FLOWERY BRANCH – There are just eight days left until the start of training camp and today we're looking at the offensive line. CLICK HERE for the dates of the practices open to the public.
Chris Morgan will be the Falcons third offensive line coach over the past three seasons.
He follows Mike Tice who had Pat Hill and Paul Dunn.
Chris Morgan spent last season as assistant offensive line coach for the Seattle Seahawks working with Tom Cable, his mentor and college coach when he was a player at Colorado.
Before his Seattle stint, Morgan served as an assistant offensive line coach with the Washington Redskins (2011-13) and Oakland Raiders (2009-10).
In 2012, Morgan helped direct Washington's line that rushed for a team-record 2,709 yards, marking the franchise’s first team rushing crown since 1933.
He has to whip a unit into shape that has been beset with injuries over the past two seasons and get the right players to fit into the new outside-zone blocking scheme.
“Probably, the No. 1 thing is that the guys have to be able to move,” Morgan said. “They really have to be on the run, adjust on the run.”
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Morgan didn’t get to work with many of the former starters this offseason because they were rehabbing from injuries. But Jake Matthews (foot), Joe Hawley (knee) and Peter Konz (knee) returned to drills last in the offseason.
“We were working with all of the guys,” Morgan said. “It’s next man up here and the guys have been great about it. The guys that were not out there were trying to get back as fast as they could.”
Here’s a look at what Morgan, who's in his first year as the head offensive line coach, has to work with:
CENTERS
Joe Hawley, UNLV, 6-3, 302: Joe Hawley, who was the opening day starting center last season, is still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. He suffered a double (ACL and MCL) ligament injury in the fourth game of last season against Minnesota on Sept. 28. Hawley participated in some of the drills during the offseason, but didn't take any snaps in 11-on-11 plays from scrimmage. His goal has been to be ready by the start of training camp on July 31. "I'm about 85 to 90 percent I would say," Hawley said on Tuesday, July 14th on Moving the Chains on 680 The Fan. "The trainers told me with this kind of injury, it's a double ligament injury, this whole year I'm never going to be back to 100 percent."
Peter Konz, Wisconsin, 6-5, 317: He is also coming off a knee surgery that cut his 2014 season short. Konz suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Oct. 19. Konz had replaced Hawley in the lineup. He
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
returned to action near the end of the offseason, but did not take any snaps from scrimmage in practice. The former second-round pick (55th overall) in 2012 has played in 39 games and made 28 undistinguished starts. He lost the battle with Hawley for the starting spot after starting 10 games as a rookie and 15 in 2013.
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke, New Mexico, 6-3, 296: He was a four-year starter at center for the Aggies and served as a team captain during his senior season in 2014. He was a first team All-Sun Belt selection last season. Ume-Ezeoke is a native of Garland, Texas and attended Garland Lakeview Centennial High School.
James Stone, Tennessee, 6-3, 291: He took over after Hawley and Konz were injured last season. The undrafted rookie from Tennessee was steady as quarterback Matt Ryan took over calling of the pass protections. Stone held his own in the trenches as he started nine games and there wasn't a noticeable drop-off. He held the No. 1 spot over the offseason and must hold off challenges from Hawley and Konz to retain the starting position. He was the 24th rated center in the league amongst those who played more than 50 percent of the team's snaps, according to profootballfocus.com. He played 681 snaps and gave up six quarterback hits and 15 hurries.
GUARDS
Jon Asamoah, Illinois, 6-4, 305: He suffered an ankle injury during OTAs, but should be ready to go for training camp. He was the most solid player along the line last season. He played 966 snaps and gave up two sacks, three hits and 21 hurries. He was the 23rd rated guard of the group who played 50 percent or more of their team's offensive snaps, according to profootballfocus.com.
