Draft Scout Snapshot: Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was fine with sitting out the first and fourth rounds of this draft. He traded away those picks as part of the Julio Jones deal. With only six picks, the Falcons were happy with their haul. They wanted to add some competition along the offensive line and were elated to snap up Wisconsin center Peter Konz with their second round pick. They also drafted mammoth Southern Mississippi tackle Lamar Holmes in the third round. "Peter is a lunch-pail guy," Dimitroff said. "He's a tough, hard-nosed guy, who has the versatility to play both center and guard which is important." Konz is a solid pass blocker and could be the team's center of the future. The Falcons don't believe they reached on Holmes. "I can't comment on why he was projected to go later," Dimitroff said. "Sometimes when you have a JC transfer type of player, the prognosticators are behind from a recognition standpoint." BEST PICK: Center/Guard Peter Konz: He could be a factor at guard as well or be the center of the future. He pulled and trapped from the center position with the Badgers and has a nice anchor point in pass protections. "In terms of Peter, he's going to start at the guard position for us, but he will get some work at center as well," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "We'll start cross-training these guys from the very beginning." - The Sports Xchange
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Draft Scout News
10/29/12 - RG Peter Konz played all 75 snaps of the game against the Eagles.
04/30/12 - Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was fine with sitting out the first and fourth rounds of this draft. He traded away those picks as part of the Julio Jones deal. With only six picks, the Falcons were happy with their haul. They wanted to add some competition along the offensive line and were elated to snap up Wisconsin center Peter Konz with their second round pick. They also drafted mammoth Southern Mississippi tackle Lamar Holmes in the third round. "Peter is a lunch-pail guy," Dimitroff said. "He's a tough, hard-nosed guy, who has the versatility to play both center and guard which is important." Konz is a solid pass blocker and could be the team's center of the future. The Falcons don't believe they reached on Holmes. "I can't comment on why he was projected to go later," Dimitroff said. "Sometimes when you have a JC transfer type of player, the prognosticators are behind from a recognition standpoint." BEST PICK: Center/Guard Peter Konz: He could be a factor at guard as well or be the center of the future. He pulled and trapped from the center position with the Badgers and has a nice anchor point in pass protections. "In terms of Peter, he's going to start at the guard position for us, but he will get some work at center as well," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "We'll start cross-training these guys from the very beginning." - The Sports Xchange
04/30/12 - A closer look at the Falcons' picks: Round 2/55 - Peter Konz, C/G, 6-5, 315, Wisconsin...He was considered the top center in the draft. He was very effective blocking in Wisconsin's inside zone blocking scheme. He will get the chance to win the right guard spot immediately. - The Sports Xchange
04/30/12 - The right guard position was problematic as Garrett Reynolds opened the season as the starter after beating out Mike Johnson. When Reynolds struggled, Hawley took over at right guard. In the offseason, the Falcons signed guard Vincent Manuwai in free agency. Konz, 6-5 and 314 pounds, was projected to go late in the first round by most draft analysts. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had him rated as the top center in the draft. "He has no peers in this draft," Kiper said. Konz, who lifted 225 pounds just 18 times at the NFL Scouting Combine, needs to improve his upper-body strength. He should be able to lift that weight 25 times. He said he lifted 225 pounds 23 times at his Pro Day. He is considered quick and agile for his size. He could pull on sweeps and hit moving targets, which was considered a weakness of the line by former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. The line's lack of mobility was cited when Mularkey was pressed about why he didn't call more screen passes last season. - The Sports Xchange
04/30/12 - Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked 26 times last season and was hit 84 times, which was the seventh most hits in the NFL. If the Falcons plan to climb to the top of the NFC and be Super Bowl contenders, they must do a better job of protecting the man Dimitroff has taken to calling "Deuce." "We need to make sure we have the right people protecting 'Deuce' as well as helping in short-yardage runs," said Dimitroff, who selected a player from the Big Ten conference for the first time in five drafts with the Falcons. Konz's versatility was important to the Falcons. "At Wisconsin they made sure I knew tackle, guard and center," Konz said. "Anywhere I can help the team, that's my responsibility." The Falcons re-signed center Todd McClure during free agency. Also, Joe Hawley started three games at center last season. - The Sports Xchange
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