Countdown to camp: A look at the offensive line
Birdland – With the opening of the Falcons‘ training camp just days away, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will take a look at some key positions every day through Thursday. Today: the offensive line.
061912 FLOWERY BRANCH: Falcons guard Peter Konz shares a laugh with offensive line coach Pat Hill at the start of the first day of mini-camp in Flowery Branch on Tuesday, June 19, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
The 10-day “Countdown to Camp” series started out with the defensive line and followed by the linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.
The players report for training camp on Wednesday and take the field for the first practice at 10:40 a.m. the next day.
THE REALLY BIG QUESTION: Can new offensive line coach Pat Hill whip the unit into shape in his return to the NFL?
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He was fired as head coach at Fresno State after a record of 112-80 from 1997 to 2011. He last coached in the NFL with the Browns (1992-95) and Ravens (1996).
Some NFL insiders contend this is the first time Hill will be over the entire offensive line because he was tight ends/offensive line coach under current Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz who was offensive line coach in Cleveland and Baltimore.
Hill will have help from assistant line coach Paul Dunn, a 29-year coaching veteran, back for his fifth-year with the team. Hill faces a major challenge in his return to the pro ranks.
He must get left tackle Sam Baker back on track after an injury-filled 2011 campaign and find a starter at right guard.
The competition along the offensive line will be hot and heavy with rookie Peter Konz expected to make a
060612 FLOWERY BRANCH : Falcons 2008 first round pick (21st overall) offensive tackle (72) Sam Baker and offensive tackle (74) Will Svitek walk off the field at the end of team practice in Flowery Branch on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
strong bid for the right guard spot that was manned by Garrett Reynolds and Joe Hawley last season. The Falcons also signed eight-year veteran Vince Manuwai as a free agent. Mike Johnson, a former third-round pick, could fight his way into the picture.
Todd McClure, who is back for another campaign at center, left guard Justin Blalock and right tackle Tyson Clabo should round out the starting lineup.
The unit must improve upon the 26 sacks and 81 quarterbacks hits they gave up in 2011.
FIVE GOALS FOR THE OFFENSIVE LINE IN 2012
1. Protect quarterback Matt Ryan much better.
2. Convert in short yardage situations.
3. Block well in space in the new screen game attack.
4. Keep the penalties down to a minimum.
5. Continue to play nasty under new position coach Pat Hill.
Here’s a look at the offensive linemen:
Sam Baker: He’s in the last year of a five-year, $13.5 million contract. Baker must return to form to secure his long-term future with the team or be ready to enter free agency.
Will Svitek: He played in all 16 games and made 10 starts at left tackle last season.
Bryce Harris: He started at left tackle for three seasons at Fresno State. He started his college career as a defensive lineman.
Justin Blalock: He has made all 16 regular-season starts in each of the past four seasons.
Mike Johnson: He played in five games last season.
Phillipkeith Manley: At Toledo, he played mostly left guard.
Todd McClure: Mud Duck is back for his 13th season at center.
Joe Hawley: He was a key reserve last season at guard and center, starting 12 of 16 games.
Tyler Horn: He played center at Miami and was a second-team all-ACC selection.
Garrett Reynolds: Opened the season as the starter at right guard last season, but had trouble anchoring the position.
Vince Manuwai: He did not play last season because of a severe ankle injury. He started 105 of 111 games at left guard over the previous eight seasons in Jacksonville.
Peter Konz: He was drafted in the second round, 55th overall. He has picked up the offense and will contend for a starting position. He plays center and guard.
Tyson Clabo: He hopes to return to Pro Bowl form in 2012.
Andrew Jackson: Played for Hill at Fresno State.
Lamar Holmes: Missed the organized team activities and minicamp with a broken foot.
Training camp Dates, Practice Times (public availability)
Thursday, July 26 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, July 27 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, July 28 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, July 29 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, July 30 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, July 31 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 1 Players’ Day Off
Thursday, August 2 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Friday, August 3 Practice 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
KIA Motors “Friday Night Lights” at Peachtree Ridge High School
6:45 – 9:10 p.m. (open to the public)
Saturday, August 4 Players’ Day Off
Sunday, August 5 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 6 Walkthrough 11:10 – 11:55 a.m. (closed to the public)
Combined Practice w/ Tennessee Titans
Coahulla Creek High School – Dalton, GA — 4:30 – 7:15 p.m. (open to the public)
Tuesday, August 7 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Wednesday, August 8 Pregame Walkthrough – No Media Availability
Thursday, August 9 Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens, Georgia Dome, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 10 Players’ Day Off
Saturday, August 11 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Sunday, August 12 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (open to the public)
Monday, August 13 Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (closed to the public)
Tuesday, August 14 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 5:50 p.m. (closed to the public)
Wednesday, August 15 Pregame Walkthrough – No Media Availability
Thursday, August 16 Falcons vs. Cincinnati Bengals, Georgia Dome, 8 p.m. – FOX (National Broadcast)
Friday, August 17 Players’ Day Off
Saturday, August 18 Walkthrough 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. (closed to the public)
Practice 3:30 – 6:05 p.m. (closed to the public)
Sunday, August 19 Walkthrough 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. (closed to the public)
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–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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108 comments Add your comment
SirReal
July 20th, 2012
10:57 am
@Wet Willy I hear ya but it’s kind of hard to do that when your LT doesnt even give you the 4 secs you need to 1) have the WR run his route and 2) get the ball out to him.
PMC
July 20th, 2012
10:59 am
That’s a good point Wet Willie, the team had a lot of success working the middle of the field when they actually ran those plays. It’s just that they were few and far between.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:06 am
Steveo — This is for you!
RUN DMC LYRICS
“You Talk Too Much”
Shut up!!!
You talk too much…
You talk too much…
You talk too much…
You talk too much…
Hey! You over there, I know about your kind
You’re like the Independent Network News on Channel 9
Everywhere that you go, no matter where you at
I said you talk about this, and you talk about that
When the cat took your tongue, I say you took it right back
Your mouth is so big, one bite would kill a Big Mac . . .
Twenty-five hours, eight days a week
Thirteen months outta year, is when you speak
I’m tired of listening to the garbage you talk
Why don’t you find a short pier, and take a long walk
SirReal
July 20th, 2012
11:08 am
Dled. HAHAHAHA! CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:14 am
JSS – I think it was telling that held Boudreau accountable for the line’s failures.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:20 am
Here’s the profootballfocus.com article on pass blocking efficiency for 2011.
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/02/20/2011-pass-blocking-efficiency-offensive-tackles/
Let’s read and see what we find out. They do an excellent job with their metrics.
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
11:22 am
A lot of bloggers have Holmes starting at LT by mid season. I just don’t see that happening, in a year or so MAYBE. It’s Svitek or Baker at LT. Svitek does pass protect better than he run blocks and he did a decent job last season after being thrown in the mix. Given the whole off season to prepare and now knowing he can be the guy(no matter what Smitty says), I think Svitek can play LT consistently better than Baker. Svitek has the technique, he just needed to get serious about the weight room aspect IMO. Svitek is also in the last year of his contract so that’s motivation also. The problem IMO is at center and RG. McClure is a stable vet but gets NO push up the middle for Ryan to be able to step up into the pocket. Hopefully Konz can solidify the RG position but he is a rookie and will be prone to the occasional rookie mistake. I want to see Hawley take the center job from McClure. With the use of the screen play, the center is gonna need to be more mobile. Hawley has good wheels. Svitek, Blalock, Hawley, Konz, Clabo are my starting five. Either Mike Johnson or Garrett Reynolds gets cut IMO. I just don’t think Baker is gonna be able to get past the chronic back problems. It takes a long time for the spine to heal and as soon as you start digging around in there things are rarely the same after that, you just learn to tolerate the pain. His core strength will probably never be the same because you can’t really lift like you should because you run the risk of aggravating prior injury. Trust me, the back is a real pain in the a$$.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:24 am
FROM THE PROFOOTBALLFOCUS.COM ARTICLE: “. . .the only Rams lineman that impressed at tackle in pass protection was actually Harvey Dahl. Not only did the former Falcons guard outplay his teammates; he outplayed everyone. The sample size is limited, and he was helped somewhat by playing in an offense that attempts to get rid of the ball quickly, but on 200 snaps in pass protection Dahl gave up just three hits and three hurries, giving him a league-best PBE rating of 97.8. So, while the Rams look at ways to rebuild their line, their use of Dahl could be something to watch.”
