Receivers, Dominik And Leapfrog
April 12th, 2014
Many assume the Falcons, with the No. 6 overall pick in next month’s NFL Draft, one slot before the Bucs, will pounce on the best available offensive lineman or pass rusher.
As their general manager Thomas Dimitroff has said, he acutely understands the need to protect their $100 million investment in Matt Ryan, one of three NFC South quarterbacks better than the Bucs’ current QBs.
But Joe’s never quite been sold on the Falcons drafting in the trenches. Teams are prone to bold thinking when they’ve got a new stadium under construction with outstanding public financing issues, and a focus on generating new revenue. There’s some tough sledding going on in Atlanta with the Falcons’ new stadium, which breaks ground in May.
A new left tackle isn’t the sexiest pick when Atlanta could nab, say, Mike Evans or Sammy Watkins to team with Julio Jones and old man Roddy White. That’s also another way to help what was the NFL’s worst running attack last season. Dimitroff is prone to bold moves (See Jones), as well.
There’s another guy who thinks the Falcons need receiver help, and that’s former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, a favorite villain among Bucs fans. Now a BSPN “front office” guru, Dominik wrote in a recent pay-per-read feature that the Falcons have a “hidden need” at WR.
Atlanta Falcons: Wide receiver
The Falcons have had one of the best one-two punches at wide receiver in recent seasons, but with Roddy White starting to show his age (he’ll turn 33 this season) and stud receiver Julio Jones already having had two major surgeries on his foot, the Falcons need to acquire some depth and insurance at the position. I like Harry Douglas, and he did a very good job filling in last season when they needed him to, but this position could turn on the Falcons quickly if they aren’t prepared, and I believe they are aware of that.
Joe had to take a vomit break after reading Dominik write that.
So the wide receiver position can “turn” on the Falcons and they need depth there? Where was the Bucs’ depth at receiver last season, Dominik? The Bucs didn’t even enter the 2013 season with receivers as good as Jones, White and Douglas.
Second, saying Douglas did a strong fill-in job last season for White and Jones was another punch in the gut. It was against the Bucs, with both White and Jones out injured, that Douglas ran wild for a career day. Dominik’s and Greg Schiano’s handpicked savior, Darrelle Revis, was still rehabbing for the Patriots was playing a lot of zone in that game and not focusing on Douglas, who caught the game-winning touchdown on Johnthan Banks.
Don’t believe Joe’s film analysis, Douglas said it himself.
Frankly, Joe’s concerned the Falcons are ripe to trade down to acquire more picks and still get their hands on North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron to replace Tony Gonzalez. Joe can envision a team like Tennessee trading up to leapfrog the Bucs and draft Johnny Football. What a nightmare that would be.
April 12th, 2014 at 4:24 pm
It ain’t easy being Joe. How can Johnny be oh so close yet out of reach. Life can be cruel.
April 12th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
That would almost be funnier than the Bucs passing on Mancrush……..almost.
April 12th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
I can see Atl taking a WR at 6…not just because of White being nearing the end of his career like Vjax…but more because of Julio Jones re fracturing the same break he had repaired previosly. And can you imagine Julio Jones Roddy White and Watkins or Evans. For everyones sake I hope this doesnt happen
April 12th, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Joe… Tennessee trading up and taking JF is ok with me.
April 12th, 2014 at 4:41 pm
A seemingly innocent story about recivers somehow turn into yet ANOTHER manziel story. I’m about done with this site till after the draft
April 12th, 2014 at 4:45 pm
Joe has overrated JF, I wish I was at OBP when JR visted.If I am Lovie Smith If I could ask him one question, I would make a cut up of the dozens of times he got nervous and ran from a clean pocket. I would play it on the screen and say the following:
“You make a lot of highlights, I’ll give you that. My question to you is what is this crap? You have a clean pocket, no pressure at all, a thousand years to read the defense and throw the football. Most quarterbacks would give their left nut for that scenario consistently, which you in college were blessed with more often than not. Do I see a field general here, taking advantage of that situation? Do I see shades of Manning or Brees, scanning the D, looking off safeties, pump faking, misdirecting, then firing the ball to the open man for a first down? No, Johnny, I sure as hell don’t. I see a boy panic and abandon the gift he has been given, rolling out of the pocket and putting himself in danger. I see you spitting on the efforts of your offensive line, letting arguably the best pass protection in college football go to waste. I see you dancing around and hoping the defense makes a mistake. Frankly, son, that **** won’t fly in the NFL.
