Kevin Stefanski wasn’t interested in dressing up the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line problems on Wednesday. His message was blunt, and it fit the moment.
“They’re playing 2-4. I’m coaching 2-4," Stefanski said.
"It’s hard to give grand observations on any position right now because I just think you have to just focus on where you are. So, I can tell you how they're working.
They're working very hard. I like those guys, but there's plenty of improvement to be made.”
That’s the reality around Atlanta right now: the line has flashed, then vanished. Against the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, it looked dominant.
Against the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago Bears, it got pushed around. For a team that has poured resources into the group, including draft picks and contracts, that kind of swing creates real concern.
According to Spotrac, the Falcons carry the eighth-highest cap hit on the offensive line in the NFL.
The biggest issue is that so much of Atlanta’s offense starts with that unit setting the table. Even one of the anchors, Jake Matthews, has had a rough year by his standards.
He dealt with a groin injury and missed most of the New Orleans game, though he has not missed any time since. Stefanski said Matthews is healthy.
Now the Falcons are heading into a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers and former head coach Raheem Morris, who will get a front-row seat to the kind of pressure the Bears used so effectively. That figures to put Michael Penix Jr. under fire again unless Atlanta finds a way to punish defenses for attacking so aggressively.
"When it comes to protection, it very simply can be technique," Stefanski said about dealing with the blitz. "It very simply can be the protections that we're calling.
It can be, it goes without saying, staying out of those down and distances. It's a simple thing to say, ‘Hey, we want to be better,’ but it's complicated in how you want to achieve that.
But our players, our coaches understand in these given games, teams, when they pressure you, there can be an advantage to the offense as well.”
That last part matters. Blitzes come with risk, and Atlanta has to make opponents pay more often for taking that gamble.
The task gets tougher because the 49ers bring a strong front and a defense built to squeeze the middle of the field. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has San Francisco rolling on offense, while the Falcons are dealing with injuries at linebacker. On the other side, the 49ers can still lean on Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel to attack that second level.
Chicago already showed how much control a defense can take when it dictates the tempo. The Bears won the time-of-possession battle 2-1 last week, and Atlanta’s line will have to help flip that script if the Falcons are going to challenge the 6-0 49ers.
In Other News...
Falcons Face A Familiar Problem In Raheem Morris Atlanta Return
Raheem Morris is coming back to Atlanta in a different role than the one Falcons fans remember. After two seasons as the teams head coach, he was let go in January and quickly landed with the San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator, where his group has been one of the NFLs more efficient units. The return sets up a reunion that feels bigger than a routine coaching matchup, especially for a Falcons team that knows Morris well and will spend all week preparing for a defense shaped by his hand.
Players have already acknowledged the familiarity that comes with seeing Morris on the other sideline, and theres no mystery about why this game carries extra weight. Atlanta will get a close look at how one of its own former coaches has translated his approach into success elsewhere, while Morris gets a chance to walk back into the building with a defense that has carried its share of respect around the league. For the Falcons, its a reminder of how quickly old ties can turn into a fresh problem. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons May Be Running Out Of Patience With This Receiver
Olamide Zaccheaus has given the Falcons very little through the first six games, and that matters on an offense that has already had to work through its share of problems. He has just four catches for 17 yards on 11 targets, a production line that has not matched the role Atlanta hoped he could fill, and the missed chances have only made the receiver picture look murkier as the season has gone on.
Zachariah Branch is the name to watch next. The third-round rookie is still sitting behind Zaccheaus on the depth chart, but the Falcons have seen enough flashes to keep the conversation alive about a bigger role for him. If Atlanta is going to find more juice in the passing game, the next adjustment at receiver may have to come sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Rees Knows Whats Fueling The Falcons Early Offensive Holes
The Falcons recent sluggish offensive starts have put the spotlight on Tommy Rees, and the first-year coordinator isnt trying to push that attention anywhere else. As Atlanta gets ready to face the 49ers, Rees said the early failed drives and slow openings are on him, a candid admission that the offense has not been getting into rhythm quickly enough.
Rees said the fix starts with getting the ground game going early and keeping the attack balanced, which should help create cleaner chances for Michael Penix Jr. and the rest of the unit. For Atlanta, the formula is simple enough in theory, but it has to show up from the first series if the Falcons want to avoid another slow beginning. [Read more 🡒]