse….don’t you think people inside the organization have a lot better perspective on this team’s needs more so than you do?….time will tell but one thing for certain is this team has progressed significantly under the current leadership and in time will get that playoff monkey off their back…guaranteed
Chub Rock
March 16th, 2012
6:39 pm
Speak Elijah Snow!! Speak on it!! The bottom line here is Mr. Blank has picked up his checkbook and put it back in the wall safe behind that ugly ass portrait of himself hanging on the wall in his home office.
Just Me Again
March 16th, 2012
6:42 pm
I can’t say that I often agree with UGABugKiller, but he was ABSOLUTELY on point with his comments(5:48pm). Some fans are overly optimistic, and some overly pessimistic, but many of them are rational and can form reasonable conclusions based on clear historic evidence. It is impossible to argue the points he made regarding Mike Smith’s stubborness to modify his approach from the run first mindset; the misallocation of resources (not using players to their strengths); and seeingly viewing change as improving existing players performance via new coordinators versus simply upgrading certain positions with better available talent in the free agent market. TD and Smith may very well be right with their approach, but we will not know until January 2013. (Regular season victories won’t matter at this point if they cannot win a playoff game) So, if they do not advance beyond the first round of the playoffs, then those fans not excited about the moves (or lack thereof) by TD and Smith this offseason would have been accurate in their assessment of this regime. Time will ceratinly tell.
It should be noted that fans who keep track of this team should not be dismissed for lacking optimism since their views are based on the historical facts they have before them. We will see who was right in a minute, but for now, do not expect the fans to get excited about potential coordinator enhancements (more difficult to envision) when the absence of upgrading the team with new and better players (easier to envision) is ever before them.
Kingdaddy
March 16th, 2012
6:49 pm
@Jeff Schultz
Why don’t you do an article on how GMs are responsible for a teams continuity and keeping an eye on the FUTURE of a team. How did the Falcons get where we are today with few draft-picks, and no cap-space? Obviously it isn’t TDs fault. Must be the fans fault. No, I bet it’s our stadium. Whatever …
Just Me Again
March 16th, 2012
6:51 pm
Bravo Elijah Snow…Bravo!
Chub Rock
March 16th, 2012
6:54 pm
This interview by Dimitroff and the post season press conference served the same purpose for this organization. DAMAGE CONTROL. We’re in control Falcon fans, we’re working hard, we planned all of this now go out and buy those season tickets.
marko
March 16th, 2012
6:56 pm
I’ve found over the the years that a really cool time to shop for candy is day after Halloween. It’s the same damned candy they were selling the day before for tree times the price. By the same token, the Falcons could still make a major score in free agency. There are many good players left, and the stupid money is starting to dry up. Football players, like everything else, are worth what somebodies willing to pay for them. Really think about it. The almighty NFL brain farts drafted Ryan Leaf in the first round, Second overall I think, And Tom Brady waited till round six. today does anybody consider Ryan Leaf worth Millions, and more millions, more than Tom Brady? The draft is pretty much a crap shoot, but free agency, that’s rocket science.
Kingdaddy
March 16th, 2012
6:58 pm
By the way, I’m not insinuating anything. That’s too subtle. I’m saying outright, he’s trying to deflect the blame for Atlantas Dire Straits …Idiot …
Chub Rock
March 16th, 2012
7:13 pm
I don’t question whether or not there are still good players left in free agency. I believe we already have a roster chock full of good players the problem is we need a couple of very good players, game changing type players specifically on the offensive and defensive lines. Are those type players still available?
Dave
March 16th, 2012
7:13 pm
How does holding on to core players from a team that got humiliated in the first round of the playoffs make us better? Don’t we need to add or replace players in order to improve?
Longtimefan
March 16th, 2012
7:15 pm
I wonder if any of the dozens of other GMs who would like a primo DE like Mario Williams made a play for him? Some of the bloggers suggest just because a player is available we should be able to sign him. Other teams have needs and the money to sign FAs. We don’t know what happened behind the scenes with TD. If I was a GM I would not hold a press conference to telegraph may intentions regarding FA or the draft just to pacify a few disgruntled fans who think they have a better blueprint on how the team should be structured than the experts that actually do this for a living. Of course, as a few above have forcefully stated, everyone is entitled to their opinions- but that doesn’t make them right.
Me Too
March 16th, 2012
7:17 pm
UGABugKiller – You have hit the nail on the head. Mike Smith is and will control everything in 2012. Please go to the Bird Cage and post the exact same stuff.
Kingdaddy
March 16th, 2012
7:18 pm
Don’t get me wrong. TDs done good for this orginazation, but the JJ deal was the catalyst for where we are today, which is in a bind. For every Action, there’s a Reaction. He should acknowledge his responsibility or man-up to a problem he should have forseen when he pulled the trigger on the JJ deal. Other than that, he’s got a long way to go to be considered a Great GM…
Ted
March 16th, 2012
7:18 pm
Significant changes? By whose measure?
Stop thinking you’re a genius and are reinventing the football wheel.
normvanbrocklin
March 16th, 2012
7:26 pm
“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.”
Is it just me or are two of those three nothing more than maintaining the status quo? I like the Nolan hiring but otherwise this statement sounds just like it came from the Atlanta Spirit Group.
MaxxFalcon
March 16th, 2012
7:29 pm
I’m sorry Jeff, but I don’t understand how franchising Grimes and resigning Abraham constitute “change” in personnel. Also, Sam Baker has never been healthy at any level, and even when he WAS healthy (see week 1 @ Chicago last yr), he got tossed around like a ragdoll! I don’t think Budreau was the main problem with that line, as is being insinuated here. I think that LT, C and RG were glaring weaknesses, and that clearly affected the play of Blalock and Clabo. If we come back with the same players on Defense minus Lofton, and we come back with Hawley at C and Baker at LT , we are not going to have improved enough to win it all
RobbE33
March 16th, 2012
7:31 pm
Wimbley and McNeill?
Snake Doc
March 16th, 2012
7:32 pm
Blah Blah Blah Blah
Snake Doc
March 16th, 2012
7:32 pm
Enter your comments here
Snake Doc
March 16th, 2012
7:33 pm
Blah Blah Blah Blah. thats all I hear coming out of Mr. No Playoff Win GM mouth.
falCANS
March 16th, 2012
7:41 pm
As ive said many a time the problem was never talent!! just scherme.. TD has built a contender in an extremely short amount of time. Lol I know D Robinson and P Jerry still have us scratchin our heads but overall hes a godsend….. LETS GO FALCANS!!!!!
Longtimefan
March 16th, 2012
7:46 pm
Monday morning armchair quarterbacks. It’s always easy to make the right choices in retrospect. Some say TD needs to pull the trigger for the big play guy when over the past 4 years he has been as active as any GM going after big name FAs and trading fof HOFer Tony G. Then JJ in draft. Now people are bi** hing because he didn’t sign Nicks or Williams. Can’t make this crowd happy. If any of you experts know the next Clay Matthews in upcoming draft, please chime in.
Orwell
March 16th, 2012
8:10 pm
Yes, Mr. Shultz,
I agree-black is white, up is down, 2 + 2 = 5, no change = significant change.
Keep up that hard hitting, honest evaluation of the Falcons. At the end of the year you can always write a story that 7-9 is really 12-4, etc.
Falcon's 4 life
March 16th, 2012
8:21 pm
Im smelling a trade.
