Q and A with assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn
060612 FLOWERY BRANCH : The Atlanta Falcons offensive line works with assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn (in hat) during team practice at Flowery Branch on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn, a 29-year coaching veteran, is back for his fifth season with the team.
After this morning’s walkthrough, Dunn spoke on several topics concerning the offensive line.
Q: How’s the offensive line group looking?
A: We’re excited. We think that there’s going to be a lot of competition out here over the next three days. We are also excited to take a look at some of these young guys and see how they can react here at a pretty good pace. Everything has kind of been in slow motion until right now. It will speed up here in the afternoon practices and we’re anxious to see how they are going to react.
Q: How has the rookie Peter Konz looked so far?
A: Peter has got a lot of promise. We are encouraged by the way that he’s picked up the system quickly. Coming from Wisconsin, that’s a pretty good tradition-laden offensive line school. They come out of there and they are pretty well coached. Peter is no different. Peter has picked up the system pretty decently here. We’ve been rotating him at the center spot and right guard. That’s not easy for a young rook to come in and play two positions, but he’s picked it up well so far.
Q: Will Konz be in that competition for one of the starting spots?
A: Yeah, there is no doubt. We are just trying to find the five best and help us win some games here.
Q: How’s Sam Baker been looking this offseason?
A: Sam Baker has been a proven veteran for us over the last four years. We expect him to be very competitive in this minicamp. We don’t expect any fall off whatsoever. If anything, he’s going to hit the ceiling instead of hitting the floor. We are expecting that from Sam and he’s giving us that over the last four years. Nothing more than what we’ve expected of him over the last four years. I think it will just intensify a little bit.
Q: Are you anxious to see the (Lamar) Holmes kid get on the field later in training camp?
A: Oh, yeah. It’s a shame. I know that Smitty has talked to you about that.
Q: How’s the young group looking?
A: Without question, over the five years, this is the best rookie group that we’ve had all together. The three free agents, Phillip Manley, Bryce Harris and Tyler Horn, all come from very, very good programs. They were very well coached. They are without question the best rookie group as a whole that we’ve picked up so far in free agency.
Q: How’s Mike Johnson coming along?
A: No, different from Sam. We expect Mike to get in there and compete. It’s going to be an open competition. This isn’t Mike’s first rodeo. He’s been through a lot as a player at Alabama at the highest level. He’s just had some bad, hard knocks luck here in his first two seasons with injuries. It will be good to see him out here injury free and competing. We expect his best.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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53 comments Add your comment
JB FALCON
June 19th, 2012
1:59 pm
Good stuff DOL
lowdownjj
June 19th, 2012
2:00 pm
I expect Mike’s best too. Wish I could expect more outta Sam Baker but… Kontz looks the part and Wis has a pedigree for lineman so my hopes are high for the young man. They definitlely have enough warm bodies for a good competition. We need 5 winners!
CW
June 19th, 2012
2:16 pm
Nicest Coach in the NFL
Paddy
June 19th, 2012
2:22 pm
Though not mentioned, Manuwai should be the one player that comes out on top at Rt Guard.
SeenThisB4
June 19th, 2012
2:31 pm
Konz = bust.
Statick
June 19th, 2012
2:40 pm
I can’t see Mike Johnson or Reynolds making the squad this year. Cut ‘em.
jay
June 19th, 2012
2:47 pm
No the guy to cut is Baker. I’m still very confused about the perception the coaching staff has for him. Although it did seem like this coach in particular skirted the question about Baker.
OK
June 19th, 2012
2:57 pm
@Jay he didn’t skirt the question.
AlanFalcon
June 19th, 2012
3:19 pm
SeenThisB4=bust 2xover !!!!!!!!!!!
Soup-San
June 19th, 2012
3:37 pm
@Seenyerassb4 calling Konz a bust. Where is Vilma? Where’s your coach? Where’s your..yeah..GTFO
Bucky Badger
June 19th, 2012
3:38 pm
Cheese eating Konz will be an All Pro & kick some Aints!
PMC
June 19th, 2012
4:00 pm
Gonna be nice when guys don’t have to go through every cliche in the book to describe the Left Tackle’s play.
Bucky Badger
June 19th, 2012
4:01 pm
That was the longest post I have ever seen…SDH
SirReal
June 19th, 2012
4:11 pm
@History Absolutely phenomenal sir!!!! *BRAVO
Numbers dont lie. Wow…I learned some real history today….I KNEW they’ve always been the ugly girl at school no one paid attention to until something unfortunate happened to her. Then they were compelled to treat her all nice like. The problem is that she forgot she was ugly.lol I’ve said this analogy before but it REALLY hits the nail on the head after reading that. WOW.lol
teamguy
June 19th, 2012
4:22 pm
The Atlanta QB in that 62 – 7 win over NO was none other than Dick Shiner. . .yeah, I know. . .who?
Headmofo
June 19th, 2012
4:24 pm
****Saints Dismal History****
SDH- I have blogged here since inception, and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by your post. I have the slightest clue why fans from other teams slime around on our blog, spewing negativity about our Falcons?.?. I have never visited another teams blog. Keep up the good work, time permitting.
'" Explosive Offensive Line "'
June 19th, 2012
4:25 pm
Drive Offensively
Bob Lee
June 19th, 2012
4:27 pm
Dick Shiner, good memory.
