138 replies to this topic

[freebird310]

Thomas Dimitroff has led the Falcons to multiple very successful drafts since he came in after the 2007 season. Twenty-six players are still with the team from the past four drafts and 14 players that Dimitroff drafted have started more than one game for the Falcons.

Because of his success in providing starters for Mike Smith through the draft, Dimitroff has helped the team get to four consecutive winning seasons and a record of 43-21 through the regular season. A big part of Dimitroff's strategy is the emphasis he puts on certain qualities.

Dimitroff tends to lean towards a certain maturity in the players he looks at. Twenty-eight of the players he drafted were seniors when they were drafted and one of the four juniors was redshirted and had been in college for four years.

Dimitroff also looks at a certain type of player almost exclusively for his draft board: players who are known for an exceptional work ethic. All 32 players that Dimitroff has drafted were known as gym rats and players who were known for their hard work on and off the field.

The interesting thing to note here when considering players to pick for the Falcons, is that they have not yet selected a player with either a team-related suspension or a prior arrest before they got drafted.

Even more noteworthy is that the only players on the current team who have been arrested are Jonathan Babineaux and William Moore. Their charges were minor compared to most; Babineaux had simple possession of marijuana, and Moore was speeding and driving under suspended license.

Another noteworthy function of Thomas Dimitroff’s strategy is to bring in guys known for their leadership. Nineteen out of the 32 players drafted were known as either the team captain or team leader when they were in college.

The emphasis on leadership is always going to be something that needs to be in place because Dimitroff has been building the team to be able to replace veterans from within if they are expecting too much money, much like the Steelers and Patriots do.

The last thing that Dimitroff has tendency to weigh is the Senior Bowl and other Senior All-Star games. He likes to see how the players will play against each other, having brought in 11 players who have played in the Senior Bowl, three who have played in the East-West Shrine Game and three who have played in the NFLPA game (also known as the Texas vs. the Nation game).

So, in summary, the Falcons' draft strategy can be extremely predictable at times, but when looking for the next Falcons picks, take a look at the strategies employed.

Dimitroff tends to go with players who are hard workers and team leaders. He tends to go with players who have not been arrested or suspended. He also looks into players who are more mature (and tend to be seniors) and players who were in all-star games.

[vabchbirdlover]

Another post to prop up our fledgling GM, who despite initial success has fallen upon tough sledding as of late. Numbers? Break down the nbrs if you would sir, by telling me the nbr of draftees since his regime began that have been effective starters.Relaizing that drafting NFL platers is not an exact science, but to hear some of y'all tell it, TD is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Personally, with a few exceptions, Ryan, Spoon, Lofton Julio, most have at best, been depth or straight out disappointments. Not really knocking it out of the park in my opinion. Yeah, yeah, 43-21, But  didn't  MM/BVG/Budeaux(sp) have a hand in that as well? Were are they now?

Screw the filter, quality players over choir boys.

Dimitroff needs really show me something this year before I'm back on board with him.

Edited by vabchbirdlover, 06 April 2012 - 09:58 AM.

[tobyd77]

I see us taking best player avaliable for our secon round pick.if that just happens to be a tightend cool.julio did exactly what the falcons needed to see which give me the belief that him and roddy will be switching roles in 2012.julio is a better #1option for koetter s vertical game.

[freebird310]

vabchbirdlover, on 06 April 2012 - 09:53 AM, said:

Another post to prop up our fledgling GM, who despite initial success has fallen upon tough sledding as of late. Numbers? Break down the nbrs if you would sir, by telling me the nbr of draftees since his regime began that have been effective starters.Relaizing that drafting NFL platers is not an exact science, but to hear some of y'all tell it, TD is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Personally, with a few exceptions, Ryan, Spoon, Lofton Julio, most have at best, been depth or straight out disappointments. Not really knocking it out of the park in my opinion. Yeah, yeah, 43-21, But  didn't  MM/BVG/Budeaux(sp) have a hand in that as well? Were are they now?

Screw the filter, quality players over choir boys.

Dimitroff needs really show me something this year before I'm back on board with him.

Never said he was the greatest, but he is not the POS he is made out to be here ......jury is still out on a number of TD's picks , but  except for Jerry and Baker there have been more hits than misses as per value per round .......and both Baker AND Jerry looked like GREAT picks until  their injurys started to pile up .........

