Behind Enemy Lines: Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Question #2: The Falcons have shown an emerging pass rush over the last five games, already surpassing last season’s sack total through nine games this year. With Eagles RT Lane Johnson suspended 10 games for PED use, is the right tackle spot an area the Falcons can take advantage of?

Joe Kalafut: Vaitai has shown steady improvement and was not someone Eagles fans would pinpoint for their problems lately. Doug Pederson has also done a good job scheming and adding protection to the rookie right tackle’s side. I do, however, think this game presents the opportunity for the Falcons’ pass rush to have a field day. Carson Wentz has spent a majority of his snaps this year flushed from the pocket, so I expect nothing different in this game.

My take: Lane Johnson’s replacement has been fifth round rookie Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Vaitai took over for Johnson in week five against the Redskins, and Ryan Kerrigan proceeded to have a field day in the rookie’s debut.

Kerrigan posted 2.5 sacks in the game and the team as a whole registered five takedowns of Carson Wentz. Since that game, however, the Eagles offensive line has surrendered only five sacks in three games, so Vaitai may have settled into his new starting role.

In the Monday night matchup last year, Vic Beasley gave LT Jason Peters issues with his speed rush. I’d be interested to see if the Falcons coaching staff tries to exploit Peters’ susceptibility to the speed rush once again and move Vic to the left side for this game. Having a healthy Dwight Freeney face off against the rookie right tackle would also be an extremely favorable matchup for the Falcons.