Every week I take a look at the battle at the line of scrimmage in one NFL game. Check back every Thursday for a new edition of Between The Lines.If you actually watched the Falcons last year, you got to witness a disaster. The team didn't have a quarterback to count on, and relied on an aging Warrick Dunn while a younger, more talented back (Jerious Norwood) spent the season as his backup. Oh yeah, the quarterback was in jail and the coach bailed on the team in the middle of the season, but hey, at least he left a note.
But as bad as all of that was, the worst part of the 2007 Falcons' team was its offensive line. The team went through four left tackles as Wayne Gandy's blown knee was the first of a series of injuries. Rookie guard Justin Blalock struggled and additional injuries forced shuffles at right tackle as well. The result was plenty of sacks, no holes for the running game and general disorganization.The Falcons fixed the quarterback problems by drafting Matt Ryan. They fixed the running back problem by signing Michael Turner. They fixed the coaching problem by finding Mike Smith to help everyone forget what a disaster Bobby Petrino was.
But most importantly, the Falcons have fixed the offensive line problems. By drafting left tackle Sam Baker (first round) and discovering longtime backup/practice squadder right guard Harvey Dahl, the Falcons have fixed two of the bigger problems on last year's line. Baker still has some rough edges -- on the third play from scrimmage he apparently got the play call wrong. While everyone else fired off the ball to run block, Baker dropped back to pass block. Since the run was designed to go in his direction, Baker's boo-boo pretty much destroyed the play. But against the Packers he looked pretty solid for most of the game in both run and pass blocking. Dahl showed impressive strength and seems to have a mean streak to him that defensive linemen won't like, but his coaches will. He generated consistent push against the Packers and he also showed some agility when the Falcons asked him to pull.
Just as importantly, Blalock has shown significant improvement in his second year. Last year he looked tentative. Against the Packers, he looked like a handful for defensive tackles. Blalock showed the ability to turn his man to create a gap, and he twice put his man on the ground.
But if you're looking for the biggest explanation for the improved play of the line, I'd probably single out new
offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Boudreau had spent the last two years trying to piece together the injury-ravaged Rams offensive line. Although that line had some struggles in 2007, they could be explained by the fact that four of the Rams' five starters were lost to injuries. Boudreau's attention to detail jumped out as I watched the Packers game. The linemen are clearly coached to technique that is sure to anger the DBs and LBs who aren't happy when players dive at their knees, it is legal, and it is an effective way to ensure that linemen get a solid block on a much smaller and more agile player. After watching lots of line play, one thing that has jumped out is how often offensive linemen struggle to lay an effective block when they are running downfield at full speed. The reality is that many linemen lack the agility to adjust and lay a crushing block on a safety or cornerback who is a moving target. But by laying out and diving, the Falcons linemen consistently took DBs to the ground. And the Falcons linemen are taking out a lot of linebackers and defensive backs because they do a good job of finishing the play. On a run by Harry Douglas, Baker was nearly 15 yards downfield laying a block on a Packers safety. He dove to give a good block, although in this case it did demonstrate the downside of taking out a defender's legs. Because Baker launched into his block while Douglas was still 10 yards behind him, the defender was able to get back up and make the tackle. On another run by Turner, Baker was 20 yards downfield making a block.
The Packers have a banged up defensive line and secondary, which played a part in the Falcons' domination, but Atlanta got consistent push in the running game and gave Ryan plenty of time to pass (although offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's emphasis on quick drops and few reads also helps). Even when Green Bay blitzed, Ryan usually had the ball out of his hand well before the Packers had a prayer of generating pressure. And the effectiveness of the Falcons running game meant that when Atlanta used play action, it sucked the linebackers up. On one play in the first quarter, all three Packers linebackers and a safety ran up to play the run on a play action, leaving only three defenders in the secondary. The Falcons went to an open Roddy White in the short flat, but there were other options available as well.
Overall, the combination of Turner and Mularkey put Ryan in situations to succeed, but having a rebuilt offensive line has given the Falcons the foundation to fix many problems.
