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Should we be concerned about the Atlanta Falcons? No, but…

By Erik Sandelin

Jun 13, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Ben Garland (63) goes through a running drill during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Ben Garland (63) goes through a running drill during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 13, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Ben Garland (63) goes through a running drill during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons center Ben Garland (63) goes through a running drill during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Who’s going to play right guard and fullback?

Moving on from Chris Chester at right guard was no big surprise. He was the weak link on the offensive line last year, on the wrong side of 30. Plus his contract had expired so it just made sense to part ways.

However, the expectation was that the Falcons would be more aggressive in replacing him. It was rumored that they would make a run at one of the big-name guards (Kevin Zeitler, T.J. Lang, etc.) in free agency, but that never materialized. Many of the draft experts expected Atlanta to take Forrest Lamp out of Western Kentucky with their first pick in the draft.

Instead, Chester’s likely replacement is either career backup Ben Garland, former sixth-round pick Wes Schweitzer, or rookie fourth-round pick Sean Harlow.

The loss of Patrick DiMarco to the Buffalo Bills in free agency was a bit more surprising. He’s regarded by many as perhaps the best fullback in the game. Maybe his contract was too expensive to match.

As good as he is, he was only on the field for about 30% of the offensive snaps last year. Still, his likely replacements are somebody who was out of football last year, an undersized undrafted rookie free agent, and a British former rugby player who was originally signed to try to play tight end.

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