Every now and then the inbox, Twitter feed or blog comments get hit with a suggestion of a player for Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitroff to “take a look at.”
Rest assured Falcons fans, there’s not a college football player in the nation right now the team doesn’t already know about. In fact, Dimitroff and his team started preparing for the 2010 NFL Draft before the 2009 selection process was complete.
“We start probably in March in really kicking off the next year’s draft class,” the general manager said.
I guess that means they don’t turn the lights off in the war room to save power…
http://video.atlantafalcons.com/video/225957/225957_2010-01-11-173208.flvDimitroff encourages his team of scouts and personnel executives to “sniff the pits” of every player eligible for a given draft regardless of team need. In fact, the team already has grades on potential prospects and will spend the next three months at the Senior Bowl, Combine and private workouts and interviews adjusting the scores.
The team will also make additional notes on any juniors who declare for the Draft on or before Jan. 18.
But first, the Falcons must wade into the free agency waters. They’re murky considering the lack of a renewed collective bargaining agreement and, as of now, no salary cap.
In our conversation, Dimitroff cautioned fans to avoid thinking a few teams will buy up all the good players. In reality, an uncapped year means less unrestricted free agents.
And don’t think the team doesn’t have plans for just about anything.
That’s just not Dimitroff’s style.
“If we get to March 5 and there is no deal done at this point, it goes to an uncapped year,” Dimitroff said. “There’s no salary cap but it also means there’s not a salary floor…
“It doesn’t mean there’s going to be a free-for-all owner spending approach to all of this… I know we will be very fiscally responsible during this time because we’re not sure what’s going to be on the other side.
“It’s complicated and it’s going to have a real impact on how we scout during the offseason.”
30 Comments
First i wanted to let you know that what you and the office along with mike smith and the coaching staff have done with my falcons is very good. makes me proud to be a fanatic. but i have one question why is it that we cannot get any cbs to complement the linebackers ?
i think the falcons did a great job this year. there was a few games that they should have won. there is one i will not forget the home game against the saints. i think the refs made a bad call. calling grimes for pass intrference. he made a great play and should have got the int. i think that would have changed the game. i think the falcons need another running back. i would like to see them get toby gerhert from stanford. one more power running back would be nice.
i think we should try to move up to get Jordan Shippley in the Draft? what do you think?? because Jenkins s getting to Droppy with the ball he couldnt catch a cold in Alaska barefoot with no shirt on and a wet head lol
Look at Tim Toone from Weber State im sure no one knows who he is but he is an incredible returner and has the best hands i’ve seen out of any WR in the state of Utah.
We all know what we need. We need D line Help one more corner to play opposite Brian Williams when he returns. We really need another DE to play opposite John A. I honestly think from wathcing Jerry and BAbs play together early this year we are good with them and our rotation cast of Walker. Lewis ( who will be fully healthy this year ) , etc. Our LB’s are great for this current draft. I would say let them play together next year and in 2011 draft another one in the 2nd to 3rd round to replace the aging Peterson. SO if we can snag the CB in free agaency and draft the D line in round 1 of this draft I would be very happy. We can find a VEt Tall WR to replace Jenkins for less if needed. Or even find one in the late rounds since we are really looking for a #2 posession WR to help Tony G on 3rd downs ( Getting Harry D back will help Matt tremendously next year ) But I think Defence is the route we take again this year. Need a good D in the NFC to compete at the top and win a superbowl. So Thomas and Mike do your thing and bring us some winners to ATL through Free A and the Draft! Cant wait to see what we do! ATL OUT!
First off let me say that we are finally getting a team that can compete for years to come. Falcons done a great job even with all the injuries. We definately need CB’s to compliment the the defense and we need another go to WR to compliment Roddy and Tony. Jenkins has his days but you never know which pair of hands he is going to bring to the game. I think he has done a great job in the past but there were too many times we could have kept the drive going if he brought his good hands and not his butter hands. Whatever happens to the Falcons, I have always and will be a Falcon Fanatic. Go Dirty Birds!!!!!!
what i think the falcons need are some linebackers, and a back up t-end
Taylor Mays we need an aggressive safety not only does he hit but he has the speed to play any wide reciever and Atlanta’s Defensive Cornerbacks and Secondary would benefit off this because they have an safety.
