ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper gives the Falcons a ‘C’
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 third round before selecting Holmes with the 91st overall pick.
“I was surprised Lamar Holmes went where he did,” Kiper said. “I just didn’t see it. He was another guy that we talked about. I didn’t see it. They did obviously. They liked what he was able to bring to the table for them in the third round. I thought he was a late-round pick.”
The Falcons, who have a Pro Bowl fullback on the roster in Ovie Mughelli, went for fullback in the fifth round.
“I liked Bradie Ewing,” Kiper said. “I thought he was the best fullback in the draft.”
With the fifth round pick they received from Baltimore for sliding back six spots in the third round, they selected Massaquoi, a Central Gwinnett High product.
“Massaquoi, I thought would be a 3-4 outside linebacker,” Kiper said. “They are taking him as a pass rusher, which he showed that at Troy. They were even dropping him in coverage some. He could have been pinning his ears back a little more and his sack total would have been higher.”
Kiper approved of the selection of Mississippi State safety Charles Mitchell in the sixth round.
“Mitchell went a couple of rounds later than what some thought,” Kiper said. “He was a nice sixth-round pick.”
The Falcons, who didn’t have a pick in the first and fourth rounds because of the Julio Jones trade, picked South Carolina defensive tackle Travian Robertson in the seventh round.
“I gave them a C grade,” Kiper said. “I just thought Holmes was a major reach in the third round. Does Massaquoi really fit their system? He’ll probably be a situational pass rusher. It’s kind of a mixed opinion on them. Overall, it’s a C grade. They got some guys that will make that football team and a couple of guys that will probably help them this year.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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89 comments Add your comment
Chief Media Urologist
April 30th, 2012
7:13 pm
You pick up Helmet Hair’s choices, you get an “A”. You deviate from his list, he’ll punish you. You prove him wrong, he’s unavailable for comment.
What do you say we get our grades on the field.
Falcon Jim
April 30th, 2012
7:14 pm
Grady I just wanna be friends??? I don’t have any and my mom beats me!!! Can you please give me your number???? Please??????!!!! I’m DESPERATE!!!!!!!!!!
O.G. Falcon Fan
April 30th, 2012
7:24 pm
Kiper is a douch. Who cares what he thinks. He is overrated
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
7:24 pm
OPEN found a new computer to beat DLO’s ban…………………and talking to himself again (Grady.)
SO immature.
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
7:34 pm
I wish OPEN would stop this nonsense!!! Please OPEN I’m begging you!!!! Im sorry for being an idiot!!!
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
7:36 pm
Not me again, stop making me mad OPEN i will get your number so I can chew you out myself.
Lance from Marietta
April 30th, 2012
7:38 pm
Overall good draft, my grade is a B.
Falcon jim quit embarrassing yourself and just ignore OPEN.
fansince74
April 30th, 2012
7:40 pm
The reality is that most of us know little to nothing about the players the Falcons selected. There is no way that we can know whether it will turn out to be a good draft or not. Seriously, how many of you can name all of the O-linemen for the college team you follow? How many of you can name the left Tackle for Montana or the right Guard for Tulsa? Yet if the Falcons draft one of theses we get all because we have never heard of him.I think the Falcons staff know what they are doing.
fansince74
April 30th, 2012
7:42 pm
That last line should have said
Yet if the Falcons draft one of these we get all upset because we have never heard of them. I think the Falcons staff know what they are doing.
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
7:54 pm
I NEED HELP! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME? Please be my friend Mr. Ledbetter.
Tim Tebow
April 30th, 2012
7:56 pm
Jim. Ignore these immature little trouble makers. They will get bored and leave. Remember, the Lord takes care of problem makers, all in His time.
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
8:00 pm
Thank you for your kind words Mr Tebow….you seem to be the type of man I’d like to meet. Can this be possible?
Tim Tebow
April 30th, 2012
8:04 pm
OPEN, you make your own light in this world. Yours seems quite dim at this time.
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
8:11 pm
Mr. Tebow, I too wouldn’t mind seeing the light and whatever else you may have to show me…will it be possible for you to spend some time with me?
mars
April 30th, 2012
8:12 pm
Sign Kellen Moore. It’s ridiculous that he wasn’t drafted. Kicked UGA’s @$$, and looked like a pro doing it. This from a lifetime Dawg fan.
A.J.
April 30th, 2012
8:13 pm
I don’t even listen Kiper, Mayock is a way better draft analyst than him, he actually PLAYED in the NFL.Kiper didn’t and I don’t listen to McShay guy either.
Tim Tebow
April 30th, 2012
8:21 pm
Jim:
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
Luke 6:28 (KJV) “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
vpdikchainy
April 30th, 2012
8:37 pm
who in thee hell is Mell Kiper Jr,?
JT3
April 30th, 2012
8:44 pm
In about 3yrs we will all look back at this draft and say Dimitroff blew it. He’s drafted offensive linemen every year and only one shows some promise (Hawley). He does not draft well at all, period! Other than Matt Ryan and Weems who are the other pro bowlers he’s drafted, and don’t mention Weatherspoon or Julio because they haven’t been pro bowlers yet. That is ONLY two players out of God knows how many. Mark my words we will regret passing up on Vinny Curry just like we missed out on Clay Matthews.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
8:50 pm
JT3 — Weems wasn’t drafted. He was an undrafted rookie free agent.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
8:51 pm
vpdikchainy — He’s my uncle. Uncle Mel we call him.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
8:55 pm
Tim Tebow — Thanks for dropping by and leaving us some scriptures. You’re awesome Timmy!!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
A.J. — No disssing of Uncle Mel! Mayock didn’t steer me wrong on Ryan so I dig him too. McShay is growing on me. I’ll catch up with McShizzy tomorrow.
