falconsrule
03-11-2007, 06:29 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/12/07
The Falcons' offensive line is going to look a lot like it did last season, despite new coach Bobby Petrino's desire to morph the smallish, zone-blocking group into a super-sized unit capable of moving defenders backward and protecting quarterback Michael Vick long enough to make him think twice before prematurely jetting out of the pocket.
A handful of factors played into this reality, most notably money — or lack thereof.
"We want to change the body type of our linemen but we have to do that over time," Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay said. "You can't do that overnight unless you are willing to invest, truly, an inordinate amount of money in free agency and that, as a lot of teams have learned, comes with great risk."
Since free agency began March 2, the top-tier offensive line free agents have gotten paid like cornerbacks and defensive ends. Mind you, the tag "top-tier" isn't necessarily based on quality; in this particular market it's based on availability. There simply weren't many quality linemen in free agency.
The Falcons and several other teams weren't too keen on emptying their vaults on free agent linemen like Derrick Dockery, Kris Dielman and Eric Steinbach, who, combined, signed deals that totaled $137.5 million. Even if Atlanta wanted to, it didn't have the money.
The Falcons entered free agency with roughly $10 million to spend, not nearly enough to address all of their needs, including signing their upcoming draft picks.
Part of the reason Atlanta is financially hamstrung is because it re-signed center Todd McClure and right tackle Todd Weiner, who were pending free agents, to five-year extensions last season. Before the 2005 season, guard Kynan Forney restructured his contract to run through 2008.
Their combined base salaries: $28.26 million.
The way the contracts are structured, their cost won't be overly prohibitive over the next few seasons, which is why McKay and Petrino have said a change will come, just not right away.
The one spot where there will be immediate turnover is at left guard, where two-year starter Matt Lehr was released. Atlanta has spoken to Seattle veteran Floyd Womack (6-4, 330) and has been in discussions with the agent for Baltimore guard Edwin Mulitalo (6-3, 350) about a visit next week, although nothing has been finalized.
Though McKay said he was not expecting a coaching change when the deals for McClure, Weiner and Forney were consummated, he said he and his personnel staff did project the financial splurging on offensive linemen this offseason because of the salary cap being raised to $109 million and the market being so limited.
With McClure and Weiner set to become free agents, the Falcons opted to be proactive because they might have become too expensive to re-sign had they entered this particular market.
"I still go with the concept that if you have players you like and who play motivated, you should try to extend them before they become free agents," McKay said. "In our case we like the players and we're convinced these players could transition to a scheme change."
McKay said Forney, McClure, Weiner and left tackle Wayne Gandy have the ability to execute Petrino's blocking scheme, although they lack mammoth stature. They have, after all, been a nucleus that helped Atlanta lead the NFL in rushing the past three seasons, McKay said.
Still, there will be a transition. The plan is to start to acquire bigger players, mainly through the draft, and develop them, McKay said. Veteran backups, like Tyson Clabo, who started much of last season at both guard spots because of injuries and Lehr's four-game suspension for steroids, P.J. Alexander, Quinn Ojinnaka and Frank Omiyale will continue to be evaluated, McKay added.
"You're always working off a three-year slate," McKay explained. "You're always trying to figure out what this player is going to be worth today and what the market is going to be in two years, three years. What are the salary cap implications, who are the free agents we might lose in that period of time and will we have the flexibility to add free-agent players if need be."
Published on: 03/12/07
The Falcons' offensive line is going to look a lot like it did last season, despite new coach Bobby Petrino's desire to morph the smallish, zone-blocking group into a super-sized unit capable of moving defenders backward and protecting quarterback Michael Vick long enough to make him think twice before prematurely jetting out of the pocket.
A handful of factors played into this reality, most notably money — or lack thereof.
"We want to change the body type of our linemen but we have to do that over time," Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay said. "You can't do that overnight unless you are willing to invest, truly, an inordinate amount of money in free agency and that, as a lot of teams have learned, comes with great risk."
Since free agency began March 2, the top-tier offensive line free agents have gotten paid like cornerbacks and defensive ends. Mind you, the tag "top-tier" isn't necessarily based on quality; in this particular market it's based on availability. There simply weren't many quality linemen in free agency.
The Falcons and several other teams weren't too keen on emptying their vaults on free agent linemen like Derrick Dockery, Kris Dielman and Eric Steinbach, who, combined, signed deals that totaled $137.5 million. Even if Atlanta wanted to, it didn't have the money.
The Falcons entered free agency with roughly $10 million to spend, not nearly enough to address all of their needs, including signing their upcoming draft picks.
Part of the reason Atlanta is financially hamstrung is because it re-signed center Todd McClure and right tackle Todd Weiner, who were pending free agents, to five-year extensions last season. Before the 2005 season, guard Kynan Forney restructured his contract to run through 2008.
Their combined base salaries: $28.26 million.
The way the contracts are structured, their cost won't be overly prohibitive over the next few seasons, which is why McKay and Petrino have said a change will come, just not right away.
The one spot where there will be immediate turnover is at left guard, where two-year starter Matt Lehr was released. Atlanta has spoken to Seattle veteran Floyd Womack (6-4, 330) and has been in discussions with the agent for Baltimore guard Edwin Mulitalo (6-3, 350) about a visit next week, although nothing has been finalized.
Though McKay said he was not expecting a coaching change when the deals for McClure, Weiner and Forney were consummated, he said he and his personnel staff did project the financial splurging on offensive linemen this offseason because of the salary cap being raised to $109 million and the market being so limited.
With McClure and Weiner set to become free agents, the Falcons opted to be proactive because they might have become too expensive to re-sign had they entered this particular market.
"I still go with the concept that if you have players you like and who play motivated, you should try to extend them before they become free agents," McKay said. "In our case we like the players and we're convinced these players could transition to a scheme change."
McKay said Forney, McClure, Weiner and left tackle Wayne Gandy have the ability to execute Petrino's blocking scheme, although they lack mammoth stature. They have, after all, been a nucleus that helped Atlanta lead the NFL in rushing the past three seasons, McKay said.
Still, there will be a transition. The plan is to start to acquire bigger players, mainly through the draft, and develop them, McKay said. Veteran backups, like Tyson Clabo, who started much of last season at both guard spots because of injuries and Lehr's four-game suspension for steroids, P.J. Alexander, Quinn Ojinnaka and Frank Omiyale will continue to be evaluated, McKay added.
"You're always working off a three-year slate," McKay explained. "You're always trying to figure out what this player is going to be worth today and what the market is going to be in two years, three years. What are the salary cap implications, who are the free agents we might lose in that period of time and will we have the flexibility to add free-agent players if need be."