Despite playing only three games together, the Falcons’ starting offensive line has captured the attention of Texans coach Bill O’Brien.
O’Brien said through each of the starting five’s talents, the Falcons’ improved running game against the Cowboys and the line’s protection of Matt Ryan will be a “big challenge” when the Texans play the Falcons at the Georgia Dome at 1 p.m. Sunday.
“I think all those guys are playing well,” O’Brien said. “We feel good about our defensive line, and it’ll be a good matchup.”
Tackle Jake Matthews said that since the offensive line’s first game together almost four weeks ago, the group has grown close and communication has become fluid.
“It was kind of awesome what we did going into that first game. We really had one week to get to know each other and get to play our first game,” Matthews said. “As a group, we’ve gotten a lot closer. We got a really good front five.”
Andy Levitre, who joined the Falcons in early September and is the newest member of the group, said that through practicing together for five weeks, the five have grown tight and confident.
“I think we’ve gotten along really well off the field, and that carries over to things that we do on the field like communicating, being on the same page and knowing what we’re supposed to be doing,” Levitre said. “I think we’re growing as a unit, but I think communication has been pretty solid the whole time.”
Matthews said that, per coach Dan Quinn’s weekly goal of seeing improvement with every game, he sees that the offensive line improving. Matthews said that playing on the road against the Cowboys and the Giants in such loud arenas helped the offensive line perform with little time together.
With the home crowd of the Georgia Dome on Sunday, Matthews said he hopes the offensive line can improve beyond what they are in Week 4, and they’re excited for the challenge.
“We’re going to be at home and have our crowd with us and hopefully continue what we’ve been doing the past couple of weeks and run the ball well,” Matthews said. “If we stick with what we’ve been doing, we’re going to have success.”
Quarterback Matt Ryan said Houston’s (1-2) defense poses new challenges this week for the unbeaten Falcons.
“(Houston has) some great personnel and a really sound scheme,” Ryan said. “They do a great job with it. We’ve got unique issues this week, and we’ve got to find ways to get it done.”
Two of those unique challenges the Falcons will face Sunday are defensive end J.J. Watt and second-year linebacker Jadeveon Clowney.
Watt, with 19 combined tackles and three sacks this season, poses a threat to the Falcons’ newly formed offensive line in his quickness, size and ability to disrupt any offensive play.
Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said Clowney and Watt will make the offensive line “earn their (paychecks)” on Sunday.
“(Watt) is as good of a player as there is,” Shanahan said. “If he was their only good player you could do something about it, but he’s not. They have a bunch of good ones. He’s going to make his plays and you just have to hope that when he does, you don’t turn (the ball) over, so you can live another down.”
Clowney, the first overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, returns at linebacker this season after undergoing season-ending surgery in December on his knee.
In the four games he played in 2014, Clowney recorded seven combined tackles. In the three games this season, Clowney improved to eight combined tackles.
O’Brien said Clowney practices every day and continues to improve. In the Texans’ most recent game against Tampa Bay, O’Brien said Clowney played a good amount of snaps, gaining some game-time experience before the team arrives in Atlanta.
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