We can accurately describe the recent history of the left guard position in Atlanta, particularly in 2022. Within that year alone, the Falcons had four different players take on the role of left guard. Prior to 2022, there was a constant rotation of players at the left guard position from one year to the next.
Despite this inconsistency at left guard, the offensive line maintained stability in other key positions. Notably, players like Alex Mack at center for five seasons, Chris Lindstrom at right guard since being drafted in 2019, and left tackle Jake Matthews, who set a new record for the most consecutive starts in a Falcons career. Nevertheless, the left guard position remained a source of flux.
The situation changed in 2023 with the drafting of Matthew Bergeron. This decision suggests that Atlanta is aiming for a new era of consistent performance at the left guard position.
With Bergeron’s development and contributions in 2023, Atlanta appears to be in a better position than ever in terms of securing stability in this crucial starting spot. Let’s delve into Bergeron’s rookie year to further analyze his performance.
A look back
Having been identified as the top Canadian prospect heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the Falcons made a strategic move in the second round to select Bergeron. They traded their 44th and 110th overall picks to the Colts in exchange for the 38th overall pick.
Bergeron seized the starting left guard position right from the start of training camp and maintained his grip on it throughout the season. His performance brought a level of consistency to the position that the Falcons had been lacking for years. In fact, Bergeron played an impressive 1,129 offensive snaps, the highest on the team, as highlighted by Scott Bair in his End of Season Awards article.
Lauding Bergeron’s impact, Chris Lindstrom, the top-ranked guard in the league according to Pro Football Focus, commended the rookie, stating, “He is about as good of a rookie in the NFL as you can possibly find. He’s been a phenomenal addition to our room. His approach, the style in which he plays, how quickly he’s learning… He’s doing phenomenal.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Lindstrom held the top spot among guards in the league, while Bergeron secured the 38th overall position and ranked as the fourth-best guard in the 2023 rookie class.
What Bergeron learned in 2023: How to be a left guard
One noteworthy aspect of Bergeron’s inaugural year in the league is that, prior to this season, he had never taken a single live-game rep at the left guard position. Throughout his four-year tenure at Syracuse, Bergeron served as a starting tackle, never once lining up beside the center. In fact, his first exposure to the guard position occurred during practice at the Senior Bowl in January of the previous year. Consequently, everything Bergeron acquired about playing as a professional guard was learned on the go, in real game situations—truly a trial by fire.
This experimental transition from college tackle to pro guard was previously attempted by the Falcons with Jalen Mayfield, a move that did not pan out as expected. Mayfield, drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, was released by the Falcons last year. With Bergeron, the pressure was on to ensure history did not repeat itself, and fortunately, it didn’t. The Falcons achieved success with the Syracuse product.
Throughout 17 games, Bergeron incurred only four penalties. According to Pro Football Focus, he was accountable for six sacks and 33 pressures. Considering the significant snap count Bergeron accumulated while actively learning a new position, particularly against some of the league’s top interior defensive linemen, these statistics reflect a commendable performance for a rookie lineman. They also suggest a promising trajectory for Bergeron as his career progresses.
Reflecting on his development towards the end of the 2023 season, Bergeron remarked, “I got used to playing guard; everything happens faster, so I got better on the timing of my hands and feet. It’s been a constant growth.”
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