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"Open" competitions will be held at LT and RG (no duh!). Konz and Manuwai will battle at RG, and Baker, Svitek, and possible Holmes will battle at LT.


http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falco ... ss_falcons

Falcons elated to find power players in the draft

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Mike Smith believes in playing power football, and the team added to its power-base during the NFL draft that concluded Saturday.

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After repeatedly getting stopped in key short-yardage situations, the Falcons spent their first three picks on power players: guard/center Peter Konz, offensive tackle Lamar Holmes and fullback Bradie Ewing, who’s noted for his touchdown-clearing blocks in Big Ten country.

On the third and final day of the draft, in addition to Ewing, the Falcons added defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, safety Charles Mitchell and defensive tackle Travian Robertson.

The Falcons did not have a pick in the first round, having traded that pick to Cleveland last year as part of the Julio Jones trade.

“We waited a whole round to jump into our offensive-linemen sweepstakes, and it was something that we were focused on through the offseason,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “Both [Smith] and I spent a lot of time focusing on the offensive line and how we could acquire some more size, strength and stoutness to help bolster our roster.”

Konz will jump into the competition at right guard and be groomed to play center. The Falcons had problems at right guard last season and want to firm up the interior of their passing pocket. Long-time center Todd McClure recently re-signed for one more season.

Holmes will be expected to compete for a starting tackle spot.

“We talked about coming in here and getting some wide loads,” Dimitroff said. “Quite honestly, Lamar is a double-wide load. He’s a big man who has a presence, as far as his stature.”

Smith would not say if Holmes is expected to take over at left tackle for Sam Baker or if the team has considered moving Tyson Clabo to the left side.

“We’re going to have an open competition,” Smith said. “I think competition brings out the best in everyone. These two [linemen] that we added, we’re going to put them right in the mix. We are going to have a very competitive offseason, and it will start with the rookie minicamp in two weeks.”

Konz had some medical issues in college with blood clots in his lungs and with his ankles.

“Everything checked out fine,” Dimitroff said. “The reported clots, the blood clots were an anomaly. It was off an impact situation. As far as his ankles, he’s cleared up very well. He is a durable type of guy. He’s a tough guy who can play through any [injuries.]”

Holmes was not projected by many of the draft analysts to be selected in the third round, but the Falcons were comfortable with where they selected him.

“I can’t comment on why he was projected late,” Dimitroff said. “He had a really nice East-West game. Having been a junior-college transfer, I don’t know if people ... again, I can't comment on other teams. But what I do know is that sometimes when you have a JC-transfer type of player, the prognosticators are behind from a recognition standpoint.”

The Falcons’ offensive line gave up 26 sacks and allowed 84 quarterback hits last season. Also, the team went from first in the NFL on fourth-down conversions (73 percent in 2010) to 26th (31 percent) last season. The Falcons were embarrassingly stopped three times in short-yardage situations in the playoffs against the New York Giants.

Smith doesn’t plan to stop going for it on fourth downs and wants to be able to run the ball even with the opposition knows the run is coming.

The selection of Ewing could mean the end of fullback Ovie Mughelli’s career in Atlanta. Mughelli, who went to the Pro Bowl after the 2010 season, is battling back from a knee injury. He’s in the last year of a contract with a $3.7 million cap number for 2012. NFL teams seldom carry two traditional fullbacks.

Ewing cleared the way with 30 touchdown-resulting blocks last season for the Badgers. He was a former walk-on at Wisconsin and was elated to get drafted.

“It’s been a great journey,” Ewing said.

Massaquoi is from Lawrenceville and played at Central Gwinnett High School. He is a cousin of former Georgia wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and NFL tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings.

“Troy is a building program,” Massaquoi said. “We had five straight conference championships. We went for our sixth one this year, but fell short. With Troy producing defensive ends like Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware, hopefully I can be put into that conversation and follow their tradition.”

