Breaking Down the Atlanta Falcons Offensive Line Depth Heading into the Season

The Atlanta Falcons have one of the best offensive groupings in the NFL. However, there remain quite a few questions on the offensive line heading into the 2012 season.

With Matt Ryan at quarterback, the Falcons need to make sure they can pass protect for as long as they possibly can to allow him the cleanest pocket to make throws to his dominant receivers. They also need to make sure they can push around opposing defensive lines to create holes for running backs Michael Turner, Jason Snelling and Jacquizz Rodgers.

In reviewing the offensive line during the first three preseason games, a few things stood out. The first was that the line has a lot of raw talent and is starting to improve through coaching. After that, there has been a rotation at both center and right guard for the first-team snaps. Even past that is the unrequited love that the coaching staff seems to have for the extremely terrible Sam Baker.

Left Tackle

As a whole, the Falcons' line is in trouble here. Sam Baker hasn't looked great and Lamar Holmes doesn't have any NFL experience. In 2013, Holmes should easily be the starter, and he has long-term potential to be on an Andrew Whitworth level.

Baker throughout the preseason has been God-awful and still hasn't improved from his 2010 form that still allowed 10 sacks. Will Svitek should have started; however, he is now out with an upper-arm injury for the rest of the season.

Left Guard

Justin Blalock has this spot locked down. He's been looking great and could go to his first Pro Bowl in 2012 if the Falcons do well as a team. His backups have been solid too, though. Andrew Jackson and Phillipkeith Manley are both young talented players who should at least get a look on the practice squad by someone.

Center

Joe Hawley and Todd McClure have been battling for the starting spot. Either way, the Falcons will have a great one this year. McClure still looks like a top-10 center in the NFL, but Hawley has surprised by looking just as good and adding an element of pulling to the center spot.

It makes sense to go with Hawley due to the youth, better strength and long-term potential. But the Falcons could want the veteran there. On an interesting note, Peter Konz hasn't seen any snaps at center, but Tyler Horn has been playing and looks worthy of a practice squad spot.

Right Guard

Peter Konz has been what he was advertised by the team to be. He's an upgrade all-around from last season's right-guard pairing of Garrett Reynolds and Hawley. Unfortunately for Konz, Reynolds has also greatly improved his game. 

In the end, this one looks very close. However, the potential that Konz shows would be why he would get the nod as the starter over Reynolds. Konz has also played an extraordinarily high amount of snaps in the preseason and just looks ready.

Right Tackle

Despite having multiple high draft picks at the guard and center spots, the Falcons haven't spent much at tackle. So this year, they decided to take Lamar Holmes for left tackle and move Mike Johnson to right tackle. 

Tyson Clabo is still the Pro-Bowl caliber starter here, but Johnson has proven himself to be a great value as a backup at both guard and tackle. A huge surprise here is just how solid Bryce Harris has been with the third string. He's likely earned a practice squad spot on some team.

Projected Final Group

Starting Left Tackle: Sam Baker

He shouldn't be starting for long. Baker has too many issues as a pass-blocker to be the starter all season if the Falcons truly want to have a shot. They should start Lamar Holmes after six more games after he fully adjusts to the NFL life.

Starting Left Guard: Justin Blalock

Blalock has looked like the same talented player that he always has been. The long-term starter has continually been knocking guys back right off the snap in the run game and has been able to stonewall guys in pass protection.

Starting Center: Todd McClure

Between McClure and Hawley, either guy could start. Both have looked better at one aspect or another at some point. But McClure should get the nod here with how close they are because of the veteran experience.

Starting Right Guard: Peter Konz

Peter Konz may be a rookie, but he has looked excellent as a run-blocker right out of the gate. His pass protection is lacking slightly, but it's a bump he will be taking on his road to becoming a top guard in the league. Long term, don't expect Konz to play center as he has seen zero preseason snaps there.

Starting Right Tackle: Tyson Clabo

Clabo is a Pro Bowl-caliber right tackle and one of the top three right tackles in the NFL. In the preseason, he hasn't looked like that though. However, it's nothing to worry about as he hasn't ever had a great preseason. He will turn it on come game one and with a legitimate right guard in Konz, get back to another Pro Bowl.

Reserve Guard/Tackle: Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson has been extremely improved this preseason. Then again, he’s completely switched his primary position to a right tackle backup spot. He has been using good leverage and showing that he has every ability to take over if Clabo gets hurt.

Swing Tackle/Sixth OL: Lamar Holmes

Holmes has actually looked much better in the one game of action than Sam Baker did. Then again, it was against Miami's second and third teamers. But when there is just one mistake and outside of it, he looks dominant; it's hard to say that he isn't worth at least a roster spot.

Reserve Guard/Center: Joe Hawley

Hawley could easily end up starting at this point. However, if it's as close as it looks, the Falcons will go with the veteran McClure as the starter. This isn't a knock on Hawley. He has been the best pulling center the Falcons have and has looked much more natural making line calls and run-blocking.

Reserve Wild Card: Garrett Reynolds

Reynolds loses his starting spot, but he can still start at three spots in a pinch. He can play either guard spot or right tackle and has earned the right to stay on the roster at the very least after his vast improvement this offseason.

Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist and Trends and Traffic Writer for Bleacher Report. As a Featured Columnist, he covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He is also the Falcons analyst at Drafttek, runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com and hosts Kvetching Draftniks Radio.

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