Falcon's 4 life
March 16th, 2012
8:24 pm
Im smelling a trade. I wouldn’t be surprised to see white being traded for a MLB to replace Lofton. Move HD to number 2 and mier in the slot.
Pastor Mackdaddy
March 16th, 2012
8:25 pm
@Longtimefan – thanks for bringing some common sense to board, your point is well taken….don’t let other teams know your intentions and any draft prospect can be a bust – no guarantees
Great Falconi
March 16th, 2012
8:35 pm
I trust Dimitroff to put together a good product. I’m not as high on Mike Smith, but the new coordinators and O-line coach will make a significant impact on the team, especially Mike Nolan. VanGorder may have been vanilla because Smitty wanted it that way, but that wasn’t working. Nolan is a very good coordinator who knows how to get production out of a defense. We have a good deal of talent on that side of the ball, but if we’re not going to do anything other than sit back in a zone, how will we ever know what those guys can do? I’m really looking forward to seeing what Nolan and Smitty come up with next season.
Koetter can’t help but do a better job than Mularkey. Ryan is a very good QB and there are weapons to work with. It’s time to really take advantage of what we have.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 16th, 2012
8:39 pm
This franchise has gone from Superbowl Contender in 2004/5/6 to Playoff One and Dones in 2008/2010/2011 because they spent a fortune on a 5 year senior qb with 22 picks in his 5th season.
Dude is holding the team back and has strangled to cash net to resign players.
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
8:51 pm
Super Bowl contending in 2004, 2005, 2006???
Really? 8-8 (in 2006) is now considered Super Bowl contending?
Wow… the DogKilla lovers aren’t just low-life scumbags, they’re also really bad at simple math, too.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 16th, 2012
9:03 pm
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
8:51 pm
Super Bowl contending in 2004, 2005, 2006???
Really? 8-8 (in 2006) is now considered Super Bowl contending?
Wow… the DogKilla lovers aren’t just low-life scumbags, they’re also really bad at simple math, too
_____________________________________________________________
I never mentioned anyone by name, but thanks for stating the obvious……………..
2004 and counting LOSER……………..
HA HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 16th, 2012
9:05 pm
TRIVIA
Who is the only Falcants qb to fail to take the team from worst to first and FAIL to lead the team to offfensive points in a playoff game?
Anyone?
Come on someone?
Give up?
HA HA HA
rivercard
March 16th, 2012
9:09 pm
Before this turns into the vick/ryan board I want to say good comments by UGABug, Elijah, Kingdaddy, Chub and others. Some keep asking don’t we think TD knows better than fans? I am not so sure he does know better than some fans. Pretty astute observations are what I am reading.
In fact if they understand that signing players already on team does not equal change and that this offensive line stinks, they are way out in front of TD.
Trapper John
March 16th, 2012
9:16 pm
I agree Mike Smith is the problem. Living in an NFL (1950’s?) which no longer exists. Stubborn as a stump and not quite as smart. How can you hire the Offensive Coordinator from the worst offense in the 32 team National Football League? How? How on God’s Green Earth? Somebody help me here. I’m begging you. Please?? How??
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 16th, 2012
9:18 pm
Tampa……………Great signings
Carolina…………….Great signings
New Orleans……………..Great signings
Falcants………………….CRICKETS
HA HA HA
But there is good news…………….
CHOKE will get paid his overrated salary and not reconstruct it like Matthew Stafford so his teammates can be re-signed………………..
Way to go team player……………
HA HA HA
Nativebird
March 16th, 2012
9:23 pm
Bal, bla, bla. this guy is only surpassed in the art of bull$h!t spin by his hammer salesman boss. It is ALL crap until these “genius’s” figure out how to win a playoff game.
Eskoballa
March 16th, 2012
9:24 pm
well atleast we re headed in the right direction. c mon ppl, think back to the previous era’s and compare for a minute.
2001-07: 2 winning seasons(2 playoff appearances, 2 playoff wins)
VS
2008-present: 4 winning seasons( back to back winning seasons, 3 playoff appearances)
we should be grateful of the progress being made right now with our franchise. I know its not alot but cmon guys I like it alot better than the vick era. or would ya rather go back to the era of futility?
techmule
March 16th, 2012
9:28 pm
Hey lofa smith,you can wait another year, thats your right.But am not going 2 wait no more.You can wait another year and another and another,well you get my driff.Bye Bye
Eskoballa
March 16th, 2012
9:34 pm
you cant build a successful team like the world was created in 7 days. know anyone who can? then tell me.
Trapper John
March 16th, 2012
9:38 pm
Escoballa. You forgot something there. 2001–07. TWO PLAY OFF Wins. 2008–present. NO PLAY OFF wins. That’s NO PLAY OFF Wins. Get it? Hence, the hopefully constructive critcism here.
dan
March 16th, 2012
9:39 pm
Here’s my take on Mike Smith
I like what Smith has done for the Falcons franchise. It is nice to be talking about needing playoff wins instead of needing wins period.However, someone is going to have to explain to me how his teams NEVER seem ready for the big stage. Why do good teams dominate the Falcons?And why can’t they seem to make adjustments when something is not working? There is more going on here than just coordinators. There are deeper problems with team philosophy and execution.
I think Smith is a” fundamentals” type of coach, meaning he was brought in to clean house of locker-room cancers(DeAngelo Hall), veterans who were getting long in the tooth( Keith Brooking, Warrick Dunn, Lawyer Milloy etc.), and guys who just couldn’t cut it anymore( Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, Joe Horn). That brought a calming influence and a fresh start to a team that was in complete turmoil following the Michael Vick/Bobby Petrino debacles. From there Smith ran a very “back to basics” approach on offense and defense, sprinkling in new playmakers( Turner,Ryan, Gonzalez etc.) to make the scheme’s work. And that approach served the Falcons well, initially. But now this franchise needs someone with the creativity and championship pedigree to take this team to the next level. Time will tell if Smith has the capability to be that guy, but one thing is clear, with both coordinators gone, Mike Smith is on a VERY short leash going into next season.
Win A Superbowl and We'll Bill You A New Stadium
March 16th, 2012
9:50 pm
Arthur,
Put your money where you mouth is…take this franchise to a SB as a contender and we’ll get you a new stadium
If you decide that’s too risky and you can’t guarantee the fans a SB spot, then all bets are off.
Win A Superbowl and We'll Build You A New Stadium
March 16th, 2012
9:52 pm
Arthur,
Put your money where you mouth is…take this franchise to a SB as a contender and we’ll get you a new stadium
If you decide that’s too risky and you can’t guarantee the fans a SB spot, then all bets are off.
Bruce/be
March 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
The Falcons have become the Hawks. They are a pretty good team that makes the playoffs but don’t go very far(I know the Hawks make it to the 2nd round). By being a pretty good team, they are drafting fairly low (when they actually have a 1st round pick). They have become stagnant. Being just good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to get a good draft pick. Not sure where all the money has gone. Much more talent on other teams for the same or less money. If this team takes a step back this coming season, which I think they will, Major changes should be made.
REAL FALCONS FAN
March 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
get matt ryan and roddy to renegoiate get more cap space ,get me lofton and the center from texans ,tight end shainco and draft away . I LOVE JOB T.D. HAS DONE ,mike nolan aside lofton is a great mlb.texans center is a stud ,love ya mcclure but got to protect no.2 , shainco from vikkes can run and block ,don’t know if any of these moves aree feasible but if possible ,WOW. GO FALCON’S !
old qb
March 16th, 2012
10:02 pm
To UGA BugKiller. You’re right on. Smitty is conservative by nature in his offense. Seven step drops and running two receivers and a tight end is going to get Ryan killed.
