Falcons Roster Moves as foretold by G-Dawg

[g-dawg]

I know you all have been waiting with baited breff for this. Well read and enjoy - I've come "Back from the Future" in my special G-DAWG MACHINE and here is what Thomas Dimitroff has done:

Re-Signed Falcons players:

1) Brent Grimes,CB

2) Tyson Clabo,RT

3) Stephen Nicholas,SLB

4) Matt Bryant,PK

5) Eric Weems,KR/PR

Falcons Free Agents NOT re-signed(Let Go):

1) Harvey Dahl,RG

2) Justin Blalock,LG

3) Jason Snelling,RB/FB

4) Jerious Norwood,RB

5) Michael Koenan,P

6) Mike Peterson,OLB

Cut:

1) Brian Finneran,WR(already)

2) Brian Williams,CB(already)

3) Michael Jenkins,WR

4) Jamaal Anderson,DE

5) Chauncey Davis,DE

Signed in College Free Agency:

1) Mark Herzlich,SLB-Boston College (back-up)

2) Mario Fannin,RB/FB-Auburn (fills the Jason Snelling role only less carries b/c Quizz)

3) Zach Hurd,OG-Connecticut (back-up/practice squad)

4) Jerron Johnson,FS-Boise State (practice squad)

Signed in NFL Unrestricted Free Agency:

1) Charles Johnson,DE-Carolina Panthers

2) Corey Graham,CB-Chicago Bears (6'0",200lbs competes for nickel and special teams ace)

[miKevicK777]

i have a hard time believing we may let snelling go.

hes a real solid RB. if turner gets injured, we'd only have the little rookie quizzster and the Undrafted FA rookie u listed. And since the running game is still (as far as we know as of now) a very essential part of our offense, i think an injury to turner may limit our offense by more than quite a bit if snelling is not with us.

I think it would be a large gamble to let snelling go at this point.

[k-train]

If this happens, I will need to change my pants.

[k-train]

i have a hard time believing we may let snelling go.

hes a real solid RB. if turner gets injured, we'd only have the little rookie quizzster and the Undrafted FA rookie u listed. And since the running game is still (as far as we know as of now) a very essential part of our offense, i think an injury to turner may limit our offense by more than quite a bit if snelling is not with us.

I think it would be a large gamble to let snelling go at this point.

I'm a big time Snelling fan, and have been rooting for him the WHOLE time he's been here. He always looked promising in camp/pre-season, and it was no surprise to me how well he did once he finally got his shot. He's super solid, does nothing great, but does everything pretty good. It would be nice to keep him around, if we can get him for cheap, but if he leaves it might not be as bad as you are making it out to be. Don't sleep on Gartrell Johnson. We haven't seen much of him yet, but what's he's shown has been promising... just like Snelling was a few years back.

[TeamPlayer1]

I know you all have been waiting with baited breff for this. Well read and enjoy - I've come "Back from the Future" in my special G-DAWG MACHINE and here is what Thomas Dimitroff has done:

Re-Signed Falcons players:

1) Brent Grimes,CB

2) Tyson Clabo,RT

3) Stephen Nicholas,SLB

4) Matt Bryant,PK

5) Eric Weems,KR/PR

Falcons Free Agents NOT re-signed(Let Go):

1) Harvey Dahl,RG

2) Justin Blalock,LG

3) Jason Snelling,RB/FB

4) Jerious Norwood,RB

5) Michael Koenan,P

6) Mike Peterson,OLB

Cut:

1) Brian Finneran,WR(already)

2) Brian Williams,CB(already)

3) Michael Jenkins,WR

4) Jamaal Anderson,DE

5) Chauncey Davis,DE

Signed in College Free Agency:

1) Mark Herzlich,SLB-Boston College (back-up)

2) Mario Fannin,RB/FB-Auburn (fills the Jason Snelling role only less carries b/c Quizz)

3) Zach Hurd,OG-Connecticut (back-up/practice squad)

4) Jerron Johnson,FS-Boise State (practice squad)

Signed in NFL Unrestricted Free Agency:

1) Charles Johnson,DE-Carolina Panthers

2) Corey Graham,CB-Chicago Bears (6'0",200lbs competes for nickel and special teams ace)

Plus one for you for not being wishy washy! I like it.