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

freebird310, on 06 April 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:

Never said he was the greatest, but he is not the POS he is made out to be here ......

Absolutely true, but vabchbirdlover has a point...MM/BVG/Boudreax weren't POS as they have been made out to be either.  They share in

perceived success and failures as well.  TD needs to hit this one out the park.  He's ballsy, but not savant...or he would have listened to BB.

[muskokas finest ©]

freebird310, on 06 April 2012 - 09:26 AM, said:

Thomas Dimitroff has led the Falcons to multiple very successful drafts since he came in after the 2007 season. Twenty-six players are still with the team from the past four drafts and 14 players that Dimitroff drafted have started more than one game for the Falcons.

I disagree.  While it is hard to argue with the team's results under Dimitroff, not enough credit is given to previous management, who had left the new GM a full cupboard of quality draft picks and a decent core of talent.  I would say Dimitroff has been no better than average at optimizing the choices he's had to work with.

[freebird310]

Yea guys, I hear what you are saying, but consider this ...if guys like Sidbury, Hawley, Johnson, Franks, Quizz, Beerman and Dent become quality starters for us then I think his detractors need to take a harder look at what he has actually accomplished .......

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

freebird310, on 06 April 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

Yea guys, I hear what you are saying, but consider this ...if guys like Sidbury, Hawley, Johnson, Franks, Quizz, Beerman and Dent become quality starters for us then I think his detractors need to take a harder look at what he has actually accomplished .......

True, but that could be said of last season, when TD gambled that his O-line picks were stout enough to continue from the previous season.  2 points

in the p/o say otherwise.  Ballsy, but not savant...jury is still out IMHO.  No reason to shake when AB pounds his fist if its all good.  Was it all on Boudreaux?

Edited by Mid-Nite-Toker, 06 April 2012 - 11:08 AM.

[muskokas finest ©]

freebird310, on 06 April 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

Yea guys, I hear what you are saying, but consider this ...if guys like Sidbury, Hawley, Johnson, Franks, Quizz, Beerman and Dent become quality starters for us then I think his detractors need to take a harder look at what he has actually accomplished .......

That's a pretty big "if".  As of now, Biermann, a rotational DE, who was given an ample opportunity to take a starting job and couldn't, is the best of the lot.  Remember, even in that, DE was always a position of weakness where plenty of opportunity existed.

[m2Falcons]

And could be that a lot of the non-high round picks have been "stockpiled" without letting them play a lot early on....    why??
because they are able to adjust to the NFL game mentally, mature psychologically, and develop physically to play at higher and consistent levels.  this has the added benefit of transitioning them from cheap rookie contracts to generally much lower expense Vet contracts while ALSO sliding them through the FA gauntlet basically as an unknown (no other team is keen enough on them to raid us for them) so we get to re-sign them cheaply and THEN reap the reward with a long-term quality starter for less money.
the team keeps stocking depth (ala, GB, Pitts, NYG, Pats) and we have guys READY when "we" decide to let them move on due to age, performance, money, or all three.

[vabchbirdlover]

freebird310, on 06 April 2012 - 10:47 AM, said:

Yea guys, I hear what you are saying, but consider this ...if guys like Sidbury, Hawley, Johnson, Franks, Quizz, Beerman and Dent become quality starters for us then I think his detractors need to take a harder look at what he has actually accomplished .......

I would love to see that happen, but Bierman/Sid have been with us for a minute and yep imo, haven't made a big impact. Well, why is that? - Dare I say,  or should I just agree with the more popular opinion, "It was all BVG's incompetence". Yeah, right.
Quizz, Franks, Johnson, Dent - Most impressed with Franks, the rest I reserve judgment till I see them with more playing time

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

m2Falcons, on 06 April 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

And could be that a lot of the non-high round picks have been "stockpiled" without letting them play a lot early on.... why??
because they are able to adjust to the NFL game mentally, mature psychologically, and develop physically to play at higher and consistent levels.  this has the added benefit of transitioning them from cheap rookie contracts to generally much lower expense Vet contracts while ALSO sliding them through the FA gauntlet basically as an unknown (no other team is keen enough on them to raid us for them) so we get to re-sign them cheaply and THEN reap the reward with a long-term quality starter for less money.
the team keeps stocking depth (ala, GB, Pitts, NYG, Pats) and we have guys READY when "we" decide to let them move on due to age, performance, money, or all three.

