The new Falcons: They’re real simple and really smart
Say this for the newfangled Falcons: They don’t lie. They tell you what they plan to do, and then they do it. On the day Mike Smith became their coach, he said he wanted to run the ball and to stop the run. Last season his team managed half that. Round 1 of the 2009 draft was the first step toward getting the other half right.
“You want someone who can create double-teams and unblocked situations,” Smith said Saturday, and in Peria – pronounced Per-RAY – Jerry, they believe they’ve found a newer and better and (slightly) sleeker Grady Jackson. And we on the periphery have no reason to doubt them. They’ve gotten pretty good at this talent-identification thing.
Already the Falcons are better than they were when they walked off in the field in Glendale, Ariz. They have a Pro Bowl tight end who will make a good offense better still, and now they have a defensive anchor.
There can be no real quibbles with this pick. (Not even from this observer, who favored Evander Hood for the selfish reason that a lineman nicknamed Ziggy would be worth his tonnage in puns.) They said they were going to upgrade their defense, and they determined the upgrading should begin at the heart.
Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.Sometimes we confuse smart with clever, but the two aren’t the same. Being clever can sometimes lead to overthink, which can lead to trouble. The newfangled Falcons are meat-and-potatoes smart. They see football as a simple game, and they’ve taken a simple approach to getting better.
Said Thomas Dimitroff, the architect: “We wanted to be stronger and faster and more aggressive and more urgent.”
Said Smith, the foreman: “We wanted someone who would be very disruptive.”
Granted, it’s a new sensation. Mindful of Aundray Bruce and Steve Broussard and Bruce Pickens and Reggie Kelly, we’re accustomed to approaching every Falcons draft with a dollop of dread. We should stop sweating. This franchise is in good hands. Matt Ryan was the perfect pick at the ideal moment, and the rest of the 2008 draft was nearly as inspired. And now the big man from Ole Miss arrives to plug the middle.
Dimitroff again: “He’s country-strong. He’s a 1-gap guy with a high motor.”
First Michael Turner, then Matt Ryan, then Tony Gonzalez, now Peria Jerry. That’s four major acquisitions in 15 months for the new regime, and every one of them makes unassailable sense. Given that the first three play offense, this draft had to be given over to D, and Jerry was the soundest possible start. In Round 2 the Falcons found a safety in William Moore of Missouri, and they’ll surely seek a linebacker and a cornerback come Sunday. But you must grab an accomplished run-stuffer where you find him.
A good team a year ago, the Falcons have positioned themselves to be better in 2009. (Though their record, owing to the stiffer schedule, might not be quite so glittering.) They’re building from the inside out, which is always the way to go if you want your construction to endure.
And this one will. These are not your dad’s Falcons, who trafficked in gimmicks, or even your older brother’s. These are the new Falcons. These are the smart Falcons.
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431 comments Add your comment
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
11:59 am
I’ve seen the kid play. He’s a tough guy. I think y’all will be pleasantly surprised
water boy
April 26th, 2009
11:59 am
haha. just asking drake. you never know what SJS alums are living in the area and love the falcons…all one of them.
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
11:59 am
If we have to use Wire, well fine, but I would rather have some one bigger. Also someone that can get around the Lineman that get to the LB level.
water boy
April 26th, 2009
12:00 pm
See Drake. Brock D is the one!
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:00 pm
uga_b: that will be $19.95 a month
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:01 pm
Couldn’t they get a bigger couch?
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
12:02 pm
HAHAA what a joke. ESPN is soooo lame. At least they have Bill Cosby. He is telling it like it is!
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:03 pm
lol@ bill cosby
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:03 pm
If we go big, I would like to go after Ricky Jean-Francois.
Where is the CNN hologram?
drake
April 26th, 2009
12:04 pm
haha, touche water boy
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:05 pm
I totally support the former comedian awkward interview where you wonder if he had been drinking.
Wingo noticed the couch too…ESPN here I come!
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:06 pm
couch was 2 small
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:07 pm
Corvey (Not Corey, Wingo) is a hard worker. I think Carolina will be pleased. Surprised Rashad was still there.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:07 pm
how many uga players been drafted?
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:08 pm
Stafford (1), Moreno (1), Massaquoi (2), and Irvin (3).
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:08 pm
4
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:09 pm
You missed Asher uga_b
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:10 pm
Okay, so 5. haha
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:13 pm
and a uga LB might get drafted. uconn and uga are owning this year
Bill in Dallas
April 26th, 2009
12:14 pm
I’m really disappointed we didn’t take D.J. Moore. This guy was early on projected as a first round pick. To get someone like that late third would have been just what we needed.
Now, let’s get Nic Harris in the 4th.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:14 pm
We’ve got two early 5th rd picks. I’d love to see TD package those and move up to the early 4th.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:15 pm
UGA’s Ellerbe will go in the Draft.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:17 pm
yea Ellerbe is his name
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:18 pm
I wonder if they are afraid DJ may not be able to play in a system. He was a playmaking freelancer.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:19 pm
I think Moore is too much like Houston.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:20 pm
I also think CJ Byrd will go by the 7th. And Jarius Wynn may be drafted so the Dawgs are doing well. Shame we didnt get more out of the talent.
