Reasons for Optimism: Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Clint Goss

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Reasons for Optimism: Atlanta Falcons vs. Pittsburgh Steelers image

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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Clint Goss

Clint Goss Photo

Clint Goss is a Falcons and NFL writer, as well as the the on-air co-host of The Falcon Fade radio show at 99.1 WDJY and lead NFL Draft Analyst for Stadium Rant. He is a Rhetoric graduate of Georgia College & State University. A Roswell resident, find Clint at Mercedes-Benz Stadium every Sunday. You can follow Clint actively on Twitter/X @NFLDraftDome.