FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Ever since Drew Dalman was named the starting center in Week 1, Matt Hennessy has been working quietly for an opportunity to come back to the starting offensive line.
After one of the most competitive position battles of the preseason at center, the decision was made to go with Dalman against Hennessy, who started every game in 2021 at that position.
Since then, the Falcons have trained Hennessy at center and guard in order to – as Arthur Smith put it on Friday – “build depth and versatility” not only for the Falcons offensive line, but also for Hennessy in as an individual.
For what it’s worth, Hennessy is no stranger to the job.
During his rookie year (when Alex Mack was still in Atlanta), Hennessy took a lot of training camp reps at left guard as he battled with James Carpenter at the position. At the time, Carpenter beat him to the starting spot at left guard, but an injury to Mack late in the year knocked Hennessy out for his first career start at center.
So taking over the left guard job two years later wasn’t a huge undertaking for Hennessy.
However, getting back on the playing field isn’t something Hennessy has had an open window to do for a while, as the Falcons’ original starting five have played well together. And productively. According to our Nerdy Birds report, the Falcons are the first team in NFL history to have four players with 250+ rushing yards in the first eight games of the season.
It’s a feat that can’t be done without this offensive line.
The Falcons are the FIRST team in NFL history to have FOUR players rushing for more than 250 yards in the first eight games of the season
With Dalman at center and Elijah Wilkinson at left guard, the Falcons’ new starters on the offensive line shed their weight and performed well together. That will change on Sunday, however, as Wilkinson was ruled out of the Week 9 home game against the Chargers. He has a knee injury and hasn’t participated in training at all this week.
It was interesting, however, to see that it was Hennessy who took the first-team representatives to left guard during training periods open to the media this week. That’s a change from earlier in the season when the Falcons took on Seattle. That week, Wilkinson missed a few practices as well as the game against the Seahawks while dealing with personal business. Atlanta elected to start Colby Gossett at left guard that week, after Gossett battled with Chuma Edoga for the position. Gossett also played well against Seattle. It was a game in which Cordarrelle Patterson rushed for a career-high 141 rushing yards.
According to Hennessy, however, this has been in the works for some time.
“It’s something we’ve been doing since Drew was named the starter in Week 1,” Hennessy said Friday. “I’ve been working on the flexibility of the position, playing both guard positions as well. I’ve chipped away and felt like I’ve progressed as a guard over the last six or seven weeks. “
He has a chance to take another step in that progression to get back on the pitch this week. Although Smith didn’t name Hennessy as the starting left guard after practice on Friday, it appears Hennessy is headed in that direction with Wilkinson out.
As Hennessy explained, it’s a decision he’s been preparing to make for weeks at this point. It’s not a decision the Falcons made in Wilkinson’s absence this week.
Hennessy said those weeks were spent regaining specific muscle memory needed to play the position, and essentially breaking down the old muscle memory of the play center. Although only inches separate the positions in terms of actual space , it’s an entirely different job. There are different steps to follow and different assignments to consider.
“I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable there over the last few weeks,” Hennessy said. “It’s something I’m confident of.”
When asked when that trust really came together for him, Hennessy said it was this week that he was able to get between Dalman and Jake Matthews in training.
“I think it has to do with the chemistry that’s playing between Drew and Jake next to me. Making sure I communicate well with them, any kind of combination blocks we have together, having a good awareness of where are both,” he said. said. “It’s something I’m confident about because we’ve made some progress this week.”
Since losing the starting center job to Dalman in Week 1, a chance to get back on the starting offensive line is an opportunity Hennessy hasn’t really had. An opportunity potentially lies before him now in Week 9.
And if you ask him, he would be the first to say that this is a very important moment for him, personally and professionally.
“It’s an exciting opportunity,” Hennessy said. “When they named Drew the Week 1 starter, I tried to keep my head down and keep working in any way I could to help the team. If it plays left guard on Sunday, I’ll be really excited. about it. I love being here. I love working with these players and coaches.”
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Damiere Byrd #14 before practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota #1 and quarterbacks coach Charles London during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons safety Erik Harris #23 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 listens to coach Charles London during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts #8 and wide receiver Damiere Byrd #14 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter #9 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons coach Dean Pees during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons safety Jovante Moffatt #20 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham #95 and defensive lineman Timmy Horne #93 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/ Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons long snapper Liam McCullough #48 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus #17 before practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Damiere Byrd/Atlanta Falcons)
Damiere Byrd/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus #17 impersonates wide receiver Damiere Byrd #14 takes photos before practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford #37 before practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Kobe Smith #72 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson #84 and tight end Kyle Pitts #8 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons tight end Feleipe Franks #15 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, November 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons safety Jovante Moffatt #20 and cornerback Mike Ford #28 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder #4 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Detail view of scratches on a helmet during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson #84 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Drew Dalman #67 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons cornerback Rashad Fenton #21 and coach Steven King during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
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Atlanta Falcons running back Caleb Huntley #42 and running back Cordarrelle Patterson #84 during practice in Flowery Branch, Ga. on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. (Photo by Shanna Lockwood/Atlanta Falcons)
Shanna Lockwood/© 2022 Atlanta Falcons
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On June 26, 2010, she married the advertiser Arthur Sadoun, her companion since 2008, at the town hall of the 16th arrondissement of Paris. On the same subject : Philadelphia’s George Washington High School is the first to send a cheerleading team to nationals. She is the mother of two boys, born in 2003 and 2006, from a previous relationship.
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