The Hot Button: Did Falcons redo too much of their defense?
And here's why they needed to get younger and faster. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
He could have taken half-measures: Dump three guys in one offseason, two more the next. Instead Thomas Dimitroff, who doesn’t eat meat, went whole-hog.
Five Falcons starters were cast off or allowed to leave. We knew such movement would yield growing pains, but events of the preseason suggest orientation might take a while longer. Already Dimitroff has had to make last-minute acquisitions to prop up a shaky secondary, importing cornerback Tye Hill and safety Brian Williams.
So, then, the question: Did Dimitroff overreach by changing so much? His e-mailed response:
“Absolutely no regrets as per our offseason defensive moves. Our desire at the outset of the 2009 offseason was to get younger, faster and increase our level of urgency. Our aim is to build for sustainability”
And that was always the key. The Falcons cut ties with four of the five starters because of that get-younger-faster-and-more-urgent mandate. The fifth was another matter. A look at each case:
Michael Boley, linebacker: There was a time — in 2007, say — when Boley seemed the Falcons’ next Pro Bowler. But he didn’t take to the new coaching staff, and the new coaches weren’t wildly enamored of him. The Dimitroff mantra for 2009 is “urgency and consistency,” and the Boley of 2008 failed on both counts. Which is a nicer way of saying he took plays off.
Keith Brooking, linebacker: The Falcons knew even before the playoff loss in Phoenix that Brooking had lost more than a step, but his feet didn’t fail him on that fateful third-and-16. He misread the play completely. And that sealed it. If you’re going to keep an experienced guy around as, say, a fourth linebacker, he’d better not get fooled like a raw rookie.
Domonique Foxworth, cornerback: This was the guy the Falcons wanted to keep, but he priced himself out of their market. Foxworth took a half-season of good work here and wrangled a $28 million contract from Baltimore (with $17 million guaranteed). The Falcons weren’t going to pay that much for someone they didn’t feel was a true No. 1 cornerback. A solid one, yes, but not a great one.
Loading ...Grady Jackson, tackle: The Falcons liked Big Grady, too — everybody likes Big Grady — but he’s 36. And it wasn’t hard to find someone both younger and faster. Dimitroff did it by taking Peria Jerry with the first draft pick of 2009
Lawyer Milloy, safety: Outside perception held that Milloy was a team leader. The new regime thought he talked too much. (And they couldn’t have been thrilled when he was arrested for DUI following the second game of 2008.) The new regime also kept coming back to two plays in Phoenix, both Cardinal touchdown: On the first, Milloy got outjumped by Larry Fitzgerald; on the second, he got outrun by Anquan Boldin.
Let’s also recall that Dimitroff worked for the Patriots, whose M.O. is to dump a guy before he gets too old or too expensive. Let’s recall that New England dumped Milloy in 2003, only one full season after he’d helped the Pats win their first Super Bowl, because he wanted too much. Let’s note that they just traded Richard Seymour, the Georgia program and a stalwart since 2001, to Oakland.
Yes, New England is always dealing from a position of strength, but there’s never a reason to propagate a weakness for the sake of cosmetic continuity. The 2008 Falcons ranked 24th in total defense. To become a Super Bowl team, they had to get better. There’s no time like the present, Dimitroff said, and he took urgent action.
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175 comments Add your comment
Reid Adair
September 10th, 2009
10:38 am
I don’t know that keeping one or two of those five players would have made a significant difference. The defense will be young, but I think they will come around. I just hope that it happens sooner rather than later.
BT
September 10th, 2009
10:41 am
Ok, you can’t spell Atlanta on Twitter but you do right great articles and blogs. Only time will tell about the defense but I share the concerns.
Herschel Talker
September 10th, 2009
10:51 am
I believe in Dimitroff
BT
September 10th, 2009
10:51 am
And I spelled what you do right instead of write.
Adam
September 10th, 2009
10:51 am
I think the defense is just going to have get better as the season goes along. It may be a bumpy ride at the beginning. I am really worried about the pass. Only one real pass rusher, no one of note in the secondary. Will the LB’s be effective in zone coverages?
Don't know that...
September 10th, 2009
10:56 am
…they did anything of significance to help the team except by getting rid of Brooking. Letting Foxworth go really was DUMB – we shall see if they did anything to add to the team, either by subtraction (probably) or addition (not likely).
Evil Richt 2009 S.E.C. World Tour: "Banned in Columbus"
September 10th, 2009
11:02 am
UGASPORTS reporting Cox with an “arm issue” and Logan Gray to start Saturday.
leland
September 10th, 2009
11:06 am
Dear Mr. MB–good, informative article. Fun to read. Your pal, Leland
Mac
September 10th, 2009
11:06 am
These were probably the right moves. But, boy did they need a defensive back upgrade. Maybe they accomplished it. After training camp. Maybe that was the plan all along, but probably not. They’ll be OK.
GeoffDawg
September 10th, 2009
11:07 am
How much would Lawyer Milloy have cost to keep around? It’d be nice to have an experienced veteran presence around in the secondary to settle the nerves of all the young guys even if he has lost a couple steps. Other than that, you can’t really find much fault with Dimitroff sticking to his guns and following his vision for the team.
Casey
September 10th, 2009
11:15 am
I’m just hope with all of our weapons on offense, we don’t abandon the run. Running the ball will keep the defense off of the field. If we score too quickly, it’s going to be back and forth and I’m afraid our offense will eventually run out of gas.
Ted Striker
September 10th, 2009
11:17 am
“There’s never a reason to propagate a weakness for the sake of cosmetic continuity.”
Man, that’s like something Stephen Hawking would write. I’m impressed.
eplayerj
September 10th, 2009
11:18 am
I had no idea that the new regime thought Milloy talked to much. I think he was the one along with Grady and Dom Foxworth to keep around. To me you ease into a new regime and not have wholesale changes. I have always agreed that Offense was good, but the defense will be the Achilles for this season. Remember GT in 99. Joe Hamilton’s senior year.
Oh the fans here are too fickle for us to not have a good season. This could backfire on the organization.