Sam
April 30th, 2012
9:06 pm
Mel kipper has about as much respect in my eyes as peterno. Guy is an overpaid talking head. The only reason there is so much judging about draft picks this early is because the media has nothing else to cover. No way anyone can grade a draft class within a year of selection let alone a week. What a joke
Eddie
April 30th, 2012
9:07 pm
Kiper was being kind with his grade. Dropped the ball. I wanted OL and DL too, but this is crap!
Tim Tebow
April 30th, 2012
9:24 pm
Mr. Ledbetter,
Thank-you. I know Falcon Jim (the real one)is a good guy and there is a bad apple on this blog imitating him and saying and implying some nasty things. I know Jim was frustrated with this and tried to respond, then realized it only encouraged the immaturity. He started taking the high road, and I simply wanted to support him.
I know you tried to ban this guy, but he is probably posting from the computer in his G.E.D. class.
I am a fan of yours, Mr. Ledbetter…………thanks.
The love that Jesus commands us to exercise in Matthew 5:44 is agapao, or what we commonly call agape (noun form) or agapao (verb form). Agape is not rooted in emotion, but in obedient action. In our society when we say the word “love” the first thing that we think of is a warm, fuzzy emotional sense of well being. But Biblical love is not emotional, but it is to “do the highest good toward another party” regardless of emotion.
Christians are commanded to agapao, exercise the Love of God both Godward as well as Manward (Matthew 22:37-40). The love that we Christians are commanded to do is based on obedience, not emotion. We may not like someone, or emotionally love someone, but we are to do love toward them anyway (Matthew 5:44). This is emphasized by the fact that Jesus said “love (agapao) your enemies (echthros {pronounced ech-thros’}, hateful or hate filled person). It is impossible to emotionally have “warm and fuzzy feelings” about people who are attacking you – but you can do the highest good toward them, regardless of emotion, if you are obedient to the command of Christ.
J.J.M.
April 30th, 2012
10:02 pm
falcons about to cut ovie and now get 3 million in cap from vick
SirReal
April 30th, 2012
10:08 pm
Who cares what Kiper thinks?lol The guy’s middle name is whiff.
Kew
April 30th, 2012
10:38 pm
@Tim Tebow, are you really THE Tebow or are pretending to play the Tebow role. Why would the real Tebow be on a Falcon blog?
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 30th, 2012
11:25 pm
IM AM NOT THE ONE HACKING FALCON JIM’S ACCOUNT!!! LEAVE ME ALONE AND STOP ACCUSING ME!!!
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 30th, 2012
11:47 pm
DUDE FALCON JIM I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOUR PROBLEM IS BUT, IM NOT HACKING YOUR USELESS ACCOUNT!!! I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO IN MY LIFE, LIKE GO TO SCHOOL AND TURN IN PAPERS!!! YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP ACCUSING ME!!!! I WOULD NEVER WASTE A SEC. OF MY LIFE TRYING TO BE YOU!!! NOW LEAVE ME ALONE AND HAVE A GOOD LIFE!!!!
AND KEEP MY NAME OUT YA MOUTH!!!!
DR. FALCON
May 1st, 2012
12:25 am
I RESPECT MEL KIPER. IT’S PURELY SUBJECTIVE. KONZ WILL START SOMEWHERE ON THE O-LINE. I WOULD’VE PREFERRED BOBBIE MASSEY INSTEAD OF LAMAR HOLMES. OH WELL! EITHER WAY, SAM BAKER IS ON HIS WAY OUT! IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME! OVIE IS COMING OFF A KNEE, THUS DRAFTING A FB, WAS WARRANTED!
FalconsFan284
May 1st, 2012
12:25 am
Hell if Mel Kiper is knocking the Falcons draft then I know we did well. This is the same guy that thought Trent Dilfer had Hall of Fame ability!
FalconJim
May 1st, 2012
1:25 am
Sounds fair…..but, if you add in the addition of Asante Samuel just before the draft, to me, that brings their grade up to a B-…
I usually just read but....
May 1st, 2012
10:06 am
I really hope Asante Samuel helps us. We stole a great pro bowler for a #7 pick. Philly must not know talent. Or do they? I remember hearing how he had lost a little last year. Yes, on this very blog. But now he’s a year older so that should help.
DECATUR FLASH
May 1st, 2012
1:23 pm
Kiper is a joke!! He and the “Boomer” are overpaid entertainers with no first hand football experience. I watched the draft on the NFL Network
Falcon Jim (the real one)
May 1st, 2012
3:57 pm
Mr. Tebow, thank you for your kind words again. I feel you know me better than anybody else….as if you are a part of me….we truly are “on the same page” here. I believe we have a lot in common. I hate to pass up this opportunity so would it be possible for you to give me your number or spend some time with me?
Not a Falcon fan
May 1st, 2012
7:13 pm
Mel was too kind. I grade them a “F” !!!!!!! The Falcons have been and will always be a “F” !!!!
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper gives the Falcons a ‘C’ | NFL Online News
May 7th, 2012
8:20 am
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