I’m not sure how regular this will be as the season unfolds, but I’ll try to do one each week if I can. Since this is the first game of the season, I really don’t have any excuses not to do it. But I’m going to be looking at the different matchups that I like and don’t like as the Falcons prepare for the Steelers.

Matchups I Like

Dennis Dixon vs. the Falcons defense

I know many Falcon fans were worried about the possibility of Dixon starting this week instead of Byron Leftwich. They’d rather face the statue of Leftwich rather than the mobile Dixon.

I’m not too worried. Dixon will likely be able to make some plays with his legs, but his accuracy and decision making are the biggest areas of concerns for the Steelers offense. He has only had limited work with the first team offense, so he isn’t likely to be on the same page with most of his receivers. He is only making his second NFL start, so he will also be prone to making a lot of rookie mistakes. How he recognizes defense, how he sees the field, and whether he can make good decisions and put the ball on the money with accuracy to his receivers must be a major concern for the Steelers brass, otherwise they would not have been so reluctant to start him.

The Falcons will likely look to confine him to the pocket where he is going to be less dangerous. Safeties Thomas DeCoud and Erik Coleman will likely be a big reason why if the Falcons are able to take advantage, sitting back and reading Dixon’s eyes and breaking plays on the ball. The hallmark of young quarterbacks is a tendency to stare down his targets, which allows defensive backs, especially safeties a greater opportunity to jump routes and break up plays.

Steelers Right OL vs. Falcons Left DL

This matchup features rookie center Maurkice Pouncey, right guard Trai Essex, and right tackle Flozell Adams versus the Falcons left side of their line which will feature mainly Kroy Biermann at left end, Peria Jerry at left tackle, and Jamaal Anderson splitting time at both spots.

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Carroll Rogers of the AJC reports that the Falcons expect defensive end John Abraham to suit up against the San Diego Chargers this upcoming weekend. Abraham suffered a stinger against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago and has been limited since, although he has played in and started both games since.

Rogers also reports that offensive tackle Sam Baker is not expected to play this week against the Chargers, but that his rehabilitation is going well per head coach Mike Smith. Per Rogers, there is a possibility that Baker may be able to make it back on the field before the end of the regular season, with a shot at playing in any of the final three games.

Defensive tackle Grady Jackson should be available for the Falcons for at least another week. Jackson had a hearing for his appeal of a four-game suspension meted out by the league in October this past Friday. But per the AJC, Jackson’s representatives aren’t expected to hear back from the league whether or not his suspension will be lifted until after December 1, meaning that he should not miss the Chargers game on November 30.

The AJC reports that the Falcons have shut down offensive tackle Renardo Foster for the rest of the season. Foster was placed on the team’s physically-unable-to-perform list at the beginning of the season due to him recovering from a knee injury he suffered last season. The Falcons had until this week to make a decision on whether to activate him or to place him on injured reserve. The team chose the latter option, meaning his 2008 season is over before it really began.

The team also signed defensive end Willie Evans to the practice squad to fill the void left by Eric Weems. The team would have re-signed Brandon Miller to the practice squad, but he was claimed by the Seattle Seahawks.

The Falcons also released their final injury report, listing ten players as questionable for this week’s game and three players as out. Sam Baker (hip/back), Kindal Moorehead (foot), and Laurent Robinson (hamstring) were listed as out.

Brent Grimes (knee/ankle), Ben Hartsock (back), Chris Houston (ribs), and Jerious Norwood (rib) were all listed as questionable, but did not miss any practice time all week. Roddy White sat out Wednesday and Thursday practices due to a bruised back, but did have full participation on Friday despite being listed as questionable. Grady Jackson (knee) missed Friday practice due to his appeal of his four-game suspension. Todd Weiner, the most likely candidate to replace Baker in the starting lineup once more, was limited the past two days due to a knee injury. If Weiner cannot go, then Wayne Gandy will likely start on Sunday versus the Carolina Panthers.

In an update on the status of Falcons offensive Sam Baker, head coach Mike Smith said in his press conference following today’s practice that Baker will undergo a minor procedure on his lower back. Smith gave no indication of how long Baker will be out, but the team has already indicated that he will not play this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Initially, Baker’s injury was said to be to his hip. But the surgical procedure, called a discectomy, will be performed on his lower back.

