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Report: Jake Long to sign with Atlanta Falcons

By John Buhler

Sep 22, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long (77) on the field during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys beat the St. Louis Rams 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; St. Louis Rams tackle Jake Long (77) on the field during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Cowboys beat the St. Louis Rams 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long is flying into Atlanta today to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.

The Atlanta Falcons will now have two of the top three selections from the 2008 NFL Draft. Atlanta used their third-overall selection on quarterback Matt Ryan and now plan to sign former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jake Long today in Flowery Branch.

Atlanta has had a tumultuous offseason with their offensive line. The Falcons are transitioning from a man blocking scheme to a zone blocking scheme. Head coach Dan Quinn apparently did not like what he saw from his offensive line in the Preseason.

The Falcons cut former first-round Pick offensive tackle Sam Baker earlier this summer. Atlanta let longtime left guard Justin Blalock walk in free agency, who opted to instead retire. Coach Quinn’s staff paid an injury settlement to former second-round Pick guard/center Peter Konz and released former starting center Joe Hawley right after the final preseason game.

Atlanta had three new starters on the offensive line in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, all on the interior. Guard Chris Chester was familiar with Falcons’ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme from their time together in Washington. Coach Quinn like Center Mike Person’s versatility when he was with the St. Louis Rams and appreciates Guard Andy Levitre’s durability, opting to trade for the six-year veteran from the Tennessee Titans not even two weeks ago.

The decision to sign Jake Long was in the making for months now for the Falcons front office. Atlanta needed to see if Long was healthy following two season-ending ACL injuries while Jake was with the St. Louis Rams. Long was a 4-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro with the Miami Dolphins his first four years in the NFL.

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Long will likely take the roster spot of offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus and serve in a swing tackle role for the Atlanta Falcons, mentoring their franchise-left tackle Jake Matthews. Not that Matthews needs another mentor given that he comes from football’s first family (The Matthews Clan), but Long’s previous experience should only help the second-year and former sixth-overall pick of the Falcons become a Pro Bowl-caliber offensive lineman.

Furthermore, the decision to bring in Jake Long solidifies that Quinn is in control of the personnel within the front office. Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been able to draft well on the offensive line for years. Perhaps tension between Quinn and Dimitroff is brewing already in Flowery Branch.

Acquiring Long is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Falcons. While he may succumb to more health issues in 2015, what he could add to the Falcons’ patchwork offensive line might help get the Dirty Birds back into the playoffs after a two-year absence.

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