2012 NFL Draft: Scouting Wisconsin Center Peter Konz for the Dallas Cowboys

From my Peter Konz scouting report up at the Times today:

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At 6-5, Peter Konz is tall for an interior lineman. I actually think this can and does hurt his game. It is more difficult for him to maintain a solid base and keep leverage on defenders.

You can see Konz lose leverage frequently in pass protection, such as at the 2:09 mark below.  Konz is often caught in a similar position, getting off-balance and overextending.  Whether it is due to his height or not, Konz allows defenders to get underneath his pads.

Konz also has trouble recognizing blitzes, as you can see at multiple points below.  Analysts rave about Konz’s intelligence, but he hasn’t impressed me with his blitz pickup. Because Konz isn’t a natural athlete, he needs to use a high football IQ to gain an advantage against quicker, more explosive defenders.

Konz is far superior in the running game. He looks more natural as a run blocker, exploding off the ball and using opponents’ leverage against them, such as at the 4:33 clip.

Konz excels in getting to the second level, clearing a path for the ball-carrier even if he doesn’t obtain a pancake block.

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If Konz falls to the Cowboys’ second-round selection, he’s going to be enticing.  

I don’t personally think he’s worth that kind of draft pick, but an upgrade over Phil Costa is necessary.

Costa was perhaps the worst starter on the team in 2011.

Previous Scouting Reports

Michael Brockers, DT/DE, LSU

Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State

Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

David DeCastro, G, Stanford

Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Janoris Jenkins, CB, Florida/North Alabama

Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia

Chase Minnifield, CB, Virginia

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia

Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC