Are Dimitroff, Smitty And Matty Ice Still Right For The Falcons?

[vabchbirdlover]

Not a chance in heIl TD is gone if he misses this year. There are plenty of teams wishing they had a GM half as good as TD. If you want a GM who was missing badly but got it covered up by his QB, look no further than Bill Polian. He missed for years and built no depth for that team and everything came crumbling down. The depth on this team is severely underappreciated. Yes, he hasn't added many blue chippers and needs to get working on that. But the foundation he built for this team is a very solid foundation. To the point where some of us are debating letting go of our 3 better defensive players because we believe the players behind them can step up. That's the mark of a good GM. Take away the Peters and Dents and Franks and Biermanns and then I would understand TD's criticism. But the guy has a very solid team built in 4 years with off the field problems or anything potentially hazardous.

How much longer do you truely believe that AB will settle for very solid? Blank could care less,imo, about winning seasons, when the Falcons are continously outclassed in games against quality opponents, and humiliated in playoff games The man and I hope most, are tired of excuses. Do you seriously believe that this team is that talented, and, this talent was somehow has been hindered in the past by the lack of adept coordinators? I guess this year will tell the tale. This team is running out of excuses.

[vel]

How much longer do you truely believe that AB will settle for very solid? Blank could care less,imo, about winning seasons, when the Falcons are continously outclassed in games against quality opponents, and humiliated in playoff games The man and I hope most, are tired of excuses. Do you seriously believe that this team is that talented, and, this talent was somehow has been hindered in the past by the lack of adept coordinators? I guess this year will tell the tale. This team is running out of excuses.

Yes, I do think this team was hindered by terrible coordinators. Chris Houston leaves Atlanta and we all wish him good riddance. He gets to Detroit and balls out. What's the difference? Look at William Middleton. According to the staff, he wasn't good enough to make the 53 man roster. He was put on the PS. Signed by the Jags and is a starter on a top 10 defense. What's the difference? This very staff picked Chris Owens over Middleton when TD picked both. Owens is strictly a boundary corner while Middleton has proven to not only be overall better, but a good nickel as well. HeIl, even Spoon's first year here they played him at SLB for some ungodly reason we will never know. Predictably, he struggled and looked lost. The following year, they move him back to his natural position because they saw how awful he looked out of position and he plays at a Pro Bowl level. TD doesn't make the decision of where they play the guy, he just finds the talent.

Offense, I can go on for days about misuse of players. TD drafted Julio to be an explosive playmaker. MM raved about his blocking skills, not playmaking ability. Quizz was drafted to be a utility RB similar to Sproles. The kid barely got any looks. Meier has impeccable hands, regardless of what we know what he is capable of or not. Every time he got in, his job was to block. Not a single target. There were a number of plays where HD stayed in to block the DE. Harry is 5'11 180. WT**** is he doing blocking anybody?! These are not TDs problems. We could have drafted Jimmy Graham but because he can't block, he would have sat on the bench until he was an adequate blocker.

Yes, TD added good talent to this team. But he can't play them. That's not his job. Yes, Blank should not settle for a very solid team, and that's where the heat on TD comes in for finding those blue chip gems. But outside of the first round, those guys need developing and the opportunity. They got neither so we don't know if TD found those gems or not. Sidbury could be a JPP or Aldon Smith, but he rarely gets a chance to showcase anything beyond his run stopping skills, and when he does get a sack, he disappears to the bench for the rest of the game. Is that TD? Not at all.

[falcons4life]

It’s the belief here that Mularkey, who left to become Jacksonville’s head coach, drummed the daring out of Ryan, and a championship quarterback cannot be timid. The hires of Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator and Pat Hill as line coach — each of whom should better fit Dimitroff’s vision of “urgency” — offer the chance for a needed offensive reboot.

Drummed the daring out of Ryan......a magnificent description of what has happened to our great QB. Ryan has the skills but Mularkey watered him down and held him back. Ryan went from a risk taker to a deer in the headlights under Mularkey. I hope and pray this new OC and scheme can resurect the old Ryan.

[Falconsfan567]

How much longer do you truely believe that AB will settle for very solid? Blank could care less,imo, about winning seasons, when the Falcons are continously outclassed in games against quality opponents, and humiliated in playoff games The man and I hope most, are tired of excuses. Do you seriously believe that this team is that talented, and, this talent was somehow has been hindered in the past by the lack of adept coordinators? I guess this year will tell the tale. This team is running out of excuses.

How much longer do you truely believe that AB will settle for very solid? Blank could care less,imo, about winning seasons, when the Falcons are continously outclassed in games against quality opponents, and humiliated in playoff games The man and I hope most, are tired of excuses. Do you seriously believe that this team is that talented, and, this talent was somehow has been hindered in the past by the lack of adept coordinators? I guess this year will tell the tale. This team is running out of excuses.