I confess I lived in San Diego years ago and had season tickets to the Chargers. It was Fouts and Air Coryell running four receivers out there and bombs away. They were very successful and had it not been for the “Ice Bowl” in Cincy they’d have been in the Super Bowl.
Smitty thinks a screen pass is a stretch.
As far as cutting Ovie if they do I do believe Gonzalez could be utilized more as an H-back and get free as a receiver more and would make a heck of a lead blocker on runs.
Baker is a bust. I hear TD standing up for him, but all that means is for four years this guy can’t stay healthy which labels him “injury prone”.
If Dent can’t win the job as MLB and the new guy gets another concussion tripping over the water bucket is the new savior going to be Mike Peterson? That’s when someone calls Lawrence Taylor to come out of retirement.
ROD
March 16th, 2012
10:07 pm
I’m still not convinced. Why does it seems all Atlanta teams are not doing anything. I can understand the ABE signing, but for Kroy, and Harry Douglas to receive contracts, UNBELIEVABLE!! You mean to tell me that money could not have gone to a better D/E AND Wide Receiver. You mean to tell me that money could not be use for a trade to get the DE from the Colts. Why not let Baker go. But they are thinking about cutting Ovie, and guy that helped Turner look good. We all saw what happen to Turner when Ovie got injured. As a fan, I’m tired of hearing the same stuff, over and over again. They say Rise up, well they need to listen to that. RISE UP, Arthur, Thomas, Mike, and crew, because we are not buying this stuff!!!
Trapper John
March 16th, 2012
10:11 pm
Well said, Dan. I give full credit for cleaning up someone else’s mess. But I think he has reached the proverbial “plateau” here. I can’t see him winning, or even competing in a Super Bowl, for any team, any where, at any time. He plays not to lose, rather than rolling the dice and playing to win. He must think he is an NBA coach instead of an NFL coach. Every game (in his antiquidated mind) has to come down to the last two minutes of every game. It’s nonsense. The winning teams see how many points they can put. Ball control is ancient history in the League now. I figure we will waste two more years with him with ZERO play off wins. Then’ he’ll probably gravitate back to Jacksonville in some compacity. You heard it here first.
zorro
March 16th, 2012
10:21 pm
what we need real BAD is a mobile qb ,you talk about NFL changes just look around the league OH or just look at the nfc south and it becomes clear real fast. brees, freeman,and now the panther qb. And Atl no back side protection for a stiff non accurate passer with a sorry backup,we want get six wins this season. Why because look at that playoff game we couldn’t even get a field goal a field goal now that my friends is sad.
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
10:25 pm
A stiff, non-accurate QB? A guy, playing behind THAT offensive line, it’s all his fault he gets sacked, right?
And a guy who’s a 61% passer… you consider THAT to inaccurate?
Wow, zorro, you’re kind of an idiot, right?
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
10:27 pm
BTW, zorro… name for me how many “mobile” QB’s who’ve ever won a Super Bowl.
Steve Young didn’t win one UNTIL he settled in as a pocket passer. How many Super Bowls did Tarkenton win? How many did Vince Young win?
You’re a fool.
zorro
March 16th, 2012
10:28 pm
Hey let go of the knife I’ll cut baker.
zorro
March 16th, 2012
10:32 pm
OK just does Rogers count.
knuckle head!
zorro
March 16th, 2012
10:36 pm
I was trying to say does Rogers count.
hobbler
March 16th, 2012
10:59 pm
We’ve got the worst OC in the league in Koetter. I never thought we could get an OC worse than Mularky but we found a way. What a dumb move. I rather have Bobo than Koetter. That’s rock bottom isn’t it?
Eskoballa
March 16th, 2012
11:00 pm
@trapper john: thats the point i made earlier. i was only highlighing and comparing accomplishments. like i said earlier, do the comparisons. in order to win playoff games you gotta get there first thats the point im trying to make. how do you win playoff games without makin it there? yea ok 2 playoff wins( one in 02 and one in 04) thats it. from there on after that, no appearances in the playoffs=NO PLAYOFF WINS. 08-present 3 playoff appearances+back to back winning seasons. only a matter of time til we do win playoff games, maybe this year.
nique
March 16th, 2012
11:09 pm
McNeil & Kamerion Wimbley are on my wish list! I know they like the squad, but adding Kamerion Wimbley as an olb especially in the 3-4 & then a rotational de in th 4-3 is better than what we’d get in the 2cnd round & is our most glaring need & has been for years now! Think about a 3-4 front 7 which would have Abe, Babs, Edwards (or Sid) on the line & then Kroy & Wimbley as the the OLB’s that’s a pass rush to be feared! So eithe McNeil or Kamerion Wimbley would make me a lot more fulfilled!
Ryder
March 16th, 2012
11:15 pm
I agree that nothing will change until they abandon this antiquated offense which does not work, especially when you have an aging RB and two of the top 10 receivers in the game, AND YOU PLAY 9 GAMES IN A DOME!
This franchise needs to seriously take a look at themselves and realize that they have to make some changes in their scheme. You don’t hear about the Saints or Packers worried about the other team’s QB do you? If that Saints’ buttkicking and shutout in the playoffs doesn’t change the philosophy, then Blank needs to show some gravitas and fire Smith, as he’s taken this team as far as he could.
JSS
March 16th, 2012
11:47 pm
@ Zorro…
You’re wasting your time “the self-professed West Coast offense expert” has “never understood” it… Mobile QB who won Super Bowls Roger Staubach…
JSS
March 16th, 2012
11:56 pm
Enjoy…
http://www.hulu.com/watch/123659/super-bowl-highlights-1972-super-bowl-vi-dallas-cowboys-vs-miami-dolphins
Lamar
March 17th, 2012
12:00 am
THE FALCONS ARE A RUN 1st OFFENSE!! EVERY YEAR (except last year) THEY LED THE NFL IN RUSHING. IF YOU ASK MATT RYAN TO THROW THE BALL 40 TIMES A GAME, HE CANT, WHEN RYAN THROWS THE BALL 40 TIMES A GAME, THE FALCONS ARE 3-11. CHECK OUT THE NUMBERS, THEY SAY HE IS NOT A GOOD PASSER! THEY BETTER STICK TO RUNNING IT, because RYAN IS NOT A GOOD PASSER!
Kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
12:20 am
Thankyou Rivercard…
Sid
March 17th, 2012
12:46 am
Keep it up Thomas, we know the core is there. The nice thing is we won’t have to worry about New Orleans………….this years cellar dweller in the South. But don’t let down on the Panthers and Bucs, they are smokin’,
Sid
March 17th, 2012
12:48 am
Oh, and may we find a little swagger please, nobody’s gonna piss on our logo.
UGABugKiller
March 17th, 2012
12:57 am
Oh look, it only took 7 hours for Mr. Pseudo Intellectual himself, JSS, to show up.
Please, JSS, regale us all some more with your patented wannabe-journo b.s.
Dude, saw a film tonight, Woody Allen’s best since Match Point, called Midnight in Paris, and there’s this pedantic, pseudo-intellectual douche bag character in it played by Michael Sheen who reminded me so much of YOU.
Please, tell us some more about how great thou art and how much you know. We all are bursting at the seems to hear more and more of your brown-nosing, suck-up b.s.
