Football analytics website Pro Football Focus has ranked all of the projected offensive lines heading into the 2019 training camps, and the Falcons were ranked 22nd.
Pro Football Focus said they used a combination of grades, college evaluations and age projections to come to the starting-five rankings.
We like that PFF evaluates line play and follow them closely. It’s the hardest position group to evaluate when there is very little contact in practice.
But if the Falcons have the 22nd ranked offensive line, they are headed for a 9-7 or 8-8 record.
The revamped offensive line will need to finish in the top 10 for the Falcons to make that climb back to respectability from last season’s 7-9 mark.
PFF projects that the Falcons will start left tackle Jake Matthews, left guard James Carpenter, center Alex Mack, right guard Chris Lindstrom and right tackle Kaleb McGary.
PFF noted that Matthews and Mack are coming off solid seasons that ranked them in the top 10 at their positions. Both went to the Pro Bowl last season, Matthews as an alternate.
"The Falcons also made offensive line their primary focus in the draft by spending two first-round picks on guard Chris Lindstrom and tackle Kaleb McGary, rookies who could step in and make an impact during the season," according to PFF.
The Eagles have the top-rated line followed by the Cowboys, Steelers, Titans and Colts.
In the NFC South, the Saints are ranked seventh, Panthers 10th and the Buccaneers 24th.
The bottom five teams are the Dolphins (32), Texans (31), Cardinals (30), Chargers (29) and Jets (28).
---
Subscribe to "The Bow Tie Chronicles" podcast with the AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter on iTunes or on the new AJC sports podcasts page.
About the Author
