Saving Matt Ryan: The Offensive Line Must Improve

by Dave Choate on Sep 15, 2011 7:00 PM EDT in Falcons News

So in the game we're all tired of talking about by now and won't mention by name, Matt Ryan got sacked. Five times, to be precise. Earlier I said my biggest concern was with the tackling, but the offensive line play is more or less 1A. Figured it was worth discussing on its own.

That's obviously unacceptable. The Falcons are stumbling into another challenging game in a few short days, one that will see them squaring off against a stacked Eagles secondary and a front seven that loves blitzing so much they married it. If the line can't give Ryan time to throw, he's going to get sacked again. Likely more than once.

Now admittedly, losing Ovie Mughelli hurt. And admittedly, Todd McClure missed his first start in like a decade, which leads me to believe his leg was gnawed off by a wolf. But the personnel available have to gel, or they're going to get the Falcons' franchise quarterback killed.

This is one of those rare problems that you can't throw replacements at. You can’t exactly juggle starters at the moment—not when your backups are basically Brett Romberg, Will Svitek and Mike Johnson. So what it comes down to is the linemen stepping up, playing better and not being bewildered by simple blitzes. We know they can be better, but the Eagles won't make it easy.

That's mostly because of the pressure they can bring up front, pressure from guys like Jason Babin on the edge and Cullen Jenkins in the middle. The Eagles don't blitz quite as voraciously as they used to, but they still have enough talent to get after Matt Ryan throughout the game.

In your mind, who is the weakest link on the offensive line, who is the strongest and how will the unit fare against the Eagles?

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Easy...Baker!

Even though, the line is 40% “new” Baker is still the weak link. MS said Hawley played well and Reynolds did ok, although he missed a few assignments. But Baker is going to father Peppers kids…he got abused. He always does!

by svene on Sep 15, 2011 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

Easy correction

Just select a LT with our 1st round draft choi….opps

by ATLol on Sep 15, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

^this^

by dirtybirds233 on Sep 15, 2011 7:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The browns own our first rounder in 2012

by TheAreopagite on Sep 16, 2011 7:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Do we think for a minute that is all Bakers fault?

My question has been why didn’t a TE get rotated over to help Baker, or whomever was across from Peppers? How hard of an adjustment is that? Didn’t ATL pick up Kelly to help with blocking? Aren’t the coached supposed to make adjustments during the game?

With a good three deep WR corp the TE can stay in formation and help block. That might be more difficult this week as HD probably won’t play.

by mwalex on Sep 15, 2011 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions

you're right

if the players gets run over and allows many sacks in one game or two – it’s players fault. but if that happens in so many games, it must be on the coach

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Sep 16, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Baker might not be the best LT in the NFL

but that is why the team has coaches, to make adjustments.

by mwalex on Sep 16, 2011 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

exactly

Atlanta Falcons fan in Moscow, Russia

by Gemini-RU on Sep 17, 2011 6:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Hawley

Coaches said Hawley was the best OLine last week. The main issue is the continued poor offensive game planning and calling by MM. We are in for a shellacking.

by Whopper Dawg on Sep 16, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Watching the game, it felt to me like Reynolds was consistently a bigger problem.

I’m okay with Julius Peppers beating our left tackle a couple of times since there aren’t many guys in the league at Peppers’ level. And, like it’s been pointed out, if we’re really getting our ass kicked on that side of the line, at some point we can stick a TE over there to help out with blocking that one guy if Baker’s getting his ass kicked.

It’s harder to adjust or live with your RG clearly missing assignments, resulting in him not blocking anyone as the pass rush comes up the middle. Even if you’ve got a good blocking back right there, if he’s not in exactly the right spot, he’s not going to pick up a pass rusher coming right up the center. Even if he is in the right spot, he’s often looking to help out with the pass rush coming near the edge.

Not trying to give Baker a pass, but I think Reynolds is a slightly bigger problem at the moment.

My buddy and I just decided that the braves would be set if we could get Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols.

by willlinn on May 17, 2011 2:13 PM EDT

by Bronn on Sep 16, 2011 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

The chain is weak

Rather than single out any guy as the weak link, I think the big problem is that this group of guys haven’t played much together. We’ve been a bit spoiled with how injury-free and consistent our O-line has been the past couple of years. None of those guys were stars when they started playing as a unit but they became a star unit. Now with two pieces of that unit missing, there’s some confusion – and I guess that’s to be expected. Let’s hope it improves markedly with each game they play together.

by dom on Sep 15, 2011 7:19 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Ovie had limited participation in practice today

so hopefully he’ll be ready to go. Todd McClure still has not practiced, though… at least it’s a better matchup for Joe Hawley this week.

The key for me is Sam Baker. He has GOT to be better this week. He got abused last year by Trent Cole, and I don’t know if this year will be any different. I’d like to see some power running with Svitek or Kelly helping out on the line. Set the tempo a little better this week, and we should see a competitive game.

by orion12 on Sep 15, 2011 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, I hope Kelly gets some snaps

They Falcons could use him back there as a blocker.

by Dave Choate on Sep 15, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Strangly my Philly fan friends

Think their line backers,Matthews in particular stink.

by southern oregon on Sep 15, 2011 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I’d noticed the same thing reading a couple of Eagles stories. The commenters are in fits about their LBs and their vulnerability to the run, especially with one Michael Turner coming up.

by dom on Sep 15, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

our dline is gunna

Through your o line. But dont jump on their heads please

"There is no struggle too vast, no odds too overwhelming, for even should we fail, should we fall, we will know that we have lived.--"Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness
Evil is relative…You can’t hang a sign on it. You can’t touch it or taste it or cut it with a sword. Evil depends on where you are standing, pointing your indicting finger. -Glen Cook The Black Company

by Udalango on Sep 15, 2011 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

An annoying fan with a blue and pink mohawk...

