If stability is the key phrase at deal with and guard, change is the one at heart. Drew Dalman is gone, elevating Ryan Neuzil to the starter, and his direct backup will (as of at present) be a participant who has by no means made an NFL begin. This has the potential to be a windfall for Atlanta if Neuzil and his future backup show to be younger, succesful gamers, however there’s clearly the air of catastrophe round the entire thing in the event that they…effectively, don’t.
That’s what this summer time and this season will finally inform us, however let’s break down who’s competing for roles at heart for these Atlanta Falcons.
Starter
Ryan Neuzil
Undrafted free brokers not often get the prospect to begin. Undrafted free brokers nearly by no means change positions after which get to begin, however Ryan Neuzil has been beating the chances his total profession now.
Neuzil is taking up for Drew Dalman, who bolted for the Bears in free company, after coming into the league as a guard and cross-training at heart. The Falcons received an extended take a look at Neuzil as a half season starter when Dalman received damage final 12 months, and he put collectively three of his strongest begins in his last 4 video games serving in that position. That’s an encouraging signal for a participant who’s at the least pretty much as good as Dalman in move safety and doesn’t have the historical past of bizarre snap points Dalman handled, however is miles behind arguably the perfect run blocking heart within the league. The Falcons have a lot confidence in him that they declined to provide him any actual competitors, which speaks volumes.
I’ve probably come throughout as a Neuzil skeptic after being an enormous booster early in his profession, however it might be extra correct to say that I feel he’s an extremely helpful reserve and a largely unproven starter. If Neuzil can construct on the sturdy moments from final 12 months’s beginning stint and enhance as a run blocking heart, he can seize this job for the lengthy haul. I’m very a lot rooting for him to take action, each for his sake and the Falcons.
Reserves/roster hopefuls
Jovaughn Gwyn, Matthew Cindric, Michael Gonzalez
This group makes me surprise if heart may be a post-cuts goal for an improve, as a result of there’s terrifyingly little expertise right here.
Gwyn was a seventh spherical choose in 2023 who hasn’t performed, however has caught round with Dwayne Ledford making an attempt to work his magic. All we’ve actually seen of him has been some largely uninspiring preseason play, however Gwyn’s time with Ledford and the truth that the Falcons have been coaching him for this second means he has an actual shot to again up Neuzil.
Cindric arrives with follow squad stints with Atlanta and Minnesota in 2024 to his title, plus six years of expertise for granted guard and heart from his school days. Contemplating Neuzil, Gwyn, and Gonzalez all got here to the NFL as transformed guards with restricted expertise at heart, the truth that Cindric made fairly a couple of begins there would possibly assist him this summer time.
Gonzalez involves Atlanta from Louisville, the place Ledford was the offensive line coach in 2019 and 2020. Whereas the 2 didn’t overlap, Ledford probably recruited him sooner or later and can know all about him from his still-extant connections to the varsity, and the truth that they’re taking a participant with no school begins at heart and attempting to maneuver him there tells you there’s one thing there they like from the younger lineman. Gonzalez most likely has the longest street to being Neuzil’s 2025 backup out of this group, however figures to have an actual shot at sticking on the follow squad if he takes to his new place effectively this summer time.