BAMA STAN
September 10th, 2009
11:20 am
Mark – Very good article. Liked the reply from Dimitroff and have to agree with him. Hope the Falcons Defense comes together in a hurry – plenty of new faces and talent – but need time to gel.
What is refreshing about the Falcons is Blank seems to have finally put a GM and a Coach together that really compliment each other. Dimitroff and Smith are a focussed team.
Really enjoyed watching Smith chew some the starting defense in one of the preseason games after they let a couple of screen plays get huge yardage and a score.
These guys want to win and win big!
shufzz
September 10th, 2009
11:21 am
A word to the wise. Of the twenty three passes Tye Hill’s way last year with the Rams, nineteen were completed. Grimes is too small to play cornerback. Who knows how this will work out other than a ton of points by the opposition in the early part of the season.
todd
September 10th, 2009
11:21 am
Foxworth was the one to keep. Yes it was going to cost some money but they would have at least had one decent defensive back and could have drafted another good one in 2010. Now we are stuck with nobody who really knows what they are doing and there is no way we are going to be able to find two first quality backs next year. Lets hope this does not come back to haunt us.
Tuck Fech
September 10th, 2009
11:22 am
Dear Clemson fans……
REMEMBER, as posted before, BE ON GUARD on your walk to and from the stadium tonight. The Tech campus mugging forecast is very high tonight (as is the case every night). There is apprx. an 87% chance a gun will he held to your head, but so far nobody has been shot, so feel free to joke around with your mugger, and tell him what a great job he did. They are open to constructive critisism in order to perfect future muggings of wimpy little nerds in the NEAR future.
As always, you are going to notice a great deal of empty seats in the small stadium you will be visiting tonight. Feel free to move down to the front couple rows to improve your viewing pleasure.
Now, you may notice the University of Georgia team will not be in the stadium, nor do they have anything to do with tonight’s game. HOWEVER, you will hear lots of anti-UGA chants, and see lots of anti-UGA attire. This hatred and jealousy of their cross state “rival” is directly related to the abundance of empty seats in the stadium. (See, Georgia Tech has beat the University of Georgia 12, twelve, times since the year of 1965. and since they won a sloppy game last year they have visions of being undefeated or something like that this year. Just reference the rings they made for the victory last season)
Please do not show up tonight if you are in any mood to make asian or terrorist jokes. About 90% of the half filled stadium will likely take offense to said jokes. Thank you for your cooperation with this.
Please do not get frustrated if the game does not start on time. Of the 19 Georgia Tech season ticket holders, 7 are well known to show up a little late. They have priority and control of game times.
As always, we invite you to visit the Varsity to claim your free Naked or Chili Dog coupon on the back of your ticket. If you do not have a ticket, please knock VERY VERY hard on the ticket booth window. The non-english speaking arabic freshman running the booth is not used to selling tickets, so he may be asleep or listening to his orders on his terrorist cell pod-cast.
IF you are not car-jacked on your way out of the ghetto (10 blocks surrounding campus) we wish you a safe trip back to Clemson. Remember to celebrate when you get home, not on the road.
- Paul Johnson
Philo Beddo
September 10th, 2009
11:25 am
“…there’s never a reason to propagate a weakness for the sake of cosmetic continuity” Wow, MB, have you been taking Bisher’s writing course?? Very well written….these birds aren’t playing for this year, they are being built for sustainability. Wins this year will be nice; playoffs this year will be icing on the cake. But, this team is being built for Championships.
Jt
September 10th, 2009
11:29 am
The thing that lets me trust Dimitroff is that he is clear in his philosophy and goals. He does not make haphazard or kneejerk moves. He has a plan in conjunction with hsi head coach and makes decisions based upon it. It may be rough in the early going defensively this season but they have become younger and faster and if they learn how to play it will be an improved defense before the end of the season. In Dimitroff I trust
BugKiller
September 10th, 2009
11:30 am
With a team as far under the cap as the Falcons, slightly overpaying for one player, a player you need, is not such a sin.
Not nearly as bad as the voluminous amounts of sins committed by Artie and Richie the last 5 or 6 years, anyway.
One guy, one guy would have made ALL the difference in the secondary as the No. 1 corner, bumping Houston to 2, where he belongs, and Grimes / Owens to Nickle.
But I digress.
Here’s a question that jibes with what you said in your blow, Mark…
… I’ve long heard that Lawyer Milloy was more than just a lawyer by name, but somewhat of a locker-room lawyer by trade as well.
Did he really chafe Smith and BVG? Milloy and Belichick were supposedly really tight as well, until something happened in the NE 2002 season, the year after they won their first Super Bowl, which is one of the reasons Milloy pouted for more money and why Belichick had no problems cutting him.
Greg from Marietta
September 10th, 2009
11:34 am
The defense was getting old and slower the overhaul was needed. When the decision was made to “Go younger, faster & more urgent” it was a good one. However, the team will have to live with the mistakes of youth until these guys learn the trade of playing defense in the NFL. This is probably going to be a hard thing to watch at first but as time passes and the Falcons suffer a few (I truly hope it only a few) loses due to the young guy’s mistakes. I just hope that the offense is powerful enough to compensate until they eventually come around. In any event, this is going to be a very unpredictable year for this team and a very emotional one for the fans.
