Who's on the roster?
#64 Martin Bibla (6'3" 306, 2nd yr., Miami FL)
#75 Ulish Booker (6'6" 304, rookie, Michigan State)
#71 Travis Claridge (6'5" 300, 4th yr., Southern California)
#73 Kevin Dogins (6'1" 310, 8th yr., Texas A&M-Kingsville)
#69 Kris Farris (6'8" 318, 3rd yr., UCLA)
#65 Kynan Forney (6'2" 305, 3rd yr., Hawaii)
#63 Roberto Garza (6'2" 296, 3rd yr., Texas A&M-Kingsville)
#72 Blake Henry (6'6" 301, rookie, Wake Forest)
#77 Robert Hicks (6'7" 325, 4th yr., Mississippi State)
#62 Todd McClure (6'1" 286, 5th yr., LSU)
#67 Mookie Moore (6'2" 318, 2nd yr., Troy State)
#68 Dwayne Morgan (6'4" 300, 1st yr., Clemson)
#66 Mike Saffer (6'5" 302, rookie, UCLA)
#76 Kevin Shaffer (6'5" 298, 2nd yr., Tulsa)
#74 Todd Weiner (6'4" 300, 6th yr., Kansas State)
#70 Bob Whitfield (6'5" 310, 12th yr., Stanford)
Projected starters: Claridge (left guard), Forney (right guard), Garza (center), Weiner (right tackle), Whitfield (left tackle)
Top backups: Bibla (guard), Dogins (center/guard), McClure (center), Shaffer (tackle)
Newcomers: Booker (undrafted rookie), Dogins (free agent/Bears), Henry (undrafted rookie), Hicks (free agent), Moore (free agent), Morgan (free agent), Saffer (undrafted rookie).
The offensive line has been a concern over the years, but 2002 they showed marked improvement. The coaching staff and fans alike hope that improvement continues into 2003.
The team made no additions to the roster that are expected to change the starting lineup, as all five starters return, and all but one of last season's principle backups as well. The lone player lost was backup tackle Michael Thompson. But Thompson won't be missed since character issues, work ethic, and little improvement over the course of his four-year stint in Atlanta allowed him to be traded to Seattle in the off-season.
Starting with the offensive tackles, Bob Whitfield and Todd Weiner return. Again, they will go unchallenged on the outside. Whitfield has been a perennial starter since 1993, missing only one game in 10 seasons. In the years of 1998 through 2000, Whitfield possibly had three of the best years in his career. Following a large contract extension following the 2000 season, Whitfield's play has declined. Part of it, has been a change in style and scheme with the arrival of Pete Mangurian in 2001. Mangurian typically emphasizes zone blocking rather than man blocking, and stresses hard work, something that has been averse to Whitfield over the years. But it seems that Whitfield is adjusting much better to Mangurian's scheme, and hopefully he can improve on an above average 2002 season. Whitfield still has trouble with the smaller, quick ends like Simeon Rice and Grant Wistrom. He'll get a chance to correct that when he will face both Rice and Wistrom again this year along with Dwight Freeney, Mike Rucker, and Jevon Kearse.
Weiner got off to a slow start in 2002 due to injuries and was somewhat of a question mark going into the season. But by season's end, he may have proven he's one of the better if not best amongst the Falcons line. Weiner probably wouldn't be categorized as a true bookend tackle, but he's capable of holding his own with some of the league's best. For two seasons now, he's bested Michael Strahan several teams, which is the ultimate litmus test for any right tackle in the league. Weiner doesn't have dominating strength or overwhelming quickness, but he is capable in both areas and plays smart. The Falcons will be looking for a little more consistency from him in 2003, since he's charged with the important duty of protecting Vick's right side. He'll get another shot at besting Strahan, along with other solid ends like Julius Peppers, Hugh Douglas, Kevin Carter, Leonard Little, and Greg Ellis. He will definitely have his hands full.
On the inside, there may be some changes to the starting lineup. Incumbent guards Kynan Forney and Travis Claridge return. Both played better in 2003, but neither have a secure handle on their starting spots. Claridge seemingly was in Mangurian's doghouse in 2001 and 2002 for less than inspired play from the former second-rounder, but now seemingly has emerged from it. But Claridge could lose his job. He still has lapses and will face heavy competition from second-year man Martin Bibla. Bibla got only minimal playing time as a rookie, but has the talent to unseat Claridge. With a solid showing in camp, Bibla could emerge as the starting left guard entering the season.
