Atlanta Falcons: The Offensive Line Must Gel Versus Skins
The Right Tackle Position
Kaleb McGary who the Atlanta Falcons traded back up into round one to select, will be sidelined for several more weeks due to a heart procedure. For this reason he has fallen behind in the quest to win the right tackle position.
McGary clearly has the talent to man the spot, being taught the offensive line play style of guru Howard Mudd. Erik Turner of cover1.net gives us this outstanding article about Kaleb Mcgary and how the techniques he was taught.
Ty Sambrailo was resigned as veteran insurance in case the young McGary isn’t ready. Ty took over the spot late last season, due to the ineptitude of the now released Ryan Schraeder.
Sambrailo was solid in his first appearance against the Miami Dolphins. He did not allow any pressure and graded a respectable 72.2 in limited snaps.
Unfortunately for the Atlanta Falcons, Sambrailo looked like a turnstile against the New York Jets. He was badly beaten instantly twice instantly at the snap, allowing Matt Ryan to he sacked once and hit another time, in just 19 pass blocking snaps.
Ty Sambrailo received a miniscule pass blocking grade of 19.6, a run blocking grade of 45.3 and an overall PFF grade of 34.5 for the pitiful performance, before leaving with a shoulder injury.
Ty Sambrailo will miss this week’s game with the shoulder injury. This gives a golden opportunity for second year man Matt Gono to start against the Redskins.
Gono has not performed well as run blocker, grading just 55.5 for the preseason. The concerning thing is that most of his snaps have come against the opposition’s reserves.
Where Gono has prospered is in the passing game. He has not allowed sack in 102 passing snaps, allowing just two hurries. He has not allowed his quarterback to be hit at all either.
Pro Football Focus awarded Gono pass blocking grades of 87.7 against Denver, 82.5 versus Miami and 67.7 against the New York Jets. Overall Matt has been graded 60.9, which ranks him number 18 on the Atlanta Falcons offense.
A great performance by Matt Gano in the team’s dress rehearsal game, could send Ty Sambrailo to the bench for good. Particularly once Kaleb McGary is ready to go.
Gono could ultimately push Sambrailo who is on an incentive laden three-year deal, out of the door. This would be best for the Atlanta Falcons, since many questioned the Ty Sambrailo signing in the first place.