FLOWERY BRANCH https://www.falconslockerroom.com/authentic-takkarist-mckinley-jersey , Ga. (AP) — of the offensive line charged with protecting Matt Ryan when they open their preseason schedule at the New York Jets.Right guard is the only position on the line without a set starter, and that will be a key competition coach Dan Quinn will be watching closely in Friday night’s game.Decisions also have to be made at fullback and defensive end.Protecting Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP with a new five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $150 million, makes finding the best starting right guard a priority.Wes Schweitzer was listed ahead of Brandon Fusco, perhaps Atlanta’s top free-agent acquisition this offseason, at right guard on the team’s first depth chart released this week. The two have rotated with the first-team offense during training camp.Schweitzer’s expected start against the Jets may be based on his 16 starts with Atlanta last season.Fusco started all 16 games for San Francisco last season.“I just want to build continuity with everyone, get comfortable with everyone and with this offense,” Fusco said following Wednesday’s practice.“I miss the game-day feeling and will be excited when I’m out there. Hopefully it’s enough to prove to them I can be the starter of this team at right guard and help this team win.”Schweitzer said this has been “the best camp I’ve ever had, definitely the best offensive camp I’ve ever been a part of. I feel we’re really clicking right now and really pushing for it. It’s just been a really good camp.”Ricky Ortiz is expected to start ahead of Luke McNitt at fullback. The remaining competitions on offense are for backup roles Black Austin Hooper Jersey , including a third running back behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Candidates include rookie Ito Smith and Terrence Magee.Coach Dan Quinn also is looking at tight ends competing behind projected starter Austin Hooper. Eric Saubert, a fifth-round pick in 2017 who had no catches as a rookie, has impressed the coach in camp.“He’s somebody who certainly has our attention at tight end,” Quinn said Wednesday.“He’s really turning into the pass-catching tight end that I’d hoped we would see. … He’s long, he’s fast and I now see the athlete.”Quinn said Saubert (6-5, 253) is more confident in his second season. He said Saubert pressed as a rookie and “wasn’t allowing himself to be the athlete that he is.”The Falcons did not re-sign tight end Levine Toilolo, who is now with Detroit. Veteran Logan Paulsen is best known for his blocking skills. That leaves an opening for Saubert to emerge as another target for quarterback Matt Ryan.Saubert must do more than show his skills as a receiver. All players competing for backup spots, including at running back and tight end, must prove they can contribute on special teams.Second-year defensive end Takkarist McKinley Austin Hooper Jersey 2019 , trying to earn a starting role, is expected to play after being limited for about a week with a bruised right shoulder. McKinley returned for full participation on Tuesday and Wednesday.“He was good,” Quinn said. “What I was looking for, like with any guy, was there any hesitancy? He had none. So he responded the right way and was chomping at the bit to get back.”NOTES: LG Andy Levitre and his wife, Katie, who carried pink and blue balloons, had a unique baby gender reveal following practice. With players standing around the couple, Levitre held a sign that said “A Gatorade shower will let us see.” Other offensive linemen poured two coolers filled with the blue sports drink over Levitre’s head — so he and his wife are expecting a boy. Players then cheered. … Quinn confirmed PK Matt Bryant (undisclosed injury) and OT Ty Sambrailo (right hand) will not play against the Jets. “We’ll get them back into the fold next week youth Devonta Freeman Jersey ,” Quinn said. It’s easy to forget, but the Falcons drafted Freeman while Koetter was still in the building the first time." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteThe Falcoholican Atlanta Falcons communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsLibraryFalconsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Library FalcFans Podcast on The FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕The Devonta Freeman-Dirk Koetter reunion may be a big one New,41commentsIt’s easy to forget, but the Falcons drafted Freeman while Koetter was still in the building the first time. EDTShareTweetShareShareThe Devonta Freeman-Dirk Koetter reunion may be a big one Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThere were not many things that went well for the Atlanta Falcons in 2014, but the fourth round selection of Devonta Freeman will go down as one of the best decisions of that star-crossed year. Free was buried his rookie season behind Steven Jackson and company, but in brief glimpses we saw the player I got really excited about in summer 2014, the one with stellar vision and ability who just needed a shot.It’s worth remembering that now because 2014 seems like a million years ago instead of just six seasons. That year was Dirk Koetter’s final one in Atlanta, as the team fired Mike Smith and Koetter landed a head coaching gig in Tampa Bay. It was just the beginning for Freeman, who was arguably one of the best backs in the entire NFL in 2016 and 2017 Stitched Devonta Freeman Jersey , with injuries impacting the end of 2017 and wiping out most of his 2018 season.Now the two are reunited. It’s difficult to project much of anything off that 2014 season—Freeman carried the ball 65 times for 248 yards and a touchdown, and reeled in 30 catches for 225 yards and another touchdown—but Koetter was clearly keen on Freeman being a major part of the offense over the long haul and got him involved in the passing game nice and early. If Freeman is truly healthy—always a big if when you’re dealing with the ten car pileup of injuries he suffered over the last couple of seasons—he shouldn’t lack for a role in the passing game or on the ground given the team’s stated commitment to the run. With Tevin Coleman headed elsewhere, the competition for snaps for Freeman will be limited to Ito Smith, Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green, none of whom figure to take on featured roles unless Free is hurt again. The run game was never Koetter’s forte in Tampa Bay—which does have to be held against him, considering he had a significant voice in personnel and never quite wound up with a quality attack outside of one year of Doug Martin—but he never had the talent on the offensive line or at the position that he’ll have in Atlanta.This is a roundabout way of saying that those “Freeman is poised for a resurgent season” and “Koetter’s eager to return to some familiar faces” storylines ought to converge in a big way for Freeman, and nothing short of injury ought to keep from enjoying the kind of big years he enjoyed in 2016 and 2017.