Atlanta Falcons: Reynolds still not given starting nod at right guard
Vivlamore reporting from Flowery Branch.
There are still position battles to be won as the Falcons head into their final exhibition game Thursday at Jacksonville. Several, in fact, according to coach Mike Smith.
Although Garrett Reynolds has been at right guard with the first-team offensive line all training camp, Smith would not name him the opening day starter Tuesday.
“No he does not,” Smith said when asked by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution if Reynolds had won the spot. “There is going to be an opportunity for some guys to still compete. We had a combination of rotations with the offensive line [in last week’s exhibition game against Miami] and we’ll do it again this week.”
Falcons right guard Garrett Reynolds, shown taking a break at a recent practice, has yet to officially be named the starter. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Rookie Peter Konz, the team’s first draft pick, played at right guard with the starting unit for a couple series against the Dolphins.
Smith said there are several other position battles still to be decided. He mentioned fullback and defensive back in particular.
“There are a bunch of guys who are competing,” Smith said. “It’s a good problem to have when you dealing with the roster that we have right now. There are some good football players who won’t be Atlanta Falcons at the end of this week.”
The Falcons must trim their roster from 75 to 53 by Friday. They can sign eight players to their practice squad Saturday.
- Chris Vivlamore
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15 comments Add your comment
Cejay
August 28th, 2012
1:39 pm
Konz
Nique
August 28th, 2012
1:49 pm
I would start both Konz, Holmes, & Hawley with Clabo & Blaylock to see what the young guys have. We know what Mc’s got, Clabo & Blaylock are not question starters, as is Baker but because he’s so injury prone, why take the risk? Put Joe, Peter, & Lamar out there from the beginning of the game & see what they’ve got, same thing goes for Dominique Davis!
Hurricane Issac Hayes
August 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
Josiah, your link is for an Intel processor on Amazon! What are you trying to tell us?
ATLJBO
August 28th, 2012
2:04 pm
Konz
SimpleDawg
August 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
Falcons need a Fullback. Cox is not the answer.
Can’t see Holmes being ready to start, but also can’t see Ryan staying healthy with Baker at LT.
We need help on the offensive line.
Hurricane Issac Hayes
August 28th, 2012
2:25 pm
@SimpleDawg: “We need help on the offensive line.”
That has been an issue for too long! In a country with 340 million people or so, there has to be a few that can play good OL.
Nique
August 28th, 2012
2:45 pm
Holmes clearly won’t start but he needs as much game time experience as he can get.
FalconsFan284
August 28th, 2012
3:04 pm
SimpleDawg, we have our starting fullback and his name is Jason Snelling!
Falconian Nostradamus
August 28th, 2012
3:20 pm
Mike Cox is a mediocre FB at best. Lousaka Polite could be one of the best in the NFL. Much better blocker and a better receiver than Cox. No brainer who will get cut there. At RG, Reynolds will win the job, but sadly he will struggle and Konz will supplant him by mid-season.
falconfiend
August 28th, 2012
3:40 pm
Mike Cox has not shown any fire. Agree polite came in catching touchdowns. But Snelling and rookie Bradie Ewing are injured , so Cox will be called to block. I dont care who starts at guard. Tim toone might take that #5 reciever spot because drew davis and kevin Cone has not shown me jack. Toone caught him a touchdown. He is outplaying them.
Statick
August 28th, 2012
3:57 pm
FalconsFan284, have you actually seen Snelling lately? He’s lost so much weigh I don’t think one can consider him a backup fullback anymore. Polite should be the starter and Cox should get cut.
Atlanta Falcons: Competition for roster spots is fierce | Atlanta Falcons
August 28th, 2012
4:07 pm
[...] The biggest battle between players drafted by the Falcons is at right guard. Garrett Reynolds, a fif… [...]
Big Ron
August 28th, 2012
5:23 pm
I like the idea of starting Holmes at LT,Hawley at C and Konz at RG to see what they got I like the young talent on the line hawley wasn’t terrible last year he was a rookie n these 3 may end up starting at some point anyway put them out there let em play
Augustabred
August 29th, 2012
9:44 am
I still don’t get why Reynolds has not played at the RG postition, which is where he has played his entire career until drafted by the falcons. SMH!
Right guard job still open in Atlanta | Atlanta Local Me.me
August 30th, 2012
7:00 am
[...] Vivlamore reports that coach Mike Smith said he’s not ready to declare Garrett Reynolds the starting right guard for the regular season. In a lot of places [...]