FALCONS SORRY
September 10th, 2009
11:34 am
SORRY CHEAP SKATE FALCONS! YOU PEOPLE WENT AND FLUSHED YOUR WHOLE 2009 SEASON DOWN THE TOLET WHEN YOU GOT RID OF BIG GRADY JACKSON AND AND HOLEY BOLEY AND LAW MAN! SOME OF THE SO CALL EXPERTS THOUGHT YOU ALL KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN YOU GOT RID OF KIETH JUMP ON THE PILE AFTER THE WHISSLE DONE BLOWED BROOKINGS BUT YOU ALL DIDNT KNOW WHEN TO QUIT WHILE YOU WERE AHEAD AND YOU ALL KEPT ON JUST CUTTING OFF MORE AND MORE OF YOUR DEFENCE! THE FALCONS D ALONG WITH TURNER BURNER IS WHAT KEPT THE 2008 FALCONS IN THE PLAY OFF HUNT AND HELP THE TEAM OVER COME THE ROOKIE MISTAKES BY MATTY HOPELESS! WHEN THAT ROOKIE MISTAKE MAKING QB HAVE HIS SOFTMORE SLUMP THIS YEAR THERE WILL NOT BE NO DOMINATING DEFENCE THERE TO BAIL OUT THE OFFENCE LIKE THERE WAS LAST YEAR! THE FALCONS SAY THE MEANT TO GET YOUNGER BUT ALL THEY DID WAS GET CHEAPER! THERE AINT NO HALF PRICE PLAY OFF COUPON TO HELP YOU GET IN TO THE PLAY OFFS FALCONS! THAT COUPON EXPIRE THIS PAST OFF SEASON! IF YOU THINK THE FALCONS D IS GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SEASON YOU JUST BETTER WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER 6 WHEN A CERTAIN GUEST OF HONOR COME TO TOWN TO RUN CIRCLES AROUND IT! THAT IS RIGHT! THE ATL IS GOING TO REMEMBER PERL HARBOR IN A WHOLE NEW WAY WHEN THE EAGELS FLY IN HERE AND SINK THE PLAY OFF BOAT OF THAT DISHONEST AUTHUR BLANK WHO WENT CHEAP ON THE DEFENCE TALENT THIS YEAR AND GOT RID OF THE TALENT AND PAST WINNERS LIKE LAW MAN! MV7 WILL HAVE HIS VENGENCE! YOUR SEAT CAN NOT BE USE AS A FLOTATION DEVICE THIS TIME WHEN YOU GO UNDER THIS TIME AROUND WHEN YOU GO UNDER AND START TO DROWN BLANK!
midnite
September 10th, 2009
11:39 am
It had to be done. ALL of those guys can be replaced and needed to be replaced.
As for Foxworth, $17M guaranteed no way, we got him off the scrap heap last year. I would liked to have kept him, but not for that money.
Grady at 36 and his size could go down anytime.
Brooking, great hometown guy, too old and almost done.
Milloy, too old, DUI did not help at all.
Boley, really regressed in 2008, maybe his personal issues played a part in that. Giants overpaid for him too.
You have to trust Dimitroff and Smith. The D looked bad this time last year also. You have to admit the D bent in 2008 but did not break.
FALCONS SORRY
September 10th, 2009
11:46 am
DOWN WITH WHITEY
uga_b
September 10th, 2009
11:56 am
None of these guys were worth keeping at the price they commanded. Foxworth and Boley were the only 2 I would consider keeping, but Foxworth is a numnber 2 corner and Boley is a number 4-5 LB. Good luck elsewhere.
I think you have to keep the secondary trades in perspective. Brian Williams is an CB/S upgrade from Jamaal Fudge. Tye Hill is a potential starter who is on the team in place of William Middleton. Both of these guys were young and fast. Tye is faster and has more upside if he can regain some of his rookie form. If we are going to develop a 6th CB,it might as well be a former 1st round pick starter who is still very young.
Kurt
September 10th, 2009
11:59 am
Although I know there will be growing pains with the infusion of youth on the defense, I still find it hard to believe that what we all witnessed in the preseason is a precursor of what we can can expect to see in the regular season. Mike Smith knows defense, therefore I am of the belief that he did alot of experimenting with his new defense to gauge their strentghs and weaknesses.
Mark Bradley
September 10th, 2009
12:03 pm
Stephen Hawking? I say, “Thanks, Ted.”
Bob in SF
September 10th, 2009
12:12 pm
Branch Rickey was right when he said, “Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.”
Malloy and Brook looked old and slow last year, Fox wasn’t worth crazy #1 CB money, Boley got beat out by a career special teamer who is a converted safety and Perria will have made us all forget about Big Grady by mid-season.
D Money
September 10th, 2009
12:16 pm
We obviously need an upgrade going into the season which is why I don’t understand why we addressed it so late. I think we could have picked up some free agents earlier that could have gone through training camp but oh well. I think Hill and Williams will be starting by the 3rd game.
lawton
September 10th, 2009
12:23 pm
lol, atlanta ALWAYS on that character crap, while certain teams sign the best players available and WIN. new england, they wasnt too good for randy moss, but the falcons, always on that character stuff, which is WHY they never had back to back winning seasons. dumping milloy because of a dui, that defensive end up in minnesota, the one all over espn every other day, they didnt dump him when he got his dui. now, to address the players dimitroff let go, shouldve keep foxworth, i knew we was in trouble when they let him go. good defensive backs dont grow on trees. when they trotted brent grimes out there as a starter, i KNEW right then and there falcons management had written this season off, i dont care what NOBODY says, you can pick a defensive back up off the street and be better than the guy who they just throw it up high, knowing he cant jump THAT high, lol. grady jackson, big mistake, you KNOW what you was gonna get out of him, peria jackson, who knows? milloy, you know what you gonna get, shouldve keep him around as a backup, brooking, no lost there, plenty of linebackers can run and jump on piles late. boley, eeeh, 50 50 on that one. well, say hello to 8-8, and thats pushing it.
Beautiful Monte
September 10th, 2009
12:25 pm
The white Terence Moore strikes again.
Not content to merely brand Brooking as merely old and slow, Mr. Bradley has to label him as dumb, too.
I think that’s quite ironic, since Mr. Bradley has “great affection” for a certain player who was so stupid that he threw away millions of dollars for a life of crime.
homer
September 10th, 2009
12:26 pm
Hey, Tuck…you are a blithering idiot! Get lost kid.
Mr. Phil
September 10th, 2009
12:28 pm
Out of those guys, only Brooking, Foxworth, and Jackson are expected to start or get significant playing time with their new teams. Brooking is merely keeping a spot warm for the Cowboys up and coming rookie Williams who is currently out 4-6 weeks. Jackson is in Detroit where just about any experienced DT worth a thought could start. With Foxworth it was a money decision so no surprise there. Makes more sense to get rid of those guys for some younger guys who can give you equal production now with the promise of better things in the future.
for the secondary, remember Tye Hill can still qualify as developmental and B. Williams is a solid corner. I think we will be far better off come week 8 and getting ready for the playoffs.