This was the draft that we should have had last year. I have to say that TD has made some good moves in his career, but at this point, he's adapting to issues rather than dealing with them before they become eyesores. In my opinion, he's not as good as I once thought he was.

I agree with this. This year we should have been taking TE, RB, WR (after going OL in FA), and that way the team would be prepared for the exit of Turner, Gonzalez, and would only need to replace Abe.

Instead, next year, they'll need to get a TE, RB, and DE, and so will be drafting for need again...and that's not to mention any issues that come up.

Just one year, they need to tackle ALL of the pressing issues before draft, so they can draft a combo of BPA and guys to replace aging vets. Replacing important vets after they've already left isn't a sustainable model.

Wasn't there a "open competition" last year in camp? and again during the season? This is starting to sound like a broken record.

Robert you hit the nail on the head. Its seems we have no plan or direction, only knee jerk reaction drafting. Last year we needed to get more "explosive" because thats what Green Bay was. Now we get out physicaled by the Giants and we need to get bigger/stronger. It just doesn't seem we have a long term plan anymore. I used to have a really positive feeling about the direction of this team but I am losing faith quickly.

I agree with you guys, but my compulsive need to be contrarian...Don't know what to do...Ughh....GUUUUURRRR

You and others are wrong. We do have direction. We are a power-running football team. Many can't accept it because it's not what they want the team to be. All i see is we have to be like the Patriots, Saints and Packers. Well, guess what, we aren't going to be with Smitty at the helm. He's a power football guy and doesn't hide it. It shouldn't be a guessing game to you all.

Don't let the Jones trade fool you into thinking we are going pass first. Jones is White's replacement.

You all may not like it, but don't ignore it.

Yeah unfortunately AJ51, I think you're exactly right. In hindsight, an additional reason we prob loved JJ was he could be a physical blocking WR. I had built up a good amount of resentment toward TD the last few months, but he's basically in bed with Mike Smith. NOT one iota of any level of football is predominately smash mouth on O, or heading that direction, outside of what the niners are building (but they've got unique ways to contrast). Us...

Lets hypo for one minute, and say magically we're a gritty, tough running O, that can pass enough for contrast. Cause thats all Smith is really looking for. How does our D still not get lit up/or pounded by the GB, NYG, SF, NO??

....and that's not a bad thing. Open lines of communications are key. Smitty is telling what type of players he wants, and TD is trying to find them. If we were to bring in a more pass oriented coach, I'm sure TD would accommodate that coach as best he could as well.

It's not about why I want them to be. Yes, it's true I would prefer this team be a wide-open, explosive offense that every other team feared could score every time they touch the ball like the Patriots, Packers, and Saints of today, and Colts of yesteryear.

But since I have no control over that, I really don't let it sweat me.

What I have a problem with is the lack of clear-cut direction. They said a year ago that they wanted to get explosive, so they bet the farm to get Julio Jones. Did they become more explosive? Yes, but by NFL standards, the Falcons are still average in terms of explosive plays generated last year: 18th in 20+ plays per pass attempt, and 16th in 20+ runs per run attempt.

So if you want to be one of the more explosive teams in the league, you have to do more.

And if you want to be this top of the line power running team, then you're going to do more than draft Peter Konz and Lamar Holmes and have Michael Turner as your RB.

The problem with the Falcons is that they are good at a lot of things, but not great at anything. And you can't be a championship caliber team without being great at something, whether that is throwing the football, running the football, rushing the QB, stopping the pass, or creating turnovers on defense, etc.

And until the Falcons fully commit to one or the other, then you're going to continue to hear people like myself complain.

AJ51, You are right in that Smitty is a power football oriented head coach. However, we decided after 2010 to become more of a passing oriented team and quickly gave up after our poor start in 2011. That doesn't seem like a long term plan to me.

No its most of the folks who think of a Super Bowl tomorrow; that are scared; screaming "no identity"

But back at the ranch its Td and Smitty who know what they're doing.... Those draft picks we spent for Julio; Julio
was a rookie last year and this trade and this draft shows we haven't missed a beat...... Sorry it takes longer than 4 years to
go from nothing (perhaps a couple aging players ) to winning the Super Bowl.