Chris Chester, Oklahoma, 6-3, 303: The former Washington Redskin, who was ranked lower than the departed Justin Blalock and Asamoah in recent years under profootballfocus.com's grading system, was signed for $2.8 million. Chester, 32, has started 111 of 137 games for the Ravens and Redskins. Chester was snapped up after being released by Washington. Last season, Blalock (26th) and Asamoah (24th) were rated higher than Chester (33rd) by profootballfocus.com. Blalock gave up three sacks, six hits and 20 quarterback hurries over 991 snaps. Chester gave up five sacks, three hits and 16 hurries.
Harland Gunn, Miami, 6-2, 310: He spent time on the practice squads in Dallas, New Orleans and Atlanta before seeing some action in 2014. He played in three games at right guard. He graded out well against the run over 93 snaps. He gave up one sack, three quarterback hits and three quarterback hurries in pass protection.
Eric Lefeld, Cincinnati, 6-6, 310: He started all 13 games in 2014 and missed just one start in his final three years with the Bearcats. He was named to the Outland Trophy watch list in 2013 and 2014, and earned first-team All-Big East honors as a sophomore in 2012. Lefeld is a native of Coldwater, Ohio and attended Coldwater High School.
Mike Person, Montana State, 6-4, 299: He played in 16 games last season for the St. Louis Rams, but has no NFL starts. He played 60 snaps at left guard and gave up two quarterback hurries. He was listed among "others" outside of the top 10 tackles, who were free agents by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn, who commented: "A deep backup, Person's three-year deal was worth $3.35M ($500,000 guaranteed)." He's ended the offseason working with the first-team at left guard. So, he's somewhere between a starter and a "deep backup."
Adam Replogle, Indiana, 6-3, 294: He's a former defensive lineman trying to make the conversion to the offensive side of the ball. He spent last season on the practice squad. He was injured and not present and some of the open offseason practices.
Jared Smith, New Hampshire, 6-4, 302: He was on Seattle's practice squad in 2013 before suffering an injury. The Seahawks picked him in the seventh-round (241st overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. He played at New Hampshire. Smith was waived prior to the start of training camp in 2014. He is also the midst of being converted from a defensive lineman. At New Hampshire he had 129 tackles (59 solo) 12.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He was named an All-American by College Sports Journal and The Sports Network.
TACKLES
Lamar Holmes, Southern Mississippi, 6-6, 310: He missed most of last season with a
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
Credit: D. Orlando Ledbetter
foot injury and then suffered a broken foot in June and will be out indefinitely. Holmes, a third-round pick (91st overall) in 2012 out of Southern Mississippi, has had a history of foot problems dating back to his rookie season. He played in one game in 2012 and had a foot surgery. He came back to start 15 of 16 games in 2013 before he suffered another foot injury in the fourth game of last season. It is not known if this is the same troublesome foot of if he broke a bone in the other foot. Holmes, 25, had dropped about 30 pound and was moving well in the Falcons' new zone-clocking scheme. He was having a strong camp before the injury. "I couldn't be more pleased with where he's at," Quinn said before the injury.
Matt Huffer, South Dakota, 6-6, 300: He was signed after receiving a rookie trying. He was a three-year starter at left tackle. He played in 41 career games for the Coyotes and earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore in 2012.
Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, 6-5, 305: The Falcons wanted to ease Matthews, the sixth overall pick in the draft in 2014, into the NFL by letting him start at right tackle last season. But after a season-ending injury to Sam Baker in the exhibition season, he was immediately moved to left tackle as we found out on Hard Knocks. He ended up starting 15 games, but was rated as the worst tackle in the league by profootballfocus. He was 56th (last) of the players who took more than 50 percent of their team's snaps. It was a baptismal by fire as he played 962 snaps, committed 11 penalties, gave up seven sacks, nine quarterback hits and 35 quarterback hurries. The Falcons elected to release Sam Baker and go with Matthews at left tackle, who maintain his composure and stature during a rugged rookie campaign. Because of the rough start, he could make a big jump in his second season.
