Falcons center Alex Mack looks forward to having a new neighbor on the offensive line.
For all 19 games last season, Mack, who was named second-team All-Pro, worked in unison with Chris Chester on combination blocks in the run game and pass protection as the Falcons won the NFC title and reached this year’s Super Bowl.
The Falcons have a vacancy after Chester, after 11 seasons in the NFL, elected to retire.
“Chester is an awesome guy,” Mack said. “A super savvy (veteran). He knew the offense. He knew how to play. He knew how to get things done. He was an instinctual player. He will be missed.”
After the draft and signing undrafted rookie free agents, the Falcons have 10 interior offensive linemen on the roster.
Excluding Mack and left guard Andy Levitre, theoretically the other eight will compete for the opening. Hugh Thornton and Trevor Robinson have started NFL games.
Wes Schweitzer and Ben Garland are contenders. The Falcons drafted Sean Harlow in the fourth round and signed former Auburn guard Robert Leff and centers Travis Averill and Cam Keizur.
The backup interior linemen must be able to play center, left guard and right guard.
“We’ve got a lot of good players,” Mack said. “It’s going to be an interesting decision. This will be a question asked many more times, who’s going to be the guard? But we have a lot of other good players. It will be interesting decision.”
Chester won a battle over Schweitzer, who was selected in the seventh round of the 2016 draft. Garland played on offense and defense last season.
Thornton, a former third-round pick who was on injured reserve (ankles) all season, started 32 games for the Colts from 2013-15.
Robinson, who played at Notre Dame, started seven games with Cincinnati (2012) and 14 with San Diego (2014-15) as a center.
Mack expects the battle, which will be under the direction of offensive line coach Chris Morgan, to rage well into training camp.
“We have a lot of guys who work really hard,” Mack said. “In OTAs, we’ll get a lot of reps in there. In training camp, we’ll start to narrow it down.”
Schweitzer is considered the early favorite.
“He’s a big powerful guy,” Mack said. “He’s been hitting it pretty hard in the weight room. He’s done a real good job of working hard every day. Great attitude. Smart player. I think his big strides will (come after) getting some reps in there and how he can process things at a full tempo. How well he can really narrow down his technique.”
Schweitzer tried to make the switch from college left tackle to guard last season.
“He was right there battling for it,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We’re excited about where Wes is headed.”
Schweitzer’s offseason is off to a good start as Quinn said he’s one of the “set it off” guys.
“He’s battling for it in every way,” Quinn said.
The Falcons started three rookies last season on defense and have not been afraid to get their young talent on the field. Harlow, who’s father, Pat, was the 11th pick in the 1991 draft, by New England, will get a good look, too.
“He’s a guy who’s very, very smart,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He’s a guy who understands the game, similar to Jake (Matthews). That’s a big thing for him. He’s a really highly competitive and toughness guy.”
Mack believes the line will have to work on its continuity once the new right guard is named.
“It’s not common (to have the same starters all season),” Mack said. “Having consistency in the (offensive) line helps you be successful week in and week out. We have a lot of different guys rotate in each week, but when you can keep the same guys in there you can always build week to week because no one is ever playing catch up and trying to understand the blocks together.
“We work so in tandem and in unison with each other, those blocks are really a lot of work that we do in practice, getting our combo blocks together. … Having every week with the same guys. … You really learn the player that you’re next to.”
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