You are correct sir. But here is the disconnect... You do not invest heavily in WRs if you are trying to be a power run team, especially if you already have one of the top WRs in the league. If you want to be a power run team, you need to have a strong offensive line, and a dominating defense. We have neither. This draft, though I appreciate the focus on the OL, isn't going to make us significantly stronger at either of those. Last draft, we did nothing to improve the OL or the defense.

If Smitty and TD have a plan, their plan sucks. I contend that they have no plan. They gave up on the process the moment they traded for a WR. We are where we are because of Matt Ryan. We lean on our run game till we can no longer afford to, and Matt Ryan bails us out. Give that kid the opportunity to run the game instead of manage it. Get him an offensive line that won't get him killed. But we're not going to do that.


I'll predict next year's draft picks today... 1st or 2nd round, TE. Other pick (1st or 2nd round) DE. We will go yet another year with these OTs and wonder why we can't win a playoff game.

Don't be fooled. Jones is another weapon, but he is the replacement for Roddy. Something had to be said to sooth the fragile ego of your current number one. Roddy is getting older, still has way too many drops and often suffers from bouts of diarrhea of the mouth.
The last year is of his contract is 2014. I'm not so sure he will see it, especially with an over 9 M cap hit in 2013.

We are still a run-based power offense. Next year, this team will look different though. Gone will be Turner, Robinson, Gonzo, Baker, McClure, Ovie and maybe White. After last year's playoff debacle, I thought Smitty would be on the hot seat this season. But after seeing how we drafted, coupled with the new OC/DC, he will be back in 2013 no matter what.

Not so fast. If we have a losing record, OR Ryan gets injured due to the lack of attention to the OL from the past several years, I am convinced Blank will make changes. He HAS to. His stadium deal will be getting finalized this fall with a 1 BILLION dollar pricetag. If this team takes a massive step backwards, he has no choice but to lose Smitty.

Otherwise, Kasim Reed will get burnt badly, and anyone who pays attention to local politics knows that ain't gonna happen. Trying to sell the new stadium on taxpayer funds for a sh*tty product when the City has just cut the education budget, is furloughing teachers, firemen and cops is a perfect storm of bad publicity. And in politics, 'Bad Pub is not Good Pub'....

We did make changes in the off-season. Two new coordinators are major changes. Not sure where you're going with the whole stadium thing, but sticking to the point, Smitty will be head coach again next season.

I think your missing my point.

If anyone watched the presser in January, Blank all but said getting booted out of the playoffs is not acceptable. I think if we repeated last season, then YES, Smith stays. Blank would accept another playoff loss...

BUT: if we take a big step backwards you honestly think Blank is going to have another presser and try to make the argument Smith should have one more chance because we 'got' new coordinators? No way in HELL that happens.

Because the Mayoral Election really gets started in the spring of 2013, Blank wants to wrap up this deal by the end of this year. Kasim Reed won the office by a very slim amount. If Mary Norwood, or Lamar, or any other candidate can show to the public that Kasim 'wastes' funds in order to placate Blank, that is bad news. If the Falcons sh*t the bed this year, it's going to make it very, very hard for Kasim Reed to come out looking good here.

So, Blank will have to do 'something' to show the Mayor who is fighting his fight and the city that is footing the bill that he will not accept poor performance. For that reason, he will absolutely HAVE to sacrifice Smitty. Get it?

It's pretty simple, really. If it wasnt for the push to get the stadium and the election right around the corner, Blank could do what he pleases. He cannot do that if he is 'asking' for a Billion Dollars from Johhny Taxpayer. And for those who say 'were not paying the bill, it's a hotel tax', thats not going to fly, either. Because people like ME, who have kids in ATL school ( which arent that great to begin with) and notice my Charter School just had to cut 160,00$ from NEXT years budget due to the city 'not having the money', and the Spanish Teacher that just got fired, and the Special Education staff has been cut in half, we are going to remember that come election time. It basically says Arthur Blank's new toy is more important then my kids education, my neighborhoods Police, my local Firefighter.

