In 2007, the Atlanta Falcons had one of the worst records in the NFL. After that season, the Falcons hired a new GM to turn their floundering franchise around. His name was Thomas Dimitroff. He immediately hired Mike Smith as his head coach. One of his other hirings was Dave Caldwell who became his Director of College Scouting. (In 2012 he became Director of Player Personel) In 2008 & 2010, Dimitroff was named Executive of the Year by Sporting News. The Falcons have won more games than any other team in the NFC since 2008. (not counting this year) (also I believe the Jags had the same claim in the AFC after their 1st 4 years in the league) Since his first day on the job, Dimitroff has brought the philosophical approach of building through the draft and supplementing thru free agency. Since 2008, the Falcons rank 2nd in the NFL in draft retention (73.9%). Also, during that time, 39 of the Falcon's 46 selections are active players in the NFL (84.8%). From what I can see, Dave Caldwell must have played an active role in the Falcon's drafting success. As far as management style, I wonder what things he learned from working closely with Dimitroff. In drafting college players, he can sometimes be aggressive. Case in point.....in his first draft(2008) after securing his quarterback (Matt Ryan) with the 3rd overall pick , he moved back into the first round to get LT Sam Baker. In doing so, he gave up his two 2nd round picks and a 4th. Yet again, in the 2011 draft, he moved up from the 27th spot to the 6th spot tq nab Julio Jones. However, it was a very expensive move. In exchange, the Cleveland Browns got the Falcon's 1st, 2nd and 4th round picks......PLUS a 1st and 4th round pick in the following year. I wonder what Caldwell took away from those moves. Will Caldwell be as aggressive as Dimitroff was? Might he surprise everyone and grab Clowney first and then trade back into the 1st round to get the quarterback he covets? I thought Dave's first draft was fairly conservative till he went after Denard in the 5th. That showed a little daring. This makes me think that he could very well take some chances ala Dimitroff. Your thoughts.


Atlanta Overall Standings


2007..........4-12.......Dimitoroff hired

2008.........11-5.........playoffs

2009.........9-7

2010.........13-3........playoffs

2011.........10-6........playoffs

2012.........13-3........playoffs

2013.........2-7

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I think the build is looking to be more like the Seahawks. Slash and burn the roster, nearly 300 roster moves in the first year. Accelerate as much dead cap as possible to clear space for a proper, healthy, sustainable rebuild. From all of his  words, Dave is going to value his draft picks like gold and not trade them away so flippantly. 

 

Dimitroff has proven that trading up haphazardly and signing a multitude of expensive veterans (Turner, Abraham, Gonzalez, Clabo, Dunta, Sjax, Umenyiora, Asante, etc,) can be a fast and effective way to jump start success (in addition to hitting on your QB of course). However, it is now proving that it doesn't last very long either as the team is old, brittle, costly, shallow, and vying for a top 5 pick...again. 

 

If Dave has truly good eye for talent then the way he it appears he is building right now will be much healthier for the long term success of the franchise. Of course Gene Smith was also had a highly touted eye for talent and the mantra of build through the draft...and his first draft looked pretty good at first too. Then a ton of trade ups and busts later he is among the worst GMs in history...so we won't really know for a couple more years.

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I'm going to be honest here. I think we have to go Clowney #1, he is the best talent available. There is going to be 5 or 6 QB's for Caldwell to choose at the bottom of round 1 or top of round 2.


Here's who I think will be the top QB choices in 2014 all of whom would be an upgrade over our current QBs:


Bridgewater

Hundley

Mariota

Murray

Mettenberger

Bortles

McCarron

Boyd

Manziel


There is absolutely no way that one of these players does not fall to us with the 33rd pick.


Who has the ability to play at the level of Clowney, we have been at the bottom of the league on sacks for at least the last 5 years.


I think we need the best DE in Clowney who will instantly improve our defense while any number of those QB's could help improve our offense. If that doesn't work draft Winston in 2015!

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I sure hope Caldwell learned from Dimtroffs mistakes and avoids them. Dimtroff is pretty much the exact opposite of what we need to do, trading picks for targeted players because you have a desperate need is a recipe for trouble.

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I think what  happened to the Falcons this year is sort of like what happened to the Jags under Coughlin.   The Falcons thought they were one player away, traded away their future in terms of draft picks, and drafted Julio Jones.   The Jags thought they were one offseason away from a Super Bowl, chose to extend  their cap problems for one more shoot-the-moon offseason, and failed.  

 

To me, it just shows, if you always take care of your future, eventually you will have a perpetually good team.  Never ever think you are so close to winning a Super Bowl that you can mortgage your future. 

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Barr is looking more versatile than clowney especially when you consider the scheme

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flippantly.

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60% of the time, It works Everytime...



 

Lots of picks used wisely....every year.

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Because Jaguars is our mantra 

I sure how Caldwell learned from Dimtroffs mistakes and avoids them. Dimtroff is pretty much the exact opposite of what we need to do, trading picks for targeted players because you have a desperate need is a recipe for trouble.

