Nfc South Q&a: Do Atlanta Falcons Have Worst Offensive Line?

[Tuggle'2]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/60895/nfc-south-qa-do-atlanta-falcons-have-worst-offensive-line

NFC South Q&A: Do Atlanta Falcons have worst offensive line?

Vaughn McClure, ESPN Staff Writer

Today's question: Do the Atlanta Falcons have the NFC South's worst offensive line? They made improvements last season with the addition of Jake Matthews, but the group still had trouble. Now the linemen have to adjust to a new scheme under offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

David Newton, Carolina Panthers: No. I'm going with Tampa Bay. The Bucs allowed 52 sacks last season; only two teams allowed more. Atlanta gave up only 31. Tampa Bay also ranked 29th in rushing, averaging 85.9 yards a game. Atlanta ranked 24th. The Bucs were miserable after an offseason in which they spent a lot of money revamping the line. Left tackle Anthony Collins was such a bust after receiving a five-year, $30 million deal that he was benched during the season and cut after it. Tampa Bay had not only the worst offensive line in an NFC South that had a lot of dreadful lines, it was the worst in the NFL. It hasn't improved enough in the offseason to change that.

Mike Triplett, New Orleans Saints: All four NFC South teams had to revamp their offensive lines, a big reason why no one finished with a winning record last year. The first/worst team that came to my mind was Carolina. The Saints have always been able to get to Cam Newton, sacking him 13 times over the past two seasons, and I know the Panthers are switching left tackles for the second straight year. Then I looked at some numbers and saw Tampa Bay gave up by far the most sacks in the division last year before drafting two offensive linemen, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, in the second round. And Pro Football Focus had the Falcons' line rated last in the South in each of the past two years, with an especially low run-blocking grade. It seems like Atlanta especially needs to get more out of Matthews after investing the sixth overall pick in him in 2013.

Pat Yasinskas, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The only thing that prevented the Falcons from having the NFC South's worst offensive line last year was a Tampa Bay line that was even worse. The line was a problem spot for the Falcons throughout the tenure of former coach Mike Smith. Now it's up to Shanahan to finally fix things -- and that's going to be a big challenge. Atlanta's line wasn't good at even the most simple thing last year as the Falcons ranked No. 24 in the league in rushing. The run blocking needs to improve, but Shanahan's zone-blocking scheme might take some time to adjust to. Largely due to the addition of Matthews, Atlanta's pass blocking improved last season. Matt Ryan was sacked 44 times in 2013 and 31 times in 2014. That's progress, but the Falcons still need to do a better job of protecting Ryan.

Small video in link too. Says some interesting stuff about Kyle and how he is motivating the Oline. I love what I am hearing.

[B_Lo_Touchdowns]

Bucs have the worst line but were not far behind. Sack totals don't tell the whole story

[Tuggle'2]

Atlanta's line wasn't good at even the most simple thing last year as the Falcons ranked No. 24 in the league in rushing.

It's just that simple is it Pat?

[Moist Words]

"The only thing that prevented the Falcons from having the NFC South's worst offensive line last year was a Tampa Bay line that was even worse."

I love this line. The only reason they weren't the worst is because someone else was worse? The deductive reasoning he used there is impressive to say the least.

[trubirdfan4life]

Our line was crushed by injuries last season. If we can stay healthy and keep our best players on the field, our line will perform at a much better level. Not top 10 but good enough to be middle of the pack in rushing and continue to maintain the passing numbers. At one point we 3 rookies starting and 2 were undrafted.....2 starters hurt and still playing....we even had a TE finish a game at tackle...it was rough

[Tuggle'2]

"The only thing that prevented the Falcons from having the NFC South's worst offensive line last year was a Tampa Bay line that was even worse."

I love this line. The only reason they weren't the worst is because someone else was worse? The deductive reasoning he used there is impressive to say the least.

Pat and DLed were a match made in the lowest pits of hell.

[Vandy]

NFCS last 22-41 last year. I think it's safe to say all 4 teams stunk in many areas, OL maybe most of all.

[coffy]

Greetings. I'm not allowed (yet?) to start a new thread so I put this here... and I may be getting ready to make some of you angry. I promise I don't mean to! I'm trying to NOT be a homer. On our forum, we're discussing how Quinn will affect your team and how big of a challenge it will be to us. Instead of just giving my opinion there, I thought in fairness I'd put it here as well and let you rip it apart ... or agree ... or whatever you feel. So here it is:

My biggest concern is the fact that they'll come in pumped and thinking "This fixes everything!" A positive attitude can get even a bad team a couple wins. (NOTE: I don't think ATL is a bad team) But they still have a lot of issues on D and O-line, plus no sure RB. I think even if Quinn solves a lot, they still have more holes than we do. For example. we have LT concerns, but they have entire O-line concerns. We wonder who'll take Hardy's spot, but they wonder if ANYONE will get to the QB. (They've got good potential with Beasley, but unproven and no one else) etc. etc. etc.