Frank Wilson
March 17th, 2012
1:16 am
I was at the first Falcon game played here. I was a season ticket holder for ten years. For the first
decades of our existance we were at the mercy of bad ownership. The Smith’s were way out of their league and
there was absolutely nothing we could do about it.
Things have changed. We have arguably the best owner in the NFL. Arthur Blank will spend whatever it takes to bring a winner (Super Bowl Winner) to Atlanta. We are already winners. Wake up blind negative types.
We have a team that is loaded with talent, a very good
coach in Mike Smith and one of the best General Managers in the game.
It is so very easy for people who have no life or understanding of football or business to daily unleash
negativity. Looking for the “glass half full” is not in
some of these people’s minds.
If we won three Super Bowls in a row some would gripe because of the way we did it and call for wholesale firing
of everybody on the team.
Some of you guys need to keep your traps shut until we see
what Dimitroff et. al. have up their sleeves.
Four winning seasons in a row, three of four in the playoffs………… not bad I’d say.
I have been around a LOT of real negativity in this teams
past and folks………….. this ain’t it.
Go Falcons………… ignore the “nattering nabobs of
negativity”.
UGABugKiller
March 17th, 2012
1:44 am
Frank, I totally respect your POV, if you truly were amongst the poor, huddled masses witnessing the worst of the worst in old A-FCo Stadium.
But, much like with the Braves in the 1990’s, who squandered some of the greatest teams in baseball history with truly horrendous managerial decisions when the games started to matter in October, I feel we are getting more of the same with THIS particular team.
We heard, from a few players brave enough to speak after the last playoff abortion: instead of ATTACKING the Giants, the game plan and practices all week were geared towards running slow, lumbering Michael Turner into the teeth of the Giants d-line on 1st and 2nd downs.
That is the STUPIDEST, most defeatist, most play-not-to-lose Martyball bullcrap game plan possible, and you better believe Smith loved that idea.
Instead of playing into the TRUE strength of the offense, which was Matt Ryan calling his own plays, allowing him to run 3-WR sets, getting athletes into space to make plays after the catch, they went with the Smith & Mularkey Play-Not-To-Lose Show.
Instead of allowing Ryan to take 3-step drops and get the ball out of his hands quickly, he was taking 5 and 7-step drops. Instead of spreading the field to try and take it to the Giants terrible secondary, they played a bunch of tight sets. They played into the Giants hands by refusing to be DARING.
The Falcons failures in the postseason are COACHING FAILURES.
Mike Smith coaches football games like a discombobulated coward. People says he takes risks because of all the times he goes for it on 4th down. Well, people who actually pay attention know he takes stupid risks on 4th down because his coaching up to that point leaves him with NO OTHER CHOICE.
When you play not to lose, YOU WILL ALWAYS LOSE THE GAMES THAT MATTER.
How many rings does the King of Play Not To Lose Football, Marty Schottenheimer have? And it’s not about running the ball versus not running the ball, it’s about being AGGRESSIVE.
Mike Smith is not aggressive, and Mike Smith is never going to win a Super Bowl unless he changes, like Tom Coughlin changed in 2007.
Tom Coughlin was a Martyball-type coach, until his job was on the line. Then he allowed Gilbride to open up the offense a little, let Eli have some freedom, and oops, what happened? RING.
Mike Smith, as he is right now, is a coach who’s taken this team as far as they can go. His horrible choice of an OC proves this fact.
And for Arthur Blank to come out and say Mike Smith isn’t on a hot seat, no matter what happens this year, is just STUPID.
Because Mike Smith, with the decisions he’s made (hiring Koetter, his continued need to interfere with his defensive coordinators, his unwillingness to hand the offense over to Ryan full-time, and his protection of Ovie and Sam Baker from getting cut), is going to be coaching a team that won’t make the playoffs this year.
Unless Mike Smith has a come to Jesus moment, as Tom Coughlin did, then this needs to be the last year he coaches in Atlanta.
Much like Tony Dungy in Tampa, it’s time for us to find a coach who isn’t AFRAID to be aggressive and join the modern NFL.
Sorry, Mr. Wilson. Just because it’s better know, relative to how it was, doesn’t mean we should accept the fact that Mike Smith’s teams underachieve when the chips are down and the games really matter. The man in charge MUST be held accountable for these failures.
UGABugKiller
March 17th, 2012
1:45 am
Sorry… “Just because it’s better *now,* relative to how it was…”
Capt. "NO COMEBACK" Vick
March 17th, 2012
2:10 am
CHOKE said, ” I never mentioned anyone by name, but thanks for stating the obvious”
So UGA uses DogKilla and it’s obvious to you that he’s referring to…….. who?
legionaire
March 17th, 2012
4:21 am
TD’s ox is in the ditch. By blowing all the picks to get Jones, he gets no help in upcoming drafts. By signing big contract free agents who have proven to be at best average, he has blown his budget and there is no $ for new free agents. He hires an OC who was in charge of the worst in the league last year. He has done nothing to shore up the O line. The D backfield is basically the same one that got burned repeatedly and was shredded by ALL qb’s not just the great ones. It is not going to be pretty next season.
dmr
March 17th, 2012
6:09 am
The Falcons ARE being active. Problem is, there activity has not, so far, made this team better. If anything, they are about where they were before and possibly a step behind. Fans should reserve FINAL JUDGEMENT until after free agency and the draft.
SawThat1nce
March 17th, 2012
6:17 am
get an OLine that can block the pass rush, for longer 2.3 seconds.
Samuel
March 17th, 2012
6:47 am
I think he’s keeping his core players and adding a subtle change here and there. But the gamble comes in with the new coaching staff, and Dimitroff is hoping that’s the difference.
Antica
March 17th, 2012
7:12 am
I am not sure how feel about keeping Abe…I was really hoping we’d get Williams
ernisTbass
March 17th, 2012
7:33 am
with this kind of activity at least we won’t be dissappointed with a first round shelacking, the playoffs will be for the NFL No Falcons League
Kyle
March 17th, 2012
8:05 am
He will be active as he has to exit Flowery Branch at the end of December with an 8-8 or 7-9 season ahead of us. It is like the Braves and Falcons are run by the same mediocre people that would cut their wrist and bleed in a cup before they ever made the moves that needed to be made to win it all.
Hugh Jass
March 17th, 2012
8:13 am
Please sign an O-lineman. Please….
Nativebird
March 17th, 2012
8:30 am
There’s a kid from FSU at OT named Zebrie Sanders, 6-5′ 320, with arms out to Pensacola….a perfect number 55 pick for this team.
Big Crimson 75
March 17th, 2012
8:40 am
Keep dissing Julio — you fools.
Longtimefan
March 17th, 2012
8:48 am
Frank Wilson , I agree with your post. I am avid Falcon fan since 1966 and am pleased with the progress in the last 4 years. I am willing to give TD/MS a few more years to get us to SB. We have new OC/DC, give them a chance to do their jobs. Don’t you guys think the professionals who do this 16 hours a day are aware of the various schemes and how our personnel mesh? I’ll bet they have even seen tape on short QB drop with 4 wide set and have thought ” Can we score more points with this installed?” .
Email Profiling Is Wrong
March 17th, 2012
8:52 am
Kudos to Dimitroff. Retaining Abraham and Harry Douglas is very encouraging. When healthy, both are major contributors. You have to figure restructuring Dunta Robinson’s contract was a key move too.
Gotta get Grimes signed up.
I guess we’ll see how the new guys work out – coming off injury and all.
I’ll tell you. This giant sandwich that is the Falcons’ 2012 personnel issues is beginning to taste a lot more like PB&J than crap.