I am all for a trade up.
Barkin'Dog
April 26th, 2009
12:20 pm
Check this link out for Chris Owens details, including a great video:
http://www.draftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/cb/Christopher-Owens.php
PlusSizeModel
April 26th, 2009
12:26 pm
I’d just like to point out that schedule strength is overrated as any real factor. Stat geeks have run the numbers, (sorry, no links), and the effect on a team’s success based on their opponent’s records the previous year is negligible. If you stop and think about how today’s NFL fluctuates from year-to-year due to parity this makes sense.
Also, Mike Woodson is a horrible coach and this has been obvious for a long, long time. Game 3 was a textbook coaching disaster. The team has zero purpose.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:26 pm
Great link. Seems like a prototypical Dimitroff player.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:27 pm
I wonder if we end up taking Hermann Johnson. He’s got first round ability but there are questions about his work ethic. He’s going to be there for us.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
12:29 pm
It looks like what Brian Hoyer brings is a hot girlfriend.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:33 pm
Dallas has reached twice now. I love it! I wonder where all the Cowboy fans who crash this blog are today?
Mike
April 26th, 2009
12:40 pm
Moore is an outstanding pick at Safety. He will be All-Pro by his second year barring injury.
Supes
April 26th, 2009
12:40 pm
I think the falcons have dropped the ball so far with 3rd round pick. Never heard of the guy, he didn’t play major college ball. DJ Moore played ball in the SEC, arguably the most physical conference of college football around, and had to go up against some pretty darn good receivers with blazing speed.
We also didn’t draft ANY of the USC linebackers…Kaika was there for the taking. He would have been perfect for an OLB understudy and or starter depending on how he worked out. The guy was the most dominating of USC’s LB against Penn State in the RoseBowl, yes he’s a bit undersized but so what?
Still haven’t addressed the LB position, and please Mike Peterson is a band-aid, not a long term solution. We have 1 proven starter right now…Lofton. Nicholas and Wire are NOT starter every down LB material.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:41 pm
i think we will draft jarius wynn in the 6th or 7th round
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
12:44 pm
is anyone really sure what it is dimitroff and smith really look for in DB’s? so far I would say they are not concerned with size at the position otherwise I am struggling to figure what the guys they have used have in common and why we let the only good one we had in Foxworth get away
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:48 pm
I think falcons are trying to save up on money and just build players from the draft. thats why they didn’t pick up big name players in free agency or resign foxworth.(remember releasin vick will hurt our cap)
chuck
April 26th, 2009
12:48 pm
Darn dorell scott went to rams
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:48 pm
Supes, by that logic Jerry Rice(MVSU), Walter Payton(Jax St) and Andre Reed(Kutztown) must have all been terrible NFL players.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
12:48 pm
malcolm jenkins looks like D hall
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:49 pm
Dylan, Foxworth is no where near worth the money he got. That’s why he’s gone.
FalconFan
April 26th, 2009
12:51 pm
Foxworth was a salary cap casualty. I’m sure the Falcons would have loved to keep him, but not for the salary that he got.
The CB Owens that we just took is a little puzzling. He doesn’t seem like someone who could really be a starter but maybe they’re anticipating C.Jackson to move to the starter role and are drafting someone to be the nickel guy. Could we not have gotten someone like that later though?
jason
April 26th, 2009
12:52 pm
I don’t see how anyone can question the PROCESS of TD after last year. Supes, you pass should be pulled. Relax and enjoy.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:53 pm
Oh yeah, Supes, to further my point. Tim Couch and Heath Shuler played “major” college football, so I guess they’ll be in the Hall of Fame.
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
12:54 pm
Brock I agree with that I do worry about our secondary again though we will have at least one unproven safety out there and have no true shutdown corner foxworth was as close as we came to one last year I still see no replacement.
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
12:56 pm
Is Chauncey going to start at DE next season and if so where does that leave Anderson? does jerry truly solve all of the falcons line problems?
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
12:57 pm
Dylan, when you build a good D-line you can make any secondary better. Jerry should be an immediate impact in the Pass D. If he played the run better he would have been top 10.
FalconFan
April 26th, 2009
12:58 pm
They’ll let Davis and Anderson battle it out at DE. I still think they need someone to backup Abe that’s more productive but not really going to get anyone this late I don’t think.
I’d expect to LB and OT addressed in the near future.
If there was a space eating guy, ala Miller from Texas, still on the board that would be a decent pickup since the depth at the DT position is questionable.
falcongirl
April 26th, 2009
1:00 pm
I don’t get the Owens pick. CB is a need but based on player rankings it looked like he would have been available in later rounds. Not sure what TD is thinking but I didn’t get the Harry D pick last year either. Hope I’m wrong on this one too.
jason
April 26th, 2009
1:01 pm
Davis will play both spots, and anderson will back up Davis. A space eater in the middle would be nice. Our DTs while good and quick; we will need some beef.