Jackson with the Falcons is definitely an upgrade for him from the situation with the Rams recently. As has been already mentioned the WRs and Gonzo create a situation where defenses cannot focus as much on stopping Jackson. The thing that has concerned me about the situation is the Falcons offensive line.
May 9th Bitonti ranks Atlantas Oline 30th in the league-
http://subscribers.footballguys.com/apps/article.php?article=bitontiOLrank2013
Football focus ranked Atlantas Oline as 15th in 2012-
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/01/28/ranking-the-2012-offensive-lines/3/
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PB – 17th, RB – 17th, PEN – 1st
Stud: We’ve always liked Tyson Clabo (+21.3) as one of these tackles you don’t often notice. Unfortunately, while that means he’s doing his job (Charles Johnson games aside) in pass protection, it also speaks volumes for his inability to consistently impose himself in the run game.
Dud: There may be a day when Peter Konz (-12.7) is one of the better interior linemen in the league. However, in 2012 he was just a rookie who found out that the step up from college is steep.
Summary: Just good enough. That’s the Falcons’ offensive line, which allows its premium players in the passing game to operate. The downside is that without a truly dynamic back they were often exposed in the run game against more physical lines.
However Clabo was cut.
The Falcons have an interesting youth movement happening with their offensive line now with a few players they drafted in 2010 now moving into starting roles. Part of this is so the players can play together for multiple seasons I guess. Nice article about that here-
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1592760-tyson-clabo-released-atlanta-falcons-offensive-line-youth-movement-has-begun
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Long time Atlanta Falcons right tackle Tyson Clabohttp://bleacherreport.com/tyson-clabo was released on April 4, 2013
according to the team's official website. He was cut as part of the youth movement for the offensive line and for cap savings.
The move saved $4.5 million that will be available after June 2nd for rookie contracts to be signed. However, there is still another $2.5-$3 million that could be getting used by the time the draft rolls around for a move or two.
It wouldn't be surprising to see the Falcons "neglect" what would be considered a need at right tackle with Clabo gone as well. All in all though, this move has a ton to do with moving towards a younger, more athletic offensive line than what was on the field in 2012.
Part of the move behind cutting Clabo would be related to the theory of 150—ESPN's John Clayton's theory about NFL offensive lines needing to be under a combined age of 150. The Falcons' starting offensive line's combined age in 2012 was 144 years old.
However, with everyone getting a year older the Falcons were going to be forced to get younger. This year, expect 24-year-old players Joe Hawley, Peter Konz and Lamar Holmes to work well as the right side of the line. It would also bring the Falcons' starting offensive line's combined age to just 129 years old.
With veterans Sam Baker at 28 and Justin Blalock at 29, the overall mileage on the line would be pretty low. They would also be able to stick together for at least another four years bringing a long term consistency that offensive lines need—especially as franchise quarterbacks like Matt Ryan hit their prime.
The move to get rid of Clabo freeing up $4.5 million has been suggested as one that could mean the Falcons are bringing in another big name. However, I find it unlikely. It will most likely be done for long term cap flexibility and the likelihood of the Falcons making a move for say, Darrelle Revis is between slim and none.
The Falcons could fiscally afford it, but it's just not a logical fit for Atlanta to do something like bring in Revis unless his market completely sours, and Atlanta can get him for a second-round pick in the 2014 draft and a reasonable contract.
Right tackle isn't a need, despite Clabo's release
Tyson Clabo has been the only man to play right tackle for the Falcons in each of the last five seasons. However, with his release, the Falcons still don't need to go out and bring in a replacement for the massive Wake Forest graduate.
In 2010, the Falcons took Mike Johnson out of Alabama. He played left guard, left tackle and right tackle for the Crimson Tide. The former third rounder has size, strength and speed and was the swing tackle for Atlanta in the 2012 season.
In 2012, the Falcons took a project named Lamar Holmes out of Southern Mississippi. The difference here is that Holmes is a true beast of a man similar to Clabo at 6'6" and 323 pounds. Holmes has really good footwork and experience on both sides of the line in college.
The question here is, with a pair of talented players like Johnson and Holmes, do the Falcons really even need a tackle?
No. Not a starting one at least. Garrett Reynolds is a great long term fit for depth at right guard and right tackle and whoever loses between Holmes and Johnson can backup both spots on the left side. But overall, the Falcons don't need to bring in any offensive tackle talent with how crowded the field is already there.