We play Rob Ryan defenses twice a year here, and he is no idiot. The reigning defensive player of the year, that middle linebacker, we play him twice a year as well. And our third division opponent employs Mike Nolan, one of the better defensive minds of his generation. This isn’t a warm up scrimmage versus SMU, son. This is the NFL.
When I watch you play, I see a man who can’t read a defense, who can’t make something happen from the pocket even when give infinite amounts of time. You fail at fundamental quarterbacking. And if you do that sandlot **** here, Greg Hardy will put you on injured reserve by week six.
So why should this team draft you in the first round?”
April 12th, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Matt Ryan, one of three NFC South quarterbacks better than every QB in this draft including Mancrush. lmao
April 12th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
Nah wouldn’t happen, Wisenhunt is too smart to make a blunder like that
April 12th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
I would comment but Pablo’s comment is too hard to try and follow up. Excellent Pablo, BRAVO!
April 12th, 2014 at 5:09 pm
C’mon Joe, you would love nothing more than Atlanta taking a WR with their first pick. That way both Watkins and Evans would both be gone by the time the Bucs pick. We’re not stupid. With Watkins and Evans out of the picture it increases your agenda.
April 12th, 2014 at 5:16 pm
There are so many really good players at the top of the draft that two or three teams could trade down and still pick a winner.
Don’t forget Minn trading up to Atlanta’s spot…..to keep the Bucs or Tenn from drafting a QB there.
Manziel
Mack
Clowney
Bridgewater
Bortles
Watkins
Barr
Robinson
Evans
Matthews
Ebron
Donal
That’s 13 great prospects….we will have a choice of 7 of them if we stay at 7.
April 12th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Donald
April 12th, 2014 at 5:25 pm
I can’t wait to hear Joe when the Bucs don’t draft Manziel. I don’t hate Manziel, but I do hate the hype machine and Joe’s unnatural mancrush on him.
April 12th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
that would be GREAT!!!!
April 12th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
We finished last in the division why are they drafting ahead of us? Also dom just dosent get it.
April 12th, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Just draft best available Bucs, let the media and pundits do what they do – just make stories, notice the one that wrote this is unemployed.
Stay true to your board and your evaluation. If a team gives up the farm to trade up then let them, if they want Manziel go give it up to go get him.
If Falclowns want to trade up for Watkins then let them because it doesn’t matte who’s outside when their OL stinks and can stop a faucet drip. Bucs will get exactly what they need to improve the team. Trading down will help also to get bundled picks.
I’m very excited.
One more point – for Dominik to write about thin roster needs he should be hung for our TE and WR depth the past two seasons. Any and everything he says is asterisks.
April 12th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
I personally don’t think Joe is going to be able to sleep the night before the draft. Too much Johnny on the mind.
April 12th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Orca
The most unnatural mancrush on these pages is the defense and excuses delivered by the Glennon mob. I have never witnesses the over the top self serving manipulation of stats / numbers since Obama announced his plans for health care. Very creative mathematics goes on this site trying to defend Glennon.
Rd 1 = Here comes Johnny!
Rd 2 = WR Odell Beckham
Rd 3 = G Cyril Richardson
Hopefully they can salvage a 6th or 7th Rd pick for Glennon and use it on guard depth.
April 12th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
GET!! Over Johnny Football he’s not going to last in the Nfl. His frame is way to small, three years at the most!
April 12th, 2014 at 6:29 pm
Mr. Dumbtroff and the Falcons will sell their soul to the devil (in this case Houston) in order to get Clowney. They did it before with Julio Jones. Houston will still get a QB at #6. St. Louis takes Matthews because of his family ties with his dad going back to the Oiler days. That is when the fun begins with the QBs. As you know, in most drafts there are almost always a run on a position. Here it COULD be 3-6 (JF,Bortles,Bridgewater,Carr) That puts the Bucs in a VERY interesting position at #7. We could have our pick of Robinson, Sammy, or Mack or listen for 15 unbelievable minutes to trade down offers. So do you take someones 3rd round pick yo move down or do what convention tells you to and draft an all-pro here. We’ll see what kind of movers and shakers L&L right away. Still wish we had heard more about Carl Nicks this week. Part of our “April Smoke screen?” It will be exciting to say the least. No wonder the NFL moved the draft to Sweeps week this year!