Get Dunn back in pads.
He still has game! Turner and Snelling have the powerback under control.
Besides he knows he still wants to play and he loves Atlanta.
Someone just has to call him….
LOOK!I AM A FALCON THROUGH AND THROUGH,BUT I AM TIRED OF LOSING,WHETHER YOU GUYS THINK THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL SEASON OR NOT???I THINK THIS WAS A FAILURE,WE DID NOT REACH THE PLAYOFFS,WE DID NOT REALLY COMPETE WITH THE ELITE TEAMS,HURT OR NOT HURT, WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT OUR GAME AND NOT PLAYING OUR GAME!!!WHEN THERE ARE GOOD FREE AGENTS OUT THERE YOU SETTLE FOR UNKNOWN PLAYERS INSTEAD OF PLAYERS WITH MAYBE A LITTLE BAGGAGE BUT WHO CAN STILL PLAY THE GAME???IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP AND GET PROVEN FOOTBALL PLAYERS THAT CAN HELP IN CRUNCH TIME,AND PLAYERS THAT CAN LEAD,BECAUSE ONE OR TWO BAD APPLES DO NOT SPOIL THE WHOLE BUNCH,IF THE COACHING IS IN PLAY AND THE PROCESS IS TAUGHT CORRECTLY!!!WITH THAT BEING SAID,I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR FOCUS ON DEFENSIVE PLAYERS,TRY TO GET RICHARD SEYMOUR FROM OAKLAND TO HELP OUT JOHN ABRAHAM, OR JULIUS PEPPERS FROM CAROLINA,MAYBE SHAWN MERRIMAN FROM THE CHARGERS,WHO KNOWS WE MAYBE CAN GET ASANTI SAMEULS FROM PHILLY,WE NEED PROVEN PLAYERS,BECAUSE THE ONES WE GOT ARE JOKES OF THE NFL….WE NEED ANOTHER WIDE RECEIVER AND ANOTHER
RUNNING BACK/TAILBACK (MICHAEL JENKINS AND JERIOUS NORWOOD)SHOULD BE EXCELLENT TRADE BAIT,WE NEED BETTER PRODUCTION FROM THOSE POSITIONS ALSO JAMAL ANDERSON SHOULD EITHER BE TRADED OR LET GO HE HAS NOT PRODUCED AT ALL???THERE ARE OTHERS THAT HAS NOT PRODUCED BUT THEY STAND OUT MORE…WE ALSO NEED A KICK/PUNT RETURNER THAT HAS A LOT OF SPEED AND INTELIGENCE RUNNING THE BALL???MR. BLANK AND MR.T.D. WE NEED RESULTS,IT IS TIME TO GO ALL OUT SO WE TOO CAN BE CHAMPIONS OF THE GREATEST GAME EVER AND NOT JUST ANOTHER FOOTNOTE OR ASTERIS IN THE NFL HISTORY!!!I AM 44 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE BEEN A FALCON FAN WHEN STEVE BARKOWSKI#10 WAS OUR QUARTERBACK.WE HAVE BEEN LOSING FOR A LONG TIME AND NOT ACHEIVING ANY KIND OF SUCCESS.THE ONLY TIME WE HAD SUCCESS IS IN THE 97/98 SEASON WHEN WE REACHED THE SUPERBOWL AND WE LOST BECAUSE WE COULD NOT GET OUR ACT TOGETHER ON THE BIGGEST STAGE EVER/ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,WE ARE STEPPING STONES FOR OTHER TEAMS TO MAKE THERE MARK,SOMEONE PLEASE STOP THE BLEEDING!!!!PLEASE???
