Konz: A big man from the Big Ten could fill a big Falcons need
An ascendant career path? Once a Badger, Peter Konz will become a Falcon. (AP Photo)
Flowery Branch – It was the aerialist Karl Wallenda who (supposedly) said: “To be on the wire is life; the rest is waiting.” For an NFL general manager, the essence of vocational life is the draft. It’s the time when a GM, who ordinarily works behind the scenes, takes center stage.
Pick a winner, and you’re the most sagacious human since Socrates. Pick a bum — or pick somebody your constituency doesn’t like — and you’re the bum. The draft is the equivalent of opening night on Broadway, and Thomas Dimitroff of the Falcons had to sit out this opener.
Granted, he had himself to blame. The five-for-one Julio Jones trade last spring shipped the Falcons’ 2012 first-round pick to Cleveland. Asked last week if it felt weird being sidelined for the draft’s Round 1, which is held on a Thursday night to much fanfare, Dimitroff said this:
“I’m not sure if ‘weird’ is the word. It’s something that we have set out since the beginning of last season knowing that we were going to be picking at 55 … It’s not as much of an impact for me during this time that I thought it might have been when we first made the [Jones] pick or in the few days after. I have enjoyed the process of being involved, thinking 55 over in the 20s, or 22 in our specific case, because it really forces an organization to come together.”
Then Dimitroff, bowing to cold reality, said: “At 55, we are a long way down.”
Well, yeah. An NFL active roster includes 53 players. A whole team’s worth of talent would be gone by the Falcons got around to choosing someone, and Dimitroff, try as he might, couldn’t really hype the product.
“It is very difficult to project what is going to be there in and around 45 to 55. That element of uncertainty adds an element of excitement, if you will. ”
Then, smiling: “I am trying to make this sound very, very positive for the masses. Suffice it to say we won’t be messing up any draft parties this year.”
A case could be made that the Falcons had trumped their draft by trading for the Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel on Wednesday. No matter who the Falcons took with the 23rd pick of Round 2, he won’t be, figuratively speaking, the biggest new man in shoulder pads when minicamp rolls around.
Not to say that the 23rd pick of Round 2 isn’t be a big man. He’s Peter Konz, who played center at Wisconsin but who was labeled a guard by the Falcons. He’s 6-foot-5. He weighs 314 pounds. He missed games in all three of his college seasons: Once with blood clots in each lung, twice with sprained ankles. For those holding memories of Peria Jerry, the Falcons’ No. 1 pick of 2009 who’d been injured at Ole Miss and whose NFL career hasn’t taken flight, you have your quibble.
On the plus side: Konz is a value pick who could help fill a crying need. He was ranked the draft’s best center. (Sorry, Ben Jones.) ESPN ranked Konz the 41st-best player available; NFL Draft Scout 300 slotted him 37th. Both Pete Prisco and Clark Judge of CBS Sports had him going in Round 1. When you’re sitting at 55, that’s not a bad find. And it’s better still when you recall the three failed fourth-and-1’s that defined the Falcons’ 2011 season.
The knocks on Konz are that he’s not particularly strong or fast — Konz did say he’d improved his bench press since a weak showing at the scouting combine — but this was a pick for need over want. Even if Dimitroff didn’t say it publicly, offensive line was always his target for the double-nickle choice. (And the Falcons took another O-lineman, tackle Lamar Holmes of Southern Miss, in Round 3.) The Falcons, see, have enough skill players; they’d gotten light on the big nasties.
Konz’s name rhymes with Fonz, who was all the rage in Milwaukee, which is likewise in Wisconsin, back in the ’70s. (Kids, ask your parents. Or watch “Nick At Nite.”) An offensive lineman from the Big Ten is never going to cut the same dashing figure as Henry Winkler in his leather jacket, but this wasn’t a nod to style. To have nabbed such a player two-thirds of the way through Round 2 could yield a substantial gain.
By Mark Bradley
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152 comments Add your comment
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Holmes was a team captain at Southern Miss, that is always something that Smitty/TD like
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
10:58 am
Maybe we should bring back Marion Campbell? Surely he would be better than Mike Smith.
Eddie LeBaron could replace Dimitroff. And, definitely, Rankin Smith JR should replace Arthur Blank.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
11:03 am
Forgot……………..Kim McQuilken should replace Ryan.
