Have We Jumped the Gun On Our Comrade Leader?

by Pregame with Pabst on Oct 28, 2009 9:08 AM EDT Comment 23 comments

This time last year we were flipping head over heals at the moves that our fearless leader took to lead up into the playoffs. Matty Ice was playing like, well, Matty Ice. Turner was teaching defenses a whole new meaning to the word trucking, and Curtis Lofton was lighting people up like the Fourth of July. While Sam Baker was nursing a back injury, he too came back to be effective once healed. Add to that the contributions of Chevis Jackson and the big play ability of your friend and mine, Harry Douglas and all in all Comrade T.D. pretty much knocked the socks off of his first draft.

Now as the 2009 Draft day came around, we all sat back and said "In Dimitroff we trust." But my question is, did we speak to soon?..

I believe that what the Coaching staff has done so far has been phenomenal, and the moves made by T.D. have over all been fantastic. But in light of the recent news that William "C4" Moore is now on injured reserve that leaves the 2009 Draft in question. Both our First and Second round picks (who were also both slated to be starters) are now on injured reserve while our 3rd is no where to be seen. And all i've seen out of our 4th, Sidbury, who I like, is an offsides penalty. Could we have possible put too much faith in our fearless leader? I doubt that, i still think he made some great moves. I mean, come on, Tony G.?!? But perhaps, just maybe, he reached a little bit in this draft. Both of Jerry and Moore had a history of injuries that were overlooked. Anyways, enough talk from me. I believe in T.D., Smitty and their ability to make this work. Last year earned that and more from me. But unless Tye Hill starts lighting it up against the Saints I think I'm going to have to grade this offseason a good bit lower than I initially thought.

But who cares about what I think, what do the other Falcoholics believe?

This FanPost was written by one of The Falcoholic's talented readers. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Falcoholic.

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How can you blame TD for injuries. That's part of football...

TD found Thomas Johnson. He does his homework. Sidbury is going to have to grow into playing time, like Bierman. Walker is in the rotation now. We drafted Garrett for the future…

I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I only lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three.

Elayne Boosler

by NaGaNole on Oct 28, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Not to be a hater...

but you can blame TD for drafting “injury prone” players.

I think the only reason our two first rounders were on the board when they were was because of their proneness to injury. We took that chance and so far it seems to have been a bad move.

Anyways – I still think Dimitroff is solid. He’s only a second year too, though.

by TomQ on Oct 30, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That is what I was saying

They were still on the board because of their history of injuries. And yes, he is solid. I think our defense, with the addition of Moore and Jerry (if they can stay healthy) will be great additions to our defense for years to come.

Now if next year we can get a corner taller that 5’9"…

"There were far too many penalties on both sides of the football," said Coach Smith. "Some things that we'll have to address and I can assure you we will."

by Pregame with Pabst on Oct 31, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I need a drink

of Falcohol. I think we will be fine if we can get even slightly more healthy. Some of these bench warmers are also going to have to step up and start contributing starting this week, If they dont we may suffer an even worse setback than I feel we have suffered already. Don’t blame TD. I think he has and will continue to do a great job for us.

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Oct 28, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we're jumping the gun if we jump the gun

You know what I mean?

by Dave the Falconer on Oct 28, 2009 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't like guns

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Oct 28, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe that we are all forgetting something important.

Last year, the majority of the draft picks were offensive players, meaning more instant impact, this year we picked one o-lineman, and a bunch of defensive players. Going that route it is very difficult to get the obvious benefits early. Remember we got a QB, LT,slot WR, RB, and unnamed but not not unloved other picks. Almost all of them had some form of an impact early because we were a bad team in ’07 that had a lot of spots to fill, meaning there was more playing time available for these rookies. Our defense had a hell of a lot more wrong with it than our offense, so it is going to take more time for all the cogs to fit together. This is just my opinion but DO NOT START ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF FAIR WEATHER FANS. This is not New York, we all know how there fans are. Our coaching staff and management team are some of the best in the business, if we were in the Titans or Bucs position, yeah I would probably go Chicken Little too, but remember, we are 4-2, not 0-6.

by thisistherevolt on Oct 29, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oops, how could I forget Lofton, Not enough Falcohol I guess.

by thisistherevolt on Oct 29, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're misinterpreting what I'm saying

I think he has had one phenomenal off season and one shaky off season. That is all. I was really looking for y’alls opinion on where this draft class stands so far, and from what i’ve seen it really hasn’t done much but get injured in camp and in the season. With the exception (and a giant one at that) of the addition of Tony Gonzalez.

"There were far too many penalties on both sides of the football," said Coach Smith. "Some things that we'll have to address and I can assure you we will."

by Pregame with Pabst on Oct 28, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I see what you're saying

I just think it’s too early to judge this draft class. Obviously injuries and ineffectiveness have made it a poor one for this season, but unfortunately there’s not much that can be done about that.

by Dave the Falconer on Oct 28, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap

I say the stew needs to simmer a while longer.

Life is a garden. Dig it!

by Hardcore Falcon on Oct 28, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Give it time ...

Moore is going to be a beast in this league. I think we’ll find out sooner rather than later about Owens, and I’ve said all along that Clabo better have his head on a swivel (i.e., Reynolds is the heir apparent at RT).