Good work Falcons.
Mitch (the one in Rome)
March 17th, 2012
8:58 am
At the end of the day, as much as enjoy the game of football and the Falcons and even scrapping a bit on this blog, its a game that big boys played as little fellas. Just want my 3 boys to enjoy the game and use it as a means to the end of being a better man.
The birds will be fine. Me and my sons will go to training camp again and hope for a Super Bowl, get some autographs to put on the boys book shelves and sweat in the Flowery Branch heat. The falcons make for lots of fun for this family.
Looking forward to it fellas. Here’s to a Super Bowl!
Trojan
March 17th, 2012
9:07 am
It is scary to hear of a GM fro Atlanta talk about the “core”. Perhaps Rick Sund is helping with the Falcons.
Mark McClendon
March 17th, 2012
9:14 am
The real issue is that we are 5 years into the Dimitroff administration and we still have below average lines of scrimmage. The offensive line especially is average as grits and is always outmanned against the great teams (see the Giants). Dimitroff has missed on every draft pick on the O-line. He also missed on the biggest D-line pick in Jerry. We will never have success in the playoffs as long as we are outmanned on the line of scrimmage.
JSS
March 17th, 2012
9:16 am
UGABugKiller
March 17th, 2012
12:57 am
“Oh look, it only took 7 hours for Mr. Pseudo Intellectual himself, JSS, to show up.”
“Negativity?” You take 20 paragraphs to cut and paste the same thing (about Smith and his philosophy) everyone says in one… I went to the NCAA regional to see my cousin put the dagger in Missouri’s back… Have you been trolling all of those hours as usual?
Let me make it clear for you… You can win in the NFL with a weak arm QB, you build a great (not average) defense, get a 3 good running backs (they don’t have to be great), and a damn reliable and versatile offensive line! Oh, you better have a fantastic kicking game… Otherwise, you’re a fool like Tom Landry playing with Craig Morton because your system was more important than winning it all!
3 lines, try it some time…
“Midnight in Paris” has been out almost year and you’re just seeing it? What, were they taking trading stamps at the Bargain Movies?
Pssssssssst… Woody Allen has been making the same movie since “Annie Hall, don’t get all (poorly) over analytical…
nobody
March 17th, 2012
9:18 am
TD seems to be getting a little arrogant and stubborn. Of course he likes his team. He built it, so if it fails it is his fault. Its like asking a parent if their kid is stupid. I like TD, but he needs to be careful.
Atticus
March 17th, 2012
9:26 am
Dmitroff screwed the pooch with his poor drafts. Who has he drafted that has made the Pro Bowl? Ah, nobody. And the best player he HAS drafted is now gone after his first FA election. Jeff why doesn’t anyone hold Spike accountable for the fact he has raised the level of the franchise but no way will his team ever win a championship. You can’t miss on as many layers he has and win it all.
Tommy Maddox
March 17th, 2012
9:33 am
I heard that Jacksonville’s long snapper might become available. Maybe that will be our surprise from free agency!
bigdon
March 17th, 2012
9:37 am
It dawned on my last night that the Falcons haven’t made any big moves exactly because they’ve remade the coaching “position” and want to see both what they have and what they need out of a pretty good team for the last four years. I can’t see sigining the big fish only to find you millions of dollars too late he’s not being successful because of the “scheme” being used as was rumored with
Ray Edwarda and Dun-tay Robinson. I’d make McNeil a prioority, dump heck out of Back, let Olvie go — notice I didn’t say dump because he’s actually a good player — and see what happens. Hell, we’ve been pretty dang good for four years and I can accept this year as a bridge year. Sure T Gonz will be gone but he’s had his carreer and it’s time to move on. Not sure whether we will miss Lofton that much as I’m a season ticket holder at UGA and Akeem Dent was a total beast playing in the SEC. He’s built like a brick sh..house and used to apply the lumber at hit time. Don’t count this guy out. He’s bigger and much meaner than Lofton and every bit as fast, if not faster. As for Grimes, I say let him make his own bed. He’s getting the big bucks. Just to earn them. Always liked him and he’s always earned his money. We;ll see what 10 mil does to him.
Lastly: PLEASE PLEASE get rid of Sam Baker. Don’t insult us season ticket holders with another year of that garbage. Simply put he’s a turd that cannot be polished.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 17th, 2012
9:51 am
Falcons have to improve the longer passing game scheme. Using Julio as a decoy for 5 yard outs to the lesser receivers will get you a 1st down now and then but that is about all. 192 players in 6 rounds of the draft so good players can still be signed. There is more than 192 good college players. Good GM’s can find some and must if you’re really a good GM.
Frustrated Fan
March 17th, 2012
10:17 am
I keep hearing about cutting Baker and Ovie. Maybe a bigger cut is in order. Michael Turner gives them yardage but is not a game changer anymore. There are probably 5-6 less expensive free agents out there who would be at least as good as the “burner”. Spending that money on a better O-line really makes sense. Maybe they can fin a decent back in the second or third rounds of the draft.
Mack
March 17th, 2012
10:53 am
Doing everything to improve? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
cwltank
March 17th, 2012
11:25 am
J Ville was last on offense because they had no QB or WR’S. The coaches are a upgrade from the ladder staff.
78Dawg
March 17th, 2012
11:39 am
TD is in Way over his head…AB has been hoodwinked…Too many draft picks wasted on guys like P. Jerry and others. Falcons go 8-8 and miss playoffs….
coo coo bird fan
March 17th, 2012
11:46 am
Who’s the only ATL qb to lead his team to the playoffs 3 out of 4 years. Oh yeah!!! Eagles signed a bunch of FA last year and how did that work out for them? Oh yeah!!! I agree status quo sux but atleast JA didnt get away and I have a good feeling about the new OC. Call me coo coo but anything is better than Mularkey and we can actually see a screen pass this year.
Mr. Mustartd
March 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Excellent reading on this panel – thanks for my Falcons fix you guys.
My take is cautiously positive. I like that our GM is playing the long game. I like that he does not throw big money at one or two players and loses (too) may draft picks.
I like that we changed coordinators and I like Dick Nolan. Many said we had good personnel, and many more said our defensive schemes were poor. Therefore Nolan should really help us.
The offensive and defensive lines are my main concerns and yes, we have not done much with them, which is my biggest worry.
Seems we are in a bubble year where with the Jones deal, and cap limits we are tinkering around the edges of the squad. Still, I like that they are not throwing away our future with trickey accounting to get one person, where we will regret it in years come. Much like the Jones’ situation this year.
They are playing long ball, with this organization and I support it.
I did NOT support the freaking lack of ability to stop teams on third and very long, and the fact that we played careful on offense, but they seem to have gotten the message so…..
Go Falcons, and keep building us through the draft and keeping us financially stable, and for goodness sakes, throw and screen and crossing routes this year.
crod
March 17th, 2012
12:08 pm
how about the chargers Mcneil and tolbert for baker and ovie
evil empire
March 17th, 2012
12:18 pm
on these AJC posts, the words “falcons” and “dawgs” are interchangeable….both dreamer organizations, supported by loser fans…AMAZING…
Paddy
March 17th, 2012
12:23 pm
native bird……..Has not Zerbie Sanders had injury problems? Fla St O line last year could not produce a running game. It was the big dissapointment for the Noles last year.
