Reasons for Optimism: Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Falcons Offensive Line vs. Steelers Offensive Line

In a fully healthy, dream Week 1 world, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin would trot out his Week 1 Offensive Line as such:

LT - Broderick Jones

LG - Isaac Seumalo

C - Nate Herbig

RG - James Daniels

RT - Troy Fautanu (1st Round Rookie)

Instead, he will most likely get this lineup for Week 1 on the road against the Atlanta Falcons in Mercedes-Benz Stadium:

LT - Dan Moore Jr.

LG - Spencer Anderson/Mason McCormick (Rookie)

C - Zach Frazier (Rookie)

RG - James Daniels

RT - Broderick Jones

*Troy Fautanu is Questionable.

In a fully healthy, dream Week 1 world, Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris would trot out his Week 1 Offensive Line as such:

LT - Jake Matthews

LG - Matthew Bergeron

C - Drew Dalman

RG - Chris Lindstrom

RT - Kaleb McGary

He will get this:

LT - Jake Matthews

LG - Matthew Bergeron

C - Drew Dalman

RG - Chris Lindstrom

RT - Kaleb McGary

Get the point? When both are fully healthy, the Falcons’ line is superior.

LT: Jake Matthews > Dan Moore Jr.

• Matthews 6th pick, Moore Jr. 128th pick
• Matthews 162 starts, Moore Jr. 49 starts
• Matthews 2x All-American/1x Pro Bowler

LG: Matthew Bergeron > Spencer Anderson/Mason McCormick (Rookie)

• Bergeron 38th pick, Anderson 251st pick, McCormick 119th
• Bergeron 17 starts, Anderson has 0 starts/8 games played

C: Drew Dalman’s Experience For Now …? Zach Frazier (Rookie)

• Dalman 114th pick, Frazier 51st pick
• 31 starts/48 games played

RG: Chris Lindstrom> James Daniels

• Lindstrom 14th pick, 39th pick
• Lindstrom 71 starts, Daniels 80 starts
• Lindstrom 2x 2nd Team All-Pro

*Lindstrom is the best Guard in football. That is all.

RT: Kaleb McGary’s Experience For Now …? Broderick Jones

• McGary 31st pick, Jones 14th pick
• McGary 76 starts, Jones 11 starts

*Main reserve RT Dylan Cook is on IR as well.

Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith Calling Their Plays with This Personnel - Deja Vu?

• Former Falcon WR Van Jefferson will be the starting WR2 on Sunday.

Van’s Falcons 2023 stat line (12 Games) with Ex-Head Coach, now OC Arthur Smith:

• 12 catches, 101 yards.

• WR Scotty Miller is potentially the WR4 with rookie 3rd-round pick WR Roman Wilson Questionable to play ( Ankle ).

Scotty’s Falcons 2023 stat line (17 Games) with Ex-Head Coach, now OC Arthur Smith:

• 11 catches, 161 yards, 2 TDs.

• WR3 Calvin Austin III enters Year 3 with 180 career receiving yards as more of a gadget 5-foot-9, 162-pound return man.

You feeling DangeRuss? Captain Positive for you, Pittsburgh, George Pickens, Najee Harris, and Pat Friermuth check the boxes.

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