The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Highly paid guard Asamoah may not make Falcons’ cut,
High-priced guard doesn’t fit zone blocking system.
FLOWERY BRANCH — Not so long ago, Jon Asamoah was part of the plan.
Last season, the massive offensive guard was signed as a free agent during the Falcons’ conspicuous toughness campaign. After going 4-12, the team went on a crusade to get tougher in the trenches and fortify the pocket for quarterback Matt Ryan.
Enter Asamoah, whom they lavished with a fiveyear, $22.5 million contract. A former thirdround pick by Kansas City in 2010, he had started 41 of 60 games for the Chiefs. What could go wrong?
A year later, after a 6-10 season and a coaching change, Asamoah has clearly fallen out of favor and could be released when the Falcons cut down to their 53-man roster by 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Coincidentally, the Falcons on Tuesday moved on from former starting center Peter Konz, reaching an injury settle- Ravens at Falcons (exhibition), 7 p.m. , WUPA, 92.9 ment with the former second-round pick.
Asamoah’s role began to change when the Falcons signed 32-year-old Chris Chester in the offseason. Chester has since assumed the right guard position, while Asamoah has come off the bench in all three exhibition games and has logged 28, 43 and 24 preseason snaps. Normally, starters do not play that much in the exhibition season.
“It can be tough,” Asamoah said. “I’m (not) going to lie to you. It can be tough.”
Installing a new outside-perimeter zone blocking system, the Falcons now require athletic linemen who can run and make blocks on the move. The team clearly doesn’t believe Asamoah (6-foot4, 304 pounds) fits the new system. When asked about Asamoah twice over the past week, new coach Dan Quinn laud- ed him for being a strong pass blocker.
When Chester was signed after being cut by Washington, the Falcons were stacked with two veterans at right guard. It was projected that either Chester or Asamoah would slide over to left guard, which was open after the team released Justin Blalock, who at 6-4, 326 was no longer a scheme fit.
Chester, who was signed to a one-year, $2.8 million deal, had been ranked lower than either Blalock and Asamoah in recent years under profootballfocus.com’s grading system. Asamoah has worked to keep a good attitude through his demotion.
“You have to be ready at all times and take things as they come,” Asamoah said. “Everything changes in an instant. You just have to be ready.”
The Falcons have shown no interest in shifting Asamoah to left guard. Mike Person manned left guard for much of the offseason season before James Stone moved ahead of him during the exhibition season. The Falcons are also looking for a play- er who can play both center and guard because Joe Hawley, last year’s starter, is rebounding from double ligament surgery.
“I’ll try whatever they ask,” Asamoah said.
There were 12 teams scouting the Falcons game against the Jets, when Asamoah played 43 snaps. While the team has now parted ways with former starters Konz, Blalock and left tackle Sam Baker, Asamoah hopes for the best.
“Just live in the moment, don’t think about the future and just try to live and be right now,” Asamoah said. “You can’t affect anything.”
It was troubling for Asamoah to watch the Dolphins man-handle the Falcons’ revamped offensive line last Saturday. The unit gave up three sacks and Ryan was pulled in the second quarter.
“Sometimes you’ll go into a game and they’ll hit you in the mouth, but you have to rebound,” Asamoah said. “Those first few games, we came out like gang busters, just marching down the field. We got hit in the mouth and it’s one of those things where we have to respond. Not everything is going to go perfect.”