FalconMama Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 My linkSo Bill Belichick and Thomas Dimitroff are on the phone a couple hours before the start of the first round Thursday. The general manager of the Falcons asks the head coach of the Patriots, his former boss, what he thinks about the bold move Dimitroff is contemplating making: two first round picks, a second round pick and two fourth round picks to move up 21 spots in the draft to select wide receiver Julio Jones.“You know Bill,” Dimitroff told me. “He would never have done this move. It’s just not his makeup. He talked about the value we would be giving up.”Belichick was much better situated than Dimitroff to make a move for Jones. He had the draft picks as ammunition, and he had a bigger need for him. But that kind of trade isn’t what Belichick does.It wouldn’t be what most decision makers do. In fact, I spoke with a number of them who questioned the deal. So I decided to ask Dimitroff, the reigning NFL executive of the year, about the criticisms.Criticism 1: the Falcons gave up too much. The deal was complicated a bit by the fact that players could not be included. If there had been labor peace, you can bet the Falcons would have replaced a draft pick with a player in their offer. Dimitroff won’t say it, but including Michael Jenkins in the compensation package would have made perfect sense.That aside, the compensation package wasn’t as intimidating to the Falcons as it might appear. The only difficult thing they had to come to grips with was giving up a first round pick in 2012. The two fourth rounders they gave up, one this year and one the next, didn’t bother Dimitroff because the Falcons have a number of former draft picks who would be competing with the fourth rounders for roster spots. The Falcons have yet to decide if those players need to be replaced, or could be future starters. Trading away those picks buys them more time with the players they have already invested in.The other nice part of the deal is for all the Falcons gave up, they still had seven 2011 draft choices after the trade.Criticism 2: It’s not worth doing what they did for a wide receiver. The road to the unemployment line is littered with wide receiver busts. If the Falcons were going to move up, they could have moved up for a pass rusher. In fact, if they couldn’t move up for Jones, they were set to attempt a smaller move up for a defensive end.But Dimitroff, along with his talented lieutenants Les Snead and Dave Caldwell, did a lot of research about moving up for a defensive end versus a receiver, contemplating a trade for over a month. They noticed of all the first round defensive ends picked over the last five years, very few of them were producing double digit sack numbers.“There are issues with receivers, no question about it,” Dimitroff said. “Our thoughts were there have been just as many busts at quarterback, defensive tackle and defensive end.”Dimitroff is not alone in his reasoning. “I talked with some of my cohorts who are more in line with that kind of thinking,” he said. “There are certain groups in this league who philosophically are more steeped in a traditional mindset. You only draft certain positions that high, or only move up high for a player at certain positions. But there seems to be a newer order of thought. If that player is in fact impactful, a potential difference maker not only with skill set but with leadership ability, then I think there is more consideration now than ten or 15 years ago.”Criticism 3: The Falcons did not need Jones. The Falcons have a run-first offense. They already had a Pro Bowl receiver in Roddy White, and another who is a fine No. 2 in Jenkins. But they set a priority of becoming more explosive offensively. “With this move, we feel we can be that much more creative with our offense,” Dimitroff said. “We are driven by the run, but we need to produce on the passing side of the game. It will help us to a certain extent, alleviate some of the tilting of the field to Roddy White, which has been done by defenses time and again.”Even though White’s production may decrease, and Jones may not be a league leader in catches and yards, the Falcons believe they will have a more effective offense. They now easily have the most gifted pair of starting wide receivers in the NFL, which will cause serious problems for defensive coordinators. Jones can make White more effective, and other teammates too.Dimitroff was speaking with Alabama coach Nick Saban on Friday about Jones. “He was raving about him, and as you know it takes a lot to truly impress Nick Saban,” Dimitroff said. “He was saying skill set aside, play making ability aside, what he brings to the franchise can be profound in terms of his competitiveness and his passion for the game. You combine that with Roddy’s competitiveness and passion for the game, along with the rest of our receiver group, and I really believe this is going to be a very good boost to our progress.”This move may work out. It may not. But it was not done without careful and reasoned thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiac Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 All 3 criticisms, espeically #3, are extremely ******* ******** and not well thought out.That's my criticism on his criticisms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 nice read, thanks Falconmamma +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOCTHEFALCONFAN™ Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 I don't get why you all care so much about what these so called "Experts/Analyst" think.F**k What they think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconMama Posted May 2, 2011 Author Share Posted May 2, 2011 I don't get why you all care so much about what these so called "Experts/Analyst" think.F**k What they think.Oh please lol.. I post stuff positive or negative and if it pertains to the Falcons it will be posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Oh