Evaluating the Falcons’ offensive line first requires figuring out which group to assess.
Is it the starting five that opened the season already missing its left tackle? Is it one of the starting units that was also missing the center? Or is it the current group that includes two rookies, one of them a college free agent, and a second-year player from a NCAA Division II school?
The Falcons have used five combinations of offensive linemen this season. The latest group is the only one to play more than three games together, and it had probably its best game of the season in the Falcons’ 29-18 victory against the Cardinals on Sunday.
Coach Mike Smith said that’s no coincidence.
“I really think that they’re starting to come together in regards to understanding what the other guy is going to be doing,” Smith said. “As I said many times, that unit has to play together as a unit, and there is some cohesion there over the last couple of weeks.”
Barring injury or other unforeseen changes, the Falcons will finish the season with center James Stone, guards Justin Blalock (left) and Jon Asamoah (right) and tackles Jake Matthews (left) and Ryan Schraeder (right). Among that group, only Blalock and Asamoah are playing their expected role entering training camp.
Yet even with so many changes and inexperienced players, the offensive line performed well against Arizona’s stout defense. The group kept quarterback Matt Ryan clean (one sack and one hit in 46 drop-backs) and helped the Falcons post one of their most efficient rushing games of the season.
“I just feel like this game has been coming,” Schraeder said. “We’re all eager to prove ourselves. Everybody is playing as hard as they can. It was just a matter of time before things started to come together.”
Time to jell has been in short supply for the Falcons’ offensive line this season. Injuries and poor performance have caused several changes to the lineup.
It started when left tackle Sam Baker suffered a season-ending injury during training camp. It continued when center Joe Hawley and right tackle Lamar Holmes suffered season-ending injuries in Week 4. Matthews has missed one game because of injury and even Blalock, who had started 102 consecutive games, was forced out for a game because of a back injury.
Hawley’s replacement, Peter Konz, suffered a season-ending injury in Week 7. Gabe Carimi, who replaced Holmes, was benched after three ineffective starts.
The Falcons finally have managed to keep the same five linemen on the field for a long stretch, and it appears to be paying dividends.
“They are young, but these guys are tough,” Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas said. “I love the hunger they have. It is hard for us to go out there and do what we do as playmakers if the offensive line does not play well.”
Matthews has the pedigree as the No. 6 overall draft pick and the latest in a long line of NFL players in his family. But he’s still a rookie playing one of the tougher positions in the game, and he’s been slowed by a high ankle sprain.
Stone and Schraeder, a late bloomer who played at Division II Valdosta State, come from more modest backgrounds.
Stone started 39 of 45 games at Tennessee, but he wasn’t selected in the draft. Reports at the time praised his athletic ability and intelligence, but downgraded him for his relative lack of strength. Smith said Stone is “strong, he has good girth, and he’s playing well.”
Injuries forced Schraeder to start four games last season, and he struggled to make the transition to the NFL. But he’s been much better this season — Pro Football Focus gave Schraeder his two highest career grades for his performance in the past two weeks, against the Cardinals and Browns.
Smith credited offensive line coach Mike Tice and assistant Wade Harman, both added to the staff this year, for getting the most out of a group missing so many key players.
“This is a group that we’re starting a college free agent at the center position, a second-year player at offensive tackle, and a rookie draft pick,” Smith said. “It says a lot about those guys getting them ready to be prepared to play, and I think each week they’ve improved.”
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