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:26 am
2011 Pass Blocking Efficiency, Offensive Tackles, Top 20
# Name Team Pass Block Snaps Total Pressure Allowed PBE
1 Harvey Dahl SL 200 6 97.8
2 Joe Thomas CLV 654 21 97.5
3 Andrew Whitworth CIN 582 20 97.3
4 David Stewart TEN 547 19 97.2
5 Jason Peters PHI 570 21 97.1
6 Demetrius Bell BUF 237 9 97.0
7 Sebastian Vollmer NE 205 8 96.7
8 Tyson Clabo ATL 635 28 96.5
dbird1
July 20th, 2012
11:29 am
we did the best thing this off season that because of the lock out we couldn’t do last and that get rid of Mularky and porno-stash. Those two were holding the team back. the o-line Will be better this year, Ryan will be Great,Jones and White will be the best tandom in the leage and teh playoff monkey will be off our back.
NFC South Morning Jog: The NFC South Is NFL’s Best Division | Scripting4You Blog
July 20th, 2012
11:34 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks at the offensive line in its "countdown to camp" [...]
Michael M.
July 20th, 2012
11:35 am
@ DJ………………………………Absolutely not and Never and Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ! ! ! !
NFC South Morning Jog: The NFC South Is NFL’s Best Division | :: Sparxxrx LLC ::
July 20th, 2012
11:39 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution looks at the offensive line in its “countdown to camp” [...]
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
11:40 am
Why??
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:41 am
Baker was one the worst pass-blockers in the league last season. He gave up four sacks, seven hits and 17 hurries on just 242 snaps in pass protection, according to profootballfocus.com.
He was ranked 74th in pass blocking efficiency. (90.9 — snaps (242) divided by pressures allowed 28 [4 sacks, 7 hits & 17 hurries])
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/02/20/2011-pass-blocking-efficiency-offensive-tackles/
Rick
July 20th, 2012
11:41 am
Lol good question Sniper! Way to regulate DLed, you are the man. I think the reason we git new coaches this year is to maximize what some if these guys do best. I think we are going to see alot of zone blocking techniques this year that will prove to help Baker and others who are lacking in some areas. Plus these guys have alot to prove this year! Dangerous! Be careful when you have a Bird of Prey backed in the corner, they come out clawing and biting with wings flapping hard! Lets go Birds! And guys please not up for it today,wont go back and forth with the banter.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:44 am
This is a blog about the offensive line. I’m deleting all that Saints banter.
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
11:46 am
Complete waste of time. 31 other teams… 31 other blogs sites, it takes a real fanatic to spend more time on opponents blog site than his own teams. Lol.
Rick
July 20th, 2012
11:47 am
You the man DLED!
Michael M.
July 20th, 2012
11:49 am
D-Led, according to what you posted………………..so if Baker is really that bad why in the heck are we still stuck with him ? Now he did have back problems last year which may have contributed to his poor play but the Falcons just unloaded one player on the defensive side of the Team and desperate New Orleans picked him up so why can’t the Falcons cut the loss with Baker and maybe New Orleans will get him too.
JSS
July 20th, 2012
11:50 am
@ Ledbetter…
Calling on 1985? What you know about that Q?
dbird1
July 20th, 2012
11:51 am
Chub,
we have class
Big Ray
July 20th, 2012
11:52 am
And yet the Saints had the 6th ranked rushing attack last year, where was your Team ranked, even with your 7th ranked rusher? The Saints have always run by committee, if Turner goes down, what do you all have? Oh yeah, that’s right, you come up short on 4th and 6 inches.
