FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – There’s a simple explanation why the Atlanta Falcons young defensive linemen aren’t playing more.
“That is just a grown man’s position when you’re talking about the interior of any line,” head coach Raheem Morris said.
When Atlanta used a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick to add defensive linemen Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus in April, there was an expectation the Falcons were about to remake their aging defensive line. After all, Morris was coming off a season in which he got 17 combined sacks from rookie third-round picks Kobie Turner and Byron Young in Los Angeles. Instead, Orhorhoro has played only 51 snaps and Dorlus has yet to be active for a game as Atlanta (4-3) heads into its Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3).
That’s not a problem, Morris said. It’s part of the plan. It’s just that the plan this year is different from the one last year with the Rams.
“We have the luxury here of having five guys who have played a lot of football to be able to sit Ruke and Dorlus to give those guys a chance to learn against some of the best (offensive) guards in the business,” Morris said. “In L.A. last year, it was a little different because I didn’t have a lot of veterans to go out there.”
The Falcons’ playing time split on defense illustrates Morris’ preference for experience up front. The five defensive linemen on the roster who are 27 or older are averaging 205 snaps this season. The four who are 25 or younger are averaging 69.
“It’s a spot that requires a lot of maturity,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “There’s a lot of stuff that goes on in there that you don’t see as a fan sometimes. It’s just the mentality and tenacity that it takes to play in there. It takes a lot of fight. You’re not running in space. It’s combat every snap. There’s a lot that goes into it.”
Jarrett, 31, leads the Falcons in defensive line snaps with 316. Thirty-one-year-old David Onyemata (272), 27-year-old James Smith-Williams (220) and 30-year-old Eddie Goldman (136) are the next three on the list. The only player in the young defensive line group who has played more than 90 snaps is 25-year-old Ta’Quon Graham (140).
Jarrett believes the patient approach will benefit Orhorhoro and Dorlus in the long run.
“They’re getting better every week,” he said. “They are made of the right stuff and they are going to have some bright futures.”
It may take more patience, though, especially for Dorlus.
“Dorlus is itching at the bit to get a chance,” Morris said. “He’s done some nice things in practice. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him get out there and play.”
Quick turnaround
When Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson turned on the film to start preparing for Tampa Bay, he had a momentary feeling of deja vu.
“It feels like just yesterday that you played them,” Robinson said.
Atlanta beat Tampa Bay 36-30 in overtime at home in Week 5. Another win this week would put the Falcons in sole possession of first place in the NFC South and give them a 4-0 record in the division with a second game against the New Orleans Saints waiting in Week 10.
The challenge of playing the same opponent in such a short time period is predicting how they will change the last game plan and what the response to that should be, Robinson said.
“It’ll definitely feel like a little cat-and-mouse game to figure out what their plan is,” he said.
The Buccaneers will have had one fewer day of preparation because they played on Monday night, losing to the Baltimore Ravens, 41-31.
“Who prepares the best is definitely the chess game of the National Football League,” Morris said. “That’s the fun part. The National Football League schedule is why we all love it. We’ve got a program dedicated to the schedule (in the offseason). I can’t wait to get back out and get another chance to go play again. I know our guys can’t either.”
Down but dangerous?
Monday night’s loss to the Ravens was especially costly for the Buccaneers, who lost wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to injury. Godwin, who will miss the rest of the season after dislocating his ankle, leads the NFL with 50 catches and is second in receiving yards with 576 this season. Evans, who is expected to miss at least a month due to a hamstring injury, has 26 catches for 335 yards this season.
With those two out, Tampa Bay’s most prolific healthy receiver this season is Sterling Shepard, who has eight catches for 93 yards. Tight end Cade Otton (27 receptions) and running backs Rachaad White (23 receptions) and Bucky Irving (13 receptions) all have more.
Evans and Godwin were not just leading the Tampa Bay offense this year. They are the two leading receivers in the franchise’s history, making the blow especially tough. Still, the Falcons shouldn’t expect the Buccaneers to roll over, Morris said.
“They have some stuff in stock,” he said. “I know it’s always, ‘Oh woe is me,’ when you get people hurt, but when you work inside the building, they always have answers and things to be positive about and people to get the ball to. We’ve seen injuries in this league for such a long time and we’ve seen people be able to go out and win a football game when people get injured.”
There is some good injury news for the Buccaneers. All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey are expected to play after missing the first matchup against Atlanta due to injury.
Run game incoming
With Evans and Godwin out, the Buccaneers likely will lean more into their run game, which already has been pretty productive. Tampa Bay is seventh in the league in rushing yards (946) and expected points added through the run game (4.29), according to TruMedia.
White, Irving and Sean Tucker all have at least 170 yards on the ground.
“Got a three-headed monster right now,” Morris said.
“All three of them, they’re strong, they’re quick and they’re shifty,” Jarrett said. “How they do it may be different, but I feel and see each one of them getting the same type of run plays.”
That could be a problem for the Falcons, who are 25th in the league in rush defense success rate (57.6 percent).
Center spot should be stable
Center Ryan Neuzil returned to Falcons practice Thursday after missing Wednesday’s session due to a knee injury, and backup center Matt Hennessy, who replaced Neuzil briefly last week against Seattle, said he expects Neuzil to be ready to play against the Bucs. Regular starting center Drew Dalman, who has been out since Week 3 due to an ankle injury, is eligible to return from injured reserve, but the Falcons won’t open his window to return until they feel he’s very close to being back on the field.
(Photo: Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
