Offensive Line

Who's on the roster?
#64 Martin Bibla (6'3" 306, rookie, Miami FL)
#71 Travis Claridge (6'5" 300, 3rd yr., Southern Cal)
#65 Kynan Forney (6'2" 305, 2nd yr., Hawaii)
#63 Roberto Garza (6'2" 296, 2nd yr., Texas A&M-Kingsville)
#73 Dave Kadela (6'6" 294, 2nd yr., Virginia Tech)
#69 Manly Kanoa (6'5" 314, rookie, Hawaii)
#68 Curt Lessman (6'3" 296, rookie, Northwest Missouri State)
#62 Todd McClure (6'1" 286, 4th yr., LSU)
#67 Marques McFadden (6'5" 320, 1st yr., Arizona State)
#61 Craig Page (6'3" 303, 1st yr., Georgia Tech)
#76 Kevin Shaffer (6'5" 298, rookie, Tulsa)
#72 Gannon Shepherd (6'8" 317, 1st yr., Duke)
#66 Michael Thompson (6'4" 295, 3rd yr., Tennessee State)
#74 Todd Weiner (6'4" 300, 5th yr., Kansas State)
#70 Bob Whitfield (6'5" 310, 11th yr., Stanford)

Projected starters: Claridge (left guard), Forney (right guard), Garza (center), Weiner (right tackle), Whitfield (left tackle)
Top backups: Bibla (guard), McClure (center), Thompson (tackle)

Newcomers: Bibla (4th round pick), Kanoa (undrafted rookie), Lessman (undrafted rookie), McFadden (free agent), Page (free agent), Shaffer (7th round pick), Shepherd (free agent), Weiner (free agent/Seahawks)

The only major addition came when the team signed free agent Todd Weiner, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, to replace Ephraim Salaam at right tackle. Weiner started 13 games last year for the Seahawks, replacing Chris McIntosh. He had his best year, in a career that was marked by mediocrity and underachievement. Weiner had solid performances against San Diego's Marcellus Wiley and sack champ Michael Strahan. Weiner came to the Seahawks as a third round pick in 1998. He had played fairly well off the bench as a reserve, but had never been able to hold down a starting position either at right guard or tackle. He had a breakout year in 2001 and the Falcons hope that it will continue into 2002 and beyond as they rewarded Weiner with a contract usually given to more proven players. Weiner is known for his pass protection skills, and he will need to show it as he will be in charge of protecting Vick's blindside. Weiner does not have a great "tackle body," but should be at least adequate in doing his job.

Flanking him will be Bob Whitfield, returning for his tenth season in a Falcon uniform, and ninth as a starter. He has started all but one game at left tackle since 1995. Whitfield had a down year in 2001, after having three of his best performances in the previous consecutive years. Seemingly he did not adjust to coach Pete Mangurian's new style of blocking and work. Whitfield has shown much more commitment in this past off-season than ever before and it will hopefully show on the field as he tries to rebound. Whitfield is noted for his abilities as a pass blocker, but over the past several years has also been one of the team's best run blockers. With left-handed Vick at the helm, his abilities to open holes will take presidence over protecting the quarterback.

Inside, starters Travis Claridge, Kynan Forney, and Todd McClure return. Claridge started 11 games in 2001, but his playing time significantly dropped as the team was looking at younger players like Forney and Roberto Garza as the year wore on. Claridge again began 2001 as the starting right tackle, making this the first year when he truly begins at the guard position. Claridge shows he can be adequate at the tackle position, but is nothing more than a stopgap there. His real future is at the guard position. Claridge has played well at times on the inside, but has never been able to impress enough to hold the position for too long, as evident in last season. The former second-rounder will look for 2002 to show that he is more than just an adequate starter. He'll need to fend off rookie Martin Bibla in camp.

Forney was the player that took Claridge's job away from him as the season wore on at right guard. He started the last 7 games at that position, and made the start on opening day there also. Forney shows more athleticism and mobility than Claridge and the other guards. The coaching staff likes his work ethic and determination. Forney was not any better than Claridge last year, but the team felt that they needed to give him as much playing time as possible in order to progress his development a little quicker. Forney enters this year pretty much uncontested at right guard. But he'll need to play at a high level, or the team will try to move the loser of the Claridge-Bibla battle to the right guard spot to push Forney.

McClure returns as the starting center, starting 22 of the past 23 games at that position. McClure has not been spectacular, but capable in leading the unit. He is not very big and lacks strength, but he's smart and does his job ably, if not spectacularly. This year, he'll likely be relegated to reserve duties since the team plans to take a long look at Roberto Garza.

Garza was drafted as a center, but due to the steady presence of McClure, played most of last year at guard. Garza has excellent size and strength for center, but it did not translate to well at guard. Garza started the season finale at center as McClure was out with injury. Garza was a top center in the 2001 draft, and the team hopes that he will win the job from McClure this summer. If he does, then they have plans for him to hold the position for a long time. Garza has excellent upside and could develop into one of the league's better centers.

