2011 NFL Draft Results: Why the Atlanta Falcons Had to Draft Julio Jones

Before we go forward, I invite you to look back.

Back to that fateful Saturday evening in January at the Georgia Dome, where the electricity that filled the stadium was reduced to a mere flicker with every Aaron Rodgers pass. Had there been a mercy rule, this game would've been called by halftime.

Green Bay 48, Atlanta 21.

That was all of the motivation needed for Falcons GM Thomas Dmitroff to pull off what had to be the biggest trade of the 2011 NFL Draft when they traded four draft picks to Cleveland to draft Alabama WR Julio Jones.

Jones brings his physical blocking skills and 4.3 speed to the ATL, and at the same time shows that the Falcons brass is no longer happy with just making appearances in January. They want to hold up the Lombardi trophy, and this was a great step forward.

I know there are a lot of complaints out there with what Atlanta gave up, but this isn't Mike Ditka giving up his entire draft for Ricky Williams and then going to play golf. 

Everyone who isn't an actual GM believes that Atlanta should've drafted all cornerbacks with their nine picks this year, but remember this: The NFL has become a QB-WR league, and if Green Bay didn't show you anything else last year, it's that those teams that have the biggest weapons, are the ones who are still playing on the biggest stage of them all.

There was only one impact defensive player that Dmitroff wanted, and by the time Von Miller was gone, he felt that no one else could be a starter on a team with Super Bowl visions dancing in their heads. 

He decided to follow the old adage that Homer Simpson once said, "sometimes the best defense is a good offense." As a result they landed the receiver they wanted, knowing that they can't rely on simply running the ball down opponents' throats.

Perhaps they were tired to watching the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers run up and down the field on them without any chance of keeping up. When the Falcons would get down by 10 or more points, you knew that they didn't have enough offense to keep up with the faster teams of today's NFL.

This combination of Jones and last year's leading receiver Roddy White could easily become Atlanta's version of Randy Moss and Cris Carter.

Of course, all of this is moot if Offensive Coordinator Mike Mularkey decides to keep QB Matt Ryan from throwing the ball more than 10 yards, but somehow I doubt it. 

Jones caught 78 passes in a highly conservative Nick Saban offense at Alabama, so I think he will function well playing alongside two Pro Bowl talents in White and TE Tony Gonzalez.  

Ryan will enjoy being able to get the ball to Jones down the field while defenses go crazy trying to figure out whom to cover underneath.

Also, this is Dmitroff's way of telling us that he believes in the guys he's drafted or acquired to boost the defense already (Peria Jerry, William Moore, Curtis Lofton, Kroy Biermann and Sean Weatherspoon) to continue maturing and become a solid unit.

Now Atlanta can score in bunches (they still need a true speed back) and it will no longer be a surprise when the Falcons put up 30 points a game.

Was this a risk? Sure it was. Jones has a history of injury problems but also has the mental and physical toughness to play through them, which will earn him a lot of respect in the locker room.

What fans need to understand is that sometimes risks are necessary in order to succeed. The Falcons brass of old would not have done this type of deal. This regime has proven they are serious about shedding any history that the Falcons have had to deal with these number of years.

A lot of people began to fret when they saw the Falcons' schedule for 2011. Now I'm sure they will rest a lot easier knowing that Atlanta can keep up with the Joneses, especially because they just drafted one of their own.