g-dawg Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 As are most of you, I am enthused and encouraged about all the additions this offseason. Clearly we have a lot of new blood on the defense with players like Vic Beasley, Brooks Reed, Justin Durant, Jalen Collins and Grady Jarrett - to name a few. By re-signing Antone Smith and adding Tevin Coleman thru the draft and adding to the promising DeVonta Freeman, I feel good about the talent behind Matt Ryan in the offensive formation as well. Subbing Justin Hardy for HD - to me, I believe it will be better than a PUSH - but at worst, I see a wash there.The one HUGE worry for me is still the offensive line. Losses: Justin Blalock/Sam Baker (I was in favor of both of these cuts)Adds: Chris Chester/Tyler Polumbus/Jake RogersReturning Starters: LT-Jake Matthews OC- Joe Hawley/James Stone RG - Jon Asamoah RT - Ryan SchaederThe one player most of us feel really solid about is Jake Matthews - and he is coming off a Lisfranc injury and disappointed prior to that season-ending injury. Once 100% healthy, I believe Jake will bounce back, figure it out and become the building block he was drafted to be. I think Asamoah will be fine in any blocking system and not worried too much there. Hopefully Chris Chester will do well now that he gets to go back to the Shanny ZBS but, if you believe Skin fans, he struggled mightily last year - maybe that was the product of the entire Skins OL - but is ours that much better?Ryan Schraeder? I just think he is average (at best) and maybe he will develop more and/or flourish in the ZBS.I'm still worried that Matt Ryan is going to get killed on 5-and-7 step drops or have to rush his throws....I do look for the running game to improve but concerned the pass protection will be as bad (or shutter to think, worse) as last year.We still need a lot of talent upgrade on this offensive line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I'm with you, and would add we also lost Mike Tice.You can have the grandest scheme in the world, but truth is Neither running game nor pass blocking will improve unless OL is improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFanSince1969 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I can't accurately judge last years line considering enough members got hurt in one game that we had to start a TE @ RT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest facelessman07 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Dear TD & Quinn, The two of you have done an outstanding job so far this offseason. Now, with one of the guard spots in question please put our hearts and minds at rest...not to mention your QB's well being also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MD-FalconFan13 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Better at doing what? That's the question you need to answer. Since we don't know how good our guys are in this scheme. You're assuming of past production which was in a different scheme that asked the players do different things. The assumption that our line couldn't be better than they were last year, ignoring the obvious improvement if we stay health, with a new set of instructions is misguided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_Lo_Touchdowns Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 The offensive line is gonna be key to success in 2015, I'm not sure if I can get any worst than last year but I don't expect to see much improvement. We couldn't run the ball to save our lives and struggled at times in pass protection last season. The ZBS could possibly work for us once the players get it down but I just don't think we have the talenr to get it going this year. I think Ryan will do better percentage wise with the quick dink and dunk, bubble screens and dump off passes, but he won't put up as many yards or TDs. Only time will tell if this line can open lanes for our backs to scoot thru or sustain blocks long enough to allow Ryan to read the field but ATM I would have to say NO the line isn't better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuggle'2 Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I think we are on the condition we stay healthy. I think the scheme change is going to do wonders for out protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romfal Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I think we are on the condition we stay healthy. I think the scheme change is going to do wonders for out protection.healthy is indeed the key word.And if we somehow land Mathis, we can have some solid depth with Chester/Person on the inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Considering that we lost 4 starters last year, had a rookie LT, who was battling some form of injury most of the year, had a rookie undrafted center for most of the year, and had virtually no running game, I'd say that our OL was pretty good last year. We've added the guys you mentioned, as well as Person, who you left out. Meanwhile, we numerous guys coming back from injury, and multiple players that now have playing experience. Outside of injury, I have no reason to believe that our OL won't be at least middle of the road. The only question is, will that be good enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FentayeJones Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I think the offensive line has the potential to be better.Jake and Schraeder will have a year under their belts. Four starters are returning plus Chester. The ZBS seem to be a better fit for the personnel.Barring significant injuries, I think the unit can be a little better than average. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trubirdfan4life Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 I'm with you, and would add we also lost Mike Tice.You can have the grandest scheme in the world, but truth is Neither running game nor pass blocking will improve unless OL is improved.tice is not a zone scheme coach. Power scheme only. Thats why he is gone. Tice is a good oline coach just not for the scheme that we are trying to run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egoprime II Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Hey again g-dawg...I have a high standard when it comes to O line. I think we only have one truly professional starting O lineman, Asamoah. Hawley is getting there. Matthews and Schroeder have flashed, which is a lot more than we can say about Konz and Holmes, both of whom I hope we let walk after this season, no matter what...because I do not trust contract-year performers, IF they do decide to play well that is. The rest of our linemen, like Person Gunn Chester Polumbus....these are 3rd and 4th tier FA types who bounce around the league. One will start for us, probably. The biggest thing we Do Not have on our O line, is a leader...someone who would snatch Vaccarro by the neck after he helmeted Ryan a couple seasons back (our current crew just stood there). Someone who would get in the face of our O linemen when they give a crappy effort. Evan Mathis is that leader, IMHO. We need him more than any other FA we have signed so far. If only to show our current crew what a truly dedicated O line player looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 tice is not a zone scheme coach. Power scheme only. Thats why he is gone. Tice is a good oline coach just not for the scheme that we are trying to runtice left Falcons before anyone knew what our new OL scheme would be, as neither Quinn nor Shanny's were hired yet .He left to be with his friend del rio in Oakland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcons4life Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 As it stands today, our line will be better than last year. That's not saying much I know, but between moving to the ZBS, the return of Hawley, the maturation and improved health of Jake we should be better. Add to it a balanced attack that doesn't have defenders pinning their ears back on every snap should provide some wiggle room for Matt. I think I speak for most everyone who thinks Mathis is a no brainier and should be added immediately. His presence provides stability and leadership and I think all of us, including Matt Ryan, would rest a bit better at night knowing we had a player of his caliber on the line. An improved OLine will help but the revamped defense should make us very competitive. Get opposing offenses off the field to give our offense two or three more possessions a game is how we will see more production from the offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconidae Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Holmes was a starter too GDawg.Matthews is the key, if they can leave him on an island, they can cover for anybody else.Would also help immensely to have enough of a run game that they can't just rush Ryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayOzOne Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Except for losing two centers, left tackle, and two right tackles, last year's line want as bad as last year's line was. We wound up starting a rookie center and third string right tackle and we replaced them with starters who have experience in the scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vel Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 It's all about healthy. Healthy, I'm not worried. I wasn't worried last year neither before injury. Matthews will be fine. Chester knows the offense and has played OG in it so he shouldn't have much trouble. Hawley is a dog. Just needs to come back healthy. Asamoah needs to be healthy. Schraeder is a dog too. Give them health and a commitment to letting them pin their ears back and run block more than 5 times a game and we'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtybird56 Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Yes, but it depends on Jake. Our interior is solid. Hawley and Asamoah are good. Chester is a quality player returning to the ZBS. Schraeder saw dramatic improvement from year 1 to being one of the top pass protecting RT's in the league. Athleticism will be displayed in the outside zone, I look for him to have a great season Stone provides good depth on the interior. Our depth at the tackle positions isnt particularly good. A lot of this team's season hinges on Matthews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeamPlayer1 Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 I do hate to dis Sam Baker but if we had a trash can full of bricks that would be better. I'm sorry for his knee issues but he is never on the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Talent wise, I think were still the same. But the new scheme should help. I hope they learn it sooner than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeitdown Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Yeah, if healthy we seem to be average. But we have our LT coming back from injury, journeyman LG, and C coming back from injury.That puts the entire left side into question.Any money we can spend to solidify the interior OL is money well spent.A good OL and we're likely a 10 win team. A poor OL and we're likely a 6 win team. I don't know how to get around the importance (for a team that relies on its QB and doesn't yet have a top defense) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD dirtybird21 Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 If the running game is at least formidable this season, the pass protection instantly is better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterpiper Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 **** to the NO. Our o-line is pathetic and nothing has been done to change this. If anything it is worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Its about young talented guys continuing to get better... The best way to build a Oline is drafting and developing your young guys but its about players developing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tl;dr Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 **** to the NO. Our o-line is pathetic and nothing has been done to change this. If anything it is worse. Our starting C is back, our starting LT is a year more experienced (and hopefully healthy) and our O-line is worse? I'm getting a feeling you are a sAints or panties fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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