Tag: Kaleb McGary

Dan Quinn believes McGary, Lindstrom will ‘take a huge step’ in 2020

Quinn highlighted Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary and Russell Gage as players he thinks will make significant progress next year.

The Atlanta Falcons have a lot riding on next season. After two disappointing finishes, owner Arthur Blank elected to retain GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn. To validate Blank’s trust, the team must get back on the playoffs in 2020.

Speaking with Falcons reporter Matthew Tabeek, Quinn laid out his expectations for some of Atlanta’s younger players. He highlighted Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary and Russell Gage as players he thinks will make significant progress next year.

“I’m very excited to see the development at both right guard and right tackle with McGary and Lindstrom,” said Quinn. “I think these guys are going to take a huge step going into year two.”

Watch the entire five-minute interview below, as shared by the Falcons’ Twitter account:

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The 4 Falcons under the most pressure in 2020

Every year, NFL players face tremendous pressure. Young players are expected to improve. Veterans are expected to defy age.

Every year, NFL players face tremendous pressure. Young players are expected to improve. Veterans are expected to defy age. Those making the most money are expected to avoid injury.

However, that doesn’t mean certain players don’t still face more pressure than others. After the first wave of free agency, the Atlanta Falcons‘ roster is taking shape for next season.

Let’s examine the four Falcons players that will be under the most scrutiny entering 2020.

TE Hayden Hurst

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Hurst is in position to take his game to the next level after a limited role in Baltimore’s offense last season. Austin Hooper may not ultimately be worth the monster contract he received from Cleveland, but he was deserving of the money based on his elite production.

Not only is Hurst a former first-round pick, Atlanta gave up a second-round pick to acquire him and he must replace one of the top five tight ends in the game. Getting traded to the Falcons may be just what Hurst needs to maximize his skill-set, but the pressure is on.

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Falcons’ 2019 draft class gets B- in NFL’s rookie grades

The Atlanta Falcons had a plan to rebuild their offensive line last offseason, signing Jamon Brown and James Carpenter to lucrative deals in free agency and selecting two offensive linemen in the draft.

The Atlanta Falcons had a plan to rebuild their offensive line last offseason, signing Jamon Brown and James Carpenter to lucrative deals in free agency and selecting two offensive linemen in the draft.

Both Brown and Carpenter struggled in 2019 and aren’t a part of the team’s long-term rebuild up front. Rookies Kaleb McGary and Chris Lindstrom finished the season strong, however, and the Falcons won six of their final eight games.

Nick Shook of NFL.com gave the group a B- in his NFC South draft grades. Here’s some of what he wrote below:

McGary was available all season, but he finished 90th in pass blocking and 74th in run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. Lindstrom was lost for much of the season due to injury, leaving his evaluation incomplete. Sheffield earned a sub-50 grade in pass coverage from PFF, but he was statistically effective, recording 46 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble in 16 games. Cominsky was effective per PFF, finishing 23rd in overall defensive grade among edge rushers despite not racking up a ton of traditional stats. Ollison didn’t make much of an impact, while Miller spent the majority of his season on special teams.

McGary did struggle early in the season, but the entire offesnive line was awful over the team’s first eight games. When Lindstrom returned from injury, he played well at right guard and made McGary look considerably more comfortable at right tackle.

Outside of the two linemen drafted in round one, defensive back Kendall Sheffield played well when forced into action due to injuries in Atlanta’s secondary. Defensive end John Cominsky was solid as a depth addition that should have a chance to compete for more snaps in 2020 and beyond.

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Falcons won’t say who will start at right guard in Week 13

The Falcons struggled to block the Buccaneers in Week 12, giving up way too much pressure, particularly on the right side. Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked six times during Sunday’s loss.

The Falcons struggled to block the Buccaneers in Week 12, giving up way too much pressure, particularly on the right side. Quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked six times during Sunday’s loss.

Right tackle Kaleb McGary and right guard Jamon Brown did not play their best games. McGary is a rookie and has played well this season, so you can live with his occasional struggles.

The same cannot be said about Brown, however, and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wouldn’t say who he planned to start at right guard on Thursday:

It will either be Brown or backup Wes Schweitzer starting next to McGary in the team’s Thanksgiving matchup with the Saints.

Brown was given a lucrative free agent contract in the offseason, but wouldn’t be starting if it were not for an injury to first-round pick Chris Lindstrom.

Atlanta defeated New Orleans in Week 10, thanks in large part to the offensive line playing its best game all year. We will see if the unit can replicate those results tomorrow night and complete a season sweep of a hated NFC South rival.

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Falcons make TD Wire’s top 5 offensive lines of Week 10

It wasn’t what anybody expected, however, the Falcons’ offensive line outplayed the Saints’ defensive front on Sunday. From Rookie Kaleb McGary to veteran Jake Matthews, Atlanta was dominant up front.

It wasn’t what anybody expected, however, the Falcons’ offensive line outplayed the Saints’ defensive front on Sunday. From Rookie Kaleb McGary to veteran Jake Matthews, Atlanta was dominant up front.

The team won the time of possession battle over New Orleans thanks to a combination of offensive execution and creative play-calling. In Touchdown Wire’s Top 5 offensive lines of Week 10, the Falcons’ line was ranked fourth.

Here’s some of what Rick Suter had to say about the team’s surprise performance:

Although there were some issues with hands to the face penalties, the Falcons’ O-line was a big part of the success. Facing a defense ranked ninth overall, and in the top half of the league in QB hits, they did an excellent job protecting Ryan, allowing one sack and five hits. On the ground attack, they provided a decent lane-opening at the front and a substantial push to the second level—which helped the Falcons look like a playoff contender and not the meager one-win team that the Saints were matching up against.

Atlanta will look to keep the momentum going when it plays another divisional road game against the 5-4 Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

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Dan Quinn impressed with Kaleb McGary’s fight against Cam Jordan

Prior to the Falcons’ Week 10 defensive outburst, they had recorded just seven total sacks through their first eight games. In contrast, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan had personally tallied eight sacks entering Sunday’s game.

Prior to the Falcons’ Week 10 defensive outburst, they had recorded just seven total sacks through their first eight games. In contrast, Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan had personally tallied eight sacks entering Sunday’s contest.

Atlanta’s shocking six-sack performance become the biggest headline from the team’s 26-9 upset win over New Orleans, although the offensive line deserves some credit as well.

The Falcons kept the Saints’ powerful offense off of the field by winning the time of possession battle, thanks in large part to the way they played up front against one of the best defenses in the NFL this season.

Atlanta’s offensive line allowed just one sack and kept an injured Matt Ryan upright for most of the day. Rookie right tackle Kaleb McGary has been solid for most of the year, but was especially good on Sunday.

He held Jordan in check and never once shied away from the challenge. Watch for yourself as Brian Baldinger breaks down the team’s offensive line play below:

Falcons coach Dan Quinn noticed as well, appreciating the way McGary battled against one of the league’s best defensive ends.

Atlanta could get their other first-round pick, guard Chris Lindstrom, back in a few weeks, although it may take another season to know what the team has in the former Boston College standout.

For now, the Falcons have to feel pretty good about what they’ve seen from McGary.

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