Smith indicated that Todd Weiner is slated to replace Baker in the starting lineup at left tackle. But it is unknown if even Weiner will be able to go this weekend due to a knee injury he suffered vs. the Eagles. If Weiner too is unable to play, then Quinn Ojinnaka or newly signed Wayne Gandy could start.

D. Orlando Ledbetter of the AJC reports that the Falcons have decided to keep rookie left tackle Sam Baker out of this weekend’s upcoming game against the Oakland Raiders, as he’ll be sent to see two specialists about his hip. Baker did not start this past week against the Eagles due to the hip injury. Todd Weiner started in his place, but also left the game after reaggravating a previous knee injury. He was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka.

Baker has already missed time this season due to a concussion and other injuries. If either he or Weiner are unable to go, Ojinnaka is expected to start. Per the AJC, the Falcons might pursue other options in free agency to shore up the left tackle position.

In other injury news, defensive end Jamaal Anderson’s status for this weekend is unknown. He left Sunday’s game against the Eagles with a concussion and will be reevaluated this week.

The Falcons released their final injury report today with several of the team’s starters being listed on it. Linebacker Michael Boley, defensive tackle Grady Jackson, and offensive linemen Todd Weiner and Tyson Clabo were listed as questionable for this week’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs. However offensive tackle Sam Baker was listed as probable.

Boley is listed with a neck injury telling the AJC that it is a “little stiff” and has improved as the week has progressed. Jackson injured his knee prior to last week’s contest against the Buccaneers and sat out that game. Weiner hurt his knee and Clabo injured his elbow. Clabo has started at right tackle this season, and Weiner filled in at left tackle last week for an injured Sam Baker. Baker suffered a concussion early in the Bucs game, but should be able to play this Sunday due to his probable status. Weiner’s knee injury will be one to watch. He missed much of last season after injury both knees and also sat for the majority of the off-season unable to practice.Also listed as doubtful was center Alex Stepanovich. He has already missed time due to a back injury he suffered in the summer.Also the Falcons would seem unlikely to sign free agent defensive Jason Babin before this week’s game. MLive.com reported on Wednesday that Babin was set to work out with the Falcons on Thursday, after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks earlier that day. Babin was a first round pick in 2004 by the Houston Texans and began his career as an outslide linebacker. But he was then traded to the Seahawks in 2007 and has played as a defensive end for them. He only played in 2 games in 2007, but in three seasons with the Texans had earned 22 starts. He has 13 career sacks and 126 tackles. The AJC reports that the Falcons are actively looking to improve their pass rush.

The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that Falcons offensive tackle Todd Weiner has been medically cleared to practice. Weiner has been recovering from surgery on both knees after suffering injuries last season. The team was hopeful that Weiner would be able to join them at the start of training camp and he will be. However head coach Mike Smith told the media today that they will work Weiner back onto the field slowly.

In contrast, rookie tackle Sam Baker was not able to practice per the AJC because his rookie contract that he agreed to last night was not approved by the NFL yet.

The Falcons made a multitude of roster moves on the eve of camp. Not only did the team agree to terms with the last of its unsigned draft picks in offensive tackle Sam Baker, but also signed three others: offensive tackle Mike Butterworth, cornerback Blue Adams, and linebacker Coy Wire. To make room for the additions the team waived cornerback Glenn Sharpe, reached an injury settlement with linebacker Travis Williams, and waived/injured offensive lineman Pat McCoy. The team also placed defensive tackle Trey Lewis on the active/non-football injury list and offensive tackle Renardo Foster on the active/physically-unable-to-perform list.

Baker was the second of the team’s two first round draft picks, and there was some worry about whether he would be signed on time before the start of practices on Saturday morning. Baker is expected to compete for the starting left tackle position against Quinn Ojinnaka.

Butterworth rejoins the team after being cut in June to make room for Harry Douglas. He is an undrafted free agent out of Slippery Rock. Adams was recently dumped by the Cincinnati Bengals. He has spent most of his four seasons in the NFL as a reserve corner contributing on special teams. Last year for the Bengals, he recorded 9 stops on special teams in 13 games. Wire was an unsigned free agent this past off-season after spending six seasons with the Buffalo Bills. In that span, he mostly produced on special teams. His most productive year came as a rookie in 2002, where he started 15 games at strong safety and recorded 92 tackles and 3 sacks. He was moved to linebacker late in 2006, which was the position he played at Stanford.