Jackson
April 28th, 2012
11:05 am
I believe we have made two weak areas potential sources of strength (OL and CB). Should focus entirety on DL the rest of the draft. No top notch TE will be left by the time we pick again.
Steve Broussard
April 28th, 2012
11:06 am
everybody chill. The Falcons know what they are doing, they took me in the first round and look how my career turned out…
Aundrey Bruce
April 28th, 2012
11:10 am
Don’t forget about me.
Jackson
April 28th, 2012
11:21 am
I’m hoping TE Green from La-L will be available.
Peter
April 28th, 2012
11:23 am
Wow a center who is Not strong, and injury prone, and the second guy who;’s draft score was a 30…..
Maybe we found something in these two guys, or the guy picking is just DUMB !
Rob
April 28th, 2012
11:23 am
I like the 2 picks! It’s a big stretch to call Konz inury proned…he had blood clot issue that has been rectified and he had some ankle injuries…easily rectified. As for his strenght, Mike Mayock said he can “Squat the House, very strong lower body”. He bench 225 lbs 23 times at his pro day…they can work on his upper strenght…he is Wisconsin lineman which are known for their great o-lines.
As for Holmes, Mayock said there was 2 big surprised in the senior bowl and Holmes was one of them. I don’t think TD would pass up all the talent he passed up in the 3rd round if he wasn’t in love with this guy. I don’t think anyone can assume we could wait until the 5th round to get this guy. If TD liked him and Mayock liked him then some other team may have picked him in the 4th. TD moved back in the 3rd round (for an additional 5th round pick) for a reason. He didn’t have a 4th round pick but felt like this guy woudln’t be around in the 5th round.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
11:24 am
Michael
April 28th, 2012
10:45 am
@ Bucko, thank you. How quickly they forget what we had before this group. As to Mora, he had one winning season and won one home playoff game against an 8-8 team from the NFC West where the QB matchup was Michael Vick vs. Marc Bulger. Yes it was a playoff win but do not act like he was Lombardi now.
____________________________________________
That’s 8-8 vs 9-7 for the World Champion New York Giants who ironically EMBARRASSED the Falcants allowing just 2 Defensive points, compared to the 40+ that the Falcons put up vs the 8-8 Rams.
You can spin it all you want, but Mora took the team to the Championship game in year 1 and Smith and CHOKE are in year 5
charles
April 28th, 2012
11:57 am
Good point Rob-if we had a fourth round pick he probably would have waited until 4th and chosen someone else in third round. Hope these picks work out but would have loved to have picked up Brandon Thompson!
john
April 28th, 2012
12:00 pm
o give me a break you people are so dam negative. Just trust that these people know a little more than you do and see what konz can do. This is probably mcclures last season and do you really want hawley taking over? With pat hill to coach him up and a years experiance konz could become the best center weve ever had for all you know. So just shut up and wait for gameday
charles
April 28th, 2012
12:05 pm
You tell em John!
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
12:09 pm
Konz = another Van Note……………………….
charles
April 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Falcon Jim-i really hope you’re on the money cause Jeff Van Note was terrific!
falconsRuLe
April 28th, 2012
12:21 pm
Half the fools complaining are either football illiterate..or just bunch of MC 7 jockstraps….good job TD
falconsRuLe
April 28th, 2012
12:22 pm
Mv 7 was is and sadly will always be a JOKE
Kelly
April 28th, 2012
12:29 pm
I’ve seen the concerns and complaints, but for where he was slotted, this pick was double nickels on the dime. Good luck Konz.
shannon
April 28th, 2012
12:56 pm
I bet orson charles wish he stayed in schhool now
Paddy
April 28th, 2012
1:25 pm
Massie was not just a project but a training camp cut waiting to happen. Same goes for Zebri Sanders at FSU, still not drafted. He was not even the best lineman on a below avg line at FSU.
old man
April 28th, 2012
1:49 pm
Hearing from Aundray Bruce and Steve Broussard got me thinking. Ready for a stroll down memory lane?