[kane#7]

I would absolutly love that off season

[jeffro2000]

I would absolutly love that off season

Really, he has us losing 9-10 guys who contribued to our team last year, and replacing them with one good player, and a guy I don't know. Good to give young guys a chance, and I know we are going to loose some guys, but that is a lot.

[g-dawg]

I'm a big time Snelling fan, and have been rooting for him the WHOLE time he's been here. He always looked promising in camp/pre-season, and it was no surprise to me how well he did once he finally got his shot. He's super solid, does nothing great, but does everything pretty good. It would be nice to keep him around, if we can get him for cheap, but if he leaves it might not be as bad as you are making it out to be. Don't sleep on Gartrell Johnson. We haven't seen much of him yet, but what's he's shown has been promising... just like Snelling was a few years back.

agreed. I think Jason Snelling is a very nice player that is an AWESOME back-up but I don't think he would ever be very special as a starter. He is a "jack-of-all-trades" who can run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield, return kickoffs and play some fullback - no question he is a valuable player. Having said all of that - I say this - Jason Snelling wants a shot at starting or at least be in some kind of "50/50" split backfield - if he can find that situation in free agency someone will pay him decent money to do it. Like K-Train, I think the Falcons like Gartrell Johnson and obviously like Quizz. I think we could get someone like Mario Fannin to assume kind of a hybrid role(to a smaller extent) like Snelling had. Fannin could be the back-up #4RB and #2FB. Fannin also has sub 4.40 speed and can be a good PR/KR as well.

Falcons can easily survive without Jason Snelling and need to put their resources elsewhere.

[raysnill1]

so you wanna start a new guard next to Baker when Blalock's pretty much his crutch? good luck with that. plus Blalock has only missed like 2 games his whole career.

not resign Peterson, the man is one of the smartest in the game and even though he's lost a step, he's always good for a big play every now & then. the knowledge he gives our young squad is valuable

we are not getting Charles Johnson.

[Guest Gritz]

I really winced more than a little bit reading those first 3 "NOT re-signs."

I think Dahl does go but I think we somehow sign both Blalock and Clabo.....

and Snelling, I agree with the other poster...no Snelling or Norwood means we're rolling with Turner, Quizz and Gartrell....Whew, high risk...

I like and appreciate that you took the time to do this though....a big + 1....

I will say this though, I think with the "NOT re-signs" and flat out cuts you made you probably did free up enough cap space to land Johnson....if he can be landed.

[g-dawg]

Really, he has us losing 9-10 guys who contribued to our team last year, and replacing them with one good player, and a guy I don't know. Good to give young guys a chance, and I know we are going to loose some guys, but that is a lot.

You must be smokin'.....

I have the Falcons re-signing their top three free agents.

Falcons have been planning for losing some offensive linemen(Dahl,Blalock) now for the last 3 drafts - Garrett Reynolds(6th rd. 2009), Mike Johnson(3rd rd. 2010), Joe Hawley(4th rd. 2010) and Andrew Jackson(7th rd. 2011) - that is FOUR - count'em FOUR offensive linemen drafted in the last three drafts. Thomas Dimitroff is thinking three moves ahead - he would CRUSH you in a chess game.

[jeffro2000]

You must be smokin'.....

I have the Falcons re-signing their top three free agents.

Falcons have been planning for losing some offensive linemen(Dahl,Blalock) now for the last 3 drafts - Garrett Reynolds(6th rd. 2009), Mike Johnson(3rd rd. 2010), Joe Hawley(4th rd. 2010) and Andrew Jackson(7th rd. 2011) - that is FOUR - count'em FOUR offensive linemen drafted in the last three drafts. Thomas Dimitroff is thinking three moves ahead - he would CRUSH you in a chess game.

I said we are going to loose some guys, I think we may loose 2 linemen, but I don't believe we lose 9-10 guys who played significant time for us last year, and bring in one guy, not with the move we made in the draft. We plan to win now, its tough to do that with a lot of turnover, especially this season. All the guys you have leaving can be replaced, just don't see it this year.

Its a good list, likely not far from what we do, its just risky for this year. Think we may need some vets at RB, CB, OL, even WR. So do we keep out guys, who know the system, or bring in others. Not trying to argue, just debating.

