Atlanta Falcons: Offensive Line Will Be Tested By Dolphins
By John Buhler
The Atlanta Falcons will travel down to South Florida to take on the Miami Dolphins for their third preseason game of 2015. Atlanta’s first team offense has looked terrific with QB Matt Ryan under center, scoring touchdowns on all three drives involving the Face of the Franchise.
On Saturday night, the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line will have their work cut out for them in keeping their Pro Bowl quarterback upright as the Miami Dolphins have two of the best defensive linemen in the business.
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Defensive End Cameron Wake is a 4x Pro Bowler and a former All-Pro for the Dolphins, recording 63 sacks in his 6-year NFL career. Expect Wake to make Atlanta Falcons LT Jake Matthews work hard on every snap when Wake’s eyeing to bring Matt Ryan to the turf.
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But where Atlanta really has to pay attention is who will be terrorizing them directly across from center: 4x Pro Bowler and 3x All-Pro Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh, literally the biggest free agent splash made by any team this offseason.
Known for his strong play that often continues well past the whistle, Suh signed one of the biggest contracts in NFL history this offseason to play for the Miami Dolphins after five great years with the Detroit Lions.
The Miami Dolphins will play Suh $114 Million over the next 6 years to disrupt offensive game plans on the interior of the defensive line. I think it’s safe to say that Suh is the best player at his position since Warren Sapp did the same type of things for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers en route to a Hall of Fame career.
Fortunately for the Atlanta Falcons, there is some familiarity with both outstanding defensive linemen. The Falcons played the ‘Phins in the preseason last year at the Dome and in 2013 at Sun Life Stadium in Week 3. For teams playing in opposite conferences, the Falcons and Dolphins will meet for their third time in as many seasons, albeit twice it has been in the preseason.
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Last year C James Stone made his first career start for the Atlanta Falcons in London against Suh’s former employer, the Detroit Lions. Outside of a late-game holding penalty against Suh, Stone played very well in his first NFL start. Hopefully the second year interior lineman from Tennessee can build on his last game going against Ndamukong Suh.
Though the New York Jets defensive line did most of their work against the second unit of the Falcons’ offense, I see how Atlanta protects Matt Ryan in Preseason Week 3 as the biggest test for new-look offensive line. Will the highly discussed zone blocking scheme help keep Matt Ryan upright against Wake, Suh and the rest of the ‘Phins first team defense?
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Expect the starters to play most of the first half in Saturday’s game as Preseason Week 3 is typically treated like a dress rehearsal for most NFL teams. How the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line fares against the Miami pass rush could stand as a preview for what Matt Ryan’s protection might look like in the first year of Shanahan’s ZBS.
The Atlanta Falcons 3rd preseason game of the year begins on Saturday at 7PM ET from Sun Life Stadium. You can catch the action on CW69. Only 18 more days until it’s Monday Night Football in Atlanta, Georgia when the Atlanta Falcons take on Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles in primetime.
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