clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Cowboys vs. Falcons: Peter Konz offers newfound OL depth

With starting guard Garrett Reynolds battling injuries, the Falcons' top draft pick stepped right in to help fight off Philly's pass rush.

Daniel Shirey

Atlanta Falcons rookie offensive lineman Peter Konz was thought to be an answer for veteran center Todd McClure in case of retirement following the 2012 season, but Konz has become a reliable backup at other positions, including right guard. With starter Garrett Reynolds fighting multiple injuries, Konz played every snap of Sunday's win over the Eagles.

Reynolds was listed as eligible entering Sunday, but head coach Mike Smith went with the rookie second-rounder from Wisconsin, whom he praised for working to handle an at-times agressive Philadelphia pass rush:

"After viewing the film, I thought he had a very solid game," Smith said. "It was a situation where you're a rookie and you're playing your first game and you're playing against a defensive line that's very talented. Cullen Jenkins is the starter, but they rotated guys and had different guys lining up against him and I thought Peter handled it extremely well."

Konz played both the guard and center positions while with the Badgers, and with McClure -- the longest tenured Falcon on the entire roster -- possibly mulling retirement after 2012, he'll likely fit in either as a center, or if the line is shuffled, at guard.

Also filling in on Sunday was former Oregon receiver and practice squad veteran Drew Davis, who started in the place of the injured Harry Douglas and caught a touchdown pass on his second career-reception when a play-fake to Julio Jones left Davis wide open in the end zone.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.