Banned Poster
March 17th, 2012
12:24 pm
Sam Baker was owned….and I meaned wholeheartedly OWNED….by several weak sisters of the DL in the NFL last season. He is not an NFL caliber starting OL and he will eventually cause a season ending injury to Matt Ryan. I’m sorry, but the bs coming out of Dimitroff’s mouth on Sam Baker has caused my confidence in him to go way down.
crod
March 17th, 2012
12:29 pm
evil empire who do you root for. let me guess, the giants and bama. bandwagon fan
Greg Mendel
March 17th, 2012
12:38 pm
@Mr. M –
I agree. It’s not like the team is a disaster (as it once was). Four straight winning seasons and three playoff games. Yes, losing all three (to Super Bowl teams) is a concern, but steadily building, learning and making appropriate changes will result in a championship sooner than cobbling together a different collection of free agents every season. There are numerous reasons they’re free agents, but the bottom line is that their teams, in the end, chose not to retain them. And even the best don’t come with any guarantees other than expense.
AlanFalcon
March 17th, 2012
12:52 pm
UGABugKiller, take and asprin and some Alka selzer, you’ll feel better when FA and the draft are complete !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
1:05 pm
UGABugKiller
March 16th, 2012
5:48 pm
Interesting post — you definitely put allot thought into your observation. Although for me I don’t exactly agree with most of your thought process. My first thought is if your prognosis comes in play by the end of next season. Then you should hurry and build your resume for AB because if you are right. AB will fire them all and in my opinion he should strongly consider hiring you!
LOLOLOLOL
Go Falcons!
kbb
March 17th, 2012
1:20 pm
Question:
Why is the Atlanta media SO soft? Only in Atlanta can re signing a couple of your own vets and no one else off of a mediocre team be looked at as “aggressive”. Why does our so called local media always give our teams a pass? We have 3 teams here that are maintaining that going with their “cores” is some kind of prudent move. We have had the same core for the Hawks, Braves, and Falcons for years now. They haven’t accomplished ANYTHING. They have some decent season wins but i thought the objective in sports was to win championships? No the objective for atlanta sports is to win in a boring manner, keep our “core” together and maybe reach the playoffs. That is more than enough for our fans and the adoring local media
Redneck Bill from Trailerville
March 17th, 2012
1:20 pm
Well, I’m going to chew some A. Here we just won the Super Bowl & nobody told me about it. These players must be alot better than I thought. Heck, I was ready to get rid of most of them. Now I’m hearing they’re about the best in the league and we got real lucky by re-signing them. That’s real change.
I reckon I been watching some Chinese counterfeit team running around and calling theirself the Falcons.
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
1:26 pm
@UGABugKiller Now all that being said & this year being an election year. You should consider going into politics like this nimrod we have in the White House today. I’m thinking you and him have a deep connection to each other. Hoping & praying you & BO will hook-up and go into the peanut farming business like his ole flaming liberal predecessor from Ga. “ENOUGH SAID”!
Go Falcons
UGABugKiller
March 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
Wow… instead of refuting anything I’ve said, instead of combating facts with facts (because they have NONE), people like True Falcons Fan, and others (hmm… maybe one person, many names?)…
… instead of trying to engage any point I’ve made intelligently, all they do is attack me personally. One even compares me to Obama, as low a blow as can be had.
For all their personal insults, they make my arguments stronger, so of course, thank you.
Saints > Falclowns
March 17th, 2012
1:53 pm
Falclowns are a joke of an organization…will never win a SB…fact…they’re as goofy as the writers from AJC…homers in denial….
Jimmy Crack
March 17th, 2012
2:04 pm
I miss Lingerie Football already. It beats Arena league hands down.
oh goody
March 17th, 2012
2:37 pm
First Richt, now Abraham. If only we can get extensions for Chipper & Joe Johnson….
Falcon Realist
March 17th, 2012
2:52 pm
Are Dirk Koetter and Mike Nolan championship coordinators? I don’t believe Nolan was the coordinator on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens championship team. Thomas believes in his personnel decisions and will stand by them. The key to the season will by Ryan stepping up to a new level, diversity in the running game and pressure on the quarterback by the defense. If the Falcons can become less predictable on offense maybe they can reach the playoffs and make to the NFC championship game.
tyger
March 17th, 2012
3:14 pm
Falcons cannot improve without…
- a more dynamic QB that “rises” to the occassion…
- undeniable, Falcons “good enough” to make playoff run…
- 3 trips in 4 years, no wins – speaks volumes…
- Ryan is average, great QBs rise when glory to be had…
- Look at Eli, slogs thru regular season, door cracks, he bolts thru…
- Even Tebow mustered a playoff win – champions pedigree…
OL couldnt create holes on 4th down…against Giants, not midgets…
GIANTS…there’s a reason why they won Super Bowl…
OL issues surfaced over past 3 years…can’t run when needed…
So why continue to try and bully teams w/o the talent?…
- Teams know Ryan will crack, so they stack the line…
- No OL can hold off 8 in box forever, unless QB makes plays…
- Ryan takes dive when faced w/ that kind of pressure…
- How can Rookies out play our $60M Golden Boy???
- Defense could have more sacks, apply more pressure…
- DBs could have better coverage, more INTs…
- but they shouldnt have been on the field as much either…
- If QB moves the ball, puts points on the board, defense rests…
- Falcons 2 playoff pts. scored by defense, not offense or special teams…
- Frankly, you cant win like that…
- We need a Mike Singletary to call it what it is…
- Harbaugh got credit, but Singletary righted ship…ask the players…
- Falcons unwilling to address “real” issue…same ole’ BS…
- While hard core thumpers like Lofton take the hit…
Falconidiot
March 17th, 2012
3:20 pm
So how did we get better?
Larry
March 17th, 2012
3:45 pm
In the photo above, why is Arthur Blank’s nose twice the size of Thomas Dimitroff’s.
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
4:24 pm
Cuz he’s a BILLIONAIRE he’s smells the money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ better!!!!
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
4:25 pm
@Larry does that up you with your confusion??????????????
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
4:26 pm
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Beau Bock
March 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
I’m tired of my station, 790 the Zone, giving a “massage job” to these guys all the time.
For crying out loud, Dave Archer is the Falcons color man and he protects the Falcons 20 hours a week.
Dave Archer
March 17th, 2012
4:30 pm
I really like what the Falcons did in the 2012 draft. They made some good choices.
Say what? The draft hasn’t happened yet? Oh well, my comments will be the same whatever happens.
True Falcon Fan
March 17th, 2012
4:36 pm
@UGABugKiller —- Hey buddy you are the one that has put yourself on an island. Anybody with that blog name has got to be a “FLAMING DEMOCRAT” —- also hey relax if you are right in ALL the BS you’ve written, then you can apply with AB for the JOB………….Be assured nothing complimentary from me!!!!!
LOLOLOL
Go Falcons!
Chucktown38
March 17th, 2012
4:44 pm
USCBUGKILLER What are you smoking?We didn’t have enough money to even think about Williams.100 million dollars too much for anyone
Loserville USA
March 17th, 2012
4:47 pm
Falcons re-sign Abe? Guy wears his age.
Probably want to keep the groin specialist employed.
Same old….same old.
Chucktown38
March 17th, 2012
4:47 pm
tiger you do know it takes more than just a QB to win right. IT takes a whole team and GREAT COACHES. When was the last time a QB had to make a tackle, intercept a ball or stop a 4th and 1 on the goal to win a game?
Chucktown38
March 17th, 2012
4:49 pm
Yeah ask the players about Mike Singletary they wouldn’t play for him that is way he is out of coaching
Ray
March 17th, 2012
5:12 pm
I’m more on the hawks blog than this one, but here goes.
