FLOWERY BRANCH -- Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews is the elder in the offensive linemen meeting room.
“Yeah, I’m the oldest guy in the room, which still shocks me,” Matthews said. “I’ve got experience and things that I can help pass on to other guys. I take a lot of pride in that and helping each other.”
Matthews and the offensive line, which has stabilized after a bumpy start to the season, will be key when the Falcons (3-3) host the Carolina Panthers (3-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Matthews has been a guiding light as second-year center Matt Hennessy and rookie left guard Jalen Mayfield get more comfortable. The Falcons have given up only nine sacks with quarterback Matt Ryan operating a quick-passing game.
After giving up 40 or more sacks in each of the past three seasons, the Falcons are on pace to give up only 22 over a 17-game season. It helps that Ryan rarely takes deep drops and that coach Arthur Smith has made calls better suited for the line’s pass-protection ability.
“It’s that team mind-set,” Matthews said. “It’s mundane and boring. It never gets old, and it works. I want to help the guys around me to improve. If we do that, we’ll be a better team. We’ll get better results. I’ve been focusing on that and just where our mentality is and how we’ve had that growth and improvement mind-set.”
While the rushing attack is still lacking, the offensive line has held up as the Falcon have won three of their past four games.
“We’ve gotten more reps and time together,” Matthews said. “We’re more comfortable with each other, making calls, knowing what to do, being on the same page. Keep building those little things up, then the big things start coming together.”
After struggling in the opener against the Eagles and dropping to 0-2 against Tampa Bay, Matthews said the group adopted the mind-set to improve and work harder.
“It’s been coming together, but there is still a lot more to improve on,” Matthews said.
Right guard Chris Lindstrom said the players have no problems following Matthews, who went to the Pro Bowl in 2018.
“He’s got a lot of experience as well and knows what it takes to be successful on Sunday,” Lindstrom said. “Just grateful to be able to play alongside of him. He’s done an unbelievable job.
“He’s got a lot of experience as well and knows what it takes to be successful on Sunday. Just grateful to be able to play alongside of him. He’s done an unbelievable job.”
Matthews has stressed that the line should look at the production, or lack of production.
“That’s the first thing you want to evaluate,” Lindstrom said. “Then, how is my technique, then evaluate the technique. Then lastly, your finishing and your effort. Those are the three things that I try and at least watch myself on.”
The self-critiques must be honest and accurate.
“Technically, where do you need to improve,” Lindstrom said. “What was good? What was bad? Then lastly, making sure that you’re finishing down the field and doing the little things right.”
Ryan has watched Matthews grow over his time with the team. Matthews was the sixth player taken overall in the 2014 NFL draft out of Texas A&M.
“Jake quietly goes about his business, and he’s about as underrated or unsung of a guy as there is,” Ryan said. “He’s durable. I mean, he’s out there every week and he’s just technically sound. Really good technique when it comes to pass protection; really good technique in the run game.”
Matthews, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, does very little to bring attention to himself or his play.
“Plays hard for us,” Ryan said. “He’s a great leader by example. He’s got a really good template of how he prepares himself, week in and week out that the young guys can look at and say that’s how you do it. I think has been really good for us.”
As Ryan has gotten more comfortable with the line and not taking a bunch of five-step and seven-step drop-backs, the offense has found a gear.
“Our guys, they make it easy to trust them because they are so well prepared,” Ryan said. “They really do a good job and a credit to our coaching staff, too. Offensive line coaching staff. Coach Led (Dwayne Ledford) does a good job with those guys. Chandler (Henley) does a good job with them and gets those guys ready to go week in and week out.”
Ryan is getting move comfortable with each game.
“I have a lot of faith and trust in not only Jake, but really the entire group up front,” Ryan said.
Matthews doesn’t like to make a fuss about himself.
“The biggest part of that is just being a professional,” Matthews said. “This is your job. You’re expected to come in and do that. If you can’t, (they’ll) go find someone else who can and that’s the priority.”
Matthews isn’t sure where he gathered in this approach to working hard to foster improvement.
“My dad, family, siblings, guys I played with, even going away back to high school,” Matthews said. “When you have guys compete against each other, it promotes more growth.
“If you’re fine with just getting by, you’re not gonna get as much improvement. So, we have a very big mind-set about let’s keep pushing it. We’re never arrived. So that’s the mind-set. If we keep doing that, I like where we’re going to be.”
Matthews doesn’t exclude himself from the group that needs to improve.
“I feel like I’m learning more and more every year,” Matthews said. “I just like what we’re doing offensively and there’s still room for improvement though. It’s a long season so we got to keep working.”
Matthews pointed to the improvement of Mayfield.
“It’s been really cool to see how much more vocal he’s getting and understanding what we’re trying to accomplish on each play,” Matthews said. “And it’s across the line, too.”
Matthews has his own leadership style.
“I’m not the guy who’s gonna call everyone up and give some roaring speech, but more so maybe leading by example,” Matthews said. “And working hard. I’m vocal in the (offensive) line room with all those guys with how we want to do things.”
Keeping Ryan upright after he’s being running for his life over the past three seasons gives the Falcons a chance in most games. Now, unlocking the running game would be some next-level stuff.
“Yeah, we, we want to run the ball,” Matthews said. “We want to be balanced. You know, it helps you win.”
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Next Four Games
Panthers at Falcons, 1 p.m., Sunday, October 31
Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7
Falcons at Cowboys, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
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