Anyone who wants a real peek inside should read 'A Man In Full' by Tom Wolfe.

I'll bet you a brand new one billion dollar stadium it does.

Ill see your wager, and I'll raise you one Underground Atlanta, one Beltline Project, one Airport, and one Trolleycar Initiative.

Arthur Blank is on record saying he thinks football should be played outdoors. He wants an outdoor stadium, without the added expense of a retractable roof. He now realizes if he wants this city to fund it, it's going to have to have a roof. That should educate anyone right there that Blank AND Kasim are aware that they are going to have to play ball.

Arthur can afford to build his outdoor stadium on his own, outside of the greedy paws of the City. He could do it at the old Doraville Plant, or the Pullman Yards in Dekalb. He looked at both options. Kasim doesn't want Blank to do this and cut out the City. Blank doesn't want to pony up his own $$.

So right there you can see if the Falcons take a major step back, someone WILL have to pay. Someone WILL have to fall on the sword.

Count on it.

The good thing fun gus, is that the Falcons won't take a major step back. Because in order for that to happen, you'd like have to see a significant injury to Matt Ryan, and there is your built in excuse. But I say that with the caveat that the Ryan-less 2012 Falcons wouldn't be like the 2003 Falcons or 2011 Colts, in which they are 0-6 or 1-7 or something by midseason. If that was the case, and the team looked as bad or worse than it did in 2007, then yeah i think Smitty would be ousted just like Reeves and Caldwell were. I'm assuming that we would be more like 3-5 type of team.


You're still not getting it. The beef isn't based around the fact that we haven't achieved our goals in the past 4 years, the beef is that the decisions they are currently making will prevent us from achieving those goals in the next 4 years.

Your response is often, "Well it's easy to predict that because most teams don't win or go to the Super Bowl." And you're right, the odds are stacked against any and every team. But what you're not getting is that there is causality involved. Some teams do certain things that dramatically increase their odds, while others do things that dramatically lower their odds.

It goes back to the perception that I continually rail against that "Super Bowls are magic." There are no guarantees, but the problem is that the things that the Falcons were doing before that was increasing their odds, they have stopped doing (e.g. building through the draft).


And you present this as the rationale behind the Jones trade as if that is a perfectly reasonable decision.

Why would you spend what we did after Roddy White had a career season. Why are you trying to replace a Top 5 WR 4 years before you have to? You just invested $50 million in a WR, and then 18 months later after you start to get a return on that investment, you're going to in turn invest an entire draft (half of 2011 and half of 2012 equal one whole) into his replacement, a replacement you're not going to need until 2014 and after?

If that's the rationale behind this, then it's the most idiotic move ever made, and how can you support someone that made it? And maybe that is truly the disconnect. When I use words like 'logic' and 'ration' there are people that turn their noses up...

I've said this to Ryan on the podcast numerous times, but if the reason why we gave up what we did for Julio Jones was to replace Roddy White, then Thomas Dimitroff is the biggest moron in the world. If the plan was to give $50 million to Roddy and then 2 years later replace him, then TD is a moron. If that wasn't the plan, and they only realized after Roddy's performances during the 2009 and 2010 season that investing $50 million in him was a mistake, then TD is still a huge moron. The thinking that after those two seasons, that TD would come away thinking that he needs to replace who by most accounts is the team's best or 2nd best player is the most retarded thing I've ever heard.

And you're telling me I'm supposed to trust into someone that makes those kinds of decisions????

You are contradicting yourself. The decision to draft Jones will help us in the next 4 years as Roddy rides off into the sunset during that time frame. We have a 1A and a 1B receiver now and in the next few years we still will have a 1A. One less grocery for TD to buy in building this franchise.