Zorro
September 10th, 2009
12:39 pm
If you preseason whiners think you know about football than either Dimitroff or Smitty, I only wonder why you’re not coaching somewhere. I have much greater confidence in the Falcons’ current organization than I have in you Monday morning quarterbacks. These guys are building a championship team for the long term, they are not running a popularity contest.
Stu
September 10th, 2009
12:44 pm
Beautiful Monte, you’re absolutely wrong on two counts. There’s only one TM, and MB has been writing well for this rag for years now. If you don’t like his opinion that’s another matter, but he can write and lays out a logical case. TM could do neither and was completely formulaic in his writing.
ErnisTbass
September 10th, 2009
12:49 pm
24th last year and the secondary got lit up by Brees and Cutler, and don’t forget the great Delhomme before they got shown up by Warner. At least the new guys have a shot at getting better, the older guys with all of their great leadership skills couldn’t get it done when it counted most. It was pretty much the same bunch that couldn’t get it done in 08 as 07. I would rather suffer through growing pains than perpetual failure with the same bunch of underachievers. The deffinition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Will these guys be the answer? Maybe not,at first glance you can say probably not, but at least now we can say we aren’t sure. With the last bunch we were.
Bubba
September 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
TD did the right thing. Yes, he wants to win now but he’s also looking ahead because – well, that’s his job. The Falcons D hasn’t been right for a while, and it’s beyond a little speckle and filler to make it right. Let the young kids play, let them taste blood (including their own), and build from there. I don’t think the D will be as bad as everyone thinks it will be, but certainly no top 10.
Jackets2009
September 10th, 2009
12:54 pm
Actually the Falcons got good too soon. Remaking the defense would be a lot easier could we have drafted earlier like last year. I’ll bet the Tuna get second guessed since he doesn’t have a QB who can get past either the Ravens or Steelers but he, like TD, is still in honeymoon mode.
Uga fan, I’d rather our criminal element robbed Tech men than raped or kidnapped the women as happens on your campus.
Is Carolina to blame for the death of the Athens lady who was school president and had a bright future?
Get real.
JRod
September 10th, 2009
12:54 pm
Ronnie and Ricky are going to have a field day…
Jeff_in_NY
September 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
Beautiful Monte, where did MB say that Brooking was dumb? He said that he misread the play (fact) and that he got fooled like a rookie (fact). I had seen where Brooking was considered one or the smarter players in the NFL, but he sure didn’t show it on that play, when it mattered most.
tryanx
September 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
Enter your comments here
Atl falcon
September 10th, 2009
12:56 pm
Good analysis of the Falcons offseason moves on defense. But is it unreasonable to think that the Falcons rookies can make an impact and improve the defense? Look at last year’s rookies on offense and what a great job they did. MR, SB and the injured HD were all superb. So why can’t PJ, WM, and CO make this defense better?
JRod
September 10th, 2009
12:59 pm
Pennington is going to slowly dissect you guys… But… Ryan scares the hell out me… We will see…
Go Dolphins!!!
tryanx
September 10th, 2009
1:05 pm
FALCONS SORRY,
You are a racist idiot. MV7 did this to himself and then lIed about it. But I guess lying is ok in our society today. That is the bigger problem is that we accept being lied to. It is a privilege to play in the NFL not a right I wish people would remember that because this whole idea that by suspending a player they are somehow preventing them from making a living is ludicrous. So in closing, Falcons Sorry quit blaming everyone but MV7 for what has happened, and by the way if you are think that MV7 will take Donavan’s job keep dreaming because Donavan is twice the quarterback MV is. I think several NFC championships with out a star receiving corp proves it.
SOUTH GA BIRD FAN
September 10th, 2009
1:11 pm
I have confidence in the whole organization , and I do believe they are moving in the right direction to compete for the title for years to come , but I also believe that this year is asking to much to think they can compete for a super bowl now. Lets try to enjoy the fact that they are trying to get better and compete and forgive the youth when it messes up this year . After all at least we don’t have the smith’s anymore it could always be worse.
Bullish-on-the-Falcons
September 10th, 2009
1:29 pm
No reason Falcons Sorry should be allowed to comment on any AJC story again after the “Down With Whitey” gem.
Falcons 31 – Dolphins 24. The road to the Superbowl begins Sunday.
D Money
September 10th, 2009
1:34 pm
Wait a minute people…they said the same thing about Arizona last year. Their defense was porous yet they went to the superbowl. They peeked at the right time.
Bullish
September 10th, 2009
1:34 pm
Enter your comments here
MadDawg
September 10th, 2009
1:39 pm
Bullish,
Falcons Sorry is likely some pencil-necked (and d-ed) white guy from, oh, let’s say, Chicago (maybe New York) with a taste for confrontation. Not direct confrontation. This guy would NEVER get into a confrontation in real life – he’d get his ‘hat handed to him’ as the old-timers would say.
Let the geek try to rile the unaware, but MB’s likely not to keep him from posting ’cause MB KNOWS this guy’s irrelevant and other bloggers will simply IGNORE HIM.
Thanks for your time.
Ted Striker
September 10th, 2009
1:42 pm
Beautiful Monte is what my girlfriend says to me when I get out of the shower.
leland
September 10th, 2009
1:44 pm
Falcons Sorry–you wrong about when MV7 gets here on account of Coach Smith say get out there everybody and be focus.
Carlun
September 10th, 2009
1:46 pm
Falcons will again be a surprise team………a Superbowl team!