I agree with some people here about what the Falcons need to do two things that must do and now is cut ties to both Peria Jerry and Same Baker if not both then hold on to Jerry see how he does this year, but Baker there is nothing left to see.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 17th, 2012
5:30 pm
@Ugabugbrain
Genius if only mobile qbs are getting drafted one of them will win.
Put down that brain before you hurt yourself.
HA HA HA
SR
March 17th, 2012
5:36 pm
Any credibility Dimitroff had is washed away like a sapling in an avalanche with any praiseworthy remarks about Sam Baker. Please, don’t insult us with that crap.
Kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
5:43 pm
Move P.Jerry to OL, he’s worthless on DL. Move Baker to DL, he’s also worthless on OL. Two Peas in a Pod…
Kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
6:02 pm
BC75
I think JJ has the potential to be great but he has to have a OL to protect the QB to get him the ball. What I’m saying is TD sold the farm to buy a horse. It wasn’t a very well thought out move. He maxed-out the Falcons Credit Card on one player. Gambling as a GM is a good way to lose your job. He should have forseen cap-space issues for this year to go along with Fewer Draft-picks …
Capt. "NO COMEBACK" Vick
March 17th, 2012
6:07 pm
CHOKE said, “if ONLY mobile qbs are getting drafted one of them will win”
Whoa Capt. Obvious!!! That’s a BOLD prediction
ws
March 17th, 2012
6:33 pm
I think Mike Smith should have been fired. BVG and MM took blame for his offense and his soft defense. I think Mike Nolan was a good hire. If Smith will let Nolan run his defense and not make him run his soft zone that people blamed on BVG. Time will tell. I do not look for him too let change take place. I look for the same defense as we have ran for last four years. Same defense he ran when he was a DC for Jags. Smith’s last game as a DC for Jags, Brady was 26 of 28. Does this sound like something the falcons have been doing. BVG was with falcons at that time as linebacker coach.
Hiring OC with a 31st rating in NFl,I still think we could have done better. I do not think he will not be any better than MM. All goes back to Smith. He coaches not to lose.
TD needs to grow some b*lls and take control of falcons. WE will stay around .500 football team and one and done in playoffs.
Joe
March 17th, 2012
6:53 pm
I’m still wondering where the pass rush is going to come from. Edwards certainly didn’t live up to expectations. Abe is ok but we need more.
Kingdaddy
March 17th, 2012
7:04 pm
T.D. needs a job with the Government. He’s good at making messes without being held accountable to the people he works for. Mr. Blank, TDs done some good things for you,but he’s Screwed The Pooch on the JJ deal. Reality is trying to become a Great Team with one hand tied behind your back. Our competition will game-plan against our glaring weaknesses. That’s why we will not be as successful as we could have been. JJ can be a great player,but I don’t know if he’s good enough to off-set our weak Offensive Line. Maybe next year we’ll get them…
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)
JSS
March 18th, 2012
5:22 pm
Oh know, the “banned” cures everything blogger(s)! “Delusional” is the right term. Well, I can’t wait to hear “who else” is supposedly “banned” in the Valhalla that is the “Birdcage?” 24-2, I can still savor the post massacre depression…
Phalcon Phil
March 18th, 2012
5:39 pm
Every off season that goes by and ryan is still #1 on the qb depth chart is a failure in my eyes. Dead weight right there. The come from behind wins against teams we have no business trailing are real cute but they arent cutting it anymore. We want a pitcher not a belly itcher.
Duke of Flatbush
March 18th, 2012
6:06 pm
Falcons need to draft David Wilson out of Virginia Tech. Falcons need a replacement to Turner, or at least someone to compliment him, McNeil signing would be an upgrade as well.
Birdcage wannabe
March 18th, 2012
6:33 pm
lol, them dang “birdcagers” won’t let me in. They got me on the outside looking in. People make fun of me for carrying around this here bag of rocks. Who’s about to be laughing now?………. the STREETS!!!!!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 18th, 2012
7:11 pm
Miracle In The Meadowlands II
HA HA HA
Lil' Barry Bailout
March 18th, 2012
8:14 pm
Explosiveness.
Made you laugh, didn’t I?
Grandmaster JeJe
March 18th, 2012
10:28 pm
Cosign Nothing But The Truth
kingdaddy
March 18th, 2012
10:30 pm
Did I get banned too. I’m sure I deserved it…
Odysseus
March 18th, 2012
10:32 pm
U guys freakin complain too much we have 4 back 2 back winning seasons adn a QB in Matt Ryan whos first 4 years in the NFL is better than Peyton Mannings 1st 4 years…. MATT RYAN 41-20 as a starter in 4 years. Manning was 32-32 as a stgarter in 4 yrs and had 35 more interceptions than Matt. And it also took Peyton 6 yrs to win his first playoff game and 9 yrs for his first Superbowl. Atlanta fans SUCk period. Cleveland and Buffalo would love to be us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop the freakin whinning already.
Pastor Mackdaddy
March 18th, 2012
11:43 pm
and the LORD rested on the 7th day!
Sid
March 19th, 2012
1:53 am
Man…………..I promise you, Furman Bisher never wrote about “trimmed toenails”……….God Speed Furman!
I don’t know why your butt isn’t already posting a tribute to one of the best sportswriters ever, get your ass out of the bed.
Sid
March 19th, 2012
2:07 am
Bisher: I saw him take his first breath in life and I saw him take his last
On the death of his son, Roger
By Furman Bisher
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First published: April 19, 2000
Let me tell you about Roger Bisher, the athlete. It won’t take long because the career was short.
He was well-built for a kid. Looked like an athlete. Could run like a deer. He had a coachable attitude. So the Pop Warner coach at Chastain Park talked him into coming out for the team. His brother Jamie was already a player. Roger looked like a natural. He pitched in with moderate enthusiasm, then discovered that the coach knew all about machinery, so while the others practiced, Roger talked machinery with the coach, who enjoyed talking machinery with Roger, and football got lost. End of career.
His next career led to machines and science and stuff. He had a little workshop under the house out of which came some of the strangest sounds you ever heard. Sometimes it was crackling electricity. Sometimes it was an explosion, nothing major, just the budding scientist learning by trial and error. Once, he freeze-dried a dead bird he had found and won a prize in a citywide science contest. The paper printed his name wrong, Thomas Bisher. Made no difference to him. He knew who it was.
On our street, he was everybody’s repairman. TV, refrigeration, air-conditioning, appliances, plumbing, anything. As they say in sports, he could do it all. Best part, there was no waiting. Knock on the door and ask if Roger could come over and fix something. Oh, once in awhile I’d have to tell them, “Soon as he finishes his homework.”
One of my neighbors said, “He’s kind of pricey, but he does good work and you can count on him.”
He liked to swim, but when we used to vacation at Hilton Head, sometimes you’d look around for him and he’d be gone. You’d find him with some maintenance men or guys installing something. Sometimes he’d be down or up or inside something, just as dirty as they were.
Once I asked him why he didn’t get out of his workshop and play games. He said, “Daddy, you play golf for fun. This is my game.”
Junkyards were his playgrounds. He’d make friends with the man who ran the place and get rummaging privileges. Sometimes he’d take some kind of scrap or discard to make a trade, but that was usually a token. One of his closest friendships was made in a junkyard — well, a scrap dealership would be more proper — with a man named Dave Pirkle, who while Roger was still a youth, accepted him as an equal.
