The Atlanta Falcons have long been searching for guys to protect their franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan. In the first game of the season, against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons got into a situation where they were playing catchup and it got ugly.
They were a little better against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they were able to actually get in the end zone. Against the New York Giants, there were times when Ryan had more time than he thought.
So, there has been a progression with the offensive line as far as keeping Ryan upright. The one constant on the line though, has been the 14th-overall draft pick in 2019, Chris Lindstrom. He has quickly become one of the leaders on this offensive line and one of the best up-and-coming guards in the NFL.
I remember when he first came in and it was one of the first few practices the Falcons held at minicamp. Lindstrom was going against probably one of the most storied second-round picks in Falcons history, Ra’Shede Hageman. I guess the Falcons wanted to double check and make sure that they made a mistake selecting him 37th overall in 2014.
Hageman gave him a quick swim over the top and beat him immediately off the ball. The next play is what promptly told me that the Falcons made the right choice taking Lindstrom in the first round of the draft.
Hageman tried to come back with the same move, and Lindstrom gave him a quick punch and stuffed Hageman at the line of scrimmage. Lindstrom has always taken great pride in holding himself accountable.
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“I think it’s just trusting our training,” Lindstrom said in response to that particular play. “That’s something we talk a lot about. You go out there, especially as a rookie, and even now, if you make a mistake you have to identify yourself as a player.”
That’s the type of language that you like to hear from one of your young guys. Even though he’s young, there is one trait that he displays that is being noticed by his teammates.
“I would without question say, Chris Lindstrom is taking way more of a leadership role,” Jake Matthews said. “He’s one of the guys now that other guys are looking up to. He’s becoming that steady, reliable, bring-it-every-play guy you can trust. I always knew he had that in him. It’s been really cool to see him progress that way.”
Even the guy Lindstrom has been charged with protecting has taken notice as well.
“I think I see, more so than anything, is just that confidence that he has,” Matt Ryan said. “He has a belief in himself and what he can do.
He’s stepping in to more of a leadership role in that room, and being one of the veteran guys.”
Lindstrom has been the most consistent player up front for the Falcons in 2021. It has been one of the main reasons why the Falcons have progressed over the last three games. That’s why I wasn’t too surprised after Lee Smith scored a touchdown on Sunday he gave the ball to Lindstrom to spike it. I like big boy parties in the end zone.