Life is gonna be tough without Carl Nicks. But you will see this soon enough. Lombardi Trophy….you’re not even going to with the NFC South…
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:53 am
Michael M. — It’s one of the great football questions of our time!!! They treat Baker like he’s going to turn into fellow USC Alum Anthony Munoz. You can only chip, slide and help but so much. Their story is that they are fine when he’s healthy and they’ve been sticking to it!! (Like how you tried to work in the Saints with some offensive line stuff!)
Esquire
July 20th, 2012
11:53 am
Rock on Tyson………….!!
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
11:53 am
Rick — Thanks!
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
11:54 am
If some had the ability to ignore the banter…
Michael M.
July 20th, 2012
11:57 am
Lets all pray then it was the back issue last year that resulted in the poor play and everyone knows I just love the Saints……………….laughin
Big Ray
July 20th, 2012
11:58 am
D. Ledbetter ,
LOL @ bringin’ back the RUN DMC stuff….that was a good one.
Not at all surprised that Harvey Dahl continues to shine in St. Louis. Proof that we let the wrong guy go (should have signed Blalock and Dahl, not Blalock and Clabo) in free agency a couple years back. TD whiffed on that one, and he doesn’t mess up very much….but he did there .
Another team is going to find out what it means to let the best player on your OL go….and that would be the Saints. Ben Grubbs is a decent player, but there’s a reason his team was ok with him going, and why the Saints ended up picking him up instead of us.
Grubbs is nowhere near the level of Nicks and when you lose a guy like that (Seriously, Nicks is the best at his position in the NFL), you will suffer from it. Our line was way better with Dahl. It was worse without him.
Imagine what it will be like for the Saints (who are no doubt in denial about this even as we speak), who lost the best Guard in the NFL to the worst team in the NFC. Good thing they gave Brees all that money. He’s gonna have a hell of a medical bill this year, LOL….
Big Ray
July 20th, 2012
11:59 am
Micheal M ,
How right you are!
Big Ray
July 20th, 2012
12:03 pm
Chub Rock ,
I’d not be looking for Holmes until the following season, to be honest. I think dude has all the mean-ness, athletic ability, and drive to be the man at LT. But he still has to learn the NFL game and get used to the speed of it. I want to see him play some this season, but if Svitek and Baker remain healthy, I just don’t see it happening either.
As for that particular Saints fan….some folks really need attention. You can tell the ones who truly do because their main alibi includes pointing out that you keep responding to them. Yet if nobody responded to them, what would they do? Exactly….so the exchange is due to an attention need of some sort (sad as that may be). And to prove my point, if he reads this post, there will be an acrid reply refuting every word I say (while proving it all the while, LOL).
PMC
July 20th, 2012
12:07 pm
There was this article too from over at PFF
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/07/12/three-years-of-pass-blocking-efficiency-offensive-tackles/
Courtesy the gents at the Falcoholic.
SirReal
July 20th, 2012
12:25 pm
SIGH…..Thx for that stat on Dahl. I TOLD everyone he was the MONSTER…TD…how do you get rid of the MONSTER? His energy alone made that line SOOOOO much better than they were. Thats why Baker was crying last year with the “I Miss Harvey” stuff. Clabo….nevermind. He’s ok…..I guess.
Honestly, I think Svitek was actually a lot better than people gave him credit for. He stood up pretty well aside from the incident where he almost stepped through Ryan’s ankle. I think they should actually give him a real shot. Cant be much worse than what we have. You guys can forget Holmes starting too. He’s gonna need some time to heal and learn. I hope Pat Hill’s got a plan for this line bc its gonna need a good one. This is what I see now. LT- Spam Baker/Svitek/hopefully someone better than either but doubtful LG- Blalock C- Hawley/McClure (toss up) RG-Konz has edge but still a toss up RT-Clabo. That is a LOT of questions to answer. I ‘m sure Hill and Koetter will be ready to provide some.
falconsrus
July 20th, 2012
12:28 pm
Thanks for the work D Led now if we can get this line crackin
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
12:29 pm
falconsrus — Get them Crack-A-Lacking!