Kynan Forney still has a ways to improve, but the former seventh rounder has performed beyond initial expectations. Forney needs to gain more consistency. He is one of the team's more mobile players, but his strength and technique has been less than impressive. Hopefully his work in the off-season will have helped in that area. Forney works hard and can get the job done, but the team would prefer if it saw even better results. Forney will not see as direct competition as Claridge will this summer, but with sub par player Forney could be replaced by either Bibla, Roberto Garza, Kevin Dogins, or even Mookie Moore.
Roberto Garza and Todd McClure will compete for the center position. McClure is the incumbent, so thus has that advantage, but Garza has him outclassed in the physical and talent departments. Garza started the first four games of 2002 at right guard and held his own there. Garza can play guard, but the Falcons have envisioned as their center of the future ever since they nabbed him in the fourth of the 2001 draft. McClure has done an excellent job over the past 2.5 seasons he has spent in the starting spot, but the team may want to push him aside for a player that has some more physical potential like Garza. McClure lacks great size or strength, but makes up for it with smarts. This will be one of the key battles of the summer. If the battle is close, expect Garza to get the nod. The coaching staff is really intrigued to see what can really do, and that will only be achieved if he plays. But if Garza is clearly lacking, McClure will handle the job for at least another year. If Garza loses out to McClure, he will move back to guard where he could still have a chance of unseating Forney, Claridge, and/or Bibla.
Dogins is also in the mix at both center and guard. He's played both in the past, but Dogins has never earned a starting job. He's made a living over the past seven years by being a spot starter, filling in for injured players. He started 8 games last year for the Bears getting the majority of his time at left guard in place of an injured Rex Tucker. Dogins is capable of getting the job done, but unless he plays the best football of his career and a current Falcon starter slips significantly, he's unlikely to earn a starting spot. He'll really be vying for a chance to stick as a backup on the roster. He provides versatility, and there are mostly rookies behind him, but he still will have a fight to make the roster.
Mookie Moore spent this past spring in NFL Europe. Because only one European player has ever made the Falcons opening day roster (Tony Graziani spent 1 week on the roster in 2000), it will be difficult for Moore to break the supposed "curse." But Moore has some skills. He is quite mobile, and may be even more so than Forney. But Moore lacks strength, and although his quickness helps him in pass protection, he has difficulty as a run blocker. But Moore usually finds a way to stick around. He has spent the past two years off and on the Broncos practice squad. But he has recently suffered an injury to his hand. If it keeps him from practicing, he will find training camp an even bigger uphill battle.
The other veterans in camp will be at the tackle positions. Robert Hicks, Kris Farris, Dwayne Morgan, and Kevin Shaffer will all be vying for one or two roster spots. Hicks has the experience and size as he spent 1.5 years as a starter in Buffalo in 1999 and 2000. But since then he has yet to stick on a roster. He has great size and strength, but has lapses and has yet to put it all together. Farris has potential, but injuries have decimated his NFL career. An Outland Trophy winner and 3rd round pick in 1999, Farris has only seen the field in 3 games. He missed all of 1999 and most of 2001 with injuries. He definitely has talent, but it's unknown whether injuries have severely hampered it. Morgan is an import from the CFL. Morgan spent 4 years in the CFL. He lacks great size so he could see some time at guard, but his Canadian experience gives him a legitimate shot at making the Falcons roster. Shaffer is the forerunner at this position. The Falcons drafted him in the seventh round last year. He only played in six games, but he made enough of an impression that the Falcons weren't too worried about trading Thompson in the off-season. Shaffer looks like an heir apparent to Weiner. But he'll likely spend most of his time working at left tackle.
Blake Henry will also be competing for a backup role at guard. Henry is an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest. Henry is nothing special as a prospect so it's doubtful he will make the roster. But with hard work he could make enough of an impression to make the practice squad. Fellow undrafteds like Ulish Booker and Mike Saffer will also vie for roster positions. Both Booker and Saffer played tackle in college, but both could see some time at guard with the Falcons since neither have great mobility, strength, or quickness. They too will be competing for a chance at the practice squad.
The Falcons have historically kept nine linemen. You can bet that among those nine, barring injury, it will be Whitfield, Weiner, Bibla, Claridge, Forney, Garza, and McClure. That leaves only two roster spots as undecided. One will definitely go to a tackle, most likely Shaffer. The other will likely go to the best overall lineman among the rest. Dogins has the advantage there, but Farris or Hicks could also have an impact.
Salary Cap Sense
The salary cap is only going to be a problem with Dogins and Hicks. They count $475,000 and $451,000 against this year's cap, respectively. The team may find it cheaper to go with Farris or Moore (both $300,000) or any of the other lineman (all $225,000).
Predictions: