Dimitroff, Falcons hit the NFL combine

Indianapolis — It’s all about the interviews.

For Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff the face-to-face meetings at the NFL scouting combine is where he and team executives ask the pointed questions. It’s a chance to determine if a player is a fit, football-wise and character-wise, with the Falcons.

“We can asked them pointedly about any brushes (with the law) they may have had or issues that they may have and determine if we need to dig further,” Dimitroff said of the players who started to arrive at the combine Wednesday. “It’s very interesting for us to interview these players to determine if these players will fit with us. To me, it’s very informative.”

Head coach Mike Smith, director of player personnel Les Snead, director of college scouting David Caldwell, coordinators Mike Mularkey and Brian VanGorder will be the primary interviewers along with Dimitroff.

All the Falcons assistant coaches will watch player workouts.

“We have our full manpower. It’s all hands on deck during this process,” Dimitroff said.

The place-kickers, offensive linemen and tight ends arrived on Wednesday. They had medical exams, X-rays, combine orientation and then it was off to team interviews.

Among the first group is tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who’s considered the top tight end in the draft and could be available when the Falcons pick with the 24th pick in the first round of April’s NFL draft.

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno are scheduled to arrive with the quarterbacks and running backs Thursday. The defensive line and linebackers arrive on Friday and the defensive backs on Saturday.

It’s also the combine workouts that can hurt or help a player’s draft prospects.

Last season, linebacker Curtis Lofton ran a slow time of 4.77 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the combine. That probably dropped him from the first round to the second round, where the Falcons selected him.

East Carolina running back Chris Johnson improved his draft standing when he ran 4.24 in the 40-yard dash and was selected in the first round by Tennessee.

The Falcons believe their evaluation process allows for sub-standard or above-standard performances to be properly assessed.

“We are not a team that will drastically move a player up or down off their performance at the combine,” Dimitroff said. “We will continue to earmark that player if he in fact has a substantially or legitimately good workout or a bad one.

“We will continue to research that player,” Dimitroff said. “It still comes back to the body of work. The production on the field during their football playing season and not just how they run around in shorts at the combine.”

The battery of tests and workouts is helpful in evaluating the talent.

“The combine is a great indicator of athleticism, movement, fluidity and body control,” Dimitroff said. “It lets you know how they stack up against the other ostensibly top rated players at their position.”