Paddy
July 20th, 2012
1:43 pm
DLed…..god job keeping this blog about Falcon football More people will join in the discussion if we can post with others that have the same common ground. You know, like adults!
Esquire
July 20th, 2012
1:59 pm
@Paddy
July 20th, 2012
1:43 pm
___________________________________________
Well said.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
July 20th, 2012
2:39 pm
Paddy – That’s the plan.
DawgDad
July 20th, 2012
2:47 pm
Baker was a solid left tackle prior to the injuries, and he should be in his prime right now. Questions are obvious: is he healthy and can he stay healthy? Have to hope he’s healthy because the other options are not real good.
It was a huge mistake to let Harvey Dahl walk.
Mike Franklin
July 20th, 2012
3:16 pm
Couple of years (seasons) ago, we had one of the best O-lines in the league. We struck fear into the hearts of D-linemen because our hogs were fighters.
We need our line to be nasty, aggressive and unfearing. Anything less and Matty will be crippled before he’s 30…
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
3:19 pm
It’s amazing to me how we can all watch the same games, read the same performance reports and still come up with different perceptions of who is a good play and who is garbage. It’s makes you wonder…
Mike Franklin
July 20th, 2012
3:24 pm
Chub – That’s the beauty of football; there’s no one opinion that matters more than the final score.
ESPN hates that fact.
SirReal
July 20th, 2012
3:27 pm
@dawgdad thats all Im saying….Dahl turned out to be the heart of the line. They lost something when Dahl departed.
Chub Rock
July 20th, 2012
3:41 pm
The Falcons did lose a very good O-lineman when Dahl left but this will happen with free agency. I guess you can’t keep them all. My concern is the plan implemented in his absence. Garrett Reynolds? Dimitroff did try but I think the Mike Johnson pick has really turned out to be a waste of a 3rd RD pick. I hope Konz can get it done at guard. Don’t see Konz ever going to center. Manuwai is more of a run blocking guard IMO.
Rick
July 20th, 2012
4:45 pm
I think we will really get a chance to see some coaching this year. Either that or we will be able to drop those who have no talent. I think the plan behind Baker is to give him one more chance (like most fans I dont see why but I think I understand the problem of cutting or waiving a 1st round pick). I think if he does not show he belongs in camp then they (staff) will have no option but to let him go. If they are going to stick with that he is fine when he is healthy stuff DLED then I think that is when we are going to question the leadership if he does not produce and we dont need that. He has camp to prove he belongs and if he cant do that he cant play the tackle position for us, no more excuses. Lets go BIRDS!
SeenThisB4
July 20th, 2012
4:57 pm
LOL! The simple reason that Baker is still on the roster can be laid at the feet of Julio Jones. When you sent all those picks to Cleveland for the right to draft him, your team gave up the opportunity to draft a viable starting tackle…
cleveland ave. turk
July 20th, 2012
5:18 pm
Kick rocks
Firsttimer
July 20th, 2012
6:21 pm
Settle down, people. The offensive line will produce. The falcons will produce, and this city will be on FIRE1
JSS
July 20th, 2012
7:30 pm
What, only 12 posts since 1:47PM? I see all that “like” think hasn’t stimulated y’all to come up with any enlightened train of thought! So chalk that up to another failed observation of an outcome by the so-called Falcons bourgeoisie!
Firsttimer
July 20th, 2012
7:41 pm
I predict exciting things from this football team this year. I predict a team with imagination on both sides of the ball. Opponents will be kept guessing. I predict the Ga. Dome will rock like the glory days of 98. I predict football shows will be talking about this team. The talking heads who hate on the team will continue and state that we can not sustain through an entire season, or we will go down in our first play-off game , yet again. I predict that this team will shut up all the critics, haters, and naysayers. In the end, all that will be left are the true fans who will be proud to shout, ” I am a Falcons Fan.”.