April 12th, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Don’t mind Tmaxcon, Glennon just slept with his girlfriend.
April 12th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
thats ok I can pull another one….
April 12th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
@tmax – yeah and when your Mancrush is left wondering why he is not having success on the Bucs with no O-line or receivers you, Eric, and Joe will make the same type of excuses. lol
Assuming, of course, he is even drafted by the Bucs. Some of you Mancrushers believe we paid McCown good money to be some rookie’s backup. Now why on earth would we do that when we have a perfectly good “quality backup” in Glennon?
April 12th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Buc1987 Says:
April 12th, 2014 at 5:52 pmI personally don’t think Joe is going to be able to sleep the night before the draft. Too much Johnny on the mind.
I’m pretty sure if Johnny’s on Joe’s mind, he’ll rub one out and fall asleep.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
No you can’t tmaxcon. That’s why you and Joe and the others love Johnny so much: You’re going to live vicariously through him because he can do what you cannot.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
And don’t you see? If Mancrush is drafted by the Bucs Joe won’t be allowed within 100 feet of OBP. Then how will we get the best Bucs news outside of Bucs.com? 🙂
April 12th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
bucrightoff –
Women are like mediocre qb’s (glennon) a dime a dozen… I’ll gladly give you pulling lessons.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
there is one thing for sure one side of the coin the mob vs every other fan here is that one group will be having crow for dinner draft night… then we will see who owns up to it or disappears like sheep. i do love all the opinions and the ones that say THEY WILL or Bucs Will that makes me laugh. not one single person on this site Knows what the bucs WILL do. Hell, I’d bet Lovie and Licht don’t even know what they will do yet.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
I’d love if the Falcons took another WR at #6. They’d go 4-12 again because their O-Line sucks. And their D-line is even worse.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:17 pm
And this is why Dom is out of the NFL.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:27 pm
We should just draft all offense…
Rd1. Sammy Watkins (WR) Clemson
Rd2. David Yankey (G) Stanford
Rd3. Jarvis Landry (WR) LSU
Rd5. Andrew Norwell (G/OT) Ohio State
Rd6. Logan Thomas (QB) Virginia Tech
Rd7. Denicos Allen (OLB) Michigan State
April 12th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Cody
I like your picks but I really don’t think Watkins will make it past 4.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Tmax…
For us to have any chance of Watkins falling to us at 7, 2 QBs have to be taken in the top 5…If that happens we have realistic shot…that’s assuming the Falcons don’t pull a Matt Millen and draft ANoTHeR! receiver…I would be pissed…
April 12th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
Cody I hope you’re correct I’d love to see Sammy in a bucs uniform. We still need a qb. I like Logan Thomas but it might take him a bit longer and relying on McCown scares me. All the talk of Jimmy grappolo scares me too for same reason Thomas. The faster the drafted qb can start the quicker McCown can assume his real role of mentor the better.
April 12th, 2014 at 8:14 pm
The only reason to bring in all these qb’s for visits is to create buzz for them. The front office wants an offer to trade down. They would love to end up with an extra second or third. Then they can move back into the bottom of the 1st if necessary.
April 12th, 2014 at 9:02 pm
I agree with Sweets Willie. I don’t think the Bucs have any intention of taking Johnny Football and I hope I’m right about that.
April 12th, 2014 at 9:14 pm
They can have JF.
April 12th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Joe you amaze me, how’d you fit the phrase “front office guru” & Mark Dominik into the same sentence? And how is an unemployed GM, giving advice on what an employed & fairly successful GM should be doing? And my last question is, who gives a damn about the Falcons!? Espn will hire anybody
April 12th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
Amazing…This site has an inordinate amount of soothsayers that can predetermine the success, or failure, of any given player. The Draft has always been a crapshoot. I personally want to believe that we have the best front office and coaching staff for us at this junction. The proof is always in the pudding. Most everyone applauded Lovie’s hire. In my opinion we should give the new regime a chance before we build the gallows.
April 12th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
As the saying goes….’Buy the ticket and enjoy the ride’
April 12th, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Having the fourth best QB in the division, last year, will force them to draft Johnny Gazelle. I’m talking about the Falcons, of course. :^)
The Bucs need WRs badly (‘old’ VJ and then…). *If* one of the top O-linemen are there @ #7, that would be a good move, as WRs are deep this year.