And before any jumps down my throat, I do think we gave up too much for Julio and we could have spent the traded picks in other area's, but stepping outside the box, way outside the box, I can make some sense to it.

The problem with that line of thinking is that Roddy White is signed to this team for as long as Julio Jones is currently. They are both signed through 2014.


Yes, in theory, but not in actual practice. There is a clear-cut delineation between Roddy, who is our 1, and Jones who is our 2. Until the day arrives that both players in practice are used as 1A and 1B essentially as equals similar to how the Cards used Fitz & Boldin in the past, then the perceived value that Jones is adding is non-existent.


True, but that's the expense of having to spend more money on other groceries. The analogy is that you want to make a recipe that consists of 4 ingredients: A, B, C, and D. And you have $50 that you figure you can buy all 4 ingredients in their proper amounts to make your meal. A should cost you $20, B $10, C $5, and D $15. But instead, when you get to the grocery you get so enamored with how good Ingredient A looks/smells, that you wind up buying $40 worth of it. And with the remaining $10, you buy $5 worth of B, all of C, but completely forget D.

And you get home, mix up your items hoping it's going to work, but the meal ends up being terrible. And you rush back to the grocery store and spend the $15 you need on D, and another $5 on B. And at the end of the day, you've now spend $70 on a meal that should have cost you $50, and that extra $20 is of Ingredient A that is now just going to waste at the back/bottom of the fridge until eventually you're just going to have to throw it out, never to use it again.

And this is essentially what is wrong with the Jones trade, because he's the awesome ingredient that you spent way too much on, that you'll never use all of him up because you're recipe (i.e. our offensive philosophy) isn't designed to use all of him. So now that you've basically wasted the money you spent on Jones, it comes at the detriment because that's money/resources (i.e. draft picks) you cannot spend at other essential parts of the roster.

The point is that in order to make your previous error right is by changing the recipe. Essentially you can't make what you were trying to make without the D ingredient. So you now have to make something else. If A+B+C+D = X, but without the D you can't make X. So instead, you have to craft a new formula that turns A+B+C = Z.

The problem here is that if the goal is to make X, then the Falcons are doing it wrong. If the goal is to make Z, then they might be OK. X is delicious and Z is also delicious. Whether you think one is superior to the other is really just about taste. Are you following along? The problem with the Falcons is that they only really know the recipe for X, but are stuck with Z ingredients. So they are trying to straddle this line and make Y. And their thought process is that Y is a little of X and a little of Z, and the perfect blend of both. But what they fail to realize is that the recipe of X is designed so that the ingredients/flavors complement each other to make it taste great. And the same applies for Z. but the minute you try to and do Y, the whole thing breaks down because the ingredients instead just sit there.

And the difference between myself and others, is that I'm standing there in the kitchen watching all of this play out, and I'm saying, "Dude, that Y you're making isn't going to work." But others are just waiting in the dining room, content from the fact that in the past they've enjoyed the meals cooked, and just assume that they know what they're doing.

And then I come out in the dining room and say, "Aw man, this meal is not gonna be good." And then the content diner responds, "How do you know, you're not a chef."

And I respond, "But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Well played, I like the analogy.

I counter with this: In the real NFL world however, very few teams can compete with spending $20 on A, $10 on B $5 on C and $15 on D. You have to shop in the bargain section and hope to find a hidden gem.

You want wine with your meal? You can spend $75 a bottle from the finest vineyards of Italy, or you can spend 2.99 on some Wild Irish Rose. Either way, your getting drunk.

I'm confused with this analogy... Pudge is saying that drafting Jones doesn't help with the power running scheme that we want to run, and that trading the picks for him makes it more difficult to draft the people that we need for that scheme to work. Finding gems is rare. You build your team with the first two rounds of the draft. Essentially, we gave up two starters for one potential great starter. (we only had 2 of our 4 first and second round picks for the last two years) Meanwhile, we still have significant issues at OT and DE, two VERY VERY VERY important positions in the NFL.