Revisiting The Julio Jones Trade - Haters Were Wrong

[Sponge]

Here's the thing. That trade happened in 2011. It's 2015. The result is this: we have a top 5 (at worst) wide receiver entering his prime with the top head coaching candidate of the off-season, after drafting a top ten left tackle and top ten defensive end the last two years. The arrow is pointed nowhere but straight up. You can moan and complain about a few depth players, but that trade hasn't stopped us from having an extremely bright future with one of the best players in the NFL leading the way.

Agreed

[Aggressive Pacifist!]

What doesn't help his argument is hindsight. He wants to ignore it, yet mentions guys like Richard Sherman, a big time unknown at the time of the draft. Carroll took him because he recruited him at USC. It's stupid stuff like that. He'd take guys rounds early based on the info he has now. It's pure hindsight.

Yeah nobody would have taken Sherman early. What say you about this FFS1790?

[Aggressive Pacifist!]

Only thing I disagree with is that the change in direction and JJ decision...was Blanks idea/wish.

Parcells explains this when pointing out his issues with Blank and not taking the job.

No surprise the chewing out AB gave TD and MS when 2011 playoffs failed to score on offense.

AB threw TD/MS under the bus.

IMHO, Belichek was asked because TD wanted a strong retort to AB.

AB went full steam ahead anyway.

Yeah how many championship teams have a superstar WR?

[FalconFanSince1970]

Yo FFS1970, still waiting on a response to this:

Pull up the posts and articles from last year. Players, coaches, media pundits, TATFers and even Artie Fkn Blank were saying we were going 3-4. Dimi brought in Shemble, SmallWood, Stuper, Spruill, Angrier and SupaStarr to add to Featherspoon, who got injured on the sidelines by our trainer. What four LBs were gonna run a 3-4 bro? I probably would have shifted to a 3-3-5 with that roster. We had enough veteran DBs to run one.

Smitty and Nolan opted for a 4-2-5 nickel. Either way they got Troffed. Told yall mofos way back in 2009 I saw it comin. I was the biggest Dimi homer in 2008 but started raising eyebrows in 2009 right after the Jelly pick. Buddy fkd up our roster five years running. There's a reason he lost his roster building powers. Trust me.

[FalconFanSince1970]

FFS1970, here is the problem with your logic:

- You assume that the draft picks that TD traded away would have been automatic great picks. Like starters or even better. However, Cleveland's choices with those picks PROVE you wrong. Atlanta could have drafted one or even three of the several players you constantly list, but there were 400 other guys that are consisdered busts or non-factors on their teams. The odds say that the Falcons draft mostly players that wouldn't be contributors but rather just bench warmers that wouldn't be on the team after 2 seasons or so. But you make comments like: would you rather have Julio Jones? Or Demarco Murray, Justin Houston, Randall Cobb, or Richard Sherman? TROFFED. It's seriously the most ignorant logic I've ever seen

- Julio Jones is basically the best receiver in the NFL. He continues to shine and put himself on the spotlight. Mike Freeman wrote an article after Monday Night's win against Philly that Julio is easily the best receiver in the league. You constantly refer to Julio as a one trick pony. But he's actually a top 10 player in the NFL.

Julio is the best at his position and he plays for our team. Deal with it

I had 13 of the 19 players I listed on my big board. I set up my big boards after one week of stat and YouTube research. Dimi had weeks of tape, interviews, mocks, combines, workouts, scouts and more. Even had advice from Lombardi winning experts that advised him not to pull that trade.

Here's the thing. That trade happened in 2011. It's 2015. The result is this: we have a top 5 (at worst) wide receiver entering his prime with the top head coaching candidate of the off-season, after drafting a top ten left tackle and top ten defensive end the last two years. The arrow is pointed nowhere but straight up. You can moan and complain about a few depth players, but that trade hasn't stopped us from having an extremely bright future with one of the best players in the NFL leading the way.