Bob
September 10th, 2009
1:48 pm
It may hurt this year making the defensive changes but the “ceiling’ for the defense with these 5 guys was maxed out…at something like 23rd best defense in the league. In other words, this defense with these 5 guys wasn’t going to get any better. The only way to get better is to get quicker, faster, and younger. And that’s what they did. In my view, a very good move that will pay off but we might have to cringe on some Sundays for awhile. While our offense and special teams will have to be very good ( as we all believe they will) until the defesnse can catch up; a 34-30 game (as long as win) is pretty exciting. Having said all that, Falcs finish 8-8 due the weak defense and a much tougher schedule but 2010 will have us on the rise and in the playoffs on a consistent basis. I reallt like TD at the helm thinking long term.
Boo Boo
September 10th, 2009
1:48 pm
Five things the Falcons need to win a Super Bowl:
1. Develop a system to know the opponents plays before they run them.
2. Develop a system of signals to communicate the opponent’s plays to the defense, before the opponent runs that play.
3. Add clauses to each player’s contract that makes steroid use mandatory (must be written and signed in invisible ink).
4. Hire professional pee’ers to take all tests for banned substances, like steroids.
5. Find four world class cornerbacks.
Chaseolla
September 10th, 2009
2:09 pm
I believe in TD, the 2 new additions will solidfy the secondary along w/ time and experience
Hamad Meander
September 10th, 2009
2:10 pm
I don’t believe the Falcons missed on any of the decisions on defense. In fact, I think for the long term, this team will be better on defense in 2010 than they were in 2008 (that’s what we are talking about right?). So, ok, the defense is going to be slightly worse than last season. Fact. The offense is going to be vastly better than last season. I’ll take that trade off every time.
I’m going to say that the Falcons pointing to two plays in Arizona to evaluate Lawyer Milloy’s play is a bit ridiculous though – nobody is going to beat Larry Fitzgerald on a jump ball. And a great receiver like Bolden will be a strong safety over 50% of the time. Let’s not say that those two plays showed Milloy to be incompetent. William Moore should develop into a fine safety with more speed than Milloy.
All I'm Saying Is...
September 10th, 2009
2:29 pm
They should have paid the money and kept Foxworth given who we had and who we did not go after either in draft or via free agency. Instead, they are now paying the price and scrambling to fill too many holes too soon before the season starts.
In the off-season, we should have sat down and decided our strategy regarding the defensive backfield and whether we needed to
(a) Improve at Safety as that’s the position that is supposed to provide deep help which was lacking against Arizona
(b) Upgrade at Corner to be better each and every play
or
(c) Improve our pass rush as a great rush makes a defensive secondary better (easier said than done, by the way, especially inexpensively).
Instead, there was no philosophy or strategy other than dump everyone (linebackers, safety, d-lineman) and start over.
Contrary to what we did, all we needed to do was resign Foxworth, upgrade at Safety either in the draft or B level free agents, draft Perry which was fine as Grady is 36, and either gone after some B level pass rushing free agents or committed to a heavy blitz package and brought in some linebackers to make that work.
We all believe in TD but, bottom line, he blew it on this one in terms of remaking the defense. Now its up to Smitty & Co. to coach ‘em up.
LET’S GO FALCONS!
Mr. Obvious, JR.
September 10th, 2009
2:46 pm
TO: Bullish-on-the-Falcons @ 1:29 PM
The *R E A L* “Falcons Sorry” only comments on football, football players, Mr. Bradley’s article and sometimes hated NFL owners.
He/She/It (aka “Falcons Sorry”) does * N O T * make racist comments or comments that deliberately attack or insult other bloggers. Some of very much enjoy reading his/her/it’s commentary, because it makes us feel better about ourselves.
A fake poster with racist issues and apparently WAAAAAAYYYYYYY too much free times posts those racist comments under Falcons Sorry’s name.
Speaking of wasting time, I don’t even know why I am commenting on something this stupid or something like this that should be so very obvious to anyone.
Mr. Obvious, JR.
September 10th, 2009
2:47 pm
TO: MadDawg @ 1:39pm
Please see above.
newkid
September 10th, 2009
2:57 pm
2009 the right year to overhaul the defense and get much needed experience against one of the 4th toughest schedule league-wide. If there’s to be a serious run at the Super Bowl at the end of the ‘10 season, the experience the defense picks up this season will be invaluable. Retaining the 5 released players (perhaps with exception of Foxworth) would have set us back at least two years in building the sort of defense capable of competing for the Lombardi trophy. The ‘09 season should be viewed as an essential down payment on trips to the ensuing 3 Super Bowls.
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
2:58 pm
Have you ever heard that saying – “you can’t buy class”?
The Falcons and their biased fan base have no class. It’s not even just the Falcons, it’s the Atlanta community. The Braves, Hawks and Falcons.
There is no loyalty! The way they treated Dominique Wilkins, the man that single handedly put the sorry city on the big stage. Management didn’t even have the class to inform him of the trade – he had to hear about it on the news.
The Atlanta Braves – After winning their first World Series, what did they do? Trade Justice, Grissom, McGriff, Pendleton and let’s not forget how they treated Ron Gant like garbage because he broke his leg on the off season.
Now, the Falcons – where do I start. They were looking for a reason to get rid of Vick, way before he was drafted. “YOU” people could not stand the fact that the city would draft an African American quarterback.
That was like a threat to last position in the NFL that is not occupied by African American players. Now comes Dimitroff, “YOU” people handed him to the key to the city and for what?
He benefitted from the 9th easiest schedule that included:
-Detroit
-Kansas City
-St Louis
-Denver
-Oakland
The Georgia Bulldogs would look good playing those cellar dwellers!
Now most intelligent “TRUE GMs” would make gradual changes on defense and not “SINK THE SHIP”, although this ship was more like the Titantic anyway.
A “TRUE GM” does not wait until the start of the regular season to tweek and make roster changes at a time when the other 31 teams are making roster cuts.
This is not genuis, this is idiotic. He just threw players on the field in 2008 and went with the luck of the draw. He got lucky in 2008 but in 2009 that same technique was exposed and he is over his head.
This team will finish no better than 3rd in the NFC South.
I know what “YOU” people are thinking “we can win shootouts”.
First of all, you can’t win a shootout if there is no ammo in the chamber.
