Draft success in the eye of the beholder

Adam Van Brimmer (column) | Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 12:30 am

Football's most polarized fan base moved even further apart over the weekend.

The Atlanta Falcons surprised everyone in the NFL Draft. A franchise divided by Michael Vick's legal troubles, a turncoat coach and front-office turnover pleased some followers and disappointed others with its 11 draft choices.

It all depends on who you talk to.

The new GM is either the most brilliant man this side of the guys on the Guinness commercials, or the dopiest since Walt Disney introduced us to Snow White and her dwarfs.

What gets lost in the debate is this: We don't know which assessment is true, and we won't know for some time.

Does it make sense to use the top pick on a pocket quarterback when you lack the offensive linemen to protect him? No, unless general manager Thomas Dimitroff plans to acquire a few in the coming months or is absolutely certain Todd Weiner and Renaldo Foster will recover fully from knee injuries.

Does it make sense to ignore obvious needs at defensive tackle on draft weekend? No, unless head coach Mike Smith and defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder already have the personnel to fit their scheme.

Does it make sense to spend two of your first seven picks on linebackers, one of the few positions where you return depth? No, unless Dimitroff sees a chance to trade a veteran or two for help at other positions (like offensive line or defensive tackle).

We just don't know what Dimitroff, Smith and the rest of the Falcons' brain trust plans to do between now and training camp. Granted, all are new to their jobs: Dimitroff was a college scouting director last April; Smith a defensive coordinator.

But with nothing to go on, all we can do is give them the benefit of the doubt ... for now.

If the roster looks the same come Sept. 1 as it does May 1, then criticize away.

If Matt Ryan turns out like David Carr - damaged goods because the team that drafted him made him be a tackling dummy - boycott games.

If opposing running backs plow for yards up the middle as easily Lorena Ochoa wins golf tournaments, watch Falcons games with a grocery bag over your head (paper, not plastic, please).

But for now, trust that good things lie ahead for the Falcons. Expectations were bound to be low this fall anyway. This franchise is two drafts and several free agent acquisitions away from respectability.

Falcons' fans should take more solace in the people cut than those added. Vick is in prison. Bobby Petrino is coaching in college again. Rich McKay moved to the business office, where he can't draft anymore unheralded wide receivers (although word is he interviewed a few to be his personal assistant). And Arthur Blank has exiled himself from football meetings.

Those are all positives to rally around, reasons for unity.

I didn't wanna make a new thread for this, so I'll just put it in here:

:D

I just hope that this doesn't end up hanging next to Petrino's "Dear John" letter in the Falcons Pantheon of Shame.

I pray that Ryan has good mental toughness because the first couple of seasons will be tough on him with a suspect O-line. Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning endured it and it made them better. It also destroyed the confidence of guys like Harrington and David Carr.

In Dimitroff I trust

I believe. We tried the old way and it didnt work so he has a free pass from me.

Me too. At least for the typical lifecycle, what is it, about 4 years? 7i87,m7t8

This image will either be a symbol of pride in a few years or a symbol of shame. Hopefully pride...

I tend to believe that Matt Ryan will be a great QB for us...provided he doesn't have to suit up and play THIS season. I think he needs a season on the bench, toting the clipboard, signaling in plays to Redman. I also liked the Sam Baker pick, though I can certainly understand (not neccesarily agree with though) those that think we "reached" for him. Before this past season, Baker was one of the guys I mentioned last year as someone to watch. Everything I read had the guy listed as one of the best 3 OTs in college, and a bonafide top 15 draft pick. Then he got hurt this past season, and his stock fell...fact is though, he's still strong, with great feet, very good size, and a frame that can get much, much bigger...if the rumors regarding his workouts are true, then I think we'll be happy with this pick, THIS season.

Outside of these 2 guys, and possibly Harry Douglas, who might have been a steal in the late 3rd round...this draft class UNDERwhelms...I said all along it would be hard to screw up the No 3 pick, and believe me, I don't think Dimitroff screwed up that pick at all...but he definitely made some questionable calls with several of our other picks...and though I like drafting Baker, because I think he'll work out just fine...I'm not sure that I would've traded away 2 2nd round picks for him... and then when you factor in some of the FA bungling that was done this offseason, and suddenly you have a wonder at whether or not Dimitroff and Smith know what the hell they're doing....

For now, I'll sit back and watch how it all unfolds before I bash or praise them completely...but I'm not overly thrilled by our personnel decisions as of yet. :huh:

That's why I have a love/hate relationship w/the draft. Really won't know whether this was a good one for 2-3 yrs., just like we're still finding out about 2007. We did pretty good last year, I think, so hopefully it will end up being even better.

Sure we will go 4, but I want to see progression.

Again I don't care who qb's this team. I am pissed we did not address the o-line. Sam Baker will be good for us, but what about rg and rt? For that matter center? Getting our qb killed isn't what I want.

Have to agree. We had the worst O-line in the league last year. Ya a lot can be attributed to poor O-line coaching and scheme but we also have personnel problems. I feel bad for Michael Turner most of all. He looked great in SD but is about to get a rude awakening behind our 32nd best run blocking line...

Personally, I don't see where Turner looked great in SD last season...he had 1 great run, against the worst run stopping D in the league last season...everything else looked like same shit we had here...however, he's definitely going to be in for a HUGE culture shock here in ATL, if our Oline doesn't improve. I think Baker will be a good fit. I believe Blalock will improve with that full season of experience under his belt. Hopefully Weiner is healthy to help anchor our right side. It's been said that Forney struggled last season because of Petrino's style of blocking, and that hopefully, with a more experienced OLine coach, he'll rebound to have a great season. That still leaves the huge gaping hole we have at Center. McClure sucks though...so here's hoping that either Datish or Stepanovich wins the starting Center job... 8DRTV75