Great, but still need something to show for that in the p/o.  In theory we are excellent, but in practice not so much...SB winners and contenders.

[UKFalc]

Good post, that summarises our strategy very well.

As for TD, he has been above avarage. Not spectacular, but not the disaster than some on here make him out to be.  Most of the geniuses on here would have taken Dorsey over Ryan, so they have no scope to blast TD.

You're not going to hit a home run with every pick. If your finding quakity mnore often thannot in the top 2 rounds and finding decent depth in the mid rounds then your not doing badly.

Baker was a huge reach and TD as agood as admitted it at the time, but was a somewhat  understandable and necessary one. As for Jerry, his injury was something that can't be prevented. It doesn't matter who draft, if they are unfortunate enough to suffer a serious and injury in their 2nd game.

TD's biggest mistake was drafting Julio Jones. Jones will be be great player (there is something about his intangibkles, that makes think that he has a chance to go down as the best falcon ever), but the price we're paying on the OL and DL in particular, still make it a tough move to justify when we already had a top 5 WR.

[vabchbirdlover]

UKFalc, on 06 April 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

Good post, that summarises our strategy very well.

As for TD, he has been above avarage. Not spectacular, but not the disaster than some on here make him out to be.  Most of the geniuses on here would have taken Dorsey over Ryan, so they have no scope to blast TD.

Never was one of the Dorsey over Ryan ppl and as to Blasting Dimitroff, Well, it called opinions.



You're not going to hit a home run with every pick. If your finding quakity mnore often thannot in the top 2 rounds and finding decent depth in the mid rounds then your not doing badly.

Baker was a huge reach and TD as agood as admitted it at the time, but was a somewhat  understandable and necessary one.


Yet, from what I've been hearing, they are determined to admit this error and will enter the 2012 season trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. SMH.


As for Jerry, his injury was something that can't be prevented. It doesn't matter who draft, if they are unfortunate enough to suffer a serious and injury in their 2nd game.

TD's biggest mistake was drafting Julio Jones. Jones will be be great player (there is something about his intangibkles, that makes think that he has a chance to go down as the best falcon ever), but the price we're paying on the OL and DL in particular, still make it a tough move to justify when we already had a top 5 WR.

Agree 100pct.

[muskokas finest ©]

UKFalc, on 06 April 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

As for TD, he has been above avarage. Not spectacular, but not the disaster than some on here make him out to be.  Most of the geniuses on here would have taken Dorsey over Ryan, so they have no scope to blast TD.

You're not going to hit a home run with every pick. If your finding quakity mnore often thannot in the top 2 rounds and finding decent depth in the mid rounds then your not doing badly.

Baker was a huge reach and TD as agood as admitted it at the time, but was a somewhat  understandable and necessary one. As for Jerry, his injury was something that can't be prevented. It doesn't matter who draft, if they are unfortunate enough to suffer a serious and injury in their 2nd game.

TD's biggest mistake was drafting Julio Jones. Jones will be be great player (there is something about his intangibkles, that makes think that he has a chance to go down as the best falcon ever), but the price we're paying on the OL and DL in particular, still make it a tough move to justify when we already had a top 5 WR.

We don't know that Dorsey and Henne would not have succeeded here.  League's full of players who benefited from a change of scenery.  Dorsey next to Abraham could have been a holy terror for all we know.  Having Dorsey might have saved us from being forced into picking Peria Jerry.  Might not have reached for Baker if we weren't going to invest $78 million at QB.  It could have been a completely different picture.

You're right in thinking that Julio Jones might be our best player ever.  What amazes me is the amount of people who bash the deal, me included, who in turn won't question the motives of Thomas Dimitroff for making such a desperate move.

[muskokas finest ©]

m2Falcons, on 06 April 2012 - 11:12 AM, said:

And could be that a lot of the non-high round picks have been "stockpiled" without letting them play a lot early on.... why??
because they are able to adjust to the NFL game mentally, mature psychologically, and develop physically to play at higher and consistent levels.  this has the added benefit of transitioning them from cheap rookie contracts to generally much lower expense Vet contracts while ALSO sliding them through the FA gauntlet basically as an unknown (no other team is keen enough on them to raid us for them) so we get to re-sign them cheaply and THEN reap the reward with a long-term quality starter for less money.

