Atlanta Falcons: Cause for Concern on Offensive Line?

The Atlanta Falcons look to rebound in 2015 after two consecutive sub-.500 seasons in 2013-14.  With a new coaching regime comes a new offense.  The powerful man blocking scheme of former OC Dirk Koetter is no more as the Atlanta Falcons look to emphasize speed with new OC Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking scheme.  While Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff and new HC Dan Quinn have made many moves to improve the offensive line in 2015: is there still a cause for concern that the o-line can keep QB Matt Ryan clean and upright in the pocket this fall?

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One of the more difficult moves that Dimitroff and Quinn had to make was to release longtime G Justin Blalock prior to the Free Agency period in March.  Blalock had been a staple on the interior of the offensive line for the better part of the last decade for the Atlanta Falcons.  After C Todd McClure‘s retirement after the 2012 NFC Championship appearance season, Blalock was the unit’s leader for the next two seasons.  Rather than re-upping with some other team, Justin Blalock opted to retire as a career Atlanta Falcon.

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In an effort to get nimbler on the offensive line, the Atlanta Falcons front office acquired G Mike Person, G Chris Chester, and OT Tyler Polumbus via free agency in addition to using a 7th round pick on Eastern Washington swing tackle Jake Rodgers.  Atlanta also brings back some continuity on the starting offensive line in LT Jake Matthews, Centers Joe Hawley and James Stone, RG Jon Asamoah, and RT Ryan Schraeder.

Though Matthews projects as a Pro Bowl blind side protector coming out of Texas A&M as the 6th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Jake still needs to confirm his selection with an improved sophomore campaign over his overwhelming rookie season.  Asamoah was a solid free agent acquisition in 2014 and gives the Falcons some bite on the interior in both pass protection and run blocking.  I see either Matthews or Asamoah becoming the next leader on the Atlanta Falcons offensive line.

Perhaps it was the coaching tactics of former O-Line Coach Mike Tice but James Stone and Ryan Schraeder had nice seasons filling in for injured players like Joe Hawley, Lamar Holmes, and Sam Baker.  Both of these young players seem very coachable and are giving the Falcons great production as undrafted free agents.  Say what you want about Dimitroff’s later round selections, but the Falcons front office has done a great job finding talent in UDFA’s.

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Overall, I would say that there is some cause for concern on the 2015 Atlanta Falcons offensive line.  Atlanta hasn’t had a strong unit up front since Harvey Dahl played for the team.  The running game had become non-existent the last three seasons and I’m afraid for Matt Ryan’s health half the time.  He’s too talented of a passer for opposing pass rushers to treat him like a rag doll.

While I do think that the ZBS is the way to go with a smaller, yet quicker offensive line, it still may take another season before Quinn, Shanahan, and Dimitroff have a strong protective unit they can believe in.  For Atlanta to have success this fall, Matt Ryan needs to stay healthy and the running back trio of Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, and Antone Smith need to keep the chains moving.  Neither can happen without strong offensive line play.

However, if Matthews, Stone, Schraeder, Asamoah, and Chester grow together as a unit and become a strong starting five, I do think that the Atlanta Falcons can have one of the most well-rounded and explosive offenses in the National Football League.  With the defense still very much a work in progress, I feel that the Falcons offense will once again have to carry the team if Atlanta wishes to get back into the postseason in 2015.

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