Edited July 21, 2011 by jeffro2000

[g-dawg]

so you wanna start a new guard next to Baker when Blalock's pretty much his crutch? good luck with that. plus Blalock has only missed like 2 games his whole career.

not resign Peterson, the man is one of the smartest in the game and even though he's lost a step, he's always good for a big play every now & then. the knowledge he gives our young squad is valuable

we are not getting Charles Johnson.

apparently half the messageboard does not understand a few things:

1) Thomas Dimitroff let this happen - he consciously decided to go into free agency with Blalock, Dahl and Clabo being available. Dimitroff did not just wake up yesterday and say "Oh SHEOT!!!"

2) Dimitroff has drafted 4 offensive linemen in the last three drafts plus has a promising player in Jose Valdez as well. Mike Johnson, Joe Hawley, Jose Valdez, Garrett Reynolds and Andrew Jackson. I have Falcons re-signing Clabo. Mike Johnson is a starter this year - Dimitroff drafted him in 3rd round out of Alabama. That leaves four guys (Reynolds, Hawley, Valdez, Jackson) to fill one spot. One of those guys will RISE UP.

3) Mike Smith also let this happen. Mike Smith and Paul Boudreau know what these guys can do that were not starters last year - they see them everyday in practice. all of you guys that are freaking don't know anything - not saying that I do either - but I know Dimitroff knows and he has a PLAN!!!

[g-dawg]

I said we are going to loose some guys, I think we may loose 2 linemen, but I don't believe we lose 9-10 guys who played significant time for us last year, and bring in one guy, not with the move we made in the draft. We plan to win now, its tough to do that with a lot of turnover, especially this season. All the guys you have leaving can be replaced, just don't see it this year.

welcome to the NFL - there is turnover every year.

You see what is leaving, but you don't see what is staying and what is walking in the door (Julio Jones, Quizz Rogers, possibly Charles Johnson/Ray Edwards).

Falcons can easily absorb losing Snelling, Norwood(who never played anyway). Harvey Dahl is likely not in the plans. I have it on good authority that Dimitroff was not a fan of franchising Koenan in the past.

What are we really losing? Snelling and Blalock. I think Falcons can handle that. Jenkins was moving down to a #3 or possibly even a #4 WR.

Maybe the Falcons keep Mike Peterson - but tell me why - if we keep Stephen Nicholas, Curtis Lofton, Sean Weatherspoon, Coy Wire and possibly take a flyer on Mark Herzlich - Lofton has been in league going 3 years, Nicholas 4 years, Weatherspoon basically a rookie but Coy Wire has been around for 6-7 years. Keeping Peterson would be nice but not crucial.

[jeffro2000]

G-Dawg, you may be right about a lot of this. That is what concerns me about this year. I hope the oline will plan out, but Baker is the worst we got, and he is staying. Most of those moves will likely be made, but I think we will make a good effort to sign Clabo and Blaylock. Also I hope we can keep Nicholas, and I say we keep Jenkins one more year. Possibly also keep either Davis or Anderson, don't care which one.

[g-dawg]

i have a hard time believing we may let snelling go.

hes a real solid RB. if turner gets injured, we'd only have the little rookie quizzster and the Undrafted FA rookie u listed. And since the running game is still (as far as we know as of now) a very essential part of our offense, i think an injury to turner may limit our offense by more than quite a bit if snelling is not with us.

I think it would be a large gamble to let snelling go at this point.

quizzter was a workhorse in college. he is a lil' mighty mite - you are short-changing his possible upside.

[FlyHighFalcons]

Congratulations. You have just ruined our offensive line and possibly Matt Ryan's career. Our offensive line would be TERRIBLE. We DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT have two backup guards that are ready to be full-time starters in the NFL. MAYBE one, but that's if we're lucky.

[g-dawg]

G-Dawg, you may be right about a lot of this. That is what concerns me about this year. I hope the oline will plan out, but Baker is the worst we got, and he is staying. Most of those moves will likely be made, but I think we will make a good effort to sign Clabo and Blaylock. Also I hope we can keep Nicholas, and I say we keep Jenkins one more year. Possibly also keep either Davis or Anderson, don't care which one.

Offensive Line:

its certainly possible that we could keep Blalock/Clabo - possible but doubtful IMHO.

Linebacker:

Stephen Nicholas - i think its 50/50 on him - could go either way. If we keep Nicholas we let Peterson walk. If Nicholas goes, we keep Peterson - i think that is an either/or scenario.

The Rest:

c'mon now - you gotta be real - we cannot keep everybody jeffro. Chauncey Davis was overpaid in 2008 and he has never matched production to salary - I will be stunned if he makes the cut. Same with JA98. For all of his supposed improvement, he still is overpaid and if Peria Jerry can stay healthy and Falcons sign a DE in free agency - I don't know why we need this hybrid player.

