Atlanta Falcons
Owner: Arthur Blank
Founded: 1966
Stadium: Georgia Dome
2010 record: 13-3
Last playoff appearance: 2010, 13-3, NFC South Champs, L48-21 GB
General Manager: Thomas Dmitroff (January 13, 2008 – current, Sporting News Executive of the Year 2 out of last 3 years)
Head Coach: Mike Smith (2008 – current, 33-15 as head coach)
Offensive Coordinator: Mike Mularkey
Defensive Coordinator: Brian VanGorder (aka Johnny Drama)
Defensive alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 25.9 PTS (5th) 341.1 YDS (16th) 222.9 PASS (15th) 118.2 RUSH (12th)
DEF: 18.0 PTS (5th) 332.4 YDS (16th) 226.6 PASS (22nd) 105.9 RUSH (10th)
Pro Bowlers: Matt Ryan QB, Michael Turner RB, Ovie Mughelli FB, Roddy White WR, Tony Gonzalez TE, Tyson Clabo OT, John Abraham DE, Brent Grimes CB, Eric Weems ST
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 at Bears 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 18 vs. Eagles 8:20 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 at Buccaneers 4:15 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 at Seahawks 4:05 PM Tickets
5 Oct 09 vs. Packers 8:20 PM Tickets
6 Oct 16 vs. Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 at Lions 1:00 PM Tickets
8 Bye
9 Nov 06 at Colts 1:00 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 vs. Saints 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Titans 1:00 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 vs. Vikings 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at Texans 1:00 PM Tickets
14 Dec 11 at Panthers 1:00 PM Tickets
15 Dec 15 vs. Jaguars 8:20 PM Tickets
16 Dec 26 at Saints 8:30 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 vs. Buccaneers 1:00 PM Tickets
TEAM NEEDS: OG, DE, DT
Potential Free Agents:
Jason Snelling RB – re-signed – 1 yr
Brian Finneran WR
Will Svitek OT
Tyson Clabo OT/OG – re-signed – 5 yrs, 25 million, 11.5 million guaranteed
Justin Blalock OG – re-signed –
Thomas Johnson DT
Stephen Nicholas OLB - re-signed –
Mike Peterson OLB – re-signed –
Coy Wire OLB – re-signed (2 yr extension)
Brian Williams CB
Matt Bryant K – re-signed –
Free agent acquisitions:
Ray Edwards DE (Vikings) - 5 yrs
Free agent losses:
Jerious Norwood RB – Signed by Rams
Michael Jenkins WR – Signed by Vikings
Jamaal Anderson DE – Signed by Colts
Harvey Dahl OG – signed by Rams
Erik Coleman S – signed by Lions
Michael Koenen P – signed by Buccaneers
Picks in 2011 NFL Draft: (overall grade: C+):
Trading up for a wide receiver in the first round is a bold move, considering the bust rate of wide receivers taken in the first, but I have solid belief that Jones won’t become a complete bust. Akeem Dent was a late riser on draft boards, but there’s no way he should’ve gone as early as he did. I didn’t like taking a kicker in the sixth, especially since they traded away so many other picks. Thomas Dmitroff is a needs drafter and that’s why this is such a dangerous draft for them. They needed lots more help on defense than they were able to get after giving up all of those picks to Cleveland. We’ll see the negative effects from this draft in a year or two.
(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 6 (6) Julio Jones WR, Alabama – I knew that Jones would go in this slot, but I’m not too hot on the idea of trading up into top 10 to take a wide receiver. The bust rate is so high. However, I’ve had Jones rated in the top 12 for as long as I can remember.
Grade: A- Rated: 7
Rd 3, Pick 27 (91) Akeem Dent LB, Georgia! – He was being interviewed, visited teams, and had a lot of interest from teams prior to the draft. I don’t see how he was the top linebacker for the Falcons at this point.
Grade: F Rated: 267
Rd 5, Pick 14 (145) Jacquizz Rodgers RB, Oregon State – 5-6, but a “little” burst of big explosion. GM Thomas Dmitroff wanted to get playmakers for the offense in this draft.
