Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 20, 2014 23:39:25 GMT
Falcons face another starting O-line combo with Peter Konz out for year
This was supposed to be the season Matt Ryan got the type of protection he needed to be the elite quarterback he's capable of being.
Instead, it's become a next-man-up scenario almost every week along the offensive line.
The Atlanta Falcons shelved yet another offensive lineman for the year Monday as center Peter Konz suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Sunday, a source confirmed to ESPN Insider Adam Caplan. Konz took over for Joe Hawley, who suffered a torn ACL in a Week 4 loss at Minnesota. And now the Falcons have to turn to undrafted rookie James Stone to hold things together at the position.
The Falcons have five offensive linemen on IR with projected starting left tackle Sam Baker (knee) and reserve Mike Johnson (Lisfranc) injured in the preseason, and Hawley, Konz, and Lamar Holmes (foot) going down within the first seven games of the regular season.
The Falcons signed veteran tackle Jonathan Scott on Monday, but he's more like just another body than a player who will come in and make an immediate impact.
With Stone set to start at center against the Detroit Lions in London this Sunday, the Falcons will march out their fifth different starting offensive line in eight games.
In other words, offensive line coach Mike Tice has quite a task ahead of him. But Tice knew to prepare for the worst. He made an interesting comment after Hawley and Holmes were placed on IR simultaneously.
"I think what we lost more than anything is quality depth," Tice said Oct. 3, two days prior to a road loss to the New York Giants. "Now we have to groom some depth over the next few weeks for the next wave of things that can happen. Something's always going to happen. This is the NFL. You don't get through the season unscathed."
Well, something else happened.
Konz, who lost his starting job to Hawley last season, actually performed admirably in two-plus games as the starter before the ACL injury. Without him, the Falcons lose a player comfortable as a communicator and a player used to snapping the ball to Ryan.
Implementing the rookie Stone into the lineup might not be the biggest concern up front. Rookie left tackle Jake Matthews continues to battle through an ankle injury that has noticeably affected his play. Matthews received a minus-9 grade from Pro Football Focus. It contributed to Ryan being sacked a season-high five times and being hit eight times at Baltimore. Ryan was pressured on a season-high 32 percent of his dropbacks against the Ravens, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Falcons haven't been as dynamic on offense as they were at the start of the season, and breakdowns along the offensive line have a lot to do with it. Matthews is supposed to be the anchor. But it's not one person. The entire unit has to have better cohesion.
But that's hard to do when there's a different body in the lineup every week.
This was supposed to be the season Matt Ryan got the type of protection he needed to be the elite quarterback he's capable of being.
Instead, it's become a next-man-up scenario almost every week along the offensive line.
The Atlanta Falcons shelved yet another offensive lineman for the year Monday as center Peter Konz suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Sunday, a source confirmed to ESPN Insider Adam Caplan. Konz took over for Joe Hawley, who suffered a torn ACL in a Week 4 loss at Minnesota. And now the Falcons have to turn to undrafted rookie James Stone to hold things together at the position.
The Falcons have five offensive linemen on IR with projected starting left tackle Sam Baker (knee) and reserve Mike Johnson (Lisfranc) injured in the preseason, and Hawley, Konz, and Lamar Holmes (foot) going down within the first seven games of the regular season.
The Falcons signed veteran tackle Jonathan Scott on Monday, but he's more like just another body than a player who will come in and make an immediate impact.
With Stone set to start at center against the Detroit Lions in London this Sunday, the Falcons will march out their fifth different starting offensive line in eight games.
In other words, offensive line coach Mike Tice has quite a task ahead of him. But Tice knew to prepare for the worst. He made an interesting comment after Hawley and Holmes were placed on IR simultaneously.
"I think what we lost more than anything is quality depth," Tice said Oct. 3, two days prior to a road loss to the New York Giants. "Now we have to groom some depth over the next few weeks for the next wave of things that can happen. Something's always going to happen. This is the NFL. You don't get through the season unscathed."
Well, something else happened.
Konz, who lost his starting job to Hawley last season, actually performed admirably in two-plus games as the starter before the ACL injury. Without him, the Falcons lose a player comfortable as a communicator and a player used to snapping the ball to Ryan.
Implementing the rookie Stone into the lineup might not be the biggest concern up front. Rookie left tackle Jake Matthews continues to battle through an ankle injury that has noticeably affected his play. Matthews received a minus-9 grade from Pro Football Focus. It contributed to Ryan being sacked a season-high five times and being hit eight times at Baltimore. Ryan was pressured on a season-high 32 percent of his dropbacks against the Ravens, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
The Falcons haven't been as dynamic on offense as they were at the start of the season, and breakdowns along the offensive line have a lot to do with it. Matthews is supposed to be the anchor. But it's not one person. The entire unit has to have better cohesion.
But that's hard to do when there's a different body in the lineup every week.