Michael Jenkins:

there is a lot of chatter acting like we would keep Jenks. I dunno - he is overpaid by about 1/2 just being a starter and now he will do even less. If he wanted to restructure down to about $1.5 million/yr then I might keep him - think he's making between $3-$4million now - he may want to test the market if we ask him to take that much of a paycut.

[g-dawg]

Congratulations. You have just ruined our offensive line and possibly Matt Ryan's career. Our offensive line would be TERRIBLE. We DO NOT, and I repeat DO NOT have two backup guards that are ready to be full-time starters in the NFL. MAYBE one, but that's if we're lucky.

Dayumit you O-Line whiners!!!!!!

Blalock and Dahl are not good pass protectors - moving them out of the O-Line will not have negative affect on passing game at all. How friggin' ignorant can you be? Did you even watch the time Matt Ryan had in the pocket the last 3 years.

This is how long Matt has in the pocket on most of his dropbacks.....

1001...

1002....

here comes some D-Lineman about to EARHOLE Matt before he throws it away for the 10th time of the game to avoid the sack.

God-Bless-America - quit reading the Sporting News and watch the F'ng GAMES!!!!

I will take Mike Johnson over either of those guys right now and feel good about it - so will Thomas Dimitroff.

I know many of you think that if your a back-up player it means you are never supposed to start - again - this is ignorant thinking.

Good teams build their rosters this way. This is what the Patriots/Steelers and other winning franchises do.

Dimitroff's back-ups are better than any back-ups the Falcons have ever had. He has a dayum plan - sorry if you cannot comprehend.

[Peyton]

Falcons can easily absorb losing Snelling, Norwood(who never played anyway). Harvey Dahl is likely not in the plans. I have it on good authority that Dimitroff was not a fan of franchising Koenan in the past.

Well it was his decision. Why did he do it?

[Peyton]

Dayumit you O-Line whiners!!!!!!

Blalock and Dahl are not good pass protectors - moving them out of the O-Line will not have negative affect on passing game at all. How friggin' ignorant can you be? Did you even watch the time Matt Ryan had in the pocket the last 3 years.

This is how long Matt has in the pocket on most of his dropbacks.....

1001...

1002....

here comes some D-Lineman about to EARHOLE Matt.

God-Bless-America - quit reading the Sporting News and watch the F'ng GAMES!!!!

I think that Dahl and Blalock are average NFL starters. I hope that Hawley and Johnson are at least that good. We'll see what happens. I am inclined to agree with you that neither of those guys will be resigned.

[g-dawg]

Well it was his decision. Why did he do it?

all i can say is a media person that you read told me this.....and its not the ebonic speaker.

that's all i'm sayin'

[Peyton]

all i can say is a media person that you read told me this.....and its not the ebonic speaker.

that's all i'm sayin'

I suppose he did it because Koenen is a **** good punter. If he didn't want to franchise him, he could have had any one of 1000 different FA punters for minimum wage rather than paying Koenen 2 mil a year.

[jeffro2000]

I am fine with what you said except I prefer to keep Blalock and Jenkins. Also Nicholas, you have us keeping him I am just concerned we won't. I like Jenkins, early in the year I think he will still be out number 2, later I hope not.

I also would like a vet corner, sorry not familier with the guy you had listed, would like to see a Richard Marshall type guy maybe.

I feel like we can be really good on offense but losing 2 olinemen, neither of which is our worst, and #2 wideout scares me (rookie wideouts tend to struggle some). I trust the Front office, I think they will try to keep 2 of the 3 though.

[g-dawg]

I am fine with what you said except I prefer to keep Blalock and Jenkins. Also Nicholas, you have us keeping him I am just concerned we won't. I like Jenkins, early in the year I think he will still be out number 2, later I hope not.

I also would like a vet corner, sorry not familier with the guy you had listed, would like to see a Richard Marshall type guy maybe.

I feel like we can be really good on offense but losing 2 olinemen, neither of which is our worst, and #2 wideout scares me (rookie wideouts tend to struggle some). I trust the Front office, I think they will try to keep 2 of the 3 though.

if Jenks is the #2, Arthur Blank is gonna have a heart attack. We mortgaged TWO drafts to specifically make Jenks a #3,#4 or a cut.