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
Bill
April 26th, 2009
4:18 pm
Great story on Jerry and his mother by Ms. Rogers.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
4:20 pm
Maybe have her and Erin squeeze into the tiny couch and give us a scouting report.
Camperb
April 26th, 2009
4:21 pm
I was feeling good after the TG trade and day one results but today has me stumped. Haven’t heard a thing about Middleton or Adkins until now.
KC in Smyrna
April 26th, 2009
4:21 pm
ESPN on Adkins: Atkins lacks instincts and it’s going to take some major repetitions for him to catch on. He also has durability issues. However, he is a quick-twitched athlete who possesses above average range.
- Looks like a Special team player and possible cover LB.
Hockey Biltong
April 26th, 2009
4:42 pm
Look for pre season pick ups. Maybe pick an oversized DT then!
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
4:43 pm
We needed someone who could cover tight ends and I guess this kid can run.
David
April 26th, 2009
4:58 pm
I can’t get stats on Atkins at UM. He played high School in Naples, FL.
Here’s his college recruiting Bio for what it’d worth. The 25 sacks last two years stands out!!!
http://miami.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=26630
Attn Arm-chair GM's
April 26th, 2009
4:58 pm
Just because Kiper and Mayock didn’t have them in their mock draft, doesn’t mean they can’t play. I trust TD over any of those jokers. After the 3rd round, it’s about making sure a guy has to try to make your team. Undrafted FA’s can choose where they play, but these 4th-7th rounders are guys that our staff wants first crack at.
Joe Schmoe
April 26th, 2009
5:34 pm
Vance Walker, nice pick up at the end.
KC in Smyrna
April 26th, 2009
5:44 pm
Very good pickup. I’m happy now. (2) DT, (1) DE, (1) LB, (1) Safety, (2) CB, (1) large-frame RT. That is a called filling your needs. D@MN, I LOVE THIS NEW FRONT OFFICE!!!
Follow your system! Get good players and fill your needs.
Barry
April 26th, 2009
5:56 pm
Hey Y’all:
The “HEARTBEAT” is getting “STRONGER!! Can you hear it:THUMP1,THUMP2,THUMP3, and Tony Gonzalez!! NFL get ready for our Falcons to fight through the league for a championship. We ain’t playing. Y’all played with us enough. Now it is our turn to turn op trhe heat, and we are going to do it in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!”. I can’t wait to see the offense flying, The defense crushing, the special teams doing things real “special”, and the comunity, the media and the
“THE ATLANTA FALCONS FANS” raising a ruckus in the Georgia Dome when teams come to “OUR HOUSE”. When the Falcons are on the road, our teams reputation as a nitty, gritty, nasty hitting, creative playing bunch will preced them before arriveing in those cities. Their hearts will be mush, but our FAlcons heart will be solid and coordinated performing in “kicking that butt” in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!!!!” I antsy aand excited and can’t wait until the season starts that I am about to have a heart attack. But I won’t let that happen now because I am ready to go down with my Falcons in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” Can you hear it? THUMP! THUMP!! THUMP!!! THUMP!!!! ……. What a beautiful sound!!!!
GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCON FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…………………………”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!!!!…………..
74Dawg
April 26th, 2009
5:57 pm
Day 2 a little confusing. Day 1 plus Tony G trade, maybe a homerun. But I second guessed Dimitroff last year and was wrong,so I will give him the benefit of the doubt this time.Still,I don’t recall any of our 4th round and later pics making the roster last year either. Am I forgetting someone? At least we aren’t throwing away late round pics on QBs from directional State U.
74Dawg
April 26th, 2009
6:00 pm
Enter your comments here
country boy
April 26th, 2009
6:16 pm
Well I guess we may be finished drafting players. I trust TD and Smitty but apparently they are more comfortable with our LB’s than I thought. Seemed like losing two starts left holes but I guess Wire and Nichols are ready. I knew Peterson & Lofton are solid.
Hamad Meander
April 26th, 2009
6:30 pm
Looks decent, but I was hoping for a few different picks. I would have loved to have seen a true outside linebacker and a offensive lineman that could play tackle or guard. I also was hoping for a center.
I am happy in that I believe we have two starters from the first two picks. That’s what you want.
Barry
April 26th, 2009
6:38 pm
Go Falcons!!!!
KC in Smyrna
April 26th, 2009
6:50 pm
9-10 of last year’s players made the squad. Only the TE from LSU was cut. Thomas Brown was winning the 3rd RB spot before his injury.
loch dhu
April 26th, 2009
7:40 pm
I am pretty sure that the front office had a plan when they let all those guys go. It wasn’t like they were jumping ship, I bet most would have stayed if there was a plce for them. As much as I hate to see Brookings, Milloy and the big guy go, but their time here was pretty much done. Thanks for the good work but we have to get younger. How can you whine when our defense was ranked where it was. There were some scarey moments last year with teams rallying in the last quarter. We were just a couple of plays away from a a few more wins. This is a great blue collar draft, and I can see these guys working hard for us for years to come. Go Birds
DGdDawg
April 26th, 2009
7:59 pm
can someone please tell me who is going to play linebacker???
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
8:21 pm
Back from Mass and dinner, in that order. I like Vance Walker a lot — good player, good guy. Ranked 17th in the draft, went 210th. Ranked 16th among DTs.
Here’s what Scouts, Inc., says: “Walker plays with a mean streak and is relentless at the point of attack. However, he needs major work on his technique and doesn’t move well laterally.”
Reid Adair
April 26th, 2009
8:43 pm
Mark, I’m certainly no expert, but I was pleased overall with the draft. Like you had mentioned previously, it was all defense – with the exception of an offensive tackle.
I was also happy to see the enthusiasm Peria Jerry expressed in his press conference today. He seems genuinely happy to be an Atlanta Falcon, and I think the team may have found its next Grady Jackson.
By the way, thanks for all of the time and hard work during the draft this weekend.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
8:51 pm
Didn’t feel like work, Reid. It was too much fun for that. But thanks all the same.
Tyler
April 26th, 2009
8:54 pm
I think the Owens kid is going to be a real sleeper. I watched the video that kid is good at reading the reciever even though the competition will be much greater I think he can be a great corner. I love this draft every round of it.
NRBQ
April 26th, 2009
9:01 pm
Too late for a clever comeback?
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
9:03 pm
Not if you have one, NRBQ.
NRBQ
April 26th, 2009
9:07 pm
Ouch!
Didn’t you just leave church?
(Great job, BTW)
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2009
9:15 pm
Sorry. I wasn’t trying to be smart-alecky. (Just comes naturally, I guess.)
Thanks, NRBQ. Don’t be a stranger, y’hear?
Edward
April 26th, 2009
9:30 pm
I have never been so proud of a franchise that I love so dearly. Thomas Dimitroff and Mike Smith have done an outstanding job in only 2 seasons at the helm. It is truly amazing what a football team in the NFL can do when they have these 4 major components, a good owner, good general manager, good head coach, and a good quarterback. The Falcons are certainly headed into a great direction and it feels even better when you’ve supported this team nearly all your life like I and so many others have.
uga_b
April 26th, 2009
10:06 pm
My next move would be to get CJ Byrd signed as an FA. He showed well at UGA’s pro day and would be a good special teamer. Local kid; good guy.
I like the depth and feel we got 2 starters on the first day.
tyler
April 26th, 2009
11:25 pm
A good draft in terms of our needs. I love the fact we focused on D in order to give Coach Smith the depth he desires on the def. side of the ball.
Maybe Sidbury can play OLB. I think training camp will have our def. coaches very excited. Time to coach up these young, fast, determined rookies ; it’s on our defensive coaching staff now.
BrianM
April 27th, 2009
7:34 am
Does P. Jerry need a nickname? I nominate Peria “John Coffee” Jerry. Great draft Falcons!