Falcons' offensive line best-kept secret

[HMFFL]

Tyson Clabo speaks softly when he’s standing at his locker. Put him on the football field and it’s a different story.

Same for Harvey Dahl, who goes out of his way to draw as little attention as possible — until he puts on his helmet and shoulder pads.

These two large men, both of whom went undrafted out of college, have set the tone for one of the NFL’s best-kept secrets: the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line.

While most of the kudos for a surprising season have gone to running back Michael Turner, the NFL’s second-leading rusher, and quarterback Matt Ryan, a rookie playing with the poise of a 10-year veteran, the guys in the trenches have gone unnoticed.

On the right side, there’s Clabo at tackle and Dahl at guard. The center is Todd McClure, the dean of the group. Justin Blalock holds down the left guard spot, and Todd Weiner has filled in ably at left tackle while rookie Sam Baker recovered from back surgery.

Baker could be back for Sunday’s crucial game against Tampa Bay, adding a little first-round star luster to a most nondescript group, with not one trip to the Pro Bowl among them.

But Turner wouldn’t have run for 1,269 yards and tied a franchise record with 14 touchdowns if not for the gaps created by those up front. And Ryan wouldn’t be the ninth-rated passer and have one of the league’s lowest sack totals (13) if not for five guys giving him time to throw.

“They’ve been the hardest-working group on this team,” Turner said Wednesday. “They wanted to prove something and show they actually could play in this league.”

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[lpsevier]

They really have been phenoms this year. Amazing turnaround from last year.

[tbhawksfan]

Great starting 5, need depth though.

[HMFFL]

Ryan, Turner take care of the guys who take care of them

On Christmas Eve, it was difficult to maneuver through the section of the locker room where the Atlanta Falcons' offensive linemen hang their helmets. What made it an especially tight path were all those boxes holding 42-inch plasma televisions. Next to the cubicles of the starting offensive linemen, tight ends and fullback Ovie Mughelli was the merchandise of success: big-screen gifts from quarterback Matt Ryan and running back Michael Turner, according to the New York Times.

"You take care of me, I take care of you," Turner said.

Turner and Ryan, two of the biggest offensive surprises of the 2008 NFL season, have been well taken care of by the Falcons' line, which has made a startling redemption from a dismal 2007 season.

It is basically the same players who gave up 47 sacks in 2007, but have allowed just 16 this season.

The same line that could not plow for its running backs last season (its 95 rushing yards a game was 26th in the NFL), leads a ground game that averages 145 yards, fifth best in the league.

Their custodians on the line are led by center Todd McClure, a 10-year veteran, and left tackle Todd Weiner, an 11-year veteran. The cast also includes left guard Justin Blalock, who has been in the NFL two seasons, and right tackle Tyson Clabo and right guard Harvey Dahl, who were undrafted free agents when they came into the league in 2004 and 2005. Tight ends Ben Hartsock and Justin Peelle also received TVs.

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[lpsevier]

I think we have some pretty unreal team chemistry right now.

I'm excited about the future.