Even if Quinn is the guru that made the Seattle D, the talent dropoff with his new D is quite large and will show up. Plus it puts everyone learning a new system. So, while anything can happen in the NFL, I think the math says that we have the advantage.

Have at it! Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you.

Edited July 15, 2015 by coffy

[FentayeJones]

No. I think we have an average or a little above average starting five on paper. I think our STARTING O-line is better than both the Bucs and Panthers. We are very thin once we get past the starting five though - especially at tackle and an Injury to Jake or Schraeder will have us reeling again.

[Willy Mo]

Greetings. I'm not allowed (yet?) to start a new thread so I put this here... and I may be getting ready to make some of you angry. I promise I don't mean to! I'm trying to NOT be a homer. On our forum, we're discussing how Quinn will affect your team and how big of a challenge it will be to us. Instead of just giving my opinion there, I thought in fairness I'd put it here as well and let you rip it apart ... or agree ... or whatever you feel. So here it is:

My biggest concern is the fact that they'll come in pumped and thinking "This fixes everything!" A positive attitude can get even a bad team a couple wins. (NOTE: I don't think ATL is a bad team) But they still have a lot of issues on D and O-line, plus no sure RB. I think even if Quinn solves a lot, they still have more holes than we do. For example. we have LT concerns, but they have entire O-line concerns. We wonder who'll take Hardy's spot, but they wonder if ANYONE will get to the QB. (They've got good potential with Beasley, but unproven and no one else) etc. etc. etc.

Even if Quinn is the guru that made the Seattle D, the talent dropoff with his new D is quite large and will show up. Plus it puts everyone learning a new system. So, while anything can happen in the NFL, I think the math says that we have the advantage.

Have at it! Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you.

The Huddle?

[Falconfootballfan]

Is Atlanta still in consideration to sign Evan Mathis (the offensive guard who used to play for Philadelphia)?

[Leggggggo]

Greetings. I'm not allowed (yet?) to start a new thread so I put this here... and I may be getting ready to make some of you angry. I promise I don't mean to! I'm trying to NOT be a homer. On our forum, we're discussing how Quinn will affect your team and how big of a challenge it will be to us. Instead of just giving my opinion there, I thought in fairness I'd put it here as well and let you rip it apart ... or agree ... or whatever you feel. So here it is:

My biggest concern is the fact that they'll come in pumped and thinking "This fixes everything!" A positive attitude can get even a bad team a couple wins. (NOTE: I don't think ATL is a bad team) But they still have a lot of issues on D and O-line, plus no sure RB. I think even if Quinn solves a lot, they still have more holes than we do. For example. we have LT concerns, but they have entire O-line concerns. We wonder who'll take Hardy's spot, but they wonder if ANYONE will get to the QB. (They've got good potential with Beasley, but unproven and no one else) etc. etc. etc.

Even if Quinn is the guru that made the Seattle D, the talent dropoff with his new D is quite large and will show up. Plus it puts everyone learning a new system. So, while anything can happen in the NFL, I think the math says that we have the advantage.

Have at it! Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you.

Quinn does a couple of things for me.

Both he and Kyle work with the talent they have and create a scheme to fit those talents. There are huge production guys over in Seattle that wouldn't be what they are without that system to highlight their individual skills. I think the same will be true here, he will find ways to highlight individual talents which in turn will compliment the whole unit.

Locker Room Atmosphere: While baseball and football are widely different, a cohesive group in baseball (think KC last year) can take an undertalented team to the promised land. While that isn't the case in football, it does give those guys the added umph on those 4th and 1s or game winning drives. Little extra ounces of effort goes a long way on the football field. That year we went 13-3, one of the biggest conversation pieces was the attitude we had in the lockerroom and how electric it was. I think he brings that back.

I'm not saying he's going to fix the X's and O's week 1, but I think he give us the edge on an approach stand point where we are the ones just barely climbing out of the trashcan that is the NFC South at the end of the year. How much we are able to climb out remains to be seen.

[Common Sense]

Unfortunately they are one of the 2 worse in the league.

Equally as unfortunate, the 2 worse happen to come out of the same Division.

The Falcons just happen to be one of the two.....

[MasterBateser]

Greetings. I'm not allowed (yet?) to start a new thread so I put this here... and I may be getting ready to make some of you angry. I promise I don't mean to! I'm trying to NOT be a homer. On our forum, we're discussing how Quinn will affect your team and how big of a challenge it will be to us. Instead of just giving my opinion there, I thought in fairness I'd put it here as well and let you rip it apart ... or agree ... or whatever you feel. So here it is:

My biggest concern is the fact that they'll come in pumped and thinking "This fixes everything!" A positive attitude can get even a bad team a couple wins. (NOTE: I don't think ATL is a bad team) But they still have a lot of issues on D and O-line, plus no sure RB. I think even if Quinn solves a lot, they still have more holes than we do. For example. we have LT concerns, but they have entire O-line concerns. We wonder who'll take Hardy's spot, but they wonder if ANYONE will get to the QB. (They've got good potential with Beasley, but unproven and no one else) etc. etc. etc.

Even if Quinn is the guru that made the Seattle D, the talent dropoff with his new D is quite large and will show up. Plus it puts everyone learning a new system. So, while anything can happen in the NFL, I think the math says that we have the advantage.

Have at it! Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you.

Seems fair

[capologist]

Here's my problem with the analysis:

1. Matthews was drafted in 2014 not 2013.

and

2. When you lose 60% of your starters in both years, yes, the line is going to look horrible.

[dirtyhairy]

Small video in link too. Says some interesting stuff about Kyle and how he is motivating the Oline. I love what I am hearing.

No where in that discussion did it say Atlanta lost 5 starters to the Oline, during the year. The Falcons are healthy and infused with a better system for the talent. We will be much better and we need to be.

[DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry]

I'm not even sure we have the second worst OL.

Carolina's OL depth chart is a wasteland.

I think our OL is perfectly fine. Could be better, could be a **** of a lot worse.

[Dirtybird#11]

Yes the Falcons have the worst OLINE in the NFC South

[Lornoth]

We don't have a good offensive line, but I would make a case for us having the best line in the division, which is pathetic. Maybe the Ain'ts have a better one. Panthers and Bucs are both really bad though. Maybe if the Bucs' two rookies are amazing they'll turn it around. Panthers... I don't see a way out of their situation.

[Dirtybird56]

No. I think we have an average or a little above average starting five on paper. I think our STARTING O-line is better than both the Bucs and Panthers. We are very thin once we get past the starting five though - especially at tackle and an Injury to Jake or Schraeder will have us reeling again.

This man knows our line.

[Romfal]

may be bias, but I'd take our O-line over Tampa and Carolina.

[CraigSmackDaddy]

Greetings. I'm not allowed (yet?) to start a new thread so I put this here... and I may be getting ready to make some of you angry. I promise I don't mean to! I'm trying to NOT be a homer. On our forum, we're discussing how Quinn will affect your team and how big of a challenge it will be to us. Instead of just giving my opinion there, I thought in fairness I'd put it here as well and let you rip it apart ... or agree ... or whatever you feel. So here it is:

My biggest concern is the fact that they'll come in pumped and thinking "This fixes everything!" A positive attitude can get even a bad team a couple wins. (NOTE: I don't think ATL is a bad team) But they still have a lot of issues on D and O-line, plus no sure RB. I think even if Quinn solves a lot, they still have more holes than we do. For example. we have LT concerns, but they have entire O-line concerns. We wonder who'll take Hardy's spot, but they wonder if ANYONE will get to the QB. (They've got good potential with Beasley, but unproven and no one else) etc. etc. etc.

Even if Quinn is the guru that made the Seattle D, the talent dropoff with his new D is quite large and will show up. Plus it puts everyone learning a new system. So, while anything can happen in the NFL, I think the math says that we have the advantage.

Have at it! Please let me know where I am wrong. Thank you.

Fair for the most part. I think people (including Falcon fans) are sleeping on what our oline can be if healthy though. I look for Matthews to have a much better season. Might take a few games to get in sync with the move to the ZBS but I think our oline will be much improved.

[Dirtybird#11]

I'd rather have Tampa OLINE then ours because they got new faces that could possibly be solid. While we got a bunch of below averages "scheme fits" or players that just can't stay off of IR.

*note not saying TB's OLINE could suck but give me youth over the negative known commodity*

[coffy]

I appreciate the comments (and the fact that no one blasted me!) I see one thing I didn't take into account. I really don't know what kind of O-line you have when you get your guys back from injury. I'm saying you have O-line problems because we got to Matt quite often on that last game, but maybe it's not the case with your #1 guys.

[Borat]

We had an intelligent QB who could get rid of the ball in a hurry. Tampa's guy was 0/2 on those traits last year.