Who is the projected starting line at this time?
Left Tackle Sam Baker, 6'5", 307 pounds, age 28 on opening day
Sam Baker has been the starting left tackle on opening day every since 2009. Expect him to keep this role after re-signing with the Falcons for six years this offseason. If he can show improvement from last season, Baker could go from pariah to Pro Bowl player in a two-year span.
Left Guard Justin Blalock, 6'4", 329 pounds, age 29 on opening day
Justin Blalock is the ole reliable of the line. Despite being in the league for six years already, Blalock has missed a total of just two games for the Falcons. He and Baker have excellent chemistry in the passing game and showed higher proficiency in the run game in 2012.
Center Joe Hawley, 6'3", 297 pounds, age 24 on opening day
This may come as a shock, but Joe Hawley was drafted at the ripe old age of 21 in 2010 to be Todd McClure's long term replacement. After spending three years behind the Mud Duck, it's time for Hawley to prove his worth this season in the center of the line.
Right Guard Peter Konz, 6'5", 315 pounds, age 24 on opening day
Peter Konz was a very good rookie in 2012 and improved every game. While he had a poor game late in the year versus Ndamukong Suh, that should be expected as a rookie. He should spend more time this offseason training up his strength and his quickness has shown to be a true asset on screens.
Right Tackle Lamar Holmes, 6'6", 323 pounds, age 24 on opening day
Lamar Holmes is a beast of a man who was a captain at Southern Mississippi for his hard work. On the Falcons offensive line, he will be expected to keep it up. His length and strength is very similar to that of Clabo, but he's much quicker off of the snap and when dropping back in pass protection.
All stats used are either from Pro Football Focus's Premium Stats, ESPN, CFBStats or the NFL. All contract information is courtesy Spotrac and Rotoworld. All recruiting rankings come from 247Sports.com.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, NFL and NFL Draft. He also runs the NFL Draft Website ScarDraft.com.
The thing that the Falcons were ranked highly in 2012 for was the low number of penalties. I don't think that will be a strength with many new players getting used to playing together for awhile.
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The Falcons have spent the offseason getting younger and the offensive and defensive lines are where much of it is taking place. The guys that will be competing there are some of the largest the Falcons have had under the Smith/Dimitroff era.
Much of the conversation this offseason around the Falcons involves the lines on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is transitioning to a younger, bigger unit and the defensive line is going to lean on some young pass rushers in addition to the offseason free-agent signing of Osi Umenyiora.
Earlier this week, Falcons head coach Mike Smith appeared on Atlanta’s Archer & Bell on 790 The Zone to discuss the coming competition along the front lines on both sides of the ball.
While it’s been discussed heavily and assumed, Smith came out and said what most were thinking about the center position. Second-year lineman Peter Konz will have an opportunity to earn the job at center from the beginning and Garrett Reynolds returns to man the right guard position that he started six games at last season before a season-ending injury.
“Peter Konz will move into the center position,” Smith said. “Garrett Reynolds, who was our starting right guard last year, will start the offseason as our starting right guard. And then Mike Johnson and Lamar Holmes will compete at right tackle.”
With at least two positions that will feature heavy competition on the line, Smith said it reminds him of the competition on the O-line in his first season with Atlanta in 2008. He also thinks the physical size of all the players in the mix is significant.
“This will be the biggest line, physically, that we’ve had on the offensive side,” Smith said.
This is the year that young players will be asked and expected to step up and play valuable snaps and the same will be asked on the defensive line. Smith said defensive tackle Corey Peters will be fully healthy this year unlike last year and the addition of Umenyiora along with mainstay Jonathan Babineauxwill give the Falcons leadership up front.
One of the key young players in the rotation is 2011 seventh-round pick Cliff Matthews. Matthews added some pounds this offseason to make him more versatile all along the defensive front.
“Cliff Matthews has done a very good job for us last year,” Smith said. “He’s come into his own. He’s put on a lot of weight in the offseason. We asked him to gain 10-15 pounds and he’s done that.”
With the addition of college free agents in the offseason on both sides, Smith sees a deep group that can evolve into a physically imposing group at one of the most important areas on a football team.
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Offensive-Line-Biggest-In-Five-Seasons-/9e0e930b-5caa-4e57-89ec-36d364616638
If the Falcons line can be more physical this season Jackson could have a very good year. Even if the line struggles for awhile I think Jackson will be busy closing out games and keeping the Falcons defense off the field.
