Jake Long: Atlanta Falcons Still Consider Signing OT

Jake Long, the former 1st overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, remains a free agent after his two-year stint with the St. Louis Rams. According to Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Dan Quinn, the Atlanta Falcons are still very much considering bringing Long to Atlanta.

And they probably should. The offensive line play looked dreadful in the third week of the preseason. Quinn had to pull starting quarterback Matt Ryan far earlier in Saturday night’s contest with the Miami Dolphins than he probably wanted to. Ryan only played in the first four offensive series, completing 3 of 7 passes in the rain for 49 yards while getting sacked thrice. The Atlanta Falcons cannot afford any long-term injury to Matt Ryan in any capacity.

Dan Quinn said Jake Long is still being considered.
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) August 31, 2015

Even to the most casual of football fans watching Saturday night’s preseason game, it was painfully obvious that the Atlanta Falcons need some serious help on their offensive line. While the organization previously had Jake Long in for a tryout a few weeks ago, it is time to seriously consider signing the 4x Pro Bowl Left Tackle.

I see Jake Long as a perfect mentor for Left Tackle Jake Matthews and Right Tackle Ryan Schraeder on the outside for the Atlanta Falcons. Jake could start at RT if he outperforms Schraeder in practice, but likely won’t take Left Tackle from Matthews who should come into his own this fall as a second-year player.

Live Feed

Falcons vs. Panthers prediction, odds, spread, injuries, trends for NFL Week 15 /

Blogging Dirty

Every NFL Team's Playoff Odds Following Week 14 (Two New Division Leaders in NFC)Betsided

NFC South Odds: Who Will Win the Worst Division in Football?Betsided

Atlanta Falcons have yet another chance to slip back into playoff picture Blogging Dirty

NFL Week 15 Survivor Pool Picks (Trust Rams, Fade Panthers in Top Predictions)Betsided

Road to 272 Bets - NFL Week 15 Picks for Every Game Betsided

With Offensive Tackle Tyler Polumbus largely ineffective so far in the preseason and Offensive Tackle Lamar Holmes on the PUP List (Physically Unable to Perform), Atlanta could certainly use a player of Jake Long’s caliber on their offensive line. While most of the offensive line’s issues of late have been on the interior keeping a solid pocket, why would Dan Quinn and General Manager Thomas Dimitroff not want to look at a savvy veteran Pro Bowler like Jake Long joining their team?

The Julio Jones contract negotiations are over, so there really isn’t anything in the way of Dimitroff making a deal to bring in Jake Long. Unless he didn’t pass his physical, which now seems unlikely given the interest the Atlanta Falcons organization still has in Long, it makes more sense to bring in Jake than to stand pat and let somebody else sign the current NFL free agent offensive tackle. Atlanta let Evan Mathis walk out the door as he signed with the Denver Broncos this past week.

Whatever the front office decides, they have to address the offensive line. It’s alarming how poorly the Atlanta Falcons have run the football this preseason in the much-anticipated zone blocking scheme of Kyle Shanahan. Isn’t the ZBS essentially a guarantee for a tailback to accumulate 1,000 yards on the ground annually?

I get that Atlanta’s three best running backs haven’t played much at all in the preseason in Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, and Antone Smith, but something absolutely has to give with this lackluster run blocking game of the Atlanta Falcons. Bringing Offensive Tackle Jake Long into the mix only adds depth and intensifies the competition with Matthews, Schraeder, and the rest of the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line.

More from ATL All Day

Home/Atlanta Falcons