Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff spent the latter portion of the regular season studying how teams around the NFL have built successful offensive lines.
He’s set to change the way the team builds its offensive line after watching quarterback Matt Ryan run for his life for most of the 2013 season.
“There is no mystery about that,” Dimitroff said. “We’ve had some challenges that have been difficult, not only for our offensive line, but for the guy spinning the ball and the guy that’s very important for us … that’s vital for us to be successful, (we have) to protect (Ryan).”
The Falcons, who have the sixth pick in the next NFL draft, have tried to build the line through the draft since Dimitroff arrived in Atlanta in 2008. Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews, who played in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, and Michigan’s Taylor Lewan are two talented top-10 tackle prospects who could help right away.
“We are going to build and acquire through different approaches, and one can be solely through the draft and one can be by supplementing with free agency,” Dimitroff said. “If the right player is there. … we will consider it.”
However, Dimitroff will guard against over-paying for marginal free-agent line talent.
As the disastrous 2013 season unfolded — the line gave up 44 sacks and 100 quarterback hits — it became apparent that the Falcons failed in their two-year project to make a more athletic and powerful offensive line.
They attempted to build through the draft and have their coaches develop the linemen. Those coaches, Pat Hill and Paul Dunn, were fired by the team Monday, along with defensive line coach Ray Hamilton.
Dimitroff and coach Mike Smith met with the media Monday before the dismissals. Interview requests to talk about the firings were denied as team spokesman Reggie Roberts said that coach firings were a “personnel matter.”
After getting manhandled by the New York Giants and their “NASCAR” rush package in the playoffs after the 2011 season, the days were numbered for most of that line, which included left tackle Will Svitek, left guard Justin Blalock, center Todd McClure, right guard Joe Hawley and right tackle Tyson Clabo. The Falcons couldn’t move the ball in the 24-2 loss.
Blalock was retained, and Hawley was sent to a reserve role. Svitek, who was playing for an injured Sam Baker, eventually was released. After the 2012 season, Todd McClure was forced into retirement and Clabo was sent packing in April.
In 2012, the Falcons drafted center Peter Konz in the second round and tackle Lamar Holmes in the third round. Those two players along with Blalock and Baker (first round, 2008) were projected to make up four of the five spots with Mike Johnson (third round, 2010), Garrett Reynolds (fifth round, 2009) and possibly Hawley (fourth round, 2010) around to fight for the job at right guard.
In 2013 Johnson suffered a season-ending injury in training camp. While Konz and Holmes struggled mightily.
Things didn’t settle down until Hawley took over at center. Konz and Harland Gunn split time at right guard, as Reynolds was benched and inactive for the final game. Ryan Schraeder, a promising undrafted free agent, ended the season as the starting right tackle.
It’s clear that the new offensive line coach will get a chance to salvage the careers of Konz and Holmes.
A similar move helped Blalock, who struggled as a rookie under an inexperienced NFL line coach. When Paul Boudreau, a veteran NFL line coach, was hired, Blalock’s career took off in 2008. However, Boudreau was released in the post-2011 purge.
Holmes, after playing only seven snaps as a rookie, started 15 games. He’s athletic, but needs to add upper-body strength and get a little meaner.
“I only played two years of (FBS football), and I was in JUCO for the most part,” Holmes said. “I just really got into a situation with a stable strength-and-conditioning program.”
When asked what he wants to work on, Holmes said, “My strength. My core strength. My upper-body strength. My foot speed. I just have to get better in my run blocking and get my hand-to-eye coordination a little bit better so that I can be a better pass blocker.”
About the Author