All I can say is look at the Colts and Bucs. Tony Dungy built the Bucs into a winner but for whatever reason his coaching couldn't get the team over the hump and it took Gruden to take the Bucs to a Super Bowl with basically the same team in place. Jim Mora built the Colts up but couldn't get them over the hump. It took Dungy to take the Colts to a Super Bowl win with basically the same team in place. I believe this team is good enough to win a Super Bowl but Mike Smith may not be the coach to take them there. It might take a different coach to get them over the hump.

[FalconinPA]

It's almost as if people have amnesia. Does anyone remember what this franchise was like before Dimitroff, Smith and Ryan came along?

If you have a problem with them, you are either an idiot or a troll, or both.

This is an awesome post. You don't agree with me you are either a idiot troll or both. Nice. True, this franchise was a total failure before Smith, Ryan, and Smith came along. But in all truth, what has really changed? Sure we post 4 straight winning seasons, but we still have the that familiar stench of failure. Not posting one single playoff win in these four years is not my idea of changing. JMHO

[vel]

This is an awesome post. You don't agree with me you are either a idiot troll or both. Nice. True, this franchise was a total failure before Smith, Ryan, and Smith came along. But in all truth, what has really changed? Sure we post 4 straight winning seasons, but we still have the that familiar stench of failure. Not posting one single playoff win in these four years is not my idea of changing. JMHO

Consistently getting there is a lot better than not. At least we know how to get there. That's the first step. Now we have to start winning there. It's a lot easier to fix things when you know what's broken.

If you don't think 4 winning seasons is changing then I don't know what is. I'd definitely take 4 years of regular season winning over 4 seasons of alternating winning and losing and just 1 playoff victory. That wouldn't be change or progress. We aren't lucking into these playoff appearances like the Broncos or Seahawks. We belong in the playoffs. We just have to start earning our keep.

[FalconinPA]

Consistently getting there is a lot better than not. At least we know how to get there. That's the first step. Now we have to start winning there. It's a lot easier to fix things when you know what's broken.

If you don't think 4 winning seasons is changing then I don't know what is. I'd definitely take 4 years of regular season winning over 4 seasons of alternating winning and losing and just 1 playoff victory. That wouldn't be change or progress. We aren't lucking into these playoff appearances like the Broncos or Seahawks. We belong in the playoffs. We just have to start earning our keep.

Consistently getting their and losing in the first round to me is no different than not even making it. Yes, it would be progress if we showed some sign of life in the last two games. If at all possible, I think we looked even more pathetic in this years game than we did last year. Getting closer in playoffs games to me is progress, not looking worse.

We are not guaranteed to make the playoffs next year with all the changes. True, we may not be lucking into the playoffs like the Seahawks and Broncos, but they even managed to pull off a playoff win in their lucky appearances. But I hope you are right that we can finally put it together and go get it done.

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

Consistently getting their and losing in the first round to me is no different than not even making it. Yes, it would be progress if we showed some sign of life in the last two games. If at all possible, I think we looked even more pathetic in this years game than we did last year. Getting closer in playoffs games to me is progress, not looking worse.

We are not guaranteed to make the playoffs next year with all the changes.

+1

[SirCzah]

Enough, GTFO T_T

[Bob Ðigital]

Enough, GTFO T_T

I know right... Best thing to ever happen to the Falcons, no wait... that would be Blank. Second best thing to ever happen to the Falcons. Sorry.

[Guest mashburn]

I'm still wondering if you are the right fan for us.

[vabchbirdlover]

All I can say is look at the Colts and Bucs. Tony Dungy built the Bucs into a winner but for whatever reason his coaching couldn't get the team over the hump and it took Gruden to take the Bucs to a Super Bowl with basically the same team in place. Jim Mora built the Colts up but couldn't get them over the hump. It took Dungy to take the Colts to a Super Bowl win with basically the same team in place. I believe this team is good enough to win a Super Bowl but Mike Smith may not be the coach to take them there. It might take a different coach to get them over the hump.

See this is where I disagree strongly, MS is not the problem, imho, he and the (past coordinators, position coaches, waterboys, etc.,) whom, won't be here to bear the brunt of blame should the Falcons fail to achieve, 1st, a winning season, and more importantily, respectability in the playoffs, should they make it that far. You guys kill me with the blame game - Accountability starts at the top, and most here, just don't want to accept that. Maybe, just maybe, Dimotroff has been lacking as of late..The Colts analogy is moot, as much as i like Ryan, Dungy inheritied the greatest QB to ever play the game.

Edited February 19, 2012 by vabchbirdlover

[Big_D]

Not a chance in heIl TD is gone if he misses this year. There are plenty of teams wishing they had a GM half as good as TD. If you want a GM who was missing badly but got it covered up by his QB, look no further than Bill Polian. He missed for years and built no depth for that team and everything came crumbling down. The depth on this team is severely underappreciated. Yes, he hasn't added many blue chippers and needs to get working on that. But the foundation he built for this team is a very solid foundation. To the point where some of us are debating letting go of our 3 better defensive players because we believe the players behind them can step up. That's the mark of a good GM. Take away the Peters and Dents and Franks and Biermanns and then I would understand TD's criticism. But the guy has a very solid team built in 4 years with off the field problems or anything potentially hazardous.

+1

[Falconsfan567]

See this is where I disagree strongly, MS is not the problem, imho, he and the (past coordinators, position coaches, waterboys, etc.,) whom, won't be here to bear the brunt of blame should the Falcons fail to achieve, 1st, a winning season, and more importantily, respectability in the playoffs, should they make it that far. You guys kill me with the blame game - Accountability starts at the top, and most here, just don't want to accept that. Maybe, just maybe, Dimotroff has been lacking as of late..The Colts analogy is moot, as much as i like Ryan, Dungy inheritied the greatest QB to ever play the game.

I never said it was a certain Smith was the problem and I am not giving Dimitroff a pass. Never have. In fact in the thread that said the Saints and Panthers have drafted better than the Falcons over the past few years I blasted Dimitroff for his lack of success outside of the big names guys. His picks to add depth have been completely useless. I blasted him for the Chevis Jackson pick in the 3rd round and then after only 2 years he out of the NFL. So don't lump me in that group giving Dimitroff a pass.

[FalconMama]

Dimitroff, Smith and Ryan are the best thing that has happen to this franchise HOWEVER all are not without fault.

I like Dimitroff but 3 of the most critical positions on a football team he's flat out failed us at: DL, OL and CB. He hit the ball out of the park in 2008 but has since then tailed off. After 4 seasons of being in the process our defense still has more problems than answers and now here we are with the offensive line. Players aren't being developed, picks are being wasted, FA's other than Turner aren't producing and players are busting thus leaving us with the problem that we have now. Our defense and oline is in serious need of some talent infusion and it's imperative that Dimitroff starts to draft more impact players in the draft.

Smith, I can't really say anything that hasn't been already said. Good coach but out of his 5 years here I think this was by far his toughest coaching year. He coached really poorly in a few games but I still think he can get it done. I hope he gets it done because his playoff failures will doom him sooner than later.

Matt Ryan, great regular season qb but his January issues are well documented. He's the qb, the leader of this team and to some it all starts and ends with him. We have a new coordinator, offensive line will be the focal point of the offseason so we'll see what this year brings for him.

The entire team needs to step up from Dimitroff on down.

[Big_D]

Dimitroff, Smith and Ryan are the best thing that has happen to this franchise HOWEVER all are not without fault.

I like Dimitroff but 3 of the most critical positions on a football team he's flat out failed us at: DL, OL and CB. He hit the ball out of the park in 2008 but has since then tailed off. After 4 seasons of being in the process our defense still has more problems than answers and now here we are with the offensive line. Players aren't being developed, picks are being wasted.

Smith, I can't really say anything that hasn't been already said. Good coach but out of his 5 years here I think this was by far his toughest coaching year. He coached really poorly in a few games but I still think he can get it done. I hope he gets it done because his playoff failures will doom him sooner than later.

Matt Ryan, great regular season qb but his January issues are well documented. He's the qb, the leader of this team and to some it all starts and ends with him. We have a new coordinator, offensive line will be the focal point of the offseason so we'll see what this year brings for him.

The entire team needs to step up from Dimitroff on down.

All of this makes perfect sense and in a nut shell everything the majority of us dissatisfied fans have been preaching since post season. Let's see what happens from here on out. We'll all be waiting..................including Mr Blank!

[vabchbirdlover]

Dimitroff, Smith and Ryan are the best thing that has happen to this franchise HOWEVER all are not without fault.

I like Dimitroff but 3 of the most critical positions on a football team he's flat out failed us at: DL, OL and CB. He hit the ball out of the park in 2008 but has since then tailed off. After 4 seasons of being in the process our defense still has more problems than answers and now here we are with the offensive line. Players aren't being developed, picks are being wasted, FA's other than Turner aren't producing and players are busting thus leaving us with the problem that we have now. Our defense and oline is in serious need of some talent infusion and it's imperative that Dimitroff starts to draft more impact players in the draft.

Smith, I can't really say anything that hasn't been already said. Good coach but out of his 5 years here I think this was by far his toughest coaching year. He coached really poorly in a few games but I still think he can get it done. I hope he gets it done because his playoff failures will doom him sooner than later.

Matt Ryan, great regular season qb but his January issues are well documented. He's the qb, the leader of this team and to some it all starts and ends with him. We have a new coordinator, offensive line will be the focal point of the offseason so we'll see what this year brings for him.

The entire team needs to step up from Dimitroff on down.

The whole problem is, despite an impresssive start, TD has really failed as of late, and for what ever reason, folks just want to give him a pass, and would rather place the blame on coach Smith, past coordinators, position coaches, rather than accept the fact that MS /BVG/MM are only working with talent afforded them by Dimitroff. This year will be absolutely tell the tell where the fault really lies, and, when this team fails to make the playoffs, maybe the majority of this board and ,more importantily, AB, will finally get it.

Edited February 20, 2012 by vabchbirdlover