Sharpe was an undrafted rookie out of Miami signed by the team this past spring. By reaching an injury settlement with Williams, it affords the Falcons an opportunity to re-sign him later in the season but also gives Williams a chance to explore other opportunities with other teams. If McCoy clears waivers, he will be placed on the Falcons injured reserve list.

Lewis and Foster essentially are unable to practice due to injury, and if or when they are able to pass a physical, will be free to join the Falcons active roster this summer. Both players suffered torn ACLs last season. Lewis had a setback in the off-season as he was already in the midst of rehab and require more surgery on his injured knee. Foster suffered his second career ACL tear last October and isn’t completely healed.

A large degree of Falcon fans were very skeptical of Sam Baker’s ability to be an effective left tackle on the NFL level when the team traded up to get him in the first round. And you can count me as one of them.

Look, I think Baker is a solid player. He was very productive at USC, and I think in general he’s a very good blocker and offensive linemen. But that doesn’t mean he can stick at left tackle, which takes a unique player to be effective there.

It seems likely that Sam Baker will get the chance to start for this team this year at left tackle. It seems the coaching staff is doing everything in their power right now to make that possibility a certainty. So I wonder, if/when Baker takes over the starting job, how long a leash should he be given?

I’m not outright predicting that Baker will fail, I’m just asking if he does, when do you pull the plug? How much time is too much (or too little) time before you move on and go in a different direction?

From my perspective it’s one year for Baker. Look I’m not saying completely give up on him after one season. But unless Baker flashes real potential as a starter during his rookie season, I think the Falcons need to start planning on making a move. No, Baker doesn’t need to be the next incarnation of Tony Boselli or even Joe Thomas right away, but if he’s going to struggle and give up a bunch of sacks week after week, then I say pull the plug on him at left tackle, and try him at a new position.

Personally, I’m more confident of Baker’s ability to play inside than outside, due to his short arms. Yeah, I know that can be a bit overblown. There are plenty of successful short-armed left tackles in the league. But it’s not the measure of his arms per se, it’s the fact that he plays short-armed. Other guys with short arms, it’s not so obvious when you watch them play, and they make up for it with superior technique and footwork. Which, in Baker’s case I think he can (and hopefully will) be able to do. His best asset is his technique and footwork and hopefully that continues to be the case.

But I think Baker could be a very effective guard, or perhaps even a Pro Bowl center. He’s not particularly strong so he doesn’t really have the strength to match up with big defensive tackles inside, but at center, his lack of strength and inability to push the pile won’t be an issue.

All I’m saying is that if Baker struggles at left tackle this year, much in the same way that Justin Blalock did at left guard last year, then I think in 2009 he needs to be moved inside. I don’t want to see this team’s and Baker’s time wasted just so that the powers that be in Atlanta can justify their selection of Baker if from the start it’s apparent that it’s not working. It’s not often that the Oakland Raiders are seen as a team worth emulating, but in this case we should learn from their experience with Robert Gallery.

Hey and look on the bright side, even if Baker struggles mightily this season, perhaps he’ll wind up being the guy that ends Todd McClure’s “reign of terror” at center.

Falcons new offensive line coach is virtually starting from scratch with the team’s offensive line. Much of the off-season activities involving the line have been spent shuffling different players to different positions. The only player so far that has not been shuffled around is incumbent starting center Todd McClure, who’s job security has been considered secure by AJC writer Steve Wyche.

“I have no pre-conceived notions. Right now guys are on a clean slate. Whether you were the coach’s favorite before. Whether you weren’t the coach’s favorite. Whether you were on the practice squad I don’t really care. My favorite guys are the guys who do everything right, do it on time and do it physically.” — Paul Boudreau

Right now, practice squad player Harvey Dahl has been working on the first time at right guard, ahead of Kynan Forney who has held that position since the middle of the 2001 season. Boudreau praises both Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo as being two of the team’s nastiest players. Clabo is considered to be ahead at right tackle, but both his and Dahl’s starting status is not fixed. Right tackle Todd Weiner is coming off a tough knee injury, but is expected to be 100% by the start of training camp. He could re-assume the starting spot at that position if that occurs. Clabo started 11 games last year in place for Weiner at right tackle.

Boudreau also praised rookie left tackle Sam Baker, who looks like he will have a good chance to hold the starting position there when the season starts.