Dirty Bird Daily: Latest Atlanta Falcons News
Happy Friday morning, Falcons fans. What is the state of the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line? How did Matt Ryan do under pressure last season? He deserves the title Matty Ice, that’s for sure. Let’s dive straight into today’s morning news and links.
State of the Falcons’ offensive line — Sunny Minhas of NFL Spin Zone
"The play of the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line has been nothing short of abysmal the last two seasons, and has certainly contributed to the disastrous 10-22 record. A combination of poor player evaluation by the coaching staff, poor talent evaluation by the scouting department and player injuries have all been a factor in the unit’s incompetence."
Adrian Clayborn’s health important for pass rush — John Buhler of ATL All Day
"While Clayborn is a former first-round pick and an obvious defensive line starter when healthy, he has missed a combined 28 games over four seasons when he was with the Atlanta Falcons’ NFC South Rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers."
Matt Ryan fared well in 2014 when under pressure — James Rael of The Falcoholic
"Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is poised, deliberate, and elite under pressure. His reputation as someone who plays well under pressure precedes him. It’s how he earned the nickname “Matty Ice” and it’s why the Falcons have pulled out so many fourth quarter victories in recent years."
Vic Beasley: ‘I’m an every-down player’ — Kevin Patra of NFL.com
"Some viewed him as merely a situational pass-rusher during his first season with the Atlanta Falcons, as he grows into the game. But Beasley told NFL Media’s Tiffany Blackmon on Wednesday he believes he can be a three-down player."
ESPN.com gives Falcons strong offseason grade — Andrew Hirsh of AtlantaFalcons.com
"A big reason why the Falcons received a B is their performance at the Draft, where they added a number of intriguing prospects who can chip in right away. This group, led by pass-rush specialist Vic Beasley Jr., was dubbed the best draft class in the league by Pro Football Focus. Of course, it will take years to know if that title holds up, but the praise it has garnered — which has been near-universal — is highly encouraging."