please lol.. I post stuff positive or negative and if it pertains to the Falcons it will be posted. off course......we all post stuff that media says - something to talk about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terber Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 great read. Dont mind the criticism at all. as far as giving away too much i say bulljank. if he produces like i think he will than we won't even care. JJ is a stud with natual gifted abilities that most don't have..not to mention that he works hard and is a smart player. i love the pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Some will love the move and some will hate it.I just know if TD can grab a DE in FA... He accomplished everything we felt like we needed... We got more explosive on Offense ... And with the DE in FA... We did everything we had to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Falcon Jedi Knight Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Dan Pompei is an idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 I understand the criticism, it's valid, but I know TD knows what this teams needs are and whats going to be out there in the next draft and free agency. He knows **** well what he'll be missing out on in the first round next season, if anything, and he felt like this pick was worth it. I trust him and I love Julio Jones. Combined with Quizz, I can't think of an offense I'd rather watch in the NFL. It's gonna be a fun season, if in fact their is one.Here's to Ray Edwards solidifying our team later on and us being set for a legit run in 2011. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoned_jc7 Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Some will love the move and some will hate it.I just know if TD can grab a DE in FA... He accomplished everything we felt like we needed... We got more explosive on Offense ... And with the DE in FA... We did everything we had to do.Truth.god freakin bless you.I've been holding back for a few days on starting a ******** thread about how I actually liked our draft, if we can combine it with bringing in a FA edge rusher. The object is to make the team better. At least they had a blueprint..yeah?Or we could be like the Vikings, who reached for a QB who's upside makes him Chad Pennington. Then they draft a TE although they already have a good one, and have a ton of other holes. AT least are plan to make the team better has a rhyme and reason.All of this is academic anyway. We don't know if these guys are going to be players for us. All our FO can do is evaluate our teams performance and our talent, and try to make the team better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HashMark Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Oh please lol.. I post stuff positive or negative and if it pertains to the Falcons it will be posted. And I Think You Very Much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedBlack&Red Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Dear Dimitroff, Thank you for all you've done in the past 3 years for this organization. I hope you and the rest of the Falcon staff look in the cameras after your Super Bowl win and say "F*** Off" to everyone who questioned what this organization was capable of and how they did it. I know this a little over aggressive but obviously our office knows what the team is capable of and what they need to do to improve, it shows from the past 3 YEARS. Or I'm just a Falcon Fan who is to confident in the organization. Needed that vent. now back to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Statick Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Good post.Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukfalc Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Interesting artiles, espacially the part about TD ringing Bellichick for his views. Would we really for that, with another team who could have been atrgetting the same player for all we know have been (OK its unlikely, but the Pats had more ammunitions that us to move up if they so desired). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyin' In DC Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Did I read this wrong? I thought the article was had a positive spin to it. This writer seems to be pointing out the "mainstream" thoughts but explains why this was done in the first place.I am more glass half-full type of person so maybe the writer struck a nerve with your own doubts about the draft.My Opinion is that this a very well written article with a positive spin toward the move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF89 Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Did I read this wrong? I thought the article was had a positive spin to it. This writer seems to be pointing out the "mainstream" thoughts but explains why this was done in the first place.I am more glass half-full type of person so maybe the writer struck a nerve with your own doubts about the draft.My Opinion is that this a very well written article with a positive spin toward the moveNow that you mention I think your right. I think alot of people saw a list with the word critism and just assummed the worst. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blizzard_falcon Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Did I read this wrong? I thought the article was had a positive spin to it. This writer seems to be pointing out the "mainstream" thoughts but explains why this was done in the first place.I am more glass half-full type of person so maybe the writer struck a nerve with your own doubts about the draft.My Opinion is that this a very well written article with a positive spin toward the moveNo, it WAS a positive article. He lists 3 criticisms, but then refutes them all. King is a big fan of TD and I think he liked this aggressive move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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