After he and his wife developed their business, Prime Power Inc., and it grew out of a patch of woods into a good-sized complex, he didn’t sit back and delegate. He was hands-on. Once, he and an associate, Rick Taylor, were working on a project at the Centers for Disease Control and Roger spied a dumpster on the grounds. Being a natural forager, he jumped into the dumpster and began looking around when a CDC official showed up.
“I’d like to meet your president, ” he said to Rick.
“He’s right here, ” Rick said, and at that moment, Roger, the president, stood up in the dumpster and said, “Pleased to meet you.”
I took him to his first Indianapolis 500, and as soon as we hit town, he caught a taxi to a manufacturing company he’d corresponded with. It wasn’t long before he was in the president’s office talking shop, this sophomore at Georgia Tech. It was sort of like the time when Jesus disappeared and his parents found him in the temple talking with the elders, and I hope that isn’t overdrawn.
I took him to his first, and only, bowl game. Georgia Tech played Texas Tech in the Sun Bowl, but the highlight of the trip was crossing into Juarez, his first time in a foreign country. He was careful not to drink the water.
The subject of Roger comes up today because I have lost him. A beautiful, handsome, loving man, no finer son has any parent ever had, and I grieve. Old men like me should be going first, not one who had so much to give to the world as he. Roger Chisholm Bisher passed away Monday afternoon. I saw him take his first breath in life and I saw him take his last. He was just 44, but in my heart he shall always be that smiling child blowing up his workshop. Thanks for giving me your time.
MGibby
March 19th, 2012
3:52 am
1) It has been a PROVEN fact that in the nfl, you draft stars, you don’t sign them. We all wanted super mario, but no smart gm was going to come close to that toxic contract the Bills offered.
2) You people conviently forget that we were in a lockout last year this time, so TD had no choice but to trade draft picks for JJ(who would have had over 1000 yds if he didn’t miss those games), so chill out, because we definitely have a stud at WR.
3) NONE of the past 5 SB winners made a splash in free agency the year they won.
4) Even though Ryan doesn’t have a playoff win in his 3 appearances, I attribute that more to him facing the eventual SB loser/winners than him not being good enough to get us there.
Tremaine
March 19th, 2012
9:09 am
Straight from the hawks playbook. Thanks for making me hate the word “CORE”.
PMC
March 19th, 2012
9:35 am
Mike Smith is not on the hot seat. He’s been the most consistently solid head coach in the history of the organization. It would be silly to fire him simply because the team hasn’t performed well in the playoffs yet. Some of it definately is scheme, but these players do play very hard for him and he has at the very least been able to get the most out of the team in the regular season.
I disagree with Dimitroff that he’s made all the right picks. That said, the defense played well enough to win against the Giants, it was the more talented offensisve group that looked completely horrible.
PMC
March 19th, 2012
9:36 am
MGibby – Green Bay signed Reggie White and Brett Farve in the early 90’s, they were pretty good Free Agents no?
Mediocrity continues...
March 19th, 2012
9:51 am
“We needed to truly analyze what the issue was with the offensive line,”
This hasn’t already been done? The Falcons season ended months ago and they haven’t analyzed the O-line issues yet?? You’ve got to be joking me…
Someone on this blog, please explain to me where they’ve improved the team. And I don’t mean resigning guys that were already there. I don’t view that as upgrading when your team is one and done in the playoff on a regular basis.
Mediocrity continues...
March 19th, 2012
9:52 am
Also, the jury is still out on Koetter at OC although I can’t imagine he’s any worse that MM. Nolan is one upgrade, i’ll give me that.
PMC
March 19th, 2012
10:35 am
They have at least addressed the issue MC, They did sign a guard, Right Guard was the worst position. I thought they might go after Nicks or Grubbs and upgrade that position, but they signed a guy who should be adequate anyway. Dimitroff loves his picks so I’m sure he’s still REALLY high on Mike Johnson.
hbcuclassics
March 19th, 2012
10:41 am
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Board (1-64)
http://hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_draft_board
Told You So
March 19th, 2012
10:43 am
Schultz, you call this reporting? A sad irony that this Falcons public relations piece that you try to pass off as an “interview” with Dummytroff runs on the same day that we learn that Furman Bisher has passed. You sir couldn’t carry Mr. Bisher’s jock strap. We need to get rid of the Schultz & DOL puff pieces and hire Elijah Snow and/or some Philly sports writers who can & will hold Dummytroff & Co accountable. Your column was pathetic. Where is Arthur taking you to dinner tonight, NY Prime?
hbcuclassics
March 19th, 2012
10:43 am
HBCU Classic Sports
2012 Draft Board
http://hbcuclassics.com/hbcu_draft_board
JR
March 19th, 2012
10:53 am
If we are being active that means a lot of free agents are turning us down. There’s an old saying “don’t talk about the pain, show me the baby”. If we are being active then prove it. I like Grimes, but I am not sure I would put a franchise tag on him. Also, with us signing Abraham this late that means no one else wanted to play for us. I am not saying we are not active, but there’s a problem somewhere if we can not attract free agents
yeahsure
March 19th, 2012
10:54 am
You people are hilarious. You point out players drafted by TD that didnt pan out and then say he’s a horrible GM. Do you realize that EVERY TEAM makes a number of selections in the draft. Not all those players are on the roster. Pick ANY team out there.. Patriots for example. List all the players drafted by Belichick in the past decade and see how many of those are on the active roster today. Freaking armchair GMs dont understand how the NFL works.
JOE ROGERS
March 19th, 2012
12:06 pm
The top free agents went to teams that are desperate. 100 million for mario and his rating at getting to the passer is not as good as Abe’s is. Abe was second in the NFL at putting pressure on the passer. The problem with the defense last year was on VG, He has never been a DC that has ever put any pressure on the passer. He was the same at UGA. You will see a lot of one back sets and the Falcons spreading the feild. The running backs will catch more passes this year than we have ever saw from the Falcons before. Bottom line guys is this, give these guys a chancce. They have taking a team that has been bad for thirty years and have them in the conversation for Super Bowl ever year. TD doesn’t think the fans are stupid, but he knows if he listens to fans when it comes to free agents and drafts we would look like the Redskins.
STRETCH
March 19th, 2012
12:39 pm
Wow, Peyton Manning a Bronco?! Teebow on the way out..ESPN!
Instant Dawgma
March 19th, 2012
4:10 pm
For the Falcons to stand pat after that scathing look on King Arthur’s face, towards Dimitroff and Smith, at the news conference after the playoff loss to the Giants….one word…Wow!
Dimitroff, Smith and all the players that are keeping their jobs better have career years this season.
Instant Dawgma
March 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
Putting all their eggs in this basket is a risky proposition.
Hope they can do it.
BIGDAWGFAN
March 19th, 2012
7:35 pm
s get Tebow
BIGDAWGFAN
March 19th, 2012
7:36 pm
lets
Ichabod
March 19th, 2012
11:02 pm
I see on falcoholic that Abe signed for 5.573 M per season, and they say that for 2012 his total cap is only 4.4 M. I gather there is a lot of incentives in there, but Abe must really want to stay in Atlanta!
Should Falcons GM Dimitroff Feel Some Heat? | Atlanta Falcons: Bird Cage
March 25th, 2012
11:45 am
[...] conversation started when AJC columnist Jeff Schultz wrote a very poignant piece questioning whether Dimitroff has done enough to improve the Falcons after 3 playoff losses, with [...]