 

I actually think some of that comes from the owner. Even before DImitroff got there, they were trading picks for players. They once gave up a first rounder for Peerless Price.

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I'm going to be honest here. I think we have to go Clowney #1, he is the best talent available. There is going to be 5 or 6 QB's for Caldwell to choose at the bottom of round 1 or top of round 2.


Here's who I think will be the top QB choices in 2014 all of whom would be an upgrade over our current QBs:


Bridgewater

Hundley

Mariota

Murray

Mettenberger

Bortles

McCarron

Boyd

Manziel


There is absolutely no way that one of these players does not fall to us with the 33rd pick.


Who has the ability to play at the level of Clowney, we have been at the bottom of the league on sacks for at least the last 5 years.


I think we need the best DE in Clowney who will instantly improve our defense while any number of those QB's could help improve our offense. If that doesn't work draft Winston in 2015!

 

So the qualification of drafting a QB is just a guy who is better than Gabbert and Henne? Wow, you have high standards.

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So the qualification of drafting a QB is just a guy who is better than Gabbert and Henne? Wow, you have high standards.

How do you or I know which of those 9 QBs is just a guy or THEE guy? Dave, on the other had, has been pretty dammm good. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for BOTH DE and QB in this draft instead of just QB.

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I'm going to be honest here. I think we have to go Clowney #1, he is the best talent available. There is going to be 5 or 6 QB's for Caldwell to choose at the bottom of round 1 or top of round 2.


Here's who I think will be the top QB choices in 2014 all of whom would be an upgrade over our current QBs:


Bridgewater

Hundley

Mariota

Murray

Mettenberger

Bortles

McCarron

Boyd

Manziel


There is absolutely no way that one of these players does not fall to us with the 33rd pick.


Who has the ability to play at the level of Clowney, we have been at the bottom of the league on sacks for at least the last 5 years.


I think we need the best DE in Clowney who will instantly improve our defense while any number of those QB's could help improve our offense. If that doesn't work draft Winston in 2015!

Dude. No.

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How do you or I know which of those 9 QBs is just a guy or THEE guy? Dave, on the other had, has been pretty dammm good. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for BOTH DE and QB in this draft instead of just QB.

I won't be surprised.


Unless he fixes the problem at one of those positions in free agency, he damn well better pick a QB and a DE.


Thebig question is..... can he fix both sufficiently?

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Signature goes here.

How do you or I know which of those 9 QBs is just a guy or THEE guy? Dave, on the other had, has been pretty dammm good. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for BOTH DE and QB in this draft instead of just QB.

 

Thank God. I thought I was completely alone on this board by being of the mindset that with the deep quarterback class likely to come out this year, drafting a QB in the top 3 is NOT an absolute must or guarantee. If we're talking a first round quarterback versus a third round guy, then yes, I want the first without a doubt. But this is a deep class. I would love to see us go a different route with our first pick, and take a QB absolutely no later than the start of the 2nd.

 

Not every one of those QBs is going to pan out, but if the decision-makers feel they can get two difference makers by taking a QB with a second pick... Let's see it. The #1 pick isn't a guarantee to be a superstar QB.

 

At this point, I'm all-in. With whatever management decides to do. Have a little faith. We all may differ in our opinions of what should happen, but let's just hope that whichever way it goes, we actually get it right. (which means taking a quarterback somewhere lol)

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Thank God. I thought I was completely alone on this board by being of the mindset that with the deep quarterback class likely to come out this year, drafting a QB in the top 3 is NOT an absolute must or guarantee. If we're talking a first round quarterback versus a third round guy, then yes, I want the first without a doubt. But this is a deep class. I would love to see us go a different route with our first pick, and take a QB absolutely no later than the start of the 2nd.

 

Not every one of those QBs is going to pan out, but if the decision-makers feel they can get two difference makers by taking a QB with a second pick... Let's see it. The #1 pick isn't a guarantee to be a superstar QB.

 

At this point, I'm all-in. With whatever management decides to do. Have a little faith. We all may differ in our opinions of what should happen, but let's just hope that whichever way it goes, we actually get it right. (which means taking a quarterback somewhere lol)

It is deep with QBs who will have long careers as backup QBs. There are only a few with franchise potential, and that's if Mariota and Manziel declare...and really only Teddy and Mariota have a better than 50/50 shot at being a franchise QB. If we don't take QB in the 1st we will be stuck in QB purgatory with a Dalton/Schaub/Ponder type or we'll be praying for another tank job and top pick again so we can get Winston. 

 

Just take the QB.

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You take the franchise QB over an elite DE every single time. QB is not a position you can put off until next round, or next year. I can't believe people are actually entertaining this thought. If the Jags have the first pick, pre-order your Teddy jerseys. Simple as that.

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People so afraid to take a QB.

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You take the franchise QB over an elite DE every single time. QB is not a position you can put off until next round, or next year. I can't believe people are actually entertaining this thought. If the Jags have the first pick, pre-order your Teddy jerseys. Simple as that.

Bridgewater should just start house hunting in Jax.

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People so afraid to take a QB.

The qb fear is so real.

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 Your thoughts.

 

Not sure.

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