Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) So I have been doing a bit of research on ways that the Falcons could fix the offensive line. I know a lot of people are clamoring for a Franchise LT in draft or FA, but after doing a bit of searching, that may not be the avenue that would be best. Looking at the state of the oline this season was a tough to watch, as I saw them get mauled and beaten at every turn. They had flashes of being solid, right before burning out and dying. During the research process, I started noticing the emphasis of the interior lineman, most noticeably the center, was becoming the most important position on the line. As of right now I think the two positions that need to be fixed first would be Center and Right Guard. Here are a few articles I found while researching.http://www.usatoday....valued/3170721/http://www.nfl.com/v...O-line-positionhttp://www.footballo...rs.com/stats/olhttp://sports.yahoo....d-position.htmlhttps://www.profootb...les-overvalued/http://mmqb.si.com/2013/10/30/nfl-offensive-tackles-rethinking-the-blind-side-and-position-value/ Edited January 5, 2014 by Sidecar Falcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJoe Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Our ENTIRE OL needs updating in this order...And is assuming we can get one more decent season from Baker and Blalock.2014=RGRTC2015=LTLG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Our ENTIRE OL needs updating in this order...And is assuming we can get one more decent season from Baker and Blalock.2014=RGRTC2015=LTLGAgreed. In list of priority I think it goes like this fr the oline.CRGRTLTLGIf we can create solid interior push up the middle it will allow Jackson run more effectively, and allow Ryan to step into the pocket better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Club212 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 The Center usually calls out assignments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS91 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I'd take a B+ RG and RT over an A+ LT. If you have a couple of maulers on the right side who can get you 3 or 4 yards on the ground whenever you need it, it takes a lot of pressure off the passblocking. Our biggest problem right now is that we cannot run the ball to save our lives. Last season we got away with it because Clabo played well and Baker played adequately. This season we had two of the worst OTs in the league, and our inability to run the ball consistently allowed every D-lineman we faced to just pin his ears back and try to get to Ryan because they knew they didn't have to worry about stopping the run. Our moron of an OC did nothing to help this by abandoning the run after it got stuffed a few times. We basically had an air raid offense this season. It was ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) The Center usually calls out assignmentsExactly. Center is pretty much the QB of the OL. Losing the experience McClure had, and the ability to call assignments was probably the most significant loss to the team this season.I'd take a B+ RG and RT over an A+ LT. If you have a couple of maulers on the right side who can get you 3 or 4 yards on the ground whenever you need it, it takes a lot of pressure off the passblocking. Our biggest problem right now is that we cannot run the ball to save our lives. Last season we got away with it because Clabo played well and Baker played adequately. This season we had two of the worst OTs in the league, and our inability to run the ball consistently allowed every D-lineman we faced to just pin his ears back and try to get to Ryan because they knew they didn't have to worry about stopping the run. Our moron of an OC did nothing to help this by abandoning the run after it got stuffed a few times. We basically had an air raid offense this season. It was ridiculous.I would take those as well too. Right now, as much as I probably will get heat for it, LT is not our biggest need. Center is followed by RG. Edited January 5, 2014 by Sidecar Falcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTMcAuliffe Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Our ENTIRE OL needs updating in this order...And is assuming we can get one more decent season from Baker and Blalock.2014=RGRTC2015=LTLGAgree 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS91 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 We need a RG and RT more than a C. I'd like to upgrade all three but Hawley is at least mediocre. Konz, Reynolds, Holmes, and Trueblood aren't even good enough to be backups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeitdown Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 RG and RT are our weakest areas. LG/C/RG combo is most important to the line to form a cohesive interior unit and a wall.So that would mean RG is both in the weakest and most needed. Then you can flip a coin between C (more important but we have something not horrible) or RT (less important but we have nothing).I'd go legit B+ Center and RG and get a 1M Svitek type RT for the immediate moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Dog Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 They are all important. You have one weak link and they will jam it on every play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwifalcon Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) C have a good look at it without Mclure Ryan's ability to run the hurry up & No Huddle was limited this season and we saw the catastrophic results teams teeing off on our interior and our OT's.Hence why I want an experienced or a STUD at C build the line from the inside out. Edited January 5, 2014 by kiwifalcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cannonballsghost Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 This is NOT gonna be popular thinking here but IMO our biggest problem was with stunts up the middle allowing pressure right off the bat AND not allowing Ryan to step up in the pocket to elude the def ends . Not only were we playing with less talent but also with confused players and to me that is coachingsam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 I disagree I don't believe Hawley is serviceable in the middle, nor does he have the experience needed to call the signals from the line. With more emphasis placed on the center it sures up the left side A-Gap area that can be utilized more effectively for passing which our team's scheme is based on. I agree RG is a huge are of need, but without a quality center both A-Gaps would still be weak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRid Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 We have no real leadership on the OLine and TD even mentioned we had a problem with leadership in some areas. I have no doubt he was talking about the OLine. TD tried to move forward with young guys, but he went with too many young guys at the same time. That got worse with Johnson and Baker going down. The young guys were expected to do too much and had no leadership.I like Hawley at Center, but if we can somehow get Alex Mack at center and move Hawley to RG that will be a huge upgrade. If we can't get Mack we absolutely have to get a very good veteran OLineman that can be the leader for all the young guys. We can't just go with another young guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etherdome Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 We need LT least of all. However, our LT is not reliable (due to injuries). Since LT's are, by far, the toughest positions to fill (and the most expensive), we need to take advantage of the opportunity to draft a very good one. Matthews, Erving and Robinson are all excellent prospects. All three can immediately upgrade that position. The second round should yield another tier of OT's; most of them project to be RT types. We can address the DL very well via free agency. Players like Soliai, Cody, Joseph, Johnson, Hardy and Bennett have the skills to make our DL much better. Most of them will resign with their present teams, but I suspect that we can have two of them. I also believe that we will have enough cap space to sign a good interior OL. If we are smart in free agency, we can set the draft table for us to have a feast of talent walking through the doors at Flowery Branch.So, to answer the OP's original question: Which is the most important OL position? Answer: All of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Center is in general the most important, but right now RG and RT are what we need most. Hawley wasn't elite but he was much more serviceable than the folks we put at RG and RT, although Schraeder looked decent until Carolina. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Center is in general the most important, but right now RG and RT are what we need most. Hawley wasn't elite but he was much more serviceable than the folks we put at RG and RT, although Schraeder looked decent until Carolina.Agreed he is more serviceable than anyone at RG and RT, but that still isn't saying much. We have the ability in this off season to fill both the center and right guard positions with quality players. For center I want either Mack or Dietrich-Smith. For RG Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz ,John Jerry, or in the draft Cyril Richardson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Agreed he is more serviceable than anyone at RG and RT, but that still isn't saying much. We have the ability in this off season to fill both the center and right guard positions with quality players. For center I want either Mack or Dietrich-Smith. For RG Jon Asamoah, Geoff Schwartz ,John Jerry, or in the draft Cyril Richardson.Only thing with a new center is that I worry about how long it would take him to learn our calls and whatnot. If a center could gel and get the calls in one offseason, then I'm cool with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hawley was very good save for 1 botched snap, not sure what you guys were watching... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidecar Falcon Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Only thing with a new center is that I worry about how long it would take him to learn our calls and whatnot. If a center could gel and get the calls in one offseason, then I'm cool with that.Both Centers I believe can handle Koetter's system no problem. Mack is one of the best centers in the league and Dietrich-Smith runs a more complicated offensive scheme in GB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hawley was very good save for 1 botched snap, not sure what you guys were watching...Yeah I don't disagree. At least from what I saw. He made downfield blocks very well and he had fire. Always defended other players. I like his attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Both Centers I believe can handle Koetter's system no problem. Mack is one of the best centers in the league and Dietrich-Smith runs a more complicated offensive scheme in GBAh, then that might work, if we have enough cap. Otherwise I'd rather stick with Hawley and acquire through draft or FA:DTDTRTRGDEFS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS91 Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Hawley was pretty average. Not bad enough to take priority over RG and RT, which were disasters, but not good enough that an upgrade couldn't be found for a reasonable price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theyhateme : ) Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 What were these guys learning before McClure left...I swear....this regime is the problem. AB has consistently handed them EVERYTHING to be successful, but somehow, winning seasons and playoffs appearances is enough for them, at least it appears to be that way. This team had the talent on the line and sold it off piece by piece and the only thing to show for their efforts is a playoff game that was barely won and I mean barely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Doktor Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 I think Hawley can hold the center slot down with a massive up grade at RG. Add a legitimate RT and better overall fitness for the line players and I think we bounce back. Holmes needs a heavy off season of conditioning and agility work. Konz needs to lift weights like no ones business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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