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
jason
April 26th, 2009
2:00 pm
I’m just looking at DE. Abraham, Anderson, Davis, Sidbury, and Bierman. Anderson could rotate along the DL and provide a little depth at all positions.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:02 pm
That’s exactly right Dylan. JAnd on run downs and Sid on pass. Sid, Abe, Bab, Jerry on 3rd and long sounds pretty damn good
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:04 pm
Wow, great pick with Sidbury, the pass rush is going to be hard to beat. Now we just need to hope the DB’s are good enough in the pass and the only worry will be stopping the run
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:05 pm
yep throw in a blitzing linebacker and we should get some sacks
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:06 pm
another CB
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:06 pm
whoa another cb.
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:07 pm
I have never heard of this guy. I dont really follow furman football though.
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:07 pm
Will Middleton, hows he? ESPN completely missed trhe pick even though they were talking about the Falcons when it happened.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:08 pm
Ok, they finally stumped me. Never heard of this kid but hey, I trust TD and hopefully this kid surprises us.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:08 pm
William Middleton is from atlanta
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:08 pm
he went to marist
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:10 pm
this is strange with munnerlynn and the harris’ still on the board seems like he could have waited on this one
falcongirl
April 26th, 2009
2:12 pm
Didn’t see that coming either…
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:12 pm
There was a Will Middleton who is graduating from Kell HS this year (recruited to SC). I’m pretty sure this isn’t the same guys though.
water boy
April 26th, 2009
2:13 pm
Mort just said the Falcons plan to use JA inside. Don’t know where he got that but that might make sense. He was good against the run but has no burst upfield in pass rush. Middleton is ranked as the 34th best CB on CBS Sportsline. He is 5-10, 193, 4.42 speed. Good stats but who knows how he will be as a pro.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:14 pm
pretty good draft though. if the falcons sign leroy hill man their offseason will be tops in nfl
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:16 pm
the falcons brass saw alot of him and his highlights I trust Dimitroff and Smith but I really think this was a reach he would have at least been around for their next pick. and we really need some more depth on the O-line.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
2:18 pm
Jamaal has slowly morphed into a 5-technique, but still without the starter skill set. Move him inside and run with a line more like the Giants.
This is where Thomas’s college scouting background comes in: picking up good depth from small colleges. Production over combine.
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:19 pm
Middleton’s Bio from Furman, can’t say its very impressive, but I’ll trust TD knows what he’s doing:
http://www.furmanpaladins.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/middleton_william00.html
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
2:21 pm
And as far as “reaching” is concerned, i think the concept is stupid. Players cannot rise and fall. Its a one generation game. You take the players that fit your system where you pick and don’t worry about it. Trust your scouts. Trading is fun, but if you always make the right pick at your spot, you are the Steelers. I also like how the patriots do it. Stockpile picks for next year if no one excites you.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:21 pm
traddeeeeee
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
2:22 pm
We traded our 143 pick.
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:22 pm
whoa we traded the pick
guess TD is trying fill more needs
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
2:23 pm
I like that Middleton was a captain.
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:23 pm
uga I am gonna guess you dont play fantasy sports
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:24 pm
Anyone know the trade parameter with Dallas. I’m guessing we traded back to Rd 5 pick 20 to pick up an extra 6th.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
2:25 pm
I have. I always worked the free agency wire. You take who’s available. You give up a lot to trade.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:27 pm
falcons
Round 5, Pick 20 (156) (From Cowboys)
Round 6, Pick 3 (176) (From Rams)
Round 7, Pick 1 (210) (From Lions through Cowboys)
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:27 pm
I was refferring to reaching in the draft. in fantasy football it would be stupid to draft jason elam with your first pick no matter how good you thought he was this is reaching.
Sam
April 26th, 2009
2:28 pm
Second of two fifth round picks (143 overall) to Dallas for the 156th and 210th pick in the NFL Draft.
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
2:28 pm
I see the move back to 20 in round 5, but do not see anything on nfl.com in the 6th round. Did they get a next year pick or a player?
falcongirl
April 26th, 2009
2:28 pm
Looks like we got the 1st pick in the 7th round
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:29 pm
thanks JJM
Dylan w/o the dead
April 26th, 2009
2:29 pm
side thought is it just me or is the think with your dipstick commercial annoying?
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
2:31 pm
Not to say I told you so, but … once the Tony Gonzalez trade was done, you had to think the Falcons would go defense, defense, defense, defense. And that’s what they’ve done: DT, S, CB, LB.
I’m guessing they’ll take a flier on an offensive lineman — a tackle — before today is done. With TE addressed, that seemed the only spot on offense they’d want to address.
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:31 pm
Did we not have a 7th round pick before?
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
2:31 pm
Use your dipstick…LOL! Yea I will use my dipstick to destroy that commercial. Yea it looks like they picked up that pick in the 7th.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:32 pm
I wouldn’t be disappointed with the TE out of Rice with one of the next picks. He’s a great athlete and he’d have a couple of years to apprentice under the best that ever played the position.
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:32 pm
mark we drafted a LB?
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
2:33 pm
No we gave up 7th to denver for Foxworth.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:33 pm
GoldenLove, no we didnt have a 7th
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
2:33 pm
Sorry. Sidbury’s a DE, not an LB. I’m running a little slow today.
And another cornerback — William Middleton of Furman — in Round 5. Two picks to go.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:34 pm
Hes referring to Sidbury, JJM
J.J.M.
April 26th, 2009
2:34 pm
DT,S,CB,DE,CB
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:34 pm
C’mon MB, get with it, we expect more from you
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
2:35 pm
I think Jamaal Anderson is very close to becoming a full-time DT.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
2:36 pm
Dylan, reaching is taking Mario Williams and passing on Bush. Every reach is because your scouting department got it wrong. I understand the concept but the only thing that matters is where they are rated on your board. You take what works for your team and not Draft analysts with a million mocks.
If no one is worth the pick you trade out. If someone is worth it, you trade up. But taking the player you like best at your spot while others dont like him as much is irrelevant. If his grade is high enough to justify that round, take him and move on.
In your analogy, Elam would not have as high a grade as a QB. But to be fair, it depends on your league, maybe a kicker is worth a lot in your “scheme”.
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:36 pm
Nic Harris is off the board
Brock D
April 26th, 2009
2:36 pm
Enter your comments here
Goldenglove002
April 26th, 2009
2:37 pm
3 picks MB, you really must have not gotten much sleep last night