We passed on starters bro. As beatin starters. Multiple ones. Not just depth players. In the 21st century of the NFL, star WRs have not been the key to winning championships. Julio has dominated the league on teams that went 6-10. What does that tell you?

[Guest Mr Plow]

I think "hater" has become the most over-used term on the internet. Disagreeing does not make one a "hater."

[vel]

Pull up the posts and articles from last year. Players, coaches, media pundits, TATFers and even Artie Fkn Blank were saying we were going 3-4. Dimi brought in Shemble, SmallWood, Stuper, Spruill, Angrier and SupaStarr to add to Featherspoon, who got injured on the sidelines by our trainer. What four LBs were gonna run a 3-4 bro? I probably would have shifted to a 3-3-5 with that roster. We had enough veteran DBs to run one.

Smitty and Nolan opted for a 4-2-5 nickel. Either way they got Troffed. Told yall mofos way back in 2009 I saw it comin. I was the biggest Dimi homer in 2008 but started raising eyebrows in 2009 right after the Jelly pick. Buddy fkd up our roster five years running. There's a reason he lost his roster building powers. Trust me.

Kroy/Worrilow/Shembo/Mass

Again, you realize that only 2 of the 4 LBs in a 3-4 are true LBs. The other two are pass rushers. We didn't have any of those get hurt.

Kroy/Mass/Osi. Why did we change them to OLBs?

[Guest facelessman07]

I think "hater" has become the most over-used term on the internet. Disagreeing does not make one a "hater."

*applause*

When one ignorantly remains in the dark regarding opposing views, the easy way out is to label one a "hater"

[gazoo]

Disagreeing does not make one a "hater."

Agree 100% that disagreeing does not make someone a hater.

Hating makes someone a hater.

[FalconFanSince1969]

3 pro bowlers selected in the 2nd round in 2011, Cobb the only player actually being available @ our pick.

After Cobb, Demarco Murray and Justin Houston were the only other players selected that made the pro bowl in the entire draft.

2012 - Only one player has been to the pro bowl that was selected outside the top 10 in the 1st round. RB Doug Martin.

After Martin only SIX pro bowlers were drafted for the REST OF THE DRAFT.

And FFS1970 thinks he could have drafted FIVE pro bowlers with the Julio picks. JUST LOL.

Better odds of winning the lottery champ.

[Guest Dirty Bird Nation ®]

Kroy/Worrilow/Shembo/Mass

Again, you realize that only 2 of the 4 LBs in a 3-4 are true LBs. The other two are pass rushers. We didn't have any of those get hurt.

Kroy/Mass/Osi. Why did we change them to OLBs?

Kroy/Worrilow/Shembo/Mass

Again, you realize that only 2 of the 4 LBs in a 3-4 are true LBs. The other two are pass rushers. We didn't have any of those get hurt.

Kroy/Mass/Osi. Why did we change them to OLBs?

You are one of my favorite posters on here. You have a lot of football knowledge and you break it down very well for those of us who might not.

[kiwifalcon]

By,bu,but we could have had Jake Long instead of Matt Ryan. er, wait......we have BOTH Matt Ryan and Jake Long!

Troffed!!!!

Gazoo are you on a crusade bro to rape and pillage all in sundry LOL...

I'm laughing my arse off really.

Man I mentioned this William Andrews is the reason I am a Falcons fan.

Dieon Sanders in my favourite falcon.

Julio Jones will ensure that I will always stay a Falcon fan for life.

PS **** yes I'm glad we traded for him could we have filled holes and added depth,YES we could have.But for me end of the day talent like his doesn't come along often.

#mancrush and aint afraid to admit it.

I love me some #11 and if he keeps giving MNF performances and NFCCG performances man keep rolling that **** out.

[kiwifalcon]

Yeah how many championship teams have a superstar WR?

I'll start with the Niners dynasty with Jerry Rice

AND

Throw in the Cowboys dynasty with Michael Irvin.

Also add GB with Jordy Nelson the Colts with Marvin Harrison

Just sayin.

