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
Jordan
April 30th, 2012
4:35 pm
I understand Kiper’s grade, Falcons really threw everything they had at fixing the offensive and defensive line
FalconDawg
April 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
I can live with the selections. I believe most of their of choices will make the team better.
GT Alum
April 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
Idk, with these draft gurus, my question is always if they’re so good at evaluating talent, why aren’t they in some team’s FO?
bigcalidawg
April 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
No need to apologize for a guy who rushes the passer better than he drops back into coverage. We took an absolute stiff DE in free agency and Abe ain’t gettin’ any younger………
bigcalidawg
April 30th, 2012
4:47 pm
Oh yeah………good afternoon Led.
Forgot my home trainin’
jimb
April 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
Kiper doesn’t know anything more about the new co-ordinators’ schemes than the rest of us do so he really has no idea what the Falcons were lookiing for. A C grade might be all right given in a vacuum, but these selections were made for very specific purposes and with heavy input from the new co-ordinators, the new line coach, and others. Time to wait and see.
CaliDirtyBird
April 30th, 2012
4:51 pm
Year in year out the “experts” grade the bad teams with more and/or higher picks better. So in reality getting an average grade is generally a good thing! LOL at the “experts”. The “experts” mostly liked the Peria Jerry and Sam Baker picks, which were our worst picks since TD took over!
The Grinch
April 30th, 2012
4:53 pm
He must not be aware that our 4-3 scheme is being modified by a 3-4 coordinator to “incorporate 3-4 principles.” But how would he be expected to know who Mike Nolan is or what he does? Kiper covers too much to know a lot about everything, which is why I always take him with a grain of salt.
L.A. Mont
April 30th, 2012
4:57 pm
Those grades are soley based on where the experts think a guy should have been drafted in their draft boards. Some players don’t fit the scheme, so a team will have a player graded higher than another. You draft the best fit for your team and roll with it. Really though DOL, once you get past the first two rounds, is there really that much difference between a 3rd Round pick and a 6th Round pick?
johnm
April 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
ill say it again, i think mock drafts and draft grades are completely rediculous and without an ounce of merit. I know its how things have been done for awhile but its alot like asking miss cleo who your team should pick or asking the team cheerleaders to scout talent. It just doesnt make sense. If you ask me, in all honesty, mel kiper should be out of a job.
dom
April 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
I didn’t think much of Kiper’s analysis at all. He listed cornerback as one of the Falcons’ key needs – meaning he either forgot about Asante Samuel’s acquisition or didn’t update his list of team needs after that trade – then graded the Falcons down for not meeting some of those ‘needs’. I mean, come on…this is your one job Kiper. Have to get that stuff right.
ernisTbass
April 30th, 2012
5:06 pm
The clown’s favorite singer is Barry Manilow and he puts mayo on his fries from Big Kahuna Burger, That’s enough for me not to care about his opinion on anything else in the world. Didn’t he really like Glen Dorsey??
Hamp
April 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
Mel kiper is wrong a lot more than he is right he is not even the best anaylist at ESPN he has been lapped by the other guy. I bought a so called draft magazine and most of the players were taken way later. especially the Linemen O and D they were all over the page. It is easy to hit on the givens. Now if you look at Mayock at NFL network he was more or just as much right as wrong and had way more insight on the not thought to be super stars. Mel hasn’t been right in years. I don’t mind the C grade but he is in no position to give any grades anymore scouting has passed him by!
Buford78
April 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
The average Joe sitting at most any sports bar knows as much as Mel Kiper Big Hair. The Falcons did great with where they drafted.
skyrock714
April 30th, 2012
5:10 pm
the Grinch…. True that. The grading is all for the drama and TV entertainment. Grades shouldn’t truly be passed out until about three years after draft. I’d like to know the percentages on all these analyst that give grades. I could care less about a low or high grade from these guys. In the end, it really mean nothing. Go Falcons!!
PMC
April 30th, 2012
5:14 pm
A day after the draft, whatever.
If theres anything everyone should know about Dimitroff it’s that thier draft board does not go from top to bottom based solely on talent. He makes out of left field picks every single year because he really values team captain/4 year starter/team leader types.
This draft fit his philosophy pretty consistently. I feel like they filled the biggest immediate needs.
Mel does a great job of giving us an idea of what kinds of players are in the draft at all levels. His show is pretty good too. I could care less about grades.
ATL fan 2012
April 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
Won’t really know about these players for about 4 years. Trust those upstairs know something the fans don’t. Can’t get why the team passed on Vin Curry, DE; and Big Bob Massie, OT. Both were available as the Cards & Rams are raving about getting each. Charles Mitchell seems to be another Grimes but who needs another short DB covering 6′6″ receivers. Massaqui instead of Curry (no way). Konz who has a weak upper body and other health challenges over Massie? I really don’t get it but I trust
bigcalidawg
April 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
How long has Kipe been tryin’ to grow out his natural?
Time for some braids……..
oldmike
April 30th, 2012
5:15 pm
Enough of Kiper. It’s easy to have opinions on draft choices and who is picked when and where when you have NO SKIN IN THE GAME! Until he is a GM somewhere his opinions though well researched have absolutely no credence!
PMC
April 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
If you’ve been injured and you’re a team captain somewhere, work the Falcons FO. There’s a job for you here.
JoBoo
April 30th, 2012
5:19 pm
Mel’s been wrong before….
ATL fan 2012
April 30th, 2012
5:22 pm
I trust the right choices were made as I support my team. They know something I don’t but I agree with the C grade by Kiper.
Brylcreem
April 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
ernis Tbass is right,
Mel Kiper thought the Falcons should have drafted LSU defensive tackle Glen Dorsey instead of Matt Ryan.
