The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons revisit the old guard(s)
FLOWERY BRANCH — In the playoffs last season, Ben Garland started at left guard and Wes Schweitzer at right guard.
After the bye week, the Falcons are preparing to move forward with Schweitzer at left guard and Garland at right guard. Garland is taking over for Brandon Fusco, who suffered a broken ankle in the 23-20 win over the Giants prior to last week’s bye and was placed on injured reserve.
“I’m confident playing right, left and including center, tight end or fullback,” Garland said Monday. “Put me anywhere, I’m ready to go.”
Schweitzer beat out Garland for the starting right guard spot last season. Garland went in for Andy Levitre, when Levitre suffered a torn pectoral injury after 13 starts last season.
Fusco was signed in free agency and beat out Schweitzer, while Garland was battling through a hamstring injury this season. Levitre suffered an arm injury and was lost for the season after the second game. Schweitzer took over at left guard.
But there are no plans to flip the guards to where they played last season. Garland said his hamstring is no longer a factor.
The revamped offensive line will be charged with improving the rushing attack. The Falcons are averaging 83.3 yards per game, which ranks 30th in the league.
Over the bye week, the Falcons also added some veteran depth along the offensive line.
They re-signed tackle Austin Pasztor, who was with the team in 2017, and signed guard Rees Odhiambo, who was on the Colts’ practice squad. In addition to putting Fusco on injured reserve, the team released guard Zac Kerin.
Pasztor saw action in seven games last season. Pasztor, who originally signed with the Vikings in 2012, has also played with the Jaguars and Browns. He’s played both guard and tackle.
“With Pasztor you have a sense of where he’s at, he’s a swing tackle and plays both right and left,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said.
Pasztor was back home in Virginia working out before the Falcons called. He said he’s ready to play guard if the Falcons need him there.
“I played some guard in my career. I think I have eight starts at guard,” Pasztor said. “I think in the end, its always helpful to have versatility. It increases your value as a player.”
Odhiambo, a former thirdround draft pick, has played in 15 games and made seven starts at left tackle for the Seahawks. He was waived on Sept. 2 and signed by the Colts to their practice squad Sept. 24.
“We are going to put him at guard,” Quinn said. “That’s really where we’ll park him and leave him there for a while at both left and right guard. We have him playing left guard right now.”
Bryant update: Falcons kicker Matt Bryant is set to test his sore right hamstring Thursday, Quinn said.
“He’s making a turn for the better,” Quinn said of Bryant getting some rest over the bye week. “We are not going to rule him out this week.”
Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio was named the NFC’s special teams player of the week last week after making field goals of 40, 50 and 56 yards in the 23-20 win over the New York Giants on Oct. 22 in place of Bryant. Bryant suffered a strained hamstring against Tampa Bay.
“We’ll see where it goes through Thursday afternoon,” Quinn said. “The thing that I was fired up about is that he’s closer than he’s been from last week by quite a bit.”