Rookie guard Martin Bibla figures to be in the rotation. A right guard at Miami, Bibla will push Claridge at left guard this summer. Bibla is not known for his physical prowress, rather for his intelligence and experience on the Hurricane line, one of the best ones in college over the last few years. He has much experience entering the league, playing against top competition in college and logging 40 starts in his collegiate career. There is a definite possibility that Bibla could win the starting job by opening day, since Claridge has one foot in the coach's doghouse. If Claridge retains the job, then Bibla may move to right guard if Forney falters. But most likely, Bibla will rotate with both players during the season as a reserve.

Filling out the eight-man rotation will probably be tackle Michael Thompson. Thompson was a fourth round pick in 2000, and has shown some flashes of talent, but for the most part has been a disappointment. That is mostly due to injuries, as Thompson tore his ACL as a rookie in his second start, and was limited to only two games last year (including one start in the season finale). Thompson came to the Falcons as a raw athlete, but has not improved much on that since. He still lacks good upper body strength and has basically been a liability when in the lineup for long periods of time. Thompson will need to show this year that he is ready to start soon. He may push Weiner at right tackle, but will work mostly as backup left tackle. If he does not show significant improvement, he may find himself unemployed by the end of August.

Pushing Thompson will be Dave Kadela, Kevin Shaffer, and Gannon Shepherd. Kadela protected Vick's blindside at Virginia Tech, and made the practice squad as an undrafted free agent last season. He ended being promoted to the roster during mid-season. He has impressed the coaching staff with his hard work and foot quickness. He just needs to add more strength, and he may be ready to replace Thompson on the roster. Shaffer is a seventh round pick out of Tulsa. His draft status won't automatically earn him a roster spot since Kadela and Thompson are both ahead of him. Shaffer has some talent, but is a little raw and underdeveloped at this point. He will need to surpass expectations and have an excellent summer to make the roster. His most likely bet is to earn a practice squad position as he continues to add muscle during the season. He will enter camp as the third right tackle on the depth chart, but has the abilities to play either tackle position. Shepherd played on defense at Duke, but teams were so impressed with his footwork, he was moved to offensive line very soon after. Shepherd has to earn a roster position or face being cut since he has already spent two years, the league maximum, on NFL practice squads. He will be hard-pressed to do so with the other competitors at tackle. But he has been impressive enough to stick for two years with the Bears and Jaguars, he may be good enough to unseat someone here.

Craig Page is the only other veteran lineman entering camp. Page was a top center out of Georgia Tech a few years ago, but has yet to stick in the NFL. He has spent time with the Cowboys and on the Titans' practice squad since arriving in the league in 1999. Page will move to right guard, and work behind Forney this summer. Page has enough ability to handle the move, but it may take him some time to adjust. That may hurt his chances of making the roster. He is tough, but may not have enough talent to make the team.

Also rounding up the unit are guards Manly Kanoa and Marques McFadden, and center Curt Lessman. Kanoa is a rookie out of Hawaii, who played with Forney a year ago. Kanoa played in June Jones' run n' shoot offense at Hawaii, so he has plenty of experience in pass protection. He'll need to show similar abilities as a run blocker. Kanoa is a longshot to make the roster, but could impress enough to earn a practice squad spot. Similar futures face McFadden and Lessman. McFadden spent the spring playing in NFL Europe. He played mostly as a reserve at both guard and tackle. McFadden is big with strength, but has not been that great in pass-protection. Because of the team's historical reluctance of retaining NFL Europe players, his future is the bleakest of them all. Lessman played center at Division II school, Northwest Missouri State. Lessman has some ability, but the fact that Garza, McClure, and even Page are ahead give him a slim chance at making the roster, and even the practice squad.

The team typically keeps nine offensive linemen each year. Versatility is a key with its reserves with Kadela, McFadden, and Page getting advantages because they can play more than one position. The team will definitely keep three tackles, three guards, and two centers. Because of the overall talent level at the tackle spot, it's most likely the ninth player will come from there.

Salary Cap Sense

The only likely cap-related cut that could come is that of Thompson. The team may find it cheaper to keep guys like Kadela, Shaffer, and/or Shepherd rather than Thompson. His cap figure is $458,000 this year, and the team could save about $358,000 in cap space if they were to cut him. Kadela, who will count $298,000 against the cap, Shepherd (estimated at $225,000), and Shaffer ($234,000) are much cheaper alternatives. Whitfield has a high cap figure which probably ranges between $4 and $5 million, but is in no danger to lose his job since the team lacks a capable replacement.

Predictions

1. Whitfield (starter)
2. Claridge (starter)
3. Garza (starter)
4. Forney (starter)
5. Weiner (starter)
6. Bibla
7. McClure
8. Thompson
9. Kadela
10. Shaffer (practice squad)
11. Shepherd (cut)
12. Page (cut)
13. McFadden (cut)
14. Lessman (cut)
15. Kanoa (cut)