–Center Alex Mack has helped solidify the offensive line, which has been in transition most of the season due to injuries that took away both guards. Mack and left tackle Jake Matthews added to the cohesion that resulted in last week’s strong running game.
“They definitely take a lot from him,” head coach Dan Quinn said.
He referenced an in-house category called “finish points” that are given for hustle, effort and toughness. Normally a lineman will get 10-11 in a game. It’s not unusual for Mack to get as many as 18.
“He’s kind of the front and center of it all,” Quinn said. “Down the field, getting blocks.”
Quinn said one play against the Redskins involving Mack stuck in his mind. It occurred on a third-down conversion on a pass to Mohamed Sanu.
“And as the tackle was being made, the guy that was pushing Mo forward past the chains was Alex Mack,” Quinn said. “So it’s the down-field plays that he’s able to finish.”
Mack began his career with Cleveland, where he was a No. 1 pick out of California, and spent seven seasons there before joining the Falcons in 2016. Mack has added a missing ingredient to the offensive line.
“From the first time being here, I knew he was smart,” Quinn said. “Probably what I didn’t have the appreciation for is how tough he is. And he’s demonstrated that over and over again. He’s at the front and center of it for sure.”
–When the Falcons lost starting safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen with injuries, they didn’t hesitate to slide Damontae Kazee into those slots. He has rewarded them with a high level of play.
In addition to helping as a tackler – he had five tackles on Sunday against the Redskins – he is gaining a reputation as a top ballhawk.
Kazee, in his second season from San Diego State, had an interception on Sunday – picking off a pass that went through the hands of veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant. It was Kazee’s fourth interception of the season.
Kazee credited the defensive line for putting pressure on Washington quarterback Alex Smith, thus allowing the secondary to make plays.
“The defensive line and linebackers killed them,” he said. “They showed up. They did their job, so we could do our job. We do our job so they can do their job at the end of the day.”
Kazee said the defense has found the recipe for working together.
“In the beginning it was just hard because we didn’t know how to play with each other,” he said. “Now we do and we communicate. Communication, that’s all you need at the end of the day.
BY THE NUMBERS: 6.45 — Average yards per play by the Falcons, the fifth-best in the NFL. It is the second-highest total in franchise history.
–16 — Points scored by the team in the two-minute offense – drives that begin with two minutes left in either half. The 16 points have come on 11 possessions. That ranks fourth in the NFL; the Saints lead with 20 points in 11 possessions