As injuries started to mount along the Falcons’ offensive line, Jeremy Trueblood, a former starter with Tampa Bay, raced up the depth chart.
Behind left tackle Sam Baker, the Falcons were inexperienced at the position, with second-year player Lamar Holmes and undrafted rookie Ryan Schraeder on the roster and undrafted rookie Terren Jones on the practice squad.
Trueblood was an emergency signee Sept. 3. With Mike Johnson out for the season and Sam Baker hobbled by a knee and foot injuries, Trueblood started at right tackle against the Dolphins.
He played all 71 offensive snaps for the Falcons.
“I thought Jeremy, for his first game, did a nice job,” offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said. “The guy was sitting at home watching TV and then ask him to go out and play (71) plays. We ran 38 plays in the first half. I think he got a little bit tired, but I thought several guys got tired in the second half.
“I think Jeremy, understanding that he’s been here two weeks, showed that he’s a guy that has 80-something starts in the NFL and what a pro that he is. All things considered, I thought he did fine.”
Here’s some background on Trueblood, who hopes to stay in the starting lineup against New England:
Q: What was your first job?
A: Working at Kroger with my Dad. He worked in the meat department, and I was stacking shelves. I was making whatever the minimum wage was back then in '96 or '97. I think it was six bucks or five bucks and some change per hour.
Q: What was your first car?
A: A 1981 Grand Marquis. It was black huge car that my Grandma let me borrow because we didn't have any money for a car. It got me from point A to point B, that's all I really needed.
Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: Oh man. Definitely, "The Family Guy."
Q: What’s your favorite meal?
A: Cheeseburger and fries.
Q: What’s your most prized possession?
A: Right now, I guess my house.
Q: What’s the one place that you want to visit?
A: Ireland. I have a lot of ancestry from there. It would be kind of cool to go there and check it out. See what it's all about.
Q: How did you feel your first game with the Falcons went?
A: It felt good. There is always room for improvement. I wish we would have won, that would have made it a lot better that's for sure.
Q: Were you pleased that the line blocking allowed the team to run the ball against the Dolphins?
A: Absolutely, it's always a plus when you can succeed in the run game. Hopefully we can keep that up. Obviously, it needs to turn into more than a good game. It needs to turn into a win as well.
Q: How tough was it getting the changes down and learning the playbook so fast?
A: It was a challenge, but I had a lot of people helping me. The coaches were very helpful. The guards that I played with (Garrett Reynolds and Justin Blalock) have been very helpful as well. Just doing it myself, studying and getting ready to go was a big key. I felt very comfortable out there. So, we'll see how that goes from here on out.
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