Tyler Polumbus, Colorado, 6-8, 308: He's 30 and has played in 98 NFL games and made 57 starts. He started at right tackle for Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan 2011-2013 while with the Washington Redskins. He started four of five games in 2011, when he split the season between Washington and Seattle. He started 15 of 15 games in 2012 and 16 of 16 in 2013. Last season, he started seven of the 11 games he played in. He was the 62nd ranked tackle in the league who played more than 25 percent of his team's snaps, according to profootballfocus.com. He played 491 snaps and gave up eight quarterback sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.
Ryan Schraeder, Valdosta State, 6-7, 300: He started 10 of 13 games last season. Over the past two seasons, the former undrafted player has played in 26 games with 14 starts. Schrader, who worked mostly with the first-team at right tackle over the offseason, is a good fit in the new blocking scheme. He was the 20th rated tackle of the players who played more than 50 percent of their team's snaps last season by profootballfocus.com. He played 655 snaps and gave up three sacks, two quarterback hits and 17 pressures. He's starting to work out some of the rough edges around his game.
Jake Rodgers, Eastern Washington (Washington State), 6-6, 320: He is athletic and could fit in a as a big guard. He was 250 pounds coming out of high school and was recruited as a tight end. He was moved to the line at Washington State. He redshirted and played for them in 2011. He started 12 games for the Cougars in 2012 at four different positions, but decided to leave the program. He transferred and missed half of the 2013 season with a knee injury. He returned in 2014 and started every game at right tackle and played some at right guard. A promising developmental tackle.
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ATLANTA FALCONS 2015 COUNTDOWN TO CAMP: We started our countdown to training camp 11 days out of Monday. We started with the wide receivers followed by the quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks/tight ends and the offensive line today. Links are below if you missed one.
Here’s the schedule:
Thursday – Fullbacks/Tight ends
TODAY – Offensive line
Saturday – Defensive line
Sunday – Linebackers
Mon., July 27 – Cornerbacks
Tue., July 28 – Safeties
Wed., July 29 – Special teams
Thur., July 30 -- Assistant coaches (non coordinators)
Friday, July 31 – First day of practice.
TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: The Falcons will hold their training camp at the team's headquarters for the 11th consecutive year and will have select practices open to the public from July 31 – August 19.
On Friday, August 7, the Falcons will hold their “Friday Night Lights” controlled scrimmage at Buford High School.
Here’s the training camp schedule:
Friday, July 31 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 1 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 2 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 3 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 4 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Wednesday, August 5 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 6 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 7 – “Friday Night Lights” (Buford High School – open to the public)
Saturday, August 8 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 9 – Practice 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 10 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 11 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 12 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Thursday, August 13 – Practice 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 14 – Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans, Georgia Dome, 7:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, August 15 – Players’ Day Off (No Media Availability)
Sunday, August 16 – Walkthrough (closed to the public)
Monday, August 17 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 18 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 19 – Practice 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (open to the public)
ROOKIE MINICAMP VIDEOS VIDEO:
Meet Falcons 2nd round pick CB Jalen Collins
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 3rd round pick RB Tevin Coleman
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
VIDEO: Meet Falcons 7th round pick CB Akeem King
AJC's 2015 NFL DRAFT COVERAGE
Falcons pick Vic Beasley, pass on Todd Gurley
Scouting report: Vic Beasley the next DeMarcus Ware or a one-trick pony?
Grady Jarrett escapes fire before Falcons draft him
MARK BRADLEY COLUMN: Vic Beasley: The right pick at the right time
JEFF SCHULTZ COLUMN: Falcons' Quinn determined to fix pass rush in draft
STEVE HUMMER feature on first-round pick Vic Beasley
Falcons add CB Jalen Collins in the second round
Falcons add RB Tevin Coleman in the third round
Falcons' draft bios round 2 through 7
PHOTO GALLERY: Meet the Falcons draft class
VIDEO
Vic Beasley plans to be a double-digit sack guy
Thomas Dimitroff and Dan Quinn on the first round of the draft
Falcons coach Dan Quinn on 4th round pick WR Justin Hardy
Dimitroff and Quinn on 5th round pick DT Grady Jarrett
Quinn on 7th round pick OT Jake Rodgers
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