Falcons OL Matthew Bergeron's Mental, Physical Growth to Decide Starting Job
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The Atlanta Falcons had a rotating door at left guard last season as four different players - Elijah Wilkinson, Matt Hennessy, Chuma Edoga and Colby Gossett - received starts, in large part due to a bevy of injury issues.
But of those four, only Hennessy remains ... and while he's seen first-team reps early in OTAs, isn't expected to maintain the position once the season begins.
Instead, the heavy favorite is rookie Matthew Bergeron, whom Atlanta traded up to select at No. 38 overall in April's draft - but Falcons coach Arthur Smith has made it clear from the moment the pick was submitted that Bergeron isn't going to be handed the job.
Under Smith and general manager Terry Fontenot's guide, the Falcons have taken the developmental route with their second-round picks, first with safety Richie Grant in 2021 and again with outside linebacker Arnold Ebiketie and inside linebacker Troy Andersen in 2022.
However, each player has a different circumstance, and Bergeron was widely viewed as a pro-ready prospect out of Syracuse ... but that's not to say he doesn't have a long road ahead this summer.
In addition to the natural rookie experiences such as adjusting to new cities, buildings and the professional lifestyle, there's the considerable challenge of trying to learn a playbook and, in Bergeron's case, a new position, as he'll shift from left tackle to left guard.
Smith noted there's "a lot thrown at" rookies during this time of summer in advance of their first training camp ... and believes the manner in which Bergeron handles the adjustment phase will be key in his development over the next few months.
"A lot of it is the mental," Smith said. "It's a completely new offense. Whether you don't move positions on the offensive line, it's all going to be new to him. A lot of them made these blocks or these little technique things that are maybe a little bit different - it's what you're calling that. It's like learning a new language.
"Those combinations - 'hey, I've worked with a tackle/guard combination on the back side, what are we calling it?' There's a new language that has to be learned."
The Falcons expect to have continuity at the other four offensive line spots, with Jake Matthews returning to start at left tackle, Drew Dalman at center, Chris Lindstrom at right guard and Kaleb McGary back for another three years at right tackle.
Atlanta finished last year ranked No. 3 in rushing offense at just under 160 yards per game - all with a variety of faces at left guard.
By selecting Bergeron, the Falcons hope to have locked down the final piece of their offensive line for years to come and have an established wall to protect quarterback Desmond Ridder and block for running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
The question largely becomes when, not if, Bergeron gets a chance to prove he's the right guy for the job - and how he performs over the summer, from OTAs through training camp and the preseason, will ultimately deliver the answer.
But there are periods of growth that Smith, offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford and others are monitoring - Smith stressed that "the train's moving" this offseason and each player has their own development plan, leading to a lot of individual work.
A key area of this for Bergeron is centered around his build - at 6-5, 323 pounds with near-34-inch arms, there are no questions about whether he's big or strong enough to succeed in the NFL.
However, in Smith's eyes, there's another level of conditioning that comes with starting in the NFL, and Bergeron has to prove he can reach it this summer.
"You've got to understand that he's a rookie, but if you want to get ready to plan on Sundays against guys that actually line up and play, you've got to be able to keep up," Smith said. "And a lot of times, that pace, guys think they're in great shape, and all of a sudden, they get around Chris and Jake and they realize, 'hey, there's another notch.'"
And really, this is the exact environment Smith wanted his young left guard to slide into - one that features two shining examples on an offensive line with lots of familiarity, all helping ease the transition.
The Falcons had a similar situation with Jalen Mayfield a few years ago, but he was thrust into the starting lineup late in camp after an injury to presumed starter Josh Andrews, thus leading to Mayfield seeing action earlier than Atlanta had hoped.
Like Bergeron, Mayfield was a college tackle, starting on the right side at Michigan before being drafted as a guard by the Falcons in Round 3. He struggled mightily in the transition, missed all of last season with an injury and is now on the roster bubble entering his third season.
Would things have been different if Atlanta's plan for Mayfield unfolded as it would have preferred, rather than throwing him into the fire as a result of Andrews' injury? Perhaps - but things happen, and that's part of why Smith is so keen on seeing Bergeron's growth this summer, even with him being viewed as a ready contributor as a rookie.
As for Bergeron's transition inside, he's quite confident in his ability to play guard, where his only prior experience came in a practice session at the Reese's Senior Bowl in February.
The Victoriaville, Canada, native believes it's easier moving from outside to inside, citing the cushion that exists with the center and tackle beside him and the stout athletic profile of college tackles, which fills him with optimism surrounding his ability to make an impact early in Atlanta.
"Moving inside, using my athletic abilities and my natural strength that I have to compete with those bigger, stronger guys inside, I think it can be an advantage for me," said Bergeron.
Now, Bergeron has his sights set on proving exactly that - along with showing his mental and physical skill sets are more than enough to win the starting left guard job this fall, all with the hopes of ending the Falcons' pursuit of a long-term solution at the position.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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