Also, consider how much we freaked when Jerry went down, it isn’t like he’s a non-factor going forward. Now, I can see where your coming from on the injury front, but even the best GMs have made bad gambles. I seriously doubt that both Moore and Jerry will experience injury-ridden careers, and I think both have serious Pro Bowl potential. Sid Vicious is gonna come around, just like Mr. Montana did.

But heck, who am I? I mean, your concern is valid, but take a step back, realize that injuries will pass, and we might have a diamond or four in rough here …

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Oct 28, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think

Clabo, Dahl, and Blaylock all need to have their “head on a swivel”. Clabo can move inside to Guard, remember…

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Oct 29, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Our Draft Class Last Year Was Freakish

Obviously our expectations are raised by it. But let’s be realistic, for most NFL teams, it takes time for these guys to find their way. Look no further than the guys who are contributing now that did not do much last year. Decoud has become a legitimate starting FS, and Kroy Biermann has improved and added an additional pass rushing threat. Sure we had Ryan, Baker, Lofton, and Douglas contributing heavily last year (Chevis, please return to your 96 yard interception return mode). But you had to expect that the immediate returns out of this years class would be a little bit of a let down, because what happened last year just doesn’t happen very often.

We haven’t arrived yet folks. We’re at the beginning of something special, not at the end.

by LetsGoFalcons on Oct 29, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not jumping the gun, personally

It’s not wise to evaluate a GM based on short-term results. A lot of old timey Falcons fans will tell you that the best GM we ever had prior to Dimitroff was Eddie LeBaron. He was the brains behind the Falcons’ first three playoff teams. After the Falcons set the defensive scoring record, then made the playoffs, the team went 6-10 the next year and I can still hear people saying that LeBaron was a bust and we should fire him. Rankin Smith stuck with him, and the next year the Falcons broke out, going 12-4. Arthur Blank is too smart not give his GM time to do the job.

by tom slick on Oct 28, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, it's not like we've started tanking the season, either.

Dimitroff has done a phenomenal job. The fact that he was able to obtain Tony Gonzalez (for just a second round pick) speaks volumes in itself. It’s also been mentioned that he found Thomas Johnson. He’s been helpful. But let’s not forget he also found DeCoud and Beerman last year (but they didn’t break out til this year)

But in all seriousness, injuries are a part of the game. It’s just our turn to be affected by them, and it sucks.

That being said, I couldn’t look down on Dimitroff. Not after the miracle he pulled last season. Even if we were to go 2-14 next year (God forbid), I would still consider him to be a good GM because of what he did last year. Things like last season, the draft picks, and the free agents are entirely too complex to be flukes. We’ll be fine.

by Zippo729 on Oct 29, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And remember, this just Year 2 of a 3 year rebuilding project.

2010, and beyond we will have a roster with nothing but Comrade and Smitty approved players, and we will officially be in “win now” mode, right now we are still working the kinks out of the system and perfecting our style, and like several of our illustrious Falcoholics have said, Matt Ryan is only 24, I mean seriously, I am a year younger and I would be lost if I was in his shoes, give it some time, we are building for the future not today.

by thisistherevolt on Oct 29, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

at least we know our weakpoint and thats pass defense

we could trade for the top DB in the draft like Eric Berry and trade Turner. Now, don’t think that I would love to see him go but he hasn’t preduced near the numbers he had last year and plus Norwood is doing good for us so unless Turner steps up and starts runnig like Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson he could see him on the trading block come draft day

by southman on Nov 2, 2009 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ready to trade a RB coming off of a Pro Bowl year for a college safety already? Dude, c’mon. Read what you just wrote.

To Hell With Georgia!

by tgriffith3 on Nov 3, 2009 10:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What? Really?

You’d trade Turner for a draft pick? Based on a few slow games at the start of the season? Personally, I’d much rather have a good RB that a good DB. You can make a marginal DB better with a safety and pass rush. It’s tough to make a marginal RB into a good RB.

Norwood is great but is awfully injury prone so far this year. The most troubling is the concussion. I’m not saying he’s done but we can’t bet the farm on him at this point.

by mwalex on Nov 11, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i was thinking ...

about that too until turner busted out this huge game against the saints. I think all we needed was mughelli back and thats what it looks like we needed. Now i wouldnt think about making that trade but what i was thinking about was trading for an established shut down corner because turner has already established himself as one of the best backs in the leagues but idk i still want turner on the team we just need to find a way to get norwood in ALOT more when he comes back. Either next year in the draft or as a free agent or freakin some how …we NEED NEED NEED a shut down corner thats over 5’9. Our secondary has been horrible ever since ive been watching them (1998) i know thats not too long but damn thats 11 years and the best corners i remember us having is D. Hall, who “jumped the gun” too much and ray buchanan ( i know i spelled that wrong) we have some REALLY good linebackers and really good front 4 with some good back ups on there too. 2 up and coming stars at the saftey position but nothing more than average corners …thats my opinion tho

by Ant13 on Nov 5, 2009 11:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

what ever happened to

jimmy williams …i think that was his name. He was like number 24, he was tall and really fast. he was our #2 corner then for some reason we moved him to safety and then i guess he got released but he was really good. I used to get picks after picks with him on madden

by Ant13 on Nov 5, 2009 11:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

The Jimmy Williams I knew had pretty average speed (4.5 40). But to answer your question, he was suspended by the league for the year (multiple dirty pee tests due to his wacky tobacky habit).

Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?

Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.

by FrankyWren on Nov 7, 2009 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs