Atlanta Falcons’ Offensive Line Developing Continuity

The Atlanta Falcons finally have some cohesiveness on their offensive line. The offense looks more balanced than in years past due to increased continuity up front.

Throughout training camp, the offensive line was the area of greatest concern. Other formerly poor areas of the team (pass rush, linebackers, and tight ends) looked like they were trending in the right direction in training camp.

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The front seven on defense looked transformed through all the roster adjustments made by HC Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff. Levine Toilolo is finally looking like a professional in Year Three at tight end for the Atlanta Falcons. He proved that with a strong preseason and a determined first three games so far.

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However, in the final preseason game with the Baltimore Ravens, nothing seemed to stick with OL Coach Chris Morgan’s group. The only certainty we know about the offensive line was that Jake Matthews was going to start at Left Tackle. While Ryan Schraeder has played well at Right Tackle since last year, it wasn’t until Lamar Holmes went on the PUP List that we knew he would stay at RT.

Then there was the interior. The only cog that seemed to click on the inside during the preseason was RG Chris Chester, due to his familiarity with OC Kyle Shanahan’s system from their time together in Washington. The Atlanta Falcons ultimately cut C Joe Hawley, moved G/C James Stone to the bench, and traded for LG Andy Levitre from the Tennessee Titans for a pair of future late-round draft picks.

Since Levitre’s arrival, the Atlanta Falcons now have continuity up front with Matthews and Schraeder at tackle, Chester and Levitre at guard, and first-year starter Mike Person at center. The offense is slowly becoming more balanced, and more explosive because the Atlanta Falcons now have a starting five up front they can believe in.

Yes, it does help to have a 3x Pro Bowl passer in Matt Ryan and arguably the best WR in football in Julio Jones on your roster, but the improved run blocking and pass protection is making the Atlanta Falcons better on offense than under former OC Dirk Koetter.

The Atlanta Falcons had Devonta Freeman rush for 3 touchdowns on Sunday. That was the first time Atlanta has done that since Michael Turner was in his prime back in 2010. Matt Ryan no longer gets clotheslined on every fourth snap. He has enough time to make the necessary reads to keep the Falcons’ drives alive.

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When it occurred to me that the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line was actually getting better was when I was watching Sunday Night Football in Week 3 between the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions. I understand that the pass rush of Denver with DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller is one of the best in the NFL, but I couldn’t believe how often the Lions’ offensive line collapsed in that game. I was afraid for Matthew Stafford‘s health in what was a home game for Detroit.

Then I realized, “the 2015 Detroit Lions are starting to look a lot like the 2013 Atlanta Falcons.” Watching on seemingly every other play their star QB get pummeled had me thinking that is no longer our what the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line plays like.

While it is hard to analyze gradual improvement when you’re in the middle of it, just looking at the Lions made me feel better about the growing continuity of the Atlanta Falcons front five. We are seeing progress within the unit every week. I’m not saying that we will look like Dallas up front at any point in the season, but I don’t see the offensive line as a crippling liability for our favorite NFL team anymore. Rise Up!

Next: Atlanta Falcons: How Are They Winning in 4th Quarter?

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