Thelonious Mingus Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Atlanta Falcons8. Clemson DE/LB Vic Beasley42. LSU CB Jalen Collins73. Indiana RB Tevin Coleman107. East Carolina WR Justin Hardy137. Clemson DT Grady Jarrett225. Eastern Washington OT Jake Rodgers249. San Jose State DB Akeem KingOverview: One of my favorite moves of draft weekend was a day-three trade with Minnesota that netted Atlanta disruptive and versatile interior presence Jarrett and only cost the Falcons a sixth-round pick. Atlanta did not do a good job of drafting for most of demoted GM Thomas Dimitroff's tenure. I think they got a lot of things right with assistant GM Scott Pioli running the show, landing a desperately-needed outside pass rusher (Beasley), probable Week 1 starting press-man corner (Collins), homerun-hitting tailback (Coleman), and Harry Douglas' immediate replacement (Hardy). Rodgers and King were late-round flier picks new coach Dan Quinn's staff will attempt to groom. So very much, the Falcons needed a draft exactly like this. They got as many as five year-one contributors and arguably three first-round talents with their top three selections. I feel better about the direction of the Falcons today than I did last week.Grade: B+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayorWest13 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Only a B+... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Maguire Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Draft grades are so subjective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xskyx Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 All I've seen you post since the draft started is either trashing TD or putting the Pioli on a pedestal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybird56 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 It all started with Beasley falling to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconcheff Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Only a B+...We ARE the Falcons... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rounz Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 A lot of assumptions taken as truth in the OP's original quote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pa_Falcon_Fan Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 So.. he says we got 3 first round talents with our first 3 picks... and gives us a B+? I would call getting 1st round talent in each of the first 3 rounds of the draft a home run. Gotta wonder what it would take to get an A out of this guy if 3 first round talents isn't enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conalthomas Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 So.. he says we got 3 first round talents with our first 3 picks... and gives us a B+? I would call getting 1st round talent in each of the first 3 rounds of the draft a home run. Gotta wonder what it would take to get an A out of this guy if 3 first round talents isn't enough.And that doesn't even include the move that he said was one of his favorite moves of the draft - picking up Jarrett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxatlanta Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Last I checked its not a demotion when you bring in a layer of management BELOW you. Its actually how corporate American middle management PROMOTES itself when they hit there's nowhere up for them to move.And the structure they switched to is common in the nfl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Jalen Collins is really the only questionable pick we had, but many considered him a 1st round talent, and his build is a perfect scheme fit. I don't see how this is not an "A". I get its all a crapshoot and the results will show on game day, but besides drafting Gregory in the 2nd, what could have we done better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Really thinking TD gave Smith more say than maybe he should have and I've been an avid Smith supporter. Everything we did last off-season fit Smith's MO to a T. And this fits Quinns. I think TD is as collaborative as he makes out to be. But where I think Pioli has helped is with being patient and letting the players come to us. Rather than trading up, outside of the logical trade up for Jarrett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific_Falcon Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Jalen Collins is really the only questionable pick we had, but many considered him a 1st round talent, and his build is a perfect scheme fit. I don't see how this is not an "A". I get its all a crapshoot and the results will show on game day, but besides drafting Gregory in the 2nd, what could have we done better?Only thing I can think of is that a lot of "analysts" saw TE as a need for us, which we didn't address. So maybe in this guy's mind if we drafted a project TE in the 7th we get an A? Agree kind of a head scratcher but either way I think a B+ is a big improvement from previous years. Actually like the 7th rd picks quite a bit as well, taking a flyer on a lengthy DB and a project OT I thought were pretty good moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulitik Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Only thing I can think of is that a lot of "analysts" saw TE as a need for us, which we didn't address. So maybe in this guy's mind if we drafted a project TE in the 7th we get an A? Agree kind of a head scratcher but either way I think a B+ is a big improvement from previous years. Actually like the 7th rd picks quite a bit as well, taking a flyer on a lengthy DB and a project OT I thought were pretty good moves.This draft was so thin at TE. The best TE was actually a WR. ILB and TE would ve been nice, but you have to take the best player there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 It's really difficult to pinpoint exactly how much improvement was the result of Pioli's addition, and how much was the result of Mike Smith's subtraction, which is why I won't try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconOdense Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 BR gave us a C+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Atlanta did not do a good job of drafting for most of demoted GM Thomas Dimitroff's tenure. I think they got a lot of things right with assistant GM Scott Pioli running the show, Telling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTBF54 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 .Well I'll counter his grades with this........ LOL TaintsBy Bryan Fischer Atlanta FalconsDraft pick: LB/DE Vic Beasley (No. 8 overall), CB Jalen Collins (No. 42 overall), RB Tevin Coleman (No. 73 overall), WR Justin Hardy (No. 107 overall), DT Grady Jarrett (No. 137 overall), OL Jake Rodgers (No. 225 overall), DB Akeem King (No. 249 overall)Day 1 grade: A-Day 2 grade: B+Day 3 grade: A-Overall grade: AThe skinny: Hard to find a better convergence of team need and good player than the Falcons' pick of Beasley, who was a great draft value at pick No. 8. Time will tell if they regret passing on local star Todd Gurley, but this is just the kind of player new coach Dan Quinn could develop into a star. Collins has first-round talent, but there are questions about his production in college and off-the-field issues. He's a high-upside pick in the second. Coleman is a steal at the 73rd pick and could be a star early on for the team as a home-run threat. Hardy will be on the same page with Matt Ryan early and Jarett falling in the team's lap in the fifth round is remarkable luck.Bottom line: Nice start for Dan Quinn in remaking his defense with some great picks from Clemson and a number of other quality players. Carolina PanthersDraft pick: LB Shaq Thompson (No. 25 overall), WR Devin Funchess (No. 41 overall), OL Daryl Williams (No. 102 overall), LB David Mayo (No. 169 overall), RB Cameron Artis-Payne (No. 174 overall)Day 1 grade: B-Day 2 grade: CDay 3 grade: BOverall grade: C+The skinny: There's no question that Thompson is talented, but he might have been a slight reach, given that most thought he would slip to the second round. He'll upgrade the defense on third down, as well as on special teams, and might even replace Thomas Davis, who, interestingly, announced the Panthers' pick at the draft. Funchess can develop into a monster opposite Kelvin Benjamin, but the Panthers paid a steep price for him, trading away a third-round pick to move up high enough to get a player who needs some refinement.Bottom line: Cam Newton got some help in the passing game, and Williams will boost the line, but this is a small class with not a ton of impactful players. New Orleans SaintsDraft picks: OL Andrus Peat (No. 13 overall), LB Stephone Anthony (No. 31 overall), DE Hau'oli Kikaha (No. 44 overall), QB Garrett Grayson (No. 75 overall), CB P.J. Williams (No. 78 overall), LB Davis Tull (No. 148 overall), DT Tyeler Davison (No. 154 overall), CB Damian Swann (No. 167 overall), RB Marcus Murphy (No. 230 overall)Day 1 grade: A-Day 2 grade: CDay 3 grade: COverall grade: CThe skinny: An offensive lineman isn't a sexy pick, but Peat could wind up being the best player at left tackle in this draft class and is just scratching the surface of his potential as a pass protector. He will be able to start right away in New Orleans and help keep Drew Brees upright. Anthony is an inside linebacker who should help defensive coordinator Rob Ryan slow opposing offenses down. On Day 2, the Saints reached for Kikaha, but there's little doubt he will be a boost to the pass rush. Many believe Grayson will be nothing more than a backup, but he does have all the tools to develop under Sean Payton's tutelage. Williams might be the best of the team's Day 2 picks and is an athletic option in a division full of receivers.Bottom line: With so many picks in the top half of the draft, this was a chance for the Saints to get a lot better. They improved, but not that much, with several curious choices. Tampa Bay BuccaneersDraft pick: QB Jameis Winston (No. 1 overall), OL Donovan Smith (No. 34 overall), OL Ali Marpet (No. 61 overall), LB Kwon Alexander, WR Kenny Bell (No. 162 overall), WR Kaelin Clay (No. 184 overall), RB Joey Iosefa (No. 231 overall)Day 1 grade: B+Day 2 grade: B-Day 3 grade: A+Overall grade: B+The skinny: The Bucs had months to figure out what they wanted to with the top pick, and to nobody's surprise, they grabbed Winston. He should do well in a Tampa Bay uniform, but he isn't the top player in the draft, and some analysts believe he isn't the top quarterback. There are obvious off-the-field issues, but the Bucs have a new leader under center, and a pretty good one to boot. Smith was undoubtedly taken to protect Winston and should fit in right away at right tackle, even if he does need to refine his protection skills. Marpet will face a big jump in competition from the Division III level, but he might have been the biggest riser in the draft. Alexander is very athletic and a player Lovie Smith can turn into a star. Bell is a great field-stretching option out of the slot for Winston to find.Bottom line: They got their quarterback and found him some additional weapons to boot while boosting the offensive line. Solid but not spectaular work.http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000488934/article/2015-nfl-draft-final-quicksnap-grades-for-nfc-south-teams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Ben Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Telling.Only if you believe the assertion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rounz Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Telling.LOLThat's an opinion based on conjecture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1970 Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Only if you believe the assertion. I believe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 I believe it.Um yeah, we know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thelonious Mingus Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Only if you believe the assertion. http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Restructure-Player-Personnel-Dept/f13e6d37-dfe7-4fb7-b25f-4c09a4f480abAs part of the realignment, Assistant General Manager Scott Pioli will take on pro and college scouting and NFL Draft responsibilities, reporting to Dimitroff. Dimitroff will also retain management responsibility for salary cap, player affairs, equipment, sports medicine and performance, and video activities. “After reviewing all of our options – internally and externally – I have no reservations that this is the best approach to setting up our player personnel groups for future success,” said Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank. “It maximizes the talents of Scott, allows for more time and focus on all areas of our football operations groups managed by Thomas, and is in line with other player personnel groups in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoungHeezy Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Lol, now that we've had a good draft it's no longer because of TD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Restructure-Player-Personnel-Dept/f13e6d37-dfe7-4fb7-b25f-4c09a4f480abDoesn't say Pioli has final say on picks. That would be ridiculous, just make him the general manager in that case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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