\u201cI can\u2019t emphasize enough how important it is Konz can play both guard and center,\u201d Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. \u201cWe have him listed as a guard-center.\u201d<\/p>\n
Konz, 6-foot-5 and 314 pounds, was projected to go late in the first round by most draft analysts. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper had him rated as the top center in the draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has no peers in this draft,\u201d Kiper said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
So Konz is a value pick; top center in the draft. Is he injury prone?<\/a><\/p>\n
Not to say that the 23rd pick of Round 2 isn\u2019t be a big man. He\u2019s Peter Konz, who played center at Wisconsin but who was labeled a guard by the Falcons. He\u2019s 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\u2019 No. 1 pick of 2009 who\u2019d been injured at Ole Miss and whose NFL career hasn\u2019t taken flight, you have your quibble.<\/p>\n
On the plus side: Konz is a value pick who could help fill a crying need. He was ranked the draft\u2019s 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\u2019re sitting at 55, that\u2019s not a bad find. And it\u2019s better still when you recall the three failed fourth-and-1\u2019s that defined the Falcons\u2019 2011 season.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If Konz adds depth this year, and can fill in at center and guard, while taking over for McClure next year, this will turn out to be a great pick.<\/p>\n
Lamar Holmes (T \u2013 Southern Mississippi)<\/strong>
\nAfter trading back a few spots, the Falcons landed tackle Lamar Holmes<\/a> in the third round with the 91 overall pick. For their troubles, Baltimore sent ATL a 5th round pick (No. 164, 29th of the round).<\/p>\nHolmes looks more like a project, but if he brings some nasty aggressiveness that was sorely lacking last year, maybe he will turn out to be the surprise pick of the draft. One can always dream, right?<\/p>\n
Go Falcons!<\/p>\n
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