April 12th, 2014 at 11:06 pm
If they do that, then I’d say we trade down a bit and grab either Justin Gilbert or Aaron Donald and beef the D up!
April 13th, 2014 at 12:48 am
Dooley:
Must not follow sports media too much. Ex-NFL GMs are working everywhere, including Amy Trask, who may have been the worst GM in the history of the NFL but is spectacular as an analyst.
April 13th, 2014 at 1:11 am
SORRY JOHNNY NUTT TUGGING MOB. The Bucs will be grabbing a QB later in the draft to compete with and sit with Glennon. McCown is here to groom Glennon or a late round pick.
April 13th, 2014 at 1:26 am
Jbf stalking footballs
Using the word WILL assumes you know something or are Lovie. Obviously neither one of those are true therefore I have came to the conclusion that adding up all the ALL CAPS you used must equal your IQ.
April 13th, 2014 at 4:08 am
The Titans trading in front of us to draft JF…..best scenario I see as far as trading up goes! We’ve already had a “JF” and it didnt work out!!!
Football Gods, please let Robinson or Watkins fall to us!!!!!!!!!!!
April 13th, 2014 at 4:14 am
@Pablo
STANDING OVATION, SIR!!!! (Clapping)
April 13th, 2014 at 6:13 am
@Pablo: Best post i read in long while!! Excellent!! @all: don´t you think its funny how Joe can´t reply on a post with actually knowlegde?? if he strikes against an post – it was BS in the first place anyway..
Screw Manziel (great college QB who´s game won´t translate into the Pro´s) start hyping for the real deals: if 1st round QB, let it be Teddy B (a very good QB – while not elite, just because of deep throw accuracy; which isn´t a big problem if you get one or two real good WR and a funtional sheme..)
OR get an later round QB (Murray, Carr will slip i think, Connor Shaw who would also be excellent i think..)
April 13th, 2014 at 7:57 am
tmaxcon Said:
“thats ok I can pull another one….”
yeahrightsure. BWA HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
April 13th, 2014 at 8:01 am
Dominik doesn’t think the Falcons should draft OLine in round 1 because he doesn’t think any OL should be drafted in round 1.
April 13th, 2014 at 8:19 am
@Pablo, thank God others are seeing the reality of Johnny “spoiled rotten” Football. I could not agree with you more.
Furthermore, if the Glazer’s don’t want to be responding to the antics of former WR MW19, they sure as hell don’t want to be commenting on what JF will be doing #immaturebrat
April 13th, 2014 at 9:32 am
BOJIM
I’m such a hell of a guy I’ll give you the same offer for less I did Bucrightoff. Just giving person that I am. There help out there for you both.
April 13th, 2014 at 10:12 am
There is also the possibility that each time the Bucs go ‘on the clock’, the list of BPA won’t include a QB, and Licht won’t reach for one.
April 13th, 2014 at 10:21 am
Joe hit the nail on the head. If the Bucs are interested in Manziel then all this rumored interest is counterintuitive because it informs teams that they need to jump the 7th pick to get him.
Manziel WILL NOT be the pick for the simple fact that these rumors that have Joe creaming himself are part of the pre-draft deception period. Every team tries to hide their draft intentions yet we’re supposed to believe that the Bucs are broadcasting their “genuine” interest n Manziel to local media, national media, and random dudes in Texas? Yeah OK, here’s the authentic Mona Lisa that I’ll sell you for $50 000 if you’re that gullible.
April 13th, 2014 at 11:30 am
BoJim, tmaxcon is so good at pulling, he’s here on JBF late on a Saturday night while the rest of us, well, were out pulling.
April 13th, 2014 at 11:34 am
@Pablo
Why would Lovie sit JF down and attack him like that? Why would he motivate him to be the greatest QB in NFL history for an opposing team?
I once was asked to commit a very serious crime by my partner. When I refused, he set me down in his office and dressed me down like you suggested Lovie do to JF.
I thank him to this day for the motivation to become wildly successful while keeping my ethics.
My partner without me, went bankrupt, lost everything, his house, his condo, his wife, his kids, his cars, his yacht, several businesses and his dock space at the Tampa Yacht Club.
You Pablo, need to look in the mirror. Seriously.