Grade: A Rated: 102
Rd 6, Pick 27 (192) Matt Bosher K, Miami (FL) – Both K Matt Bryant and P Matt Koenen have contracts that are expiring.
Grade: D Rated: NR
Rd 7, Pick 7 (210) Andrew Jackson OL, Fresno State – No president joke here. The Falcons have some guards that could leave for free agency, so this is insurance.
Grade: B- Rated: 246
Rd 7, Pick 27 (230) Cliff Matthews DE, South Carolina – Pass rushing defender. Falcons bringing him in to see if he can eventually become the replacement for John Abraham.
Grade: A Rated: 193
2010 Falcons Draft review:
Here are some interesting nuggets of information I saw in the 2010 Falcons’ NFL draft press conferences: Sean Weatherspoon was a guy that they had targeted all along according to General Manager Thomas Dimitroff. Three players were targeted by the Falcons in the first, and Weatherspoon was one of the three. Former Mizzou defensive back William Moore (2009 draft pick of the Falcons) gave some feedback to the Falcons about Weatherspoon. They are a needs drafting team. Maurkice Pouncey was a consideration if he fell to them in the first. Dimitroff had a conversation with Kevin Colbert of the Steelers and Dimitroff said that he had a strong feeling that Pouncey was the Steelers’ guy. Football intelligence was the theme of the players that they were looking for. Dimitroff said they had a number of texts from different teams that said they were considering Corey Peters ahead of when the Falcons took him. The Broncos called the Falcons after they picked Mike Johnson and let them know they were going to take Mike Johnson. Broncos’ GM Brian Xanders used to be with the Falcons and Josh McDaniels was at New England while Dimitroff was still there.
Rd 1, Pick 19 (19) Sean Weatherspoon LB, Missouri – 11 games, 5 starts, 42 TCK, 1 SCK, 1 PD
Rd 3, Pick 19 (83) Corey Peters DT, Kentucky – 16 games, 15 starts, 33 TCK, 1 SCK, 1 PD
Rd 3, Pick 34 (98) Mike Johnson OG, Alabama – no games
Rd 4, Pick 19 (117) Joe Hawley OG, UNLV – 15 games
Rd 5, Pick 4 (135) Dominique Franks CB, Oklahoma – 2 games, 1 TCK, 1 PD, 1 INT
Rd 5, Pick 34 (165) Kerry Meier WR, Kansas – no games, IR
Rd 6, Pick 2 (171) Shann Schillinger S, Montana – 15 games, 8 TCK, ended season on IR
Looking back at my grades for the 2010 Falcons draft class: I gave the Falcons a C+ grade after the 2010 draft. I liked the Weatherspoon (A) and Dominique Franks (A) picks, however, I thought that Corey Peters (C), Joe Hawley (D), Kerry Meier (D), and Shann Schillinger (C+). Peters proved me wrong starting 15 games and earned an A re-grade. I think a solid B will be where the Falcons settle in at. Three players with A’s were offset by a few D’s and a C+. It doesn’t look like there will be any superstars from this class, but it’ll stay a solid B if Weatherspoon and Peters become entrenched starters and Johnson, Hawley, and Franks can become players who could step up and become starters.
First Round Picks From Last Five Years: Sean Weatherspoon OLB, Peria Jerry DT, Matt Ryan QB, Sam Baker OT, Jamaal Anderson DE
2010 Stat Leaders
Matt Ryan 357-571 62.5% 3705 YDS 6.5 YPA 28 TD 9 INT 91.0 RTG
Michael Turner 334 ATT 1371 YDS 4.1 AVG 55 LNG 12 TD
Roddy White 115 REC 1389 YDS 12.1 AVG 46 LNG 10 TD
Matt Bryant 28-31 90.3% 51 LNG
Curtis Lofton 118 TCK
John Abraham 13 SCK
William Moore, Brent Grimes 5 INT
Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
Mike Smith Re-Signed For Three More Years
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