Atlanta has had 46 1st round picks. You always expect a first rounder to be a “great” player. That’s why you pick them in the first round. Some guys are outright busts, because they are not even respectable starters. Some have good careers, but you wish you had picked them in the 4th round. I call those “OK.” Here goes:
Year Pick Player name Position Notes
1966 1 Tommy Nobis * Linebacker GREAT
1966 15 Randy Johnson Quarterback FLOP
1967
1968 3 C. Humphrey Defensive end GREAT
1969 2 George Kunz Offensive tackle GREAT
1970 12 John Small Linebacker FLOP
1971 7 Joe Profit Running back FLOP
1972 15 Clarence Ellis Safety Notre Dame FLOP
1973
1974
1975 1 S. Bartkowski * Quarterback GREAT
1976 9 Bubba Bean Running back FLOP
1977 6 Warren Bryant Offensive tackle OK
1977 20 W. Faumuina Defensive tackle FLOP
1978 13 Mike Kenn Offensive tackle GREAT
1979 17 Don Smith Defensive end FLOP
1980 7 Junior Miller Tight end FLOP
1981 25 Bobby Butler Cornerback OK
1982 9 Gerald Riggs Running back GREAT
1983 16 Mike Pitts Defensive end FLOP
1984 9 Rick Bryan Defensive tackle OK
1985 2 Bill Fralic Offensive tackle GREAT
1986 2 Tony Casillas Defensive tackle OK
1986 17 Tim Green Linebacker OK
1987 12 Chris Miller Quarterback OK
1988 1 Aundray Bruce * Linebacker FLOP
1989 5 Deion Sanders Cornerback GREAT
1989 27 Shawn Collins Wide receiver FLOP]
1990 20 Steve Broussard Running back FLOP
1991 3 Bruce Pickens Cornerback FLOP
1991 13 Mike Pritchard Wide receiver FLOP
1992 8 Bob Whitfield Offensive tackle OK
1992 19 Tony Smith Running back FLOP
1993 9 Lincoln KennedyOffensive tackle FLOP
1994
1995 26 Devin Bush Safety FLOP
1996
1997 11 Michael Booker Cornerback FLOP
1998 12 Keith Brooking Linebacker OK
1999 30 Patrick Kerney Defensive end OK 2000
2001 1 Michael Vick * Quarterback FLOP?
2002 18 T. J. Duckett Running back FLOP
2003
2004 8 DeAngelo Hall Cornerback OK
2004 29 Michael Jenkins Wide receiver FLOP
2005 27 Roddy White Wide receiver GREAT
2006
2007 8 J. Anderson Defensive end FLOP
2008 3 Matt Ryan Quarterback OK ( SO FAR)
2008 21 Sam Baker Offensive tackle FLOP
2009 24 Peria Jerry Defensive tackle FLOP
2010 19 Sean Weatherspoon Linebacker GREAT
2011 6 Julio Jones Wide receiver GREAT
I count 11 that have played like you hoped when you picked them, or show enough already, like Julio Jones. Ten are OK, but anywhere from a little to more than a little disappointing–had or having respectable careers. That leaves 25 complete flops. They may have played a handful of years, but well, well, below what you thought.
I suspect a lot of teams have similar histories.
Would love feedback on some who disagree with my grades for these picks.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
1:55 pm
Junior Miller a FLOP? Maybe not fully want you want from a 1st rounder, but he was pretty good.
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
Junior Miller was a two-time Pro-Bowler.
Receiving Rushing
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G YScm RRTD Fmb AV
1980* 23 ATL TE 80 16 14 46 584 12.7 9 36 2.9 36.5 2 -2 0 0 -1.0 -0.1 0.1 582 9 2 8
1981* 24 ATL TE 80 16 16 32 398 12.4 3 37 2.0 24.9 398 3 0 6
1982 25 ATL TE 80 9 9 20 221 11.1 1 39 2.2 24.6 221 1 1 5
1983 26 ATL te 80 15 6 16 125 7.8 0 19 1.1 8.3 1 2 0 2 2.0 0.1 0.1 127 0 1 3
1984 27 NOR 84 15 0 8 81 10.1 1 22 0.5 5.4 81 1 0 2
Career 71 45 122 1409 11.5 14 39 1.7 19.8 3 0 0 2 0.0 0.0 0.0 1409 14 4 24
4 yrs ATL 56 45 114 1328 11.6 13 39 2.0 23.7 3 0 0 2 0.0 0.0 0.1 1328 13 4 22
reckingball
April 28th, 2012
2:17 pm
I think that your grading system is a little bit limited, but going with it, I think:
1989–Deion Sanders was less than Great, but maybe a little more than OK(I have always thought that he is one of the most over-rated players,ever.)
2004–Micheal Jenkins was very OK and a lot better than Flop.
