FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – There’s a simple explanation why the Atlanta Falcons young defensive linemen aren’t playing more. “That is just a grown man’s position when you’re talking about the interior of any line,” head coach Raheem Morris said.
When Atlanta used a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick to add defensive linemen Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus in April, there was an expectation the Falcons were about to remake their aging defensive line. After all, Morris was coming off a season in which he got 17 combined sacks from rookie third-round picks Kobie Turner and Byron Young in Los Angeles. Instead, Orhorhoro has played only 51 snaps and Dorlus has yet to be active for a game as Atlanta (4-3) heads into its Week 8 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3).
Advertisement That’s not a problem, Morris said. It’s part of the plan. It’s just that the plan this year is different from the one last year with the Rams .
“We have the luxury here of having five guys who have played a lot of football to be able to sit Ruke and Dorlus to give those guys a chance to learn against some of the best (offensive) guards in the business,” Morris said. “In L.A.
last year, it was a little different because I didn’t have a lot of veterans to go out there.” The Falcons’ playing time split on defense illustrates Morris’ preference for experience up front. The five defensive linemen on the roster who are 27 or older are averaging 205 snaps this season.
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