J. Mike do you know how many more juniors are projected to enter the draft compared to last year?
this staff will take this team to the top year n an year out
Tony G. Please come back for at least another year for us having a chance for the Superbowl and i believe we can make it there just need another year or two to get there. Go out like “The Bus” did and i believe we will get there!!
i want us to draft shippley as well. I think he is going to go in the 3rd rd i hope he’s there when we pick. I want us to draft Terrance Cody or Carlos Dunlap. What we need is a 2nd rd pick. I would like to get rid of some of those lineman we have. If we can get Cody we can afford to lose 2 of them at least. Trey Lewis, Jamaal Anderson, and maybe Chauncey Davis come to mind as possible trade bait. Well maybe Lewis and Davis can be trade bait .
If we are going to go receiver I think we can get a bargain in Freddie Barnes from Bowling Green. He doesn’t get much talk because of he is not a burner, but the guy always gets open even though teams are double teaming him. Nate Burleson was another guy with little fanfare who had tons of receptions in college. If we could get a young Nate Burleson in the 4th or 5th round I think we would take it.
I disagree that we should move up to get Shipley. Shipley should still be there at 19 or 20. Even if he is, I don’t think that’s the pick we’re looking for. Jenkins has dropped some big catches this year, but don’t forget that we should get Harry Douglas back this year. Douglas is similar to Shipley as far as speed and elusiveness. Granted, Shipley has better hands, but I don’t think he is it. I believe we should trade up to get Joe Haden. Grimes, Owens, and Williams (before the knee) all did a good job this year at times. However, I believe that we need a shut-down corner across from Williams to solidify our defense. Grimes will make a great nickel-back, while Owens will be a future stand-out. But I think Haden will make a difference now. Peria Jerry should be back from his knee injury to help out our denfensive line. The linebackers are great, but we do need to look for a replacement for the aging Mike Petersen.
we finished as winners. great milestone for the club. now let’s face it, injuries and missed field goals caused us to be 9-7. the kicking game can be fixed. how do you prevent injuries? i dunno. but most every position needs a look. wjones is right. cb is always a wild card! why? our pass rush proved ineffective. wr drop too many. rb took too long to get on track and did not appear to be dynamic given our personnel. field goal kicking cost us a few! that said, one more year of seasoning with guys playing together and being healthy will go a long way toward team success. look at the saints.
Call Dunn before Tampa does.
what we need is a great DE that finds his way to the QB more times than not. i think grimes is going to be a interception machine in 2010. he is fast, smart, and can jump over people. williams needs to step up and stay healthy and theres our cb core. drafting one this year would be a waste. we need de, rb, o linemen, and we are good
and a reciever as well
Hate to disappoint anyone about Warrick Dunn but, since he has agreed to be part owner of the Falcons he can not play anymore. You have to be a retired player at that point since the league doesn’t allow player-owners.
Falcons need CORNER BACKS and at least one more real good receiver. Jenkins drops to many passes, I know he may catch some as well but look back and see some of the ones he did dropped that could have been a difference in the game. We need an intelligent receiver that knows how to help the QB out like break a route and get open instead of having Ryan getting sacked or throwing the ball away because no one was open. I seen a lot of that this year more than any other season.
The Off Season
Let’s be honest. 9-7 a good year but compared to last season, this was a downer; what to looked forward to…consistent double digit win seasons. How do we get there….
1. RB – is Turner one and done? Year three will make it clear. Injuries will happen but the $$$ must = production. Lets make a decision on Norwood. Last two season the talk was he’ll get more touches but it looks more and more like he’s loosing his job. KR/PR/2nd RB. Is he explosive? YES. Do we use him? NO. SO why do we keep him? Draft Turners replacement. Youth that can sit get PWR/SPD combo that can score inside the 5 yd line.
2. DL – Our best DEFENSE starts at the line. Getting pressure with three or four will make a world of difference in the DB’s. LB are solid. Maybe PatKern would want to come back since his buddy JMora got X’d. I think this was addressed last year and that the need is still DT. get PWR that can push the O-line in the QB/RB face. Anybody with SPD can get the sack.
3. DB – my only concerns are EXPLOSION and HEIGHT. we got two years of film to study on our youngens and I would have to assume Coach/GM know what they acquired during the year to improve CB position. I would acquire or make one explosive player in the secondary, this year, PERIOD. We need a leader that will raise the level of play of all DB’s. If we want to play in January we got to win the Division and Saints aint leaving town anytime soon. If we spend $$$ on anything THIS IS IT.