Paddy
June 19th, 2012
4:39 pm
Lets put Dick Shiner on the practice squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
4:45 pm
wait one dam minuite I dont mind bashing the Stinks but we dont need no skitso frinick out of work wanna be journalist wastin our time and space with that out of date nonsence about Ditka or who ever this is not the Opra show so foward that crap to Nawlings Stinks who did that? come foward
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
5:16 pm
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
4:45 pm
You do NOT have to read it all if ya dont want. I DO like your posts.
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
5:22 pm
Headmofo and SirReal,
Thanks, but I am just so motivated by the fact that these SCUMS continue to infiltrate and $h!+ on OUR Falcon cite. These dirt-bag pos’s can ES&D ! ! !
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
5:30 pm
SirReal,
I’ve known the ugly-duckling that turned into the beautiful Swan.
I taught my sons to ALWAYS treat all girls nice……………ya just never know.
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
5:34 pm
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION……………………………..Taints ! ! !
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
5:35 pm
excuse me Mr history if you were anywere around this post you will know that I defends and support my birds give me some falcon history change your name or something you have too much saint in you
FalconJim
June 19th, 2012
5:44 pm
It’s gonna be a very competitive training camp this year…..but just put the best 5 out there, and I’ll be jumpin’ up and down happy!!! Can’t wait ’til August 9th!!!!!!!!!!
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
5:45 pm
hey Saints Dismal History we are on the same side ,what about Aints Disrespecting History
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
5:59 pm
These big body rookie lineman will push the weak links out of Flowery
SeenThisB4
June 19th, 2012
6:00 pm
Lamar Holmes = Bust. Candidate for injury settlement.
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
6:01 pm
takebadwithgood
I love the Falcons. Went to the 3rd game, 1st season, ten years old.
I think the Taints are Scum.
I like your comments.
What do you want from me?
takebadwithgood
June 19th, 2012
6:33 pm
Saints Dismal History good article I just didnt want to give people like saw b4 too much attention we are birds of the same feather lets kick the b4s out
SeenThisB4
June 19th, 2012
6:38 pm
Good luck.
robertussen
June 19th, 2012
6:43 pm
saints also used a 1st round pick on a kicker that didn’t work out
Firsttimer
June 19th, 2012
7:01 pm
Cant wait to see the different competitive battles for roster spots. Why are some people screaming cut players? Let’s see them compete and let the coaches decide. After all, in the end your suggestions will have no bearing on the coaches decisions. May the best players start…that’s all I would like to see happen.
I cant wait to get this season going!
JSS
June 19th, 2012
7:40 pm
Another hijacked Ledbetter blog…
JSS
June 19th, 2012
7:43 pm
He lost credibility with me when he called Sam Baker: “a proven veteran for us over the last four years!”
JSS
June 19th, 2012
7:59 pm
I’m not here to get into your petty Falcons-Saints pissing war but let’s get reality based…
The Saints All-time record is 299-386-5 and they are 6-8 in the playoffs, and one Super Bowl win…
The Falcons All-time record is 299-399-6 and are 6-11 in the playoffs, no Super Bowl victories …
Reality is
The Falcons would have to go undefeated for 7 straight seasons to get above .500…
The Saints would have to go undefeated for 6.5 to reach that mark…
Both sides are like a snail and a slug, only the Saints have a real Lombardi in the case….
SeenThisB4
June 19th, 2012
9:28 pm
@JSS: Now THOSE were sobering stats!
saint hater
June 19th, 2012
9:50 pm
Dear Saints Dismal History,Get a Job u Bum.Or go join a typing pool.
Saints Dismal History
June 19th, 2012
10:36 pm
SCUM ! ! ! ! ! ! !
saint hater
June 20th, 2012
12:05 am
Thats more like it Walt Whitman wantabee.
Q and A with assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn | NFL Online News
June 20th, 2012
12:28 am
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June 20th, 2012
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[...] Q and A with assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn, a 29-year coaching veteran, is back for his fifth season with the. Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Q and A with assistant offensive line coach Paul Dunn – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
June 20th, 2012
5:35 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Michael M.
June 20th, 2012
6:45 am
When you have a chance………check out the prices for Superbowl tickets in the Aint Dome for this year’s Superbowl………..absolutely unreal ! You could pay off your automobile if you had to buy several tickets to go see it live.
Ohhhhh, I keep forgetting, the “Aint Fans” think they are hosting it, playing in it and winning it too……………Come on mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !
Falcon James
June 20th, 2012
7:20 am
Saint Dismal History—-Why did you write in your post that you were a Saint Fan?
“As a Saints fan, I expect Brees to sign soon”
Falcon James
June 20th, 2012
7:31 am
Saint Dismal History–
Never mind, I see you plagerized from other sources like Yahoo sports.
If you are going to post a short novel, at least take the time to make it your own work or give credit to the orignal writer.
DR. FALCON
June 20th, 2012
9:21 am
COACH DUNN, JUST GET RID OF SAM BAKER! HE CAN’T BE SALVAGED! MIKE KENN, BILL FRALIC, WHERE HAVE YOU GONE?
North FLA Falcon
June 20th, 2012
11:15 am
The key to the line is Blaylock. A blue collar guy who comes in and quietly does his job.
Jeff B
June 20th, 2012
11:40 am
Drew Brees = Bust! Candidate for holdout and trade to a real team.