Dorsey was a bust.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
5:28 pm
My editor just sent me an e-mail and basically said Kiper is the Devil himself! I think he’s a football Draft God!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
bigcalidawg – I don’t think Mel would look nice with braids.
fansince74
April 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
Mel Kiper compared JaMarcus Russell to John Elway too…
http://www.milehighreport.com/2012/4/26/2976967/2012-nfl-draft-how-credible-is-kiper.
Folks, Kiper and the so called experts miss on a lot of players.
Kiper is fun to listen to, entertaining, and makes you aware of a lot of players that maybe you haven’t heard of but he doesn’t know football like the Falcons GM and coaches.
Brad
April 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
Who cares what that bozo thinks. he never even played football. Idiot talking head.
Falcon Fanatic
April 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
I would grade it a C-. The Konz, Mitchell, & Robertson picks were great. The Massaquoi pick was mediocre since their was better talent out there at DE. The Ewing and especially the Holmes pick was terrible. Now if we used a fifth round pick on Holmes that would be one thing but a third rounder???? That was stupidity in the highest order right there.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
L.A. Mont — There isn’t much difference if they can play. But if you are taking guys in the third that you could have gotten in the 7th, then you are passing on a lot of good football players.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 30th, 2012
5:32 pm
bigcalidawg — Good evening to you my friend!!!
Chub Rock
April 30th, 2012
5:41 pm
For me this draft revolves around the Lamar Holmes pick at 91. Interested to see how this pick turns out. The FB pick is interesting. Mike Cox is on the roster at FB also. I can’t imagine carrying 2 FB’s. Ovie at 3 or 4 mill is ridiculous, 1.5 tops.
Chub Rock
April 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Chub Rock
April 30th, 2012
5:43 pm
Wow type up a post and I guess it got blocked or something…dueces!!!
huh?
April 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
Bill Walsh never graded a player by round, only by need. He said grading players by round was for scouts to limit their liability in evaluating a players talent.
Glenn
April 30th, 2012
5:45 pm
Once again the Falcons early selection begins with a player with a history of injuries, just like Jerry and Moore, who both missed several games before they saw the field, and several games since. Neither lived up to their “hype,” which is precisely why other teams passed on these players for so long; they weren’t willing to risk spending such high draft choices on players who had medical issues in the past and there was even a possibility they would miss needed games.
Pat
April 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
About Kiper. Those who can do, those who cannot do teach, those who cannot teach analyze. ‘nough said.
Ackshun
April 30th, 2012
5:52 pm
Hmmm could the Falcons be gearing up for a move toward a balanced Defense with more 3-4 and Nickel schemes???
Dan
April 30th, 2012
5:57 pm
And with the 2013 first round pick The Atlanta Falcons select Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame, 6-6/251
Paul in NH
April 30th, 2012
6:01 pm
Pat
April 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
About Kiper. Those who can do, those who cannot do teach, those who cannot teach analyze. ‘nough said.
—–
Those whose analysis makes no sense talk at a rate of 100 words a minute, make 4 contradictory statements in the analysis – and in writing hide behind an ESPN paywall so that people can’t throw his opinions back at him 4 years later.
Big Crimson 75
April 30th, 2012
6:06 pm
Negative Dan — with the first selection in 2013, the Atlanta Falcons select Barrett Jones – OL – University of Alabama!!!
If Kiper, Mayock & lil McShay really knew what they were doing, chances are they’d be employed somewhere in the NFL!!!!!!
Sausage King of Chicago
April 30th, 2012
6:17 pm
Someone on 680 called Holmes a coke machine with arms. Sounds like help on 4th down and 1 against Osi Ominyura
Falcon Jim (the real one)
April 30th, 2012
6:26 pm
Sausage: Sweet and yet tough, that’s what I call a man….can’t wait to meet you Holmes. Sausage, you seem to have good insight on the Falcons draftees…do you mind if we meet up sometime?
Jackson
April 30th, 2012
6:32 pm
Ha, I take Mayock and McShay any day over Kiper.
Bottom line is ATL did alright. They addressed the needs. If Holmes pans out, and I think he will. This will turn out to be a good draft.
bama52
April 30th, 2012
6:39 pm
Konz and Holmes seem to have quickness with their size,so we expect them to start. Come on O-Line we need you now. GO FALCONS!!!!!
torgo
April 30th, 2012
6:44 pm
This grade is coming from the dude who blasted the Colts for taking Marshall Faulk rather than Trent Dilfer or Heath Shuler.
Darth Helmet Hair also said it didn’t make sense for the Falcons to draft fullback Justin Griffith after Bob Christian retired because “they don’t need another running back”.
“C” is probably fair for our draft. Kiper’s haircut gets a D-.
snips11
April 30th, 2012
6:47 pm
I think we made the most out of this draft, Konz was a steal and will start immediately either at guard or center. Unfortunately I think Ovie is gone, I like our chances next year!
Bell Bottoms
April 30th, 2012
6:49 pm
The grade was accurate. We will go 9-7 for the season.
Grady
April 30th, 2012
6:59 pm
Man…if anything Kiper’s grade is a tad high. That draft was awful aside from Konz and maybe Massaquoi’s potential. Ewing could’ve been picked up as a FA. Great going TD the wiz kid….D+ at best.
Grady
April 30th, 2012
7:03 pm
Falcon Jim, I see u at it again! Quit embarassing yo’self man. This is a football site. Once and for all, you lookin’ to hook up?? LOL, you like a woman with PMS.
OPEN YOUR EYES
April 30th, 2012
7:08 pm
@GRADY…………………I TOLD U MAN HE IS A SICK HUMAN BEING!!!!!!
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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