This so-call high potent offense was againt the 9th easiest schedule. If you really think that offense will be anything close to last season’s performance against the 4th toughest schedule – you people are either delusional or just flat out stupid.
Look at ole NOODLE ARM – He just ran his mouth off yesterday to the press saying the Dolphin’s Wildcat is just a fad. After realizing his knowledge of the Wildcat is even worst than his NOODLE ARM, tried to retract his comments. TOO LATE – He just inspired the Dolphins to make him eat his words.
Wesley Wallace
September 10th, 2009
3:15 pm
I commend the public for getting it. Right now 55% agree, we should have kept Foxworth.
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2009
3:25 pm
When a DEF finishes 25th against the run, 21st against the pass and 24th overall, the question shouldn’t be did they release too many, but should they have released more. How can you have too many upgrades? And why make an issue of the possible lack of continuity with all of the changes when it’s painfully obvious there wasn’t a lot of continuity or talent to begin with.
At least with the changes, and the additional speed, quickness, athleticism and stamina that comes with it, we have a lot of room for improvement. LB KBrooking, SS LMilloy, DT GJackson definitely weren’t going to get any better, no matter what. And, OLB MBoley and CB DFoxworth weren’t likely to get much better.
Common sense should tell anyone a team or organization will never get better if the people that make it work aren’t getting better, or in some cases getting worse.
DawgDad
September 10th, 2009
3:35 pm
The new regime essentially inherited a field-stripped skeleton of a football team. What they’ve done with the offense is nothing short of miraculous, but their success has raised expectations for the defense a bit too high. They needed Turner-Gonzalez caliber free agent signings on the defensive side of the ball, but that didn’t happen. Thus, we’re stuck with an aging, ailing Abraham and an otherwise total rebuilding project. It is what is is; we need to appreciate what we have which is a world-class offense that should be very entertaining and a solid ownership-management structure boding well for the future. This season will be very tough on fans because, much like the Braves, this team is going to waste a lot of good pitching performances because they can’t hit consistently.
lawton
September 10th, 2009
3:41 pm
bad news, you are telling the truth. this is the south, they will USE a amateur “black” athlete, but when its time to get PAID, their true colors shine. they had it behind words like “character.” well, excuse me, but when you have a lombardi trophy, THEN, you can use those words. pittsburgh steelers, 6 rings, BLACK HEAD COACH. dallas, deion sanders, new england, randy moss, dallas, terrell owens, san francisco, deion sanders. what do all those teams have in common? LOMBARDI TROPHY BABY. THEY JUST WIN AND PUSH THAT SUBTLE RACIST STUFF OUT THE DOOR, but not the lombardi less atlanta fans. lol, lol, lol, lol, LOSERSVILLE U.S.A. no coincidence the phils have success with the brothers on that team, not a brother on the braves outside of anderson, and i wonder about him at times, lol, lol, lol, scrub atlanta.
AlternateReality
September 10th, 2009
4:05 pm
Wesley, the public doesn’t have to balance AB’s checkbook and meet the cap.
Loquacious
September 10th, 2009
4:10 pm
Lawton,
Please either commit suicide or move to Jacksonville. You are worthless.
By the way, Genius, Terrell “Look at Me” Owens does NOT have a Super Bowl Championship ring with any NFL franchise.
By the way, Randy “ME! ME! ME!” Moss doesn’t have an SB Championship ring, either.
Finally, Pittsburgh won its latest Super Bowl with BILL COWHER’s Residual Team & Coaching.
Thank you for your time and attention, Sir.
Chas
September 10th, 2009
4:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Kirkwood Charlie
September 10th, 2009
4:16 pm
The defensive line will be the key for the whole unit. No pass rush, its going to be a long season. Pass rush, things will be fine
truefan
September 10th, 2009
5:00 pm
The falcons need to good CB #20 and #23 will not cut it for the defense
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
5:02 pm
Loquacious
The same can be said about John Gruden winning the superbowl with Tony Dungy’s team that he inherited a year earlier.
The bottom line is:
Look up the archives and it states the following………
“The youngest coach to ever win a superbowl is Mike Tomlin”………..
Now you have a good day sir
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
5:07 pm
Have you guys seen the Falcons 1st injurty report?
The one guy that this team cannot afford to get injured is already on there before game 1 and that is JOHN ABRAHAM!
Even if he plays in this weekend’s game, that is a bad sign that he will be nicked for the whole season and what that means to the opposition is…………….
NO PASS RUSH + NO PASS RUSH = Touchdowns at will……….
Not a good recipe for success against the 4th toughest schedule………
Way to go Dimitroff – you genuis you
rms
September 10th, 2009
5:08 pm
Boy it would have been nice if Seymour was traded to the Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!
Scoots
September 10th, 2009
5:12 pm
Bad News and Lawton – please tell me you’re not being serious. You’re just trying to get everyone riled up right? You guys aren’t really that insane, right?
Loquacious
September 10th, 2009
5:13 pm
Bad News,
Lawton wasn’t talking about the AGE of any player or coach in the NFL.
Lawton was focusing entirely on a completely different demographic. Can you guess what that demographic was, Bad News?
By the way, Genius, nobody mentioned Jon Gruden’s name, because nobody really cares about him.
Bad News, you seem so cute when you try to sound intelligent by going completely off the topic.
Please stay ON topic the next time you try to talk down to others, Bad News.
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 10th, 2009
5:17 pm
1. Develop a system to know the opponents plays before they run them.
2. Develop a system of signals to communicate the opponent’s plays to the defense, before the opponent runs that play.
Didn’t a certain guy in New England catch a little flak for trying to do that?
Ronald Millsaps
September 10th, 2009
5:32 pm
Though I have my concerns about this defense, and for Matt Ryan’s attempt to dodge a sophomore slump, for that matter, I think the Falcons have as strong a claim to the Super Bowl as anyone else does.
I am confident that the new guys will fill the holes in question; my question is, “How soon?” Along these lines, I think it was time to part ways with Keith Brooking, and our “Lawyer” in the Arizona game was more of a prosecution than a defense.
