Archive for April, 2012

East Carolina's Dominique Davis started his career at Boston College backing up Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. (Associated Press/Gail Burton)

Quarterback Dominique Davis, who started his collegiate career playing behind Matt Ryan at Boston College, heads up a list of undrafted rookie free agents signed by the Falcons.

Speedy Cal WR Michael Calvin added.

Here is the official list of the signings:

TE Lamark Brown (Minnesota-Mankato), LB Rico Council (Tennessee State), QB Dominique Davis (East Carolina), S Chad Faulcon (Montclair), RB Robbie Frey (Kutztown), LB Max Gruder (Pittsburgh), T Byrce Harris (Fresno State), LB Jerrell Harris (Alabama), LS Josh Harris (Auburn), C Tyler Horn (Miami), WR Marcus Jackson (Lamar), DT Ray Kibble (Kansas State), G Phillip Manley (Toledo), CB Marty Markett (South Carolina), TE Adam Nissley (Central Florida), DE Louis Nzegwu (Wisconsin), WR Cody Pearcy (Huntingdon), DT Micanor Regis (Miami), WR James Rodgers (Oregon State), LB Pat Schiller …

Continue reading Davis heads up official list of undrafted rookies »

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper gave the Falcons' 2012 draft a 'C' when we chatted on Monday. (Associated Press/Gail Burton)

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper completed his 29th draft on television on Saturday.

After the dust has settled, he was ready to dish out some grades on Monday. 

He gave the Falcons a “C” for their 2012 draft. He felt the Falcons reached for Southern Mississippi tackle Lamar Holmes in the third round and questioned whether defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi fits their 4-3 defensive schem.

“In terms of Atlanta, Peter Konz he can play center,” Kiper said. “He can play guard. He gives you a lot of versatility inside. He’s getting stronger. He went from 18, 19 reps [lifting 225 pounds] to 23 [times.] He’s very athletic. Moves well and can trap as well. I like him. He was projected to be a late [first round pick.] Nobody would have argued if a team like Baltimore or Green Bay would have taken him in the late first [round].”

The Falcons traded down in the …

Continue reading ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper gives the Falcons a ‘C’ »

Bill Polian on the left. Chris Polian on the right. Bill built two of the greatest football powers of the modern era in Buffalo and Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Polian, who was fired after last season, is set to join the Falcons on Monday, according to the team.

Polian will join the Falcons in a scouting capacity and have some assignments around the league.

David Caldwell, the Falcons director of player personnel, came to the Falcons from Indianapolis and has worked with Polian. (Caldwell is John Carroll’s second most famous alum; Don Shula is No. 1!)

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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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Continue reading Chris Polian to join the Falcons’ scouting department »

Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith will get to see their new rookies at minicamp, May 11 through 13. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)

FLOWERY BRANCH  – You all can stop by and grade the Falcons’ draft today.

        Here are my four thoughts before I head off to do my civic duty and serve as a judge for the Falcons cheerleader tryouts.

1. WHAT’S UP AT FULLBACK?: It can’t be a good thing for Ovie Mughelli that they drafted a fullback. While TD wouldn’t comment about the salary cap implications, the team likely doesn’t want to pay almost $4 million for a fullback that will probably be on the field just 20 percent of the plays. Also, they are low on funds and need some room for the rookies.
2. THE RIGHT ATTITUDE: I’m warming up to the Lamar Holmes’ pick. He seemed to have a mean and nasty attitude when we chatted.
3. THE SACK EXCHANGE: The Jonathan Massaquoi pick was a winner if he can get to the quarterback. If Ray Edwards and Kroy …

Continue reading THE AFTERMATH: Grade the Falcons draft »

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff talks to the media after the draft ends on Saturday. The first question is hilarious. It was a long three days in the media war room!!!

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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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Continue reading Video: Thomas Dimitroff discusses the draft »

Former Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi (above in the 2010 New Orleans Bowl, AP photo) declared for the NFL Draft as a junior. He played at Central Gwinnett High School.

FLOWERY BRANCH  — The Falcons selected Wisconsin fullback Bradie Ewing and Troy defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi in the fifth round of the NFL draft on Saturday.

They picked Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell in the sixth round and added South Carolina defensive tackle Travian Robertson in the seventh round.

Ewing is 5-11 3/4 and 239 pounds. The former walk-on was a team captain for the Badgers.

Massaquoi, who played at Central Gwinnett High, is a cousin of former Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and NFL tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.

Ewing was considered a priority free agent by Pro Football Weekly. Massaquoi was projected to go in the fourth or fifth round.

Wisconsin's Bradie Ewing, center, celebrates after catching a bad punt and making a turnover …

Continue reading Falcons add Ewing, Massaquoi, Mitchell and Robertson »

Falcons head coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff could get "some bonus" to go shopping with. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/AJC).

FLOWERY BRANCH – Things are underway on Day 3. WWTDD — ‘What Will Thomas Dimitroff Do’ today?

My laptop and my "thinking cap" for Day 3 of the draft.

I’m projecting that the Falcons take a DT, TE, KR/PR and a backup QB.

The Falcons are sitting out the fourth round as part of the Julio Jones trade. The Browns have their fourth round pick — 23rd (118 overall).

The Falcons will pick 157th and 164th in the fifth, 192nd in the sixth and 249th in the seventh.

I know people are killing TD for picking the Lamar Holmes pick. He was considered a fifth-rounder by most. Mel Kiper had him rated as the 29th best tackle in the draft.

Dimitroff noted that some former Junior College players are stigmatize

Beverages and Brownies for snack time.

and under-rated by draftniks.

“We waited a whole round to jump into our offensive linemen sweepstakes and …

Continue reading LIVE CHAT: WWTDD — NFL Draft Day 3 »

Southern Mississippi offensive lineman Lamar Holmes, left, blocks Auburn offensive lineman A J Greene during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

FLOWERY BRANCH –  Offensive tackle Lamar Holmes, the Falcons third round pick from Southern Mississippi, took part in a conference call with local media late Friday night shortly after being selected.

Here’s what he had to say:

On being drafted: It was like the world’s best feeling. It’s something you have dreamed since the day you could pick up a football or say the word football. It’s something that you’ve dreamed about your entire life. To have the coach call you and tell you you’re part of the Atlanta Falcons now, it’s something that you can’t even put in words. It feels great. I’m ready to go.

On his career at Southern Miss after transferring from Itawamba Community College: I went to junior college when I was a freshman with my head …

Continue reading Q&A: Lamar Holmes plans to take someone’s spot »

Falcons selected Peter Konz in the second round of the NFL draft on Thursday. (Associated Press)

FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons top draft pick Peter Konz took part in a conference call with local media on Friday shortly after being selected by the Falcons.

Here’s what he had to say:

On being drafted by the Falcons: Just getting the opportunity is amazing. It doesn’t matter where I fell to because I love the team that picked me. I have nothing but great respect for the organization. Now I get to help be part of a winning tradition.

On whether he had seen the mock drafts predicting the Green Bay Packers selecting him: Well, little do people know this, but I was never a Packers fan growing up. I was around people that told me not to, so when the Falcons were in the Super Bowl, I was doing the ‘Dirty Bird’ with the rest of them.

On if he’ll play guard or center: No conversations yet, but I’ll do anything. At Wisconsin, they made sure I knew tackle, guard and center. …

Continue reading Q&A: Peter Konz knows how to do the Dirty Bird »

The Atlanta Falcons selected Wisconsin center Peter Konz with the 55th overall pick in the NFL Draft. CineSport’s Brian Clark and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter discuss.

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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog

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Continue reading Video: Falcons draft Peter Konz »