Given his webcam interview before joining the organization it’s little surprise that, at the end of the the Falcons portion of the 2010 NFL Draft, General Manager Thomas Dimitroff turned to his computer and technology tools.
On the screen, he showed Falcons Owner and CEO Arthur Blank all the variables, scenarios and plans his team constructed for the three-day draft.
The Falcons seventh and final pick in the bag, the best scenario held true.
Dimitroff said the players Atlanta selected over the past three days and nights were the ones the Birds “truly targeted.”
“It’s the truth,” Dimitroff said Saturday afternoon while detailing what each new rookie acquired on Day Three will bring to the team.
http://video.atlantafalcons.com/video/296605/296605_2010-04-24-161612.flvThe general manager also answered some questions of interest to fans curious there was not more of a focus on defense. Head Coach Mike Smith and Dimitroff stressed a balanced draft leading into the week and that’s what happened — three offense and four defense.
“When you’re talking about marquee pass rushers, people we thought could come in here and be marquee for years to come, those players usually come off the board quite early,” Dimitroff said, highlighting the team’s desire and happiness in acquiring Sean Weatherspoon in the first round.
Defensive ends available, according to Dimitroff, weren’t as good a system fit as some that came off the board before Falcons’earlier selections.
“In the end we feel very strongly about our young guys,” Dimitroff said, noting the emergence of Lawrence Sidbury and Kroy Biermann and adding vote of confidence for Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham.
The Falcons can also expect an increase in pressure from the interior of the line with the return of 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry and the arrival of Corey Peters — the team’s third-round pick out of Kentucky.
“There are a number of ways to eliminate the explosive plays in the passing game,” Dimitroff said. “We’ll be creative with our sub defense as far as getting up field.”
Atlanta Falcons Round-by-Round Picks
| Falcons’ Pick | Selection (School) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Rd. (No. 19 overall) | LB Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) | Blog | Pics | Video |
| 3rd Rd. (No. 83 overall) | DT Corey Peters (Kentucky) | Blog | Pics | Video |
| 3rd Rd. (No. 98 overall) | OL Mike Johnson (Alabama) | Blog | Pics | Video |
| 4th Rd. (No. 117 overall) | OL Joe Hawley (UNLV) | Blog | Pics |
| 5th Rd. (No. 135 overall) | CB Dominique Franks (Oklahoma) | Blog | Pics | Video |
| 5th Rd. (No. 165 overall) | WR Kerry Meier (Kansas) | Blog | Pics |
| 6th Rd. (No. 171 overall) | S Shann Schillinger (Montana) | Blog |
Fifth-round pick Dominque Franks and sixth-round selection Shann Schillinger add depth to a secondary that ran into more than its share of injuries in 2009 — an insurance policy at one of the game’s most important positions, according to Dimitroff.
On top of first-round pick Weatherspoon (speed, athleticism, production), the Falcons also added a pair of interior offensive lineman and a receiver known for his football IQ and ability to catch the ball over the middle of the field (Kerry Meier).
They may not all be household names, but they’re Falcons.
And they’re the Falcons the team wanted.
“We came away with everything we were truly looking for, and not just from a position standpoint,” Dimitroff said. ”Very nice Falcon fits.”
MORE NFL DRAFT COVERAGE:
- DRAFTCAST: Video coverage, photos and a fan chat from The Branch
- DRAFT BLOG: All my draft-related updates
- TWITTER: Follow me on Twitter | Other Falcons users
- FORUMS: Talk about the draft with other fans
- HOMEPAGE: Complete draft coverage from AtlantaFalcons.com
66 Comments
i think we are going to be tough this year. our braintrust is one of the best in the league and they have proved it by making us relevant in two years. we are getting better by the year and i cant wait to watch our birds kick some ass this year. GO FALCONS
“Bringing It All Together”
I like that. That is exactly what we need to do to win. But that being acknowledged, I have a few questions…
I have picked up on a number of post-draft FA signings… none of which has yet showed up here. Understanding the franchise’s desire to market those taken in the draft, I still would like to see something on the AF homepage regarding these walk-ons… some of which are quite worthy of our attention.
There are, in fact, a few communities that are quite excited that their native sons came to the Falcons as free agents and will be competing for a spot. Even undrafted, it means a lot…
…and dare we speak of some of those in Canton, OH, that arrived in this fashion.
Great WR pick, go Falcons!
Here are a few undrafted players currently in the NFL: Miles Austin, London Fletcher, Antonio Gates, James Harrison, Tony Romo, Kurt Warner (I know he retired), Wes Welker
And here are the percentages of the 1260 players to start at least 1 game in 09 based on their draft position:
1st round 20.8%
2nd round 15.6%
3rd round 13.7%
4th round 10.6%
5th round 8.1%
6th round 6.9%
7th round 6.7%
UNDRAFTED 17.6%
Have a little faith in your team. Besides, you spend approximately 0 hours scouting players and probably don’t understand too much about the game anyway.
@ Dwight How could you have no more faith in Dimitroff after letting big names slip by when the patriots were known for drafting nobody’s that turned out to be huge stars in the NFL while Dimitroff was general manager there…….?
Man, those Ryan Wolfe highlights are dope! That guy made some big plays, albeit in the MWC, but damn! Nice pick-up!
I was just reading about some free agents…. i honestly think that darren sharper and michael clayton from tampa bay would fit into our team very well!!! daunte on one side sharper on the other = dominance…. replace michael jenkins with clayton……. super bowl bound baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Invite DT Mullins from North Carolina to tryout. He is a wide body with skills.
I’m surprised that he wasn’t drafted.
good call chuck&sl,about the da real falcons fans an da fakers who don’t see greatness is about to happen. GO FALCONS!
I am pretty pleased with the draft. TD made solid picks, versatile players and i have wanted weatherspoon from day one, he is a beast.
next year is lookin nice for the falcons
Great draft this year!!!! As alot of people have said, I would have liked to have seen more big name players. That being said, look at all the talent that New Enbgland gathered during their championship runs. People are quick to give the coach’s kudos for the unknowns being coached up, but who picks those guys in the first place? Ahhhh….thats right, Thomas Dimetroff!!!! Before you can ever coach the unknowwns you first have to have an eye to find the unknowns. Besides, two thirds of the NFL is made up of players from smaller schools. Face it fellas this is why they get the big bucks and we are blogging on line. All our picks met needs, now lets sign some undrafted free agents, and pick up the rest in free agency, great big picture draft.
@Eric L. You said “We have no legitimate deep threat.” Have you never seen Roddy White play?????? Yes Dez Bryant might be great in the NFL. But when you draft you need to stick to the plan!
We need to trust our front office. They have done a great job thus far. I agree that we need good character guys with great football I.Q.’s.
I can’t wait to get back P. Jerry, W. Moore, and H. Douglas.
Go Dirty Birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did well in the draft this year for sure, but we are one or two players short from a superbowl. This can be addressed in the undrafted free agent pool or the free agent pool. We have two legitimate deep threats in both White and Douglas so that’s not a problem. Our problem will come in when or, hopefully not, if these nagging injuries surface. We should have got another scatback just incase Norwood goes down. We really need a lot of help in the return game, and for god sakes can we get a long term kicker please. Other than that we’re going to be fine. We’re going to be Nfc south champions, Nfc championship contenders, and hell raisers in the NFL. Yeah!!!!!!!!!! Let’s Go Falcons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey jamie the saints oline n dline dominated the colts in that game that y brees had all day to throw n manning didn’t especially on that int by greer
the jaguars just released big john henderson he is is one of smittys boys from jacksonville lets sign him he will require double teams all day this will allow abraham and beirman to put up double digit sacks numbers or if we dont get him we need a defensive end what about a trade for osi umenirya what do the giants want for him but if they want too much then big john will do remember in 08 when abraham had 16.5 sacks you can accredit that to big grady jackson for requiring double teams all of our dt weigh 300 lbs or less we need more beef on the d line we have some athletic pass rushing dt’s but no monster 325+ tackles that require double teams so come on dimitroff and smitty we have three ex jaguars on the roster already peterson,williams and fudge one more could no
Another uprising player who wasn’t drafted is our own Brent Grimes. He ended the year on the right foot, and comes into this year with high promise