[dirtybird2k5]

Even though I know this is gonna be completely pointless to even mention, the problem with depth, or as you put it, lack of as beatin' starters, was never the Julio Jones trade, it is the overall track record of drafting since 2008.

We have a grand total of five players left on our roster from the 2008-2012 drafts. That's right, FIVE.

2008 - 2 (Matt Ryan, First Round and Kroy Biermann, Fifth Round)

2009 - 1 (William Moore, Second Round)

2010 - 0

2011 - 2 (Julio Jones, First Round and Matt Bosher, Sixth Round)

2012 - 0

[FalconFanSince1970]

Kroy/Worrilow/Shembo/Mass

Again, you realize that only 2 of the 4 LBs in a 3-4 are true LBs. The other two are pass rushers. We didn't have any of those get hurt.

Kroy/Mass/Osi. Why did we change them to OLBs?

We changed them to LBs because we didn't have any.

[Snafu]

I have no Idea who we would have taken w/ those picks, but I can tell you with almost 100% certainty that I would rather have Julio than all of them.

This was before Pioli, when TD and Smith were collaborating on some serious head scatching picks.

Edited September 17, 2015 by RubberDucky

[Oldskooler]

I hated the trade at the time.

I was wrong.

Did I miss anything? Or are we good?

[alphaville]

3 pro bowlers selected in the 2nd round in 2011, Cobb the only player actually being available @ our pick.

After Cobb, Demarco Murray and Justin Houston were the only other players selected that made the pro bowl in the entire draft.

2012 - Only one player has been to the pro bowl that was selected outside the top 10 in the 1st round. RB Doug Martin.

After Martin only SIX pro bowlers were drafted for the REST OF THE DRAFT.

And FFS1970 thinks he could have drafted FIVE pro bowlers with the Julio picks. JUST LOL.

Better odds of winning the lottery champ.

Thank you for this. Thank you.

Every time this argument comes up people list who we could have had. No one lists who we would have had, starting with Gabe Carimi.

[primetime]

We changed them to LBs because we didn't have any.

For the last time - we changed from a 3-4 to a 4-3 the minute Spoon was injured. Spoon was going to be our version of Cushing - the mobile mlb who had the speed and coverage to excel inside and make >150 tackles. Sometimes certain players are the foundation for a style of defence (or offence got that matter). In this case Spoon was our key piece as we had just drafted the NT (Solai) and Strong side DE (Tyson) that Smitty/Nolan wanted.

[gazoo]

3 pro bowlers selected in the 2nd round in 2011, Cobb the only player actually being available @ our pick.

After Cobb, Demarco Murray and Justin Houston were the only other players selected that made the pro bowl in the entire draft.

2012 - Only one player has been to the pro bowl that was selected outside the top 10 in the 1st round. RB Doug Martin.

After Martin only SIX pro bowlers were drafted for the REST OF THE DRAFT.

And FFS1970 thinks he could have drafted FIVE pro bowlers with the Julio picks. JUST LOL.

Better odds of winning the lottery champ.

ROTFLMAO........ good stuff.

Falconfansince70 has created the virtual position of "Hindsight GM". It's hard for me to believe that with his skill set, NFL franchises haven't been begging him to come work for them.

I've no doubt sooner or later he'll be telling us he was offered Ozzie Newsomes job.

[JC Falcon]

I had 13 of the 19 players I listed on my big board. I set up my big boards after one week of stat and YouTube research. Dimi had weeks of tape, interviews, mocks, combines, workouts, scouts and more. Even had advice from Lombardi winning experts that advised him not to pull that trade.

DO YOU KNOW LAST WEEK'S $1M DRAFT KINGS LINEUP TOO?!?

FFS70 you know football history, and are entitled to your opinions. I agree TD has not done well with a lot of his draft picks and deserves some scrutiny, but he got JJ11 right.l. I would be more impressed if you had some pro bowl O linemen on your big board in the middle rounds instead of Konz, Johnson, Hayley, etc that flopped on our line.

[isproab]

I think "hater" has become the most over-used term on the internet. Disagreeing does not make one a "hater."