4. WR – RW needs help and the team needs a true possession WR. Think about it; When he needs it Ryan is going to TG or RW. I think the Def knows that to. Look at the teams that are still playing and look at the WR CORPS-weapons all over, skill set players. Roddy needs help.
5. TE – solid yes. not a FA concern but I would really evaluate the DRAFT CLASS. we did get Matt a Safety Relief Valve but if we are going to win consistently with Matt draft his SRV of the future sooner than later so they can grow together. This is why we spent the $$$ for a GM with NewENG roots, build my dynasty BABY!
6. K – yep I said it a kicker. Anybody noticed how bad kickers were this year? If the opportunity presents itself…take it. I would not miss out on getting a guy with a boot that has proven himself true in the clutch. We want a DYNASTY right? We got to win in two of the three phases OFF/DEF/SPC TEAMS.
7. LB – just add a little depth to the position. We tend to loose our depth a lot in this position. We must have a nack for getting good one’s. Mike Peterson only got a few years in him let’s make sure we have the player in waiting for a smooth transition. Every draft class has good/great LB group.
This is very simple….Draft USC strong safety Taylor Mays. 6′4 250! The kid is a FREAK….like a baby Sean Taylor. Draft him in the first round and use our other draft pick for trade bait since we dont have a second round pick this year (due to the Tony G trade). Look at free agancy to fill holes one OLB, one more CB, a solid DE and a solid number WR. Resign Grimes and cut Houston. Falcons also need to work more screen plays into the offense. With Jerry, Williams, and Douglas all coming back healthy…Falcons should be solid. We are only a few players away from being an elite team. And with a maturing Matt Ryan…Falcons will be making alot of noise for years to come. Super Bowl Champs by 2013….Mark My Words!
remember when we had william middleton as ss, he done well for jax this year, we need help at cb, a de that can rotate in for lawrence sidbury and john abraham, our need is a shutdown cornerback, and at fs.
WR’s: Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos (26 years old). Malcom Floyd, San Chargers (28) 6’5”, 225-pound receiver. Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29). DE: Elvis Dumervil, Denver Broncos (26). Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers (30). CB: Carlos Rogers, Washington Redskins (29). Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans (28). Fabian Washington, Baltimore Ravens (27).
We should have paid to keep CB Dominque Foxworth last year instead of being cheap!
people saying we should draft Taylor Mays are ridiculous!! HE CANT COVER ANYONE!! Yeah sure he hits are but what would you rather have a big hit or a knocked down or intercepted pass?? remember Roy Williams, T. Mays is the same type of player. We will get burned deep with him on the field. Major Wright or Reshad Jones are way better picks them he would be, and don’t waste a first round pick on Shipley try to get Dez Bryant or Carlos Dunlap
Guys if we get anything other than a DE or OLB with our first pick I would be surprised. The only way I see anything else happening is if we get Dumervil or Peppers in free agency. We should pay one of those guys whatever they want to get them here. Abraham isn’t gonna be around forever but we have a window of opportunity can you imagine having Abe and Elvis playing opposite each other with Sid and BEERman subing. Jerry and Babs up front Nicolas, Lofton, Peterson, Wire and a first round stud OLB in training subing. Decoud, Moore, Grimes, Williams and Owens picking off frantic QBs. That sounds like a pretty nasty Defense to me. As a matter of fact those guys healthy and hitting on all cylinders might make one of the best in the NFL.
WE NEED THE SUH FROM NEBRASKA GIVE UP YOUR FIRST , AND A THIRD AND A SECOND ,AND THIRD NEXT YEAR TO GET HIM , HE IS A DOMINATING FACTOR ,GET RID OF THE BUST ANDERSON FROM ARKANSAS , DEFENSE WINS SUPER BOWLS ,DEFENSE, GET 2 COVER CORNERS AND A FRESH RUNNING BACK AND LETS GET TO IT.
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