The Falcons offensive line is bad shape for the second consecutive season.
A major reason why the Falcons went 4-12 last season was because a rash of injuries decimated the offensive line.
The exact same scenario is playing out in 2014 as center Peter Konz left the Ravens gave with a serious knee injury and could be out of the season.
The Falcons have already suffered season-ending injuries to four offensive lineman in tackle Sam Baker (knee), tackle Lamar Holmes (foot), center Joe Hawley (knee) and reserve Mike Johnson.
In Konz is out, the Falcons will start James Stone, a undrafted rookie from Tennessee, who made the team.
The revamped line of rookie Jake Matthews, left guard Justin Blalock, Stone, right guard Jon Asamoah and right tackle Gabe Carimi was destroyed by the Ravens. Baltimore had five sacks and nine quarterback hits on quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Falcons do not want to use the injuries to the offensive line as a an excuse.
“There are no excuses,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “You can talk about losing players, but everybody loses players. It’s got to be the ‘next man up’ mentality. The next guy up has to step in and do the job. We have to step up and make those plays.”
The Falcons appear to be in the same boat as last season when they allowed pressure on 37.6 percent of their dropbacks, according to profootballfocus.com. The offensive line was given responsibility for allowing 32 of 44 sacks. The quarterback was hit 42 times additional times and hurried 190.
Ryan rarely had time to throw against the Ravens and had to vacate the pocket to escape the rush at least 10 times. The Falcon will have to consider using more maximum protection moving forward.
“There were times that we were helping, but you just can’t help everybody,” Smith said. “You have to do one or the other in those situations, unless you’re trying to have two-man routes, and you can’t do that. They physically won the line of scrimmage. There’s no two ways about it.”
Stone, a left-handed center, is ready to step forward if needed. Reserve Harland Gunn, who was inactive, would be the backup center.
“It was time to get out there (and) do my job,” Stone said. “That’s why we’re all out here, to play football, go out there with those guys, and play at the highest level I can.”
Stones has watch as the line has tried to perform under new offensive line coach Mike Tice.
“It’s been rough,” Stone said. “We’ve had guys going down and things of that nature. I feel like, as an offensive line, that we’re positive right now. And we’re focused on getting better each week.”
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