I don't really agree with this, I have to call them "haters". The topic of the Julio Jones pick has been beaten into the grown relentlessly. It has come up ever year. Last year they started with the talk about the contract and how he wasn't worth Calvin Johnson money. People (the haters) are just as SHORT SIGHTED as it gets. When Julio got hurt they piped up. When Dez emerged, they piped up. When it was close to time for Julio to get paid, they piped up. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion if you have a draft pick that actually works out, trade him for more picks or let him walk.

Falcons struck gold with Julio. At some point, realize this, he makes your offense "Go" so to speak. He can take the top off the defense at any time. He is the offensive equivalent of that pass rusher you have to know where he is at every moment and you never leave him one-on-one in 3rd and long. At some point, "haters" need to recognize the talent, get on board or be quiet. The guy is in year 5, its never really been a debate and should have been closed for conversation after year 2.

[dmo_dlo]

The direction was set. Play smash mouth ball, BBDB defense and limit mistakes. He changed the direction to “go explosive at all costs”. If you don’t think some five pick combination of Justin Houston, Demarco Murray, Kevin Zeitler, Virgil Green, Torrey Smith, Cam Jordan, Randall Cobb, Brandon Boykin, Jimmy Smith, Jabaal Sheard, Kyle Rudolph, David Decastro, Keven Zeitler, Muhammad Wilkerson, Orlando Franklin, Julius Thomas, Richard Sherman, Lavonte David, or Alshon Jeffrey would have made us a better team then I can’t help you bro. And don’t start with the hindsight bush it. Even I had most of those prospects on my big board.

I had 13 of the 19 players I listed on my big board. I set up my big boards after one week of stat and YouTube research. Dimi had weeks of tape, interviews, mocks, combines, workouts, scouts and more. Even had advice from Lombardi winning experts that advised him not to pull that trade.

You asked for it:

In post #30 here, and in response to g-dawg's alternative mock, you thought that a combination of Carimi, Little, and Quan Sturdivant would have been awesome compared to Julio!!!

In post #35 here, you offer 4 alternative mocks that have Justin Houston/Martez Wilson, Derek Sherrod/Jabaal Sheard/, Aaron Williams/Jabaal Sheard, Kyle Rudolph/Jabaal Sheard as your first two choices instead of Julio. As your 4th rounder you had Murray who wouldn't have been there, or Virgil Green.

[Intellectually Honest]

Once TD had a clear cut direction on what type of defensive and offensive schemes we were implementing, he was able to acquire a dozen or more seasoned scheme specific veterans in a single offseason and also draft several scheme specific players already contributing. Heck, even our 5th round rookie Tuggle2 almost got a sack in Monday game.

The argument that is was a mere few draft picks that tanked our 2013 and 2014 seasons because It wiped out our depth with no way to recover has been completely shot down in flames. It's indisputable.

In fact, trading a few picks in 2011 for the best WR in the NFL, who currently has the highest yards per game in NFL history, who has only played 4 seasons and is just now entering his prime, who was just voted best offensive player in the NFL this week, who ALREADY helped us get 10 yards from a Super Bowl in 2012, who will benefit us for years to come was a brilliant move. The notion that we went 10-22 those years because we couldn't bring in 3 depth players to replace the picks is foolish.

It was not a few draft picks traded that led to a 10-22 run in 2013- 2014, the problem was mainly a lack of direction. A lack of direction that negatively influenced player acquisition. ( again, just look at the player acquisition this offseason now that we had direction)

The fact is, TDs Julio Jones trade is looking more prescient as time goes by.

How are the "haters" wrong? No one denied that JJ was a great player. What the "haters" hated, was that getting that player would sacrifice the overall quality of the team.

So far the "haters" are correct. Do you think 4-12 and 6-10 the last 2 years is worth ANY player let alone JJ?

[FentayeJones]

Trading the picks for Julio did not hurt the depth of this team. Missing on the picks we did have as well as FA busts hurt the depth more than the trade. Lack of player development hurt the depth also.