So I went and looked at the last 3 seasons of both the Falcons and Rams offenses, specifically their running games. The last 3 seasons for Atlanta has been with Matt Ryan breaking out in 2010 and increasing his passing attempts by about 100 a season since then. Michael Turner as the main RB over these past 3 seasons has been in steady decline.
2012 Falcons 615pa 378ra Turner 222ra 112ra 94 to Rodgers/18Snelling 3.7ypc season 26th in RA 29th in yards 29th in ypc
2011 Falcons 594pa 453 Turner 301ra 101ra split between Rodgers/Snelling 4 ypc season 11th in RA 17th in yards 21tst in ypc
2010 Falcons 577pa 497ra Turner 334ra Snelling 87ra FB36ra 36Johnson 3.8ypc season 5th in RA 12th in yards 26th in ypc
In Turners 1st season the Falcons were close to 500 rushing attempts but the yards per carry were pretty bad. Shows commitment to the running game and having a lead to close out games. The Falcons phased out one of their COP RB roles. 2011 seems like where the Falcons would like to be as far as distribution and players being healthy all season. 2012 Turner clearly declined and that is the main reason for the 80-100 less carries that I think this offense wants to run. Steven Jackson is a career 4.2 ypc RB so I see that meeting somewhere between the Falcons recent team ypc. So 4ypc expected.
2012 Rams 557pa 410ra 257ra Jackson 98ra Richardson 22nd in rushing
2011 Rams 549pa 409ra Jackson 260ra Carnell Williams 87ra 23rd in rushing
2010 Rams 590a 429ra Jackson 330ra 3.8ypc Darby 34ra Bradford rookie year 25th in rushing
I can see why some may percieve Jackson as slipping with the low ypc on 330 carries in 2010 as a sign that he may have lost some of his ability. However with a rookie QB this is why they were conservative and defenses were more effective against Jackson imo.
The Falcons were willing to give Turner a heavy workload. I think Jackson is a better player today than Turner was even in 2010. Jackson's career speaks for itself
Year Age Tm Pos No. G GS Att Yds TD Lng Y/A Y/G A/G Rec Yds Y/R TD Lng R/G Y/G YScm RRTD Fmb AV2004 21 STL rb 39 14 3 134 673 4 48 5.0 48.1 9.6 19 189 9.9 0 28 1.4 13.5 862 4 1 52005 22 STL RB 39 15 15 254 1046 8 51 4.1 69.7 16.9 43 320 7.4 2 27 2.9 21.3 1366 10 3 92006* 23 STL RB 39 16 16 346 1528 13 59 4.4 95.5 21.6 90 806 9.0 3 64 5.6 50.4 2334 16 4 192007 24 STL RB 39 12 12 237 1002 5 54 4.2 83.5 19.8 38 271 7.1 1 37 3.2 22.6 1273 6 5 82008 25 STL RB 39 12 11 253 1042 7 56 4.1 86.8 21.1 40 379 9.5 1 53 3.3 31.6 1421 8 5 82009* 26 STL RB 39 15 15 324 1416 4 58 4.4 94.4 21.6 51 322 6.3 0 38 3.4 21.5 1738 4 2 82010* 27 STL RB 39 16 16 330 1241 6 42 3.8 77.6 20.6 46 383 8.3 0 49 2.9 23.9 1624 6 1 102011 28 STL RB 39 15 15 260 1145 5 47 4.4 76.3 17.3 42 333 7.9 1 50 2.8 22.2 1478 6 2 62012 29 STL rb/RB 39 16 15 257 1042 4 46 4.1 65.1 16.1 38 321 8.4 0 22 2.4 20.1 1363 4 0 7Career 131 118 2395 10135 56 59 4.2 77.4 18.3 407 3324 8.2 8 64 3.1 25.4 13459 64 23 80Jackson 275-320 carries 4.1-4.4 ypc 1128-1408yds 8-14TD
39-63 receptions for 312-504 yards 1-3TD which should be good enough to be a RB1 in 2013.
I would expect some decline with Jackson perhaps similar to the decline we saw with Turner over the next 3 seasons with Jackson being 30-32 years old from 2013-15 but may have enough juice to provide a solid 2014 as well. The Falcons have shown they are not too picky about it. As long as the rushing attempts are above 400 it should be enough to support Jackson having a 300 or so carry season as they did with Turner.