That's a complete fantasy.  The average career in the NFL is 3 years.  This isn't like MLB, where you hide players in the minors and fool with their service time to keep them longer.  The NCAA is the NFL's minor league.  You draft players with the idea that they can contribute immediately or in case of injury.  Only QBs, with there long shelf life, are stockpiled.

[FalconFanSince1970]

Unless some of his busts or ghost picks kick it in gear soon, no one is gonna convince me that Dimi is good in the war room. In fact, I would prefer he not be in the war room.

Ryan - butta
Spoon - beast
Lofton - baller
WillyMo - player
Julio - dope but not worth five picks
Peters - decent
HD - OK

The rest? Laughable. Dude is averaging just over one good pick per draft and should be near two or three.

[hjerry]

The moment I saw this thread, I thought, "Wow this guy is about to get flamed", and then I opened the thread and was like,"Oops, too late".

[UKFalc]

muskokas finest, on 06 April 2012 - 12:04 PM, said:

We don't know that Dorsey and Henne would not have succeeded here.  League's full of players who benefited from a change of scenery.  Dorsey next to Abraham could have been a holy terror for all we know.  Having Dorsey might have saved us from being forced into picking Peria Jerry.  Might not have reached for Baker if we weren't going to invest $78 million at QB.  It could have been a completely different picture.

You're right in thinking that Julio Jones might be our best player ever.  What amazes me is the amount of people who bash the deal, me included, who in turn won't question the motives of Thomas Dimitroff for making such a desperate move.

The Golden rule of the draft is, "if there is a franchsie Qb available and you don't have one, you take him".

DT's rarely get drafting in the top 5-10, because they are not a premiere position. Why anyone would even consider drafting a DT over a Qb is beyond words to me. Even if Dorsey plays at a HoF level, he makes less impact that Ryan.

[UKFalc]

Ryan - Great Pick
Baker - Basically what the scouts projected him to be - a mediocre LT at best. A gamble that hasn't worked.
Lofton - Great Pickup
HD - Solid pickup for the 3rd, who should have been given more opportunities
Decoud - Long time starter who has been adequate and no more. Can't exepect much more than that from the very back end our round 3.
Biermann - Good value for the 5th round and has made some huge - game winning - plays.

Peria Jerry - The obvious choice given our team needs at the time. On his way to a bust after a very serious knee injury in his 2nd game.
William Moore - Good big hitting safety. Good pick.
Christopher Owens - Has shown some positive signs, but has struggled badly at times. Could go either way.
Sidbury - Showed promise as situational pass rusher in 2011. Another that could go either way over the next 2 years.
Middleton - Good Pick. Shame he's doing it for the Jags.
Garret Reynolds - Has made the roster.
Vance Walker - A depth pick in the 7th. A good selction, as you really can't expect much more than that.

Weatherspon - Great OLB, already playing near pro-bowl level
Peters - Great Pick. Has been productive from day 1. Has exceeded all reasonable expectations so far.
Johnson - Struggled at times, but still very young. Wait and see.
Hawley - As for Hawley.
Franks - Looks like a solid pickup. Still developing
Meier - Hit with injury his rookie season, and showed little in yr 2. Maybe he do more with an OC sho knows how to incorporate more than 2 WRs in to a gameplan. Wait and See.
Schillinger - Solid value 6th rounder who is still around.

Julio - Superstar, but massively expensive.
Dent - Too early to tell. Will see plenty of playing time in 2012.
Rodgers - Shows a lot of promise. Coaches have already said he will see more playing time this year.
Bosher - Does the job. Solid Selection.
Jackson - Too early to tell
Matthews - Too early to tell

Sorry, but I don't get the level of TD hate. He's missed on a number of picks, missed big on a few and added a lot of guys who are solid starters and depth players on a squad that has won 43 games in 4 seasons. It's still to early to be writing off anyone taken in the last 2 or 3 drafts.

We all want to be finding great players in the 3rd-7th rounds every year, but those guys are a rarity in the NFL. From the last 4 drafts only 10 players drafted in rounds 3-7 have been selected to a pro-bowl so far, from 750+ picks.