2008–Matt Ryan is way better than OK, going off the grid and saying he is VERY GOOD. IF, Mr. Dimitrof can put together a good OLine to protect him, I believe that you might be a lot more satisfied with the qb.
that’s my opin.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:24 pm
@Falcon Jim
A lot of these are distant memories. I think you’re right. He was “OK.”
What this tells me is that there is a lot of maturation in the move to the NFL, even for first rounders. I.e., if Andrew Luck does not progress as a player, he will be a flop. I was wondering if this means it made sense to just have a bias for dropping out of the first round, and picking up 3 second rounders, and increase your chances of getting someone who progressed as a pro. Here are the only I guys I see in Falcons history who lived up to second round status:
Art Malone (I loved this guy–tough as nails)
Ken Burrow?
R.C. Theilemann (1st round caliber)
Buddy Curry
Scott Case
Mike Gann
Tim Green
Alge Crumpler
Jonathan Babineaux
Justin Blalock
Curtis Loftin
Chris Houston
William Moore
So, 13 guys who played like 2nd rounders, versus 11 guys in the first round who played like first rounders. And I only see one second rounder who really might have been a “great” first round caliber player. So, statistically, it would seem that keeping your first round picks makes sense. I kept peaking and noticed a several 3rd and 4th round players who ended up being darn good, as many as in the 2nd round, though I was not keeping track.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:25 pm
@Falcon Jim
Two Pro Bowls? Definitely “OK.” Not Great.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:26 pm
recking ball
Can’t disagree. I questioned each of those myself.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:26 pm
OK, next comes best all time late rounders, 4th round and below. Gimme a sec.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
Ken Reaves, S, 4th round
Greg Brezina, LB, 11th round (Wow!)
Jim Mitchell, TE, 4th round (Wow!)
Jeff Van Note, C, 11th round
Fulton Keykendall, LB, 6th round
Jeff Merrow, DE, 11th round
Alfred Jackson, WR, 7th round
Tom Pridemore, S, 9th round
Lynn Cain, RB, 4th round
Ken Whisenhunt, TE, 12th round
Jamal Anderson, RB, 7th round
Stephen Nicholas, LB, 4th round
Jason Snelling, RB, 7th round
Kroy Biermann, DE, 5th round
Who was the best value?
Falcon Jim
April 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
Jamal Anderson was a 7th round pick.
old man
April 28th, 2012
2:40 pm
Dang–all that work–where did it go? Shoulda saved it.
INJURIES GALORE
April 28th, 2012
2:43 pm
TO ALL FALCON FANS……………..ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION??!! THE MANGEMENT @ TAMPA BAY & CAROLINA ARE SMOKIN’ OUR GUYS……….BIG TIME!!! IT’S OKAY TO BE A FAN & BLEED RED & BLACK BUT SOFAR THIS DRAFT & FREE AGENT OFFSEASON THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO MAKE BIG TIME UPGRADES!! WE HAVE MADE SOME MOVES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A BIG ENOUGH DIFFERENCE!!!
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
2:50 pm
Konz might be a decent player but then again, U are taking about a guy who needs strength…..
Hey, it was a lack of strength that they could not make those crucial foourth and a few inches conversions last yr. And you are talking about getting a guy who needs strength.
The Holmes pick is a joke and Dimitroff clearly does notknow what he is doing in the draft, the Falcons have become good in spite of Dimitroff. Dimitroff has one good impact pick, Matt Ryan, a very good QB. Not great but good.
And the Julio Jones pick looks right, I am glad they traded up for Julio because TD would have messed up last yrs draft, he does not know how to get value in late 1st early second rds. At least we got something.
Baker and Jerry are busts,
I WANNA SAY THIS LOUD AND CLEAR—-THINK OF WHAT A BILLION BUCKS CAN DO FOR OUR SCHOOLS. YEA—OUR KIDS.
I LUV THE NFL BUT U DON’T NEED TO TEAR DOWN A SUITABLE STADIUM AND FORCE THE TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR THE LUXURY OF A NFL TEAM—ATL CANNOT AFFORD IT NOW.
NADA TO THE NEW STADIUM.
Disgusted
April 28th, 2012
2:58 pm
OLD MAN–Some of those guys you rated as flops could be put as mediocre, which is between a flop and OK. OK is pretty good.
Lincoln Kennedy did become a good player with the Raiders. Devin Bush was mediocre, and Clarence Ellis was a step above a flop. I remember he being a starting corner for a few yrs.
Fralic was good, not great.
Micheal Vick, that is a tough rate, sometimes great, other times fair to good and the ending did turn out to be a flop.
Eric C.
April 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
@MCR, shirley you ain’t serious…that 2004 Rams team was one of the worst to ever make it to the divisional round. The 2008, 2010, 2011 Falcons would have picked that Rams team apart.
Glenn
April 28th, 2012
4:16 pm
Another high draft pick with a history of injuries. I should have put money down on this.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:22 pm
“BRYCE BROW” Running Back
Remember that name. He is the pick that the Falcants gave to Philly
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:27 pm
@Old Fart
Mike Vick has 4 Pro Bowls & 2 Runner Up seasons for MVP
By your standards that must mean CHOKE is a Triple BUST
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 28th, 2012
6:32 pm
ic C.
April 28th, 2012
3:00 pm
@MCR, shirley you ain’t serious…that 2004 Rams team was one of the worst to ever make it to the divisional round. The 2008, 2010, 2011 Falcons would have picked that Rams team apart
_________________________________________________
COULD’VE, SHOULD’VE, WOULD’VE…………………
But still 0-3 in the playoffs and ZERO points in last year’s playoffs
JSS
April 29th, 2012
2:11 am
“Shirley” MacLaine might have actually gone back in time and scored points!
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:29 am
heck, I think TD was intending to draft in the very low 20’s, if not the 30’s this year – but he finally saw the light on our predictable coordinators. If he is correct that this team has the talent, next draft we’ll be in the 30’s – if we are lucky – and of course, good (the Giants prove luck is far better).
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:31 am
choke – tell me the odds of Ryan becoming a felon, or a drug user, or contracting a STD that he spreads around wantonly. Plus, Vick has as many SB rings as ryan. Morality generally is awarded.
Paddy O
April 29th, 2012
2:34 am
old man – you have what is called asinine idealism. many of your flops were serviceable players, and none are indicated WHERE in the 1st round they were selected, which also adversely affects your credibility. that post is rated a FLOP.
Rankin Smith
April 29th, 2012
12:36 pm
I’d have to give the Falcons an A. for the most part because of the trade for Samuel Asante. He’s a big addition to the secondary. For the first time maybe ever, the Falcons have a solid secondary. The defense should be much improved, and they will run the ball better on 3rd and 4th downs in short yardage situations.
JoBoo
April 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
The Chargers were actually named after a credit card company. I know NFL trivia….look it up.
JoBoo
April 29th, 2012
2:48 pm
The team’s original owner, Baron Hilton, named the Los Angeles Chargers after the Carte Blanche charge card he developed.
The most common theory appears to be that the Chargers were named after the newly introduced Carte Blanche credit card. The first team owner, Barron Hilton, was then the first president of the Carte Blanche credit card company formed in 1959 by his Father Conrad Hilton. Credit cards were still a new thing back then and people who used them were called “Chargers”. The credit card company was losing money and he wanted to promote the use of his cards hence the name “Los Angeles Chargers” was born. When the team move to San Diego they kept the Charger name.
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_San_Diego_Chargers_get_their_name#ixzz1tSNfmIOB
Falcon James
April 29th, 2012
9:06 pm
I am sortof taken back by all the negative comments. This guy not even in a Falcon uniform and all the pretend falcon fan throwing him under the bus. I for one believe that this will be great signing. The Falcon certainly could have done worse and by signing this guy, we are better than we be last year. Give a brother a chance before we run him out of town on the same bus we going to put Dunta on next year.
TD has no clue!
April 29th, 2012
9:57 pm
Typical TD pick. Often injured. And if I read correctly he has one foot in the grave.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 29th, 2012
10:04 pm
The Eagles got a grade “A”
Mikey
April 30th, 2012
10:12 am
Very happy to see the concentration on the O-Line this year. I trust Dimitroff’s and Smith’s talent evaluation SO much more than these posers that can’t even spell. By the way, I am also quite pleased with the Falcon’s progress! They are playing at an extremely high level in the NFL. They have lost playoff games to nothing but Superbowl contenders/winners and it is a pleasure to see them win consistently throughout the regular season. They continue to improve and this year’s draft / free agent trades / coaching changes are a significant improvement over past years. They continue to get better and are a force within the NFL… count on it! Falcons fans will see that continuous improvement pays off in any endeavor. I know it is a concept new to Falcons fans but I remain optimistic that they will catch on after many years of repetitive success.