The "What if" mock - if no Julio Jones Trade - last "what if" for me

[g-dawg]

#1-27)Gabe Carimi, OT-Wisconsin

It was said in Mark Bradley's AJC column today that, in fact, Dimitroff said this would have been the pick given the choices on the board at #27.

#2-59)Greg Little, WR-North Carolina

I don't know if this would have been the pick or not, however this was the guy that I loved and he has a ton of ability and similiar size, strength, skills to Julio. Ironically, Cleveland took Greg Little at the Falcons #59 old spot. I hope for sake of my sanity that Julio's career dwarfs Greg Little's career. It would not suprise me if Greg Little has a fantastic career - he has the talent.

#3-91)Rashad Carmichael,CB-Virginia Tech

This guy has a lot of talent and plays the way the Falcons like their corners to play - physical, able to play in zone coverage and off-man coverage. Carmichael is also a ball-hawk who has ball skills and a lot of interceptions

#4-124)Jacquizz Rogers,RB-Oregon State

Obviously the Falcons took this playmaker a round later but traded up 13 spots in 5th round to get him - therefore I take him here, one round earlier.

#5-158)Quan Sturdivant,LB-Nort Carolina

Obviously the Falcons liked Akeem Dent better but scouted Quan Sturdivant as well. I cannot assume Dent would have dropped this far but Sturdivant was available at this spot and would have made a good pick

#6-192)Virgil Green,TE-Nevada

I'm not sure if Gren would have fit in Falcons offense as I don't know if Green could carry out the blocking duties required. Apparently there were some concerns about a micro-fracture surgery on Green's knee from a few years ago and this is why he dropped. Assuming we got him this late, he would be worth the flier with his great talent.

#7-209)Andrew Jackson-OG Fresno State

Falcons did draft this guy. Mean, nasty offensive guard to develop and eventually replace Harvey Dahl in two years. needs to put on about 10 pounds of muscle.

#7-229)Cliff Matthews,DE-South Carolina

a "try hard" guy that can play special teams as well. Needs to bulk up about 10 lbs and could develop later into a pass-rushing option. Obviously the Falcons did draft this guy at same position.

#7-230)Chas Henry,P-Florida

has a booming leg and would easily outperform Michael Koenan for 1/4 of the money which frees up Falcons to get free agents at more needed positions.

Plus we would have our 2012 1st and 4th rounders.

[g-dawg]

I realize this is a fruitless exercise but I think the above would have been a lot to get excited about as well.

This would have really bolstered our offensive line while adding a dynamic playmaker like Greg Little for WR position. On top of that, we probably get our nickelback in Rashard Carmichael while still maintaining the COP runningback we are all so pleased with in Quizz Rogers.

On top of all that, we would still have our 1st and 4th round picks for 2012.

[Laugher]

I think that draft was better.

[chifalc]

"Just as good'? Really? Come on now.

If he was 'just as good' obviously, don't you think someone would have bitten before the second round?

[Tribal Chief]

Brandon Harris and Leonard Hankerson in the 3rd after trading the 2nd rounder. Sorry, I'm a Miami homer

[Tax-Falcon]

I prefer the draft that actually occurred.

[g-dawg]

Brandon Harris and Leonard Hankerson in the 3rd after trading the 2nd rounder. Sorry, I'm a Miami homer

that's alright, we all have character flaws "ya boi" - don't beat yourself up over it.

[g-dawg]

"Just as good'? Really? Come on now.

If he was 'just as good' obviously, don't you think someone would have bitten before the second round?

nobody did take Greg Little until #59(Falcons old pick)....he was available.

as far as "just as good" in the Julio/Greg Little - well, the talent is very similiar. Both players are very strong - Little has more "after the catch" ability.

Greg Little would have been a first rounder if not for the character concern and the lost season due to the suspension for agent party stuff.

I think Greg Little could have gone in 1st round if not for "off-the-field" stuff.

[Tribal Chief]

that's alright, we all have character flaws "ya boi" - don't beat yourself up over it.

Just sayin

[g-dawg]

No offense G, but come on man! The draft is over! Save the hindsight crap until we actually see these players play a few games! How many teams can say IF THIS AND IF THAT?? Wasn't there just an article a couple weeks ago about how Parcells regrets taking Long over Ryan??

I know the draft is obviously something you really get serious about and I have loved reading your posts, but the draft is now over. This "What if" mock may very well turn out to be one of the greatest "What if" drafts ever, but it isn't real life.

I said this was my last "what if".....after today and this thread - it will be over and I will speak it no more.

[g-dawg]

Just sayin

J/K

[MattyIce222]

While this "what if draft" does seem pretty **** good, we can't assume the draft would have played itself out exactly the way it did if we hadn't had traded up. It is like a ripple effect when a team pulls a blockbuster tradeup like we did so some of these players may not have been available. But I like the way it would have gone. But am still very satisfied with how the draft turned out

While this "what if draft" does seem pretty **** good, we can't assume the draft would have played itself out exactly the way it did if we hadn't had traded up. It is like a ripple effect when a team pulls a blockbuster tradeup like we did so some of these players may not have been available. But I like the way it would have gone. But am still very satisfied with how the draft turned out

[g-dawg]

While this "what if draft" does seem pretty **** good, we can't assume the draft would have played itself out exactly the way it did if we hadn't had traded up. It is like a ripple effect when a team pulls a blockbuster tradeup like we did so some of these players may not have been available. But I like the way it would have gone. But am still very satisfied with how the draft turned out

While this "what if draft" does seem pretty **** good, we can't assume the draft would have played itself out exactly the way it did if we hadn't had traded up. It is like a ripple effect when a team pulls a blockbuster tradeup like we did so some of these players may not have been available. But I like the way it would have gone. But am still very satisfied with how the draft turned out

I'm satisfied as well.....just sayin'

[CHOCTHEFALCONFAN™]

I prefer the draft that actually occurred.

I concur

[g-dawg]

It's all good G. Don't shut up about it on account of me though!

enjoying your sig.....would love to provide support for the cause

[chifalc]

nobody did take Greg Little until #59(Falcons old pick)....he was available.

as far as "just as good" in the Julio/Greg Little - well, the talent is very similiar. Both players are very strong - Little has more "after the catch" ability.

Greg Little would have been a first rounder if not for the character concern and the lost season due to the suspension for agent party stuff.

I think Greg Little could have gone in 1st round if not for "off-the-field" stuff.

"Off the field stuff' matters. If there is any team in the entire NFL that should know that, it is the Atlanta Falcons.

[Tribal Chief]

nobody did take Greg Little until #59(Falcons old pick)....he was available.

as far as "just as good" in the Julio/Greg Little - well, the talent is very similiar. Both players are very strong - Little has more "after the catch" ability.

Greg Little would have been a first rounder if not for the character concern and the lost season due to the suspension for agent party stuff.

I think Greg Little could have gone in 1st round if not for "off-the-field" stuff.

Robert Quinn and Marcell Dareus also had off the field stuff. Quinn was at the same party as Little.

[AF89]

Wow good draft GDawg. To be honest I think your draft might've been better for us in the long run but I think our real draft has the better impact on the upcoming year. Julio is going to be able to push the other team's defense off Roddy in a way no other player in the draft other than A.J Green could.

I'm surprised you'd didn't take any early round DEs,I assume in your mock offseason we'd be going after a Ray Edwards?

[g-dawg]

Robert Quinn and Marcell Dareus also had off the field stuff. Quinn was at the same party as Little.

yeah, I think we have debunked most of the Greg Little stuff. His character is not as bad as advertised...greatly exaggerated.

[Tribal Chief]

yeah, I think we have debunked most of the Greg Little stuff. His character is not as bad as advertised...greatly exaggerated.

QFT

[chifalc]

It was that easy to debunk and yet not a single NFL team's scouting department did? Odd.

[Dr. Billings]

The biggest decision in the trade I am concerned with is giving up the 1st next year. If we could have gotten a player as good as Julio in the 2nd this year then the trade doesn't make sense to me.

[JOEinPHX]

#1-27)Gabe Carimi, OT-Wisconsin

It was said in Mark Bradley's AJC column today that, in fact, Dimitroff said this would have been the pick given the choices on the board at #27.

#2-59)Greg Little, WR-North Carolina

I don't know if this would have been the pick or not, however this was the guy that I loved and he has a ton of ability and similiar size, strength, skills to Julio. Ironically, Cleveland took Greg Little at the Falcons #59 old spot. I hope for sake of my sanity that Julio's career dwarfs Greg Little's career. It would not suprise me if Greg Little has a fantastic career - he has the talent.

#3-91)Rashad Carmichael,CB-Virginia Tech

This guy has a lot of talent and plays the way the Falcons like their corners to play - physical, able to play in zone coverage and off-man coverage. Carmichael is also a ball-hawk who has ball skills and a lot of interceptions

#4-124)Jacquizz Rogers,RB-Oregon State

Obviously the Falcons took this playmaker a round later but traded up 13 spots in 5th round to get him - therefore I take him here, one round earlier.

#5-158)Quan Sturdivant,LB-Nort Carolina

Obviously the Falcons liked Akeem Dent better but scouted Quan Sturdivant as well. I cannot assume Dent would have dropped this far but Sturdivant was available at this spot and would have made a good pick

#6-192)Virgil Green,TE-Nevada

I'm not sure if Gren would have fit in Falcons offense as I don't know if Green could carry out the blocking duties required. Apparently there were some concerns about a micro-fracture surgery on Green's knee from a few years ago and this is why he dropped. Assuming we got him this late, he would be worth the flier with his great talent.

#7-209)Andrew Jackson-OG Fresno State

Falcons did draft this guy. Mean, nasty offensive guard to develop and eventually replace Harvey Dahl in two years. needs to put on about 10 pounds of muscle.

#7-229)Cliff Matthews,DE-South Carolina

a "try hard" guy that can play special teams as well. Needs to bulk up about 10 lbs and could develop later into a pass-rushing option. Obviously the Falcons did draft this guy at same position.

#7-230)Chas Henry,P-Florida

has a booming leg and would easily outperform Michael Koenan for 1/4 of the money which frees up Falcons to get free agents at more needed positions.

I've got no problems with 'what-ifs', G-Dawg. I could use a little catharsis myself.

Love the Carimi pick, a ten-year guy with Pro Bowl potential who brings a massive upgrade to the line and lessens the OL free agent dilemma that's on the Falcons horizon.

I think the Little pick is a good risk at that spot, even with character concerns. Jones is clearly a superior receiver but Little is entirely capable of opening the offense the way it's hoped Jones will (and this board is now littered with morning-after revisionist posts about how that's all Jones really needs to do).

The Carmichael pick has a chance to be that third corner that has to be found sooner or later and looks like a better need/talent pick than Dent. One can only assume the Falcons have more faith in Owens and Franks than what their on-field performances last year seemed to justify.

I'd bet that if the Falcons had kept their fourth they'd have moved on Rodgers there as well.

Can't begin to evaluate a Sturdivant/Dent decision as I just don't know enough, but if Carmichael's the pick in the third, Sturdivant looks like a good needs pick here.

I thought the Falcons made their best value picks in rounds six and seven. Bosher was strictly a business decision - maybe he's there late in the seventh and maybe he's not, but Henry wouldn't be a step back. Jackson and Matthews are two excellent developmental fliers.

Give me all this and an FA DE and I'm a very happy guy. Now that I've said that, I'll shut my 2011 draft piehole and go look for a Julio jersey.

EDIT - Forget to mention Virgil Green, but in the sixth, I'd say that's a good flier. A rookie 6th contract, a year of healing and learning, you might have something special.

Edited May 2, 2011 by JOEinPHX

[falcons4life]

I've always said that if I ever struck oil and had the money to buy the Falcons, Dawg would be my GM and this is exactly why. (Even though he didnt PM me his final mock )

Attention to detail and looking at every angle and even examining the "what if's"

Great leg work as usual. I was very interested in seeing something like this put together and kind of figuring out what direction the team could have and maybe would have gone had we not given away those picks for JJ.

It will be interesting to revisit a thread like this one in the years ahead as we watch the careers of these players. While I am not a huge fan of giving up so many picks, I think the Falcons did well and now have ALL the weapons needed to be explosive on offense...with NO excuses.

Heck, if Mularkey installs some screen passes due to the acquisition of Quizz, we are already one step ahead of seasons past.

Great job Dawg!

[g-dawg]

I've got no problems with 'what-ifs', G-Dawg. I could use a little catharsis myself.

Love the Carimi pick, a ten-year guy with Pro Bowl potential who brings a massive upgrade to the line and lessens the OL free agent dilemma that's on the Falcons horizon.

I think the Little pick is a good risk at that spot, even with character concerns. Jones is clearly a superior receiver but Little is entirely capable of opening the offense the way it's hoped Jones will (and this board is now littered with morning-after revisionist posts about how that's all Jones really needs to do).

The Carmichael pick has a chance to be that third corner that has to be found sooner or later and looks like a better need/talent pick than Dent. One can only assume the Falcons have more faith in Owens and Franks than what their on-field performances last year seemed to justify.

I'd bet that if the Falcons had kept their fourth they'd have moved on Rodgers there as well.

Can't begin to evaluate a Sturdivant/Dent decision as I just don't know enough, but if Carmichael's the pick in the third, Sturdivant looks like a good needs pick here.

I thought the Falcons made their best value picks in rounds six and seven. Bosher was strictly a business decision - maybe he's there late in the seventh and maybe he's not, but Henry wouldn't be a step back. Jackson and Matthews are two excellent developmental fliers.

Give me all this and an FA DE and I'm a very happy guy. Now that I've said that, I'll shut my 2011 draft piehole and go look for a Julio jersey.

EDIT - Forget to mention Virgil Green, but in the sixth, I'd say that's a good flier. A rookie 6th contract, a year of healing and learning, you might have something special.

agree w/ most of your analysis Joe. Falcons had a really good "Day #3" - Quizz Rogers(A-), Matt Bosher(B-), Andrew Jackson(B+), Cliff Matthews( - those are my grades on Day#3.