That’s Philly for ya’

by Hudson's Soul Patch on Sep 15, 2011 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

Not in philly actually. but thanks for the compliment.
I figured using Mario to have a lil fun trash talk wouldnt be so bad. But I was wrong my apologies. Maybe we should just troll the actually annoying way. All caps. Saying asinine things and just being an a hole altogether.

by Udalango on Sep 15, 2011 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

That would be easier for us to recognize.

by mwalex on Sep 15, 2011 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's the key to our o-line play Sunday

The center, RG, and LG must play agressive and open up holes for Turner to run thru. The middle of the eagles defense is where to attaxk them, which includes deeper down the field in the middle as well. I.E. – Gonzo and HD or Meier in the slot. They have great corners but as coach Herm Edwards pointed out, none of them have played nickelback, so that is where our receivers can take advantage of them. But the middle of tyhe oline must be strong, they must open holes in the running game, and allow Ryan to step up to make throws in the passing game. Not to worried about the edge rushers, Ryan is good at stepping up, when he can, unlike last Sunday.

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 15, 2011 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

OLine problems might be a tad exaggerated

I believe that all 5 sacks came in the 2nd half. That’s b/c the CHI D knew what was coming. Pass, Pass, and more Pass. I think our line can be more than serviceable as long as the game is close and Philly can’t sit dead red on the pass.

I think run-block wise our line will dominate the Eagles and be able to seal off the second level with the weak LBs and S that are on the Eagles. I’d like to see that mixed with quick slants to set up routes with double moves later on in the 1st half and into the 2nd. Obviously, we’ve got to get Quizz involved here, b/c our WRs are physical enough at the point of attack that they should be able to block the Philly CBs on outside runs or screens.

This was about the OLine, wasn’t it? Oops, my happy hour went a little longer than intended. Again, keep it close so that we can keep the DLine guessing. That’s the key.

by KMarch on Sep 15, 2011 9:13 PM EDT reply actions

I think

…keeping their D-line guessing is definitely the way to go. I expect to see a big dose of the no-huddle from the Falcons to that end. The Rams used it to great effect against the Eagles not-exactly-cohesive D last week. Four first downs in a row, with Eagles defenders running around looking confused. That’s how we want to keep them, too. And we’re better at running the no-huddle than the Rams.

by dom on Sep 15, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Keep it close

The Chi game was also close, you know, at one point. Like, in the beginning? ;)

Point is, even when the game was close and their D din’t know what was coming, they generated pressure with just 4 guys, which basically destroyed our gameplan, cause Matt was consistently flushed out of the pocket but stared down into an abyss of 7 guys in coverage. That’s on the OLine. Even in the first half.

Let’s say the Eagles like to blitz less and just send 4, cause they trust der D-Line to get to the QB without help. If our O-Line allows that to happen (again), we play their game. If our O-Line can improve, and Ryan has enough time to find some good throws, we might force them to blitz. Which means, force them to change their gameplan and play out of their comfortzone. Young, inexperienced groups that didn’t have time to gel as a unit usually struggle with such adjustments. Enter the Eagles LBs.

by wiesengrund on Sep 16, 2011 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I believe

RGGR and Hawley aren’t yet prepared for starting in the NFL, but I believe Sam Baker is the biggest liability.
Does that make sense?

by FlyYouFalcons on Sep 16, 2011 12:36 AM EDT reply actions

How hard is it to be fat and in the way?

Is this to much to ask?

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Sep 16, 2011 9:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

lol

by adl80l on Sep 16, 2011 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Before we blame the newbies...

Interesting post today at PFF that takes a look at a sack generated by the Bears against our OLine.

Essentially, though RGGR’s man gets the sack, the writer is critical of Clabo (or perhaps the scheme), for not passing the DE off to RGGR so he could pick up the DT stunting to the outside.

by KMarch on Sep 16, 2011 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Through this point of the season

including preseason I’m not so sure that ATL wouldn’t have been better off signing Dahl and letting Clabo walk.

by mwalex on Sep 16, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

The answer is simple

The falcons have to come out and simply be more aggressive than the eagles. If we come out and simply hit them in the mouth get them scared. take the momentum in our house and there is no way they can win. My highschool coach always taught us… You smash an ant with a sledgehammer!!! if you get up 10points you do what the patriots do keep scoring!!! Send a message

by falcons101 on Sep 16, 2011 12:21 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions

Run Turner

their middle is more vurnerable. That’ll suck in the Db’s so we can hit big pass plays down the field off the playaction. Just have to give Ryan the time, the oline has to step up and be tough this week. At home I can see us playing at that next level!

Now Gentlemen, get your butts up, and get back on that horse! You have no choice. The expectations are running much higher this year.

by ATLsince1972 on Sep 16, 2011 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions