Draft day decision makers: Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons General Manger Thomas Dimitroff will run the Falcons war room in 2011 for the fourth time. He has been unafraid to draft guys with long injury issues, and at times that has really hurt him. In 2008 he took Peria Jerry, even though Clay Matthews was still on the board, if the Falcons had Matthews this is an entirely different defense. The good news here is they have acquired 9 of their 22 starters over the last five drafts so overall he has done quite well.
Dimitroff has a long history in the ranks of pro football as a scout. He has strong family ties back to the Canadian Football League, but he learned the American game from Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli. He has a knack for drafting guys that fit his team’s system, something he likely learned as a scout for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots.
Overall he has made 25 draft picks for this team and 20 of them are still in the ATL. Seven are starters and one has played in a pro bowl. 15 more are backups and only two play on other teams. Two players from his first draft class are currently out of the NFL. Granted some of these players were drafted to a very good team and have yet had opportunities to make significant impacts but he did draft Matt Ryan and so far that has worked quite well.
Related Links:
- Atlanta Falcons War Room
- Joshua Lobdell.com