Michael Boley and Grady Jackson we will miss more, and though I’m confident Peria Jerry is a fine, fine pick, Jackson has more left than we’re told.
Atlanta goes 13-3, beats Dallas in the NFC Title Game, and beats San Diego in the Super Bowl, who gets there after a win over Pittsburgh.
Ronald Millsaps
September 10th, 2009
5:52 pm
By the way, the fact that the Falcons (11-5) played the Cardinals (9-7) in Arizona is a travesty. I don’t care who won their division and who didn’t. We won two more games than they did and deserved to have the playoff game in Atlanta.
Instead of destroying the Patriots’ tapes, Roger Goodell needs to address these types of serious credibility issues.
We hear a lot about strength of schedule. There is absolutely no way you can tell me who has the toughest or easiest schedule right now, but you can say that a team who has a better record than another is entitled to home-field advantage.
Look for Matt Leinart and Vince Young to capitalize on their next opportunities. I’m not a major fan of either guy, but they seem to get it now. As for Jay Cutler, he’s probably the toughest guy to predict in the league. Yeah, he should put up numbers, but is he a leader? So far, I’d say, “No.” This quarterback class of 2006 is poised to break out, which is good because so far it has been pretty whiny.
Atlanta really needs to get Jerious Norwood the ball and let him run outside the tackles. As I said before last year, “Jerious Norwood around the tackles, and Michael Turner between them.”
Given our strong, old-fashioned coaching staff and approach, I expect our question marks to turn into exclamation points. No more gimmicks/fads around here, such as Alex Gibbs’ cheap blocking techniques and Jim Mora, Jr.’s extreme misuse of Michael Vick, who under Dan Reeves was one of the greatest quarterbacks in history but one of the worst under Mora.
PMC
September 10th, 2009
5:54 pm
no, they got better at every position and the two corners they picked up for a song are as good as the one they lost in Foxworth.
They had to get faster on defense to be able to eventually use the linebackers to put more pressure on the QB. They had to get younger to get out of zone for a few plays.
They were old and AWFUL on defense last year. This year they’ll be young and Awful but they’ll make more plays because they can get to them whereas the guys they had last year knew where to be and couldn’t get there.
This is a process and they absolutely had to do it.
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
5:59 pm
Loquacious
I wasn’t attempting to talk down to you – you actually make some good points. It’s all good girl
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2009
6:05 pm
BAD NEWS-tell me what DWilkins accomplished after being traded from the Hawks? You trade an asset before it loses it’s value, that’s just good business. DJustice got himself traded because of his off field issues, which might have involved drugs.
Grissom, McGriff and Pendleton were past their prime and the team wisely wanted to get something for them while they could. Again, good business moves. RGant messed himself up when he broke his leg doing something stupid and in violation of his contract. Former Cleveland TE Winslow did the same thing with a motorcycle, and Cleveland sent him packing as well.
This is my definition of Racism: RACISM IS FEAR, FUELED BY IGNORANCE, STUPIDTY AND DENIAL. Almost everytime you make a comment, you prove that definition right. A lot of you excuse ladened morons always use the lack of certain Black players as the excuse for the Braves current problems. Yet, you ignorant morons don’t mention the White players that were on the team and instramental in the Braves success. We successfully replaced McGriff, Grissom and Pendleton, but we have yet to successfully replace JSmotz, TGlaville, GMaddox and SAvery, the heart and sole of those great Braves teams.
Roger
September 10th, 2009
6:29 pm
Houston’s gotta go!!
Mark Bradley
September 10th, 2009
6:30 pm
Are you saying, “Houston, we have a problem?”
Bad line. Couldn’t resist, though.
jfreak13713
September 10th, 2009
6:37 pm
I’ll take my chances with this front office management and coaching staff over any average or below average player. If Dimitroff and the coaching staff felt like a player cost too much or is too old then I’ll jsut assume they know more about talent than me!
Our defense is going to get hit a lot this year as they learn to play together but we have an offense that can win as long as the defense bends but doesn’t break?
I see 10-6 record and wild card birth but deep push in playoffs??
lawton
September 10th, 2009
6:41 pm
KEN STRICKLAND, surely you jest. maddox, smoltz, etc. were a part of the heart of the braves, A PART. just last night, the braves carried a 1-0 lead into bottom of 9th and lost. you need HITTING also, lol.
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
7:19 pm
Ken Strictland
How man World Series have the Braves won since they did a “CLEANSING” from the 1995 team?
That’s what I thought you dumb excuse for a brain.
Just like Bigeasy said………….YOU ARE DUMBER THAN A SACK OF ROCKS
rodent of unusal size
September 10th, 2009
7:20 pm
Thank god. I have read I don’t know how many articles about these five leaving but no real explanations. Basically it what I thought, 4 guys were cut for age, one did not fit the system and one left due to a better offer.
Of the 4 that were cut i actually thought Milloy was the biggest no brainier, but it was interesting to hear in addition to his age he was
considered a little too outspoken. I think the fact he just recently found work is proof most of the league thought the same way as the Falcons.
According to local coverage the Falcon’s actually made an offer
( although I assume it was a rather large pay cut) for Brookings to stay which I thought was a mistake at the time. The Falcon’s clearly go his best years and it was time for him to go to make room for younger players.
Of the 4 that left I would have actually liked to see Grady back for one more year. He basically does what he always did, it would have kept them from having to rush a rookie, and you can never have too much depth on the the D- line.
Thanks Mark.
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
7:21 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=290103022
Oh the memories
The Big Chicken
September 10th, 2009
7:28 pm
The DB’s can not be any worse than Deangelo Fall.
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
7:53 pm
The Big Chicken
Big difference is D. Hall signed a 72 & 54 million dollar contract and doesn’t play for losing organization
The Hot Button: Did the Falcons redo too much of their defense … | gunlocker
September 10th, 2009
7:54 pm
[...] The Hot Button: Did the Falcons redo too much of their defense … achilles, defense, hamilton, lawyer-milloy, milloy, new-regime, perception-held, season This [...]
bigeasy830
September 10th, 2009
8:30 pm
They could have brought everyone back and they would still suck.
The Falcons will be 4-12 in 2009
“Back To Life, Back To Reality”
bigeasy830
September 10th, 2009
8:37 pm
Loquacious
Mike Tomlin won the Super Bowl in his second year. Thank God for that, because people like you would have wanted to claim the young brother couldn’t do it himself if he would have done it his first year. Since it was his second season, that was his team not Cowher’s, Tomlin’s stamp was all on that team. It was his team and his team alone. Now True many of those players Cowhere and the GM brought to Pittsburgh, but That Super Bowl belongs to Mike Tomlin, Cowher cann’t lay claim to that one and he have never tried to. I am a Steelers fan so don’t go there.
Red Talon
September 10th, 2009
9:04 pm
This blog is filled with General Managers and Coaches. I wish we would stop talking about all players that not playing for the Falcons. Let’s move on people. The page has turned. Go Falcons
Bad News
September 10th, 2009
9:18 pm
BigEasy
What’s up brotha……..
Better watch out for that “Ken Strictland” he is acting even DUMBER than ever
That idiot always thinks he is smarter than other bloggers just because he completed an MS Word cut and paste class
That fool is always wrong.
Ken Strickland
September 10th, 2009
10:13 pm
LAWTON-the Braves went into the 9th inning last night leading 1-0 because of excellent pitching not poor hitting. They didn’t lose because of poor hitting, but because the closer didn’t get the job done. Anytime a team goes into the bottom of the 9th with a 1 run lead and loses, it’s not the fault of the hitting, it’s the fault of the pitching.
BAD NEWS-I’m not going to get into a running dialogue with idiots like you and your alter egos. You want to imply that the Braves’ World Series drought was cause by them getting rid of certain Black players. Well, I want to ask you one question. HOW MANY WORLD SERIES DID THE BRAVES WIN WITH MGRISSOM, TPENDLETON, DJUSTICE AND FMCGRIFF?
You want to talk about me missing on a prediction last yr. What about the 2-14 regular season prediction you and your moronic alter egos made for the Falcons last yr? Before signing with the Redskins, DHall played for the Raiders. Only a complete moron like you would call a team that’s won no more than 5 gms over the last 6 seasons anything but a losing team. THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR YOU IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY IS YOUR COMPLETE IGNORANCE AND STUPIDITY.
Uncle Brother
September 10th, 2009
10:34 pm
Bad News Bigot
Hey brother, If your reviewing the game against the Cards last season, did you even read the stat’s? They are actually not bad considering the Cards had the same unit of players for over 3 years. Ryan had the controls no more than 5 months. And Noodle arm? dang brother do you think he’s a Weak azz craKer or are you just hat’in on the ATL? I have been a fan of Atlanta Sports since 1973 and I have always screamed for the teams from my beloved city. Many things have changed over the years, but as for the Falcons ( not faggons you raciSt Bigot, ) With the new ownership and sincere desire to win it all, .. Don’t come strolling down Peachtree street with your fake Ryan jersey on screaming ” I told Ya’ll ! ” Brothers like you keep the hate alive. I Pray you don’t have kids.
Go Falcons
p.s. Blogging was created by a white guy and a brown guy. But I ain’t hat’in.
Big Ray
September 10th, 2009
11:24 pm
$28 million for a cornerback whose former team was willing to let him go? I don’t think so. Let Baltimore have him.
What good does a decent cornerback do you if your defensive line and linebacking units can’t get the job done?
Bad News ,
D. Hall signed a contract with the Raiders when he left here.
The Raiders are so bad, they won a league-worst 24 games during six seasons from 2003-2008. That was even worse than the Detroit Lions. This is what you call a winning organization?
The Redskins were 8-8 last year. Most of us call that a “tie.”
DeAngelo Hall has signed some nice contracts. But to say that he has played for a winning organization? The guy can play when his head’s in the game. Which wasn’t often when he was here, or in Oakland.
Hms
September 10th, 2009
11:28 pm
Uncle Brother,
Fools like that are what we call “crabs.” They talk a lot, but they’ll do it from a distance and will run at the first sign of confrontation. If Bad News got caught calling another brotha an Uncle Tom to his face, he’d straight get the black beat off of him, and he knows it. So he comes here. I bet he’s the quietest fool in a sports bar, sipping on his cranberry juice with no alcohol in it.
Ronald Millsaps
September 10th, 2009
11:52 pm
Ken Strickland– What a STUPID comment! Do you honestly think the Hawks benefitted by trading Dominique for Danny Manning (I literally hate seeing, reading, or saying/typing that name)?
The same applies to that overrated, boring, stale, useless, bitter, predictable, spiteful albatross named Lenny Wilkens, who not only traded Dominique but apparently did so for personal reasons. (He always seemed to hate the guy, and I don’t know why. He didn’t even pull ‘Nique out early in ‘Nique’s final game a a Hawk to give the fans to salute him in what might’ve been and unfortunately was his last game as a Hawk—in the process falsely implying that he wasn’t going to trade him!)
Furthermore, the Hawks were the top seed in the East at the time, and trading your best player and go-to guy is HARDLY a valid option, let alone a valid decision!
Manning came to Atlanta and not only was just a fraction of Dominique’s talent, but he also had two bad knees and a contract expiring at season’s end, which the Hawks didn’t extend– but it was a moot point for me. Even if Manning had been good for the Hawks, I was done with that team after the way Lenny mistreated Dominique.
The Hawks WERE a pure, beautiful product back in the ‘Nique, Spud, Doc, and Tree days.
Back to the albatross known as Lenny Wilkens, I watched some highlights recently of Game 2 of the 2001 ECS, where Philadelphia beat Toronto, led by Allen Iverson’s 54 points (exciting fourth quarter, especially where Iverson cups his ear at half court after a Toronto timeout). The announcers commented late in the game about how ironic it was that Wilkens never called for a double-team against him. That statement pretty well sums that “man” up and clarifies why he’s nowhere near the elite-coaches class of Pat Riley, Mike Fratello, Larry Brown, etc..