After a brief (and ultimately failed) experiment with tackle, Jalen Mayfield appears to have stepped inside to compete with Josh Andrews and presumably still Drew Dalman for the open left guard post. The third-round rookie pick grabbed the left guard with the second-team offensive during Monday practice and it was undoubtedly the right move by the coaching staff.
Jalen Mayfield is now fighting for the LG commercial with Josh Andrews. Worked 2. Team LG today
– Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) August 16, 2021
After Mayfield mainly played the correct tackle in college in Michigan, Mayfield’s projection as a tackle may have resulted in his falling into the later rounds. As an indoor service manager, he was much better at sport and was then drafted to develop into a security guard. In Atlanta’s first preseason game against the Titans, the coaching staff decided to continue with Mayfield on tackle and Andrews on left guard – and both underperformed. Arthur Smith even said staff aren’t confident that Mayfield will take over at the right tackle.
“If we thought he was about to take on the real tackle spot, he would be there.”
Jalen Mayfield was on duty during all training sessions today.
– Tori McElhaney (@tori_mcelhaney) August 16, 2021
Not only was it obvious that he wasn’t going to become an NFL tackle, but it was a stupid decision to stop Mayfield’s development in the left guard to “see” if he could possibly compete with Kaleb McGary on the right tackle. The coaching staff clearly recognized the failed experiment and pulled them back into it, which is the right step. Now the next decision will be who is on guard besides Jake Matthews.
Andrews, Mayfield and Dalman are expected to battle for left guard positions. Terry Fontenot putting in a veteran security guard for the start would be an ideal situation, but if it’s an internal competition, it should be Mayfield. He’s just as effective at running as Andrews, and arguably better suited to this zone blocking scheme. Mayfield may be as much of a burden as Andrews in pass sets, but I’d rather see the former Michigan Wolverine fighting while getting used to NFL pass rushers as a guard than having someone like Andrews – who is he continued to struggle at this point in his career – as he has had his entire professional career.
It is entirely possible that the Falcons staff were forced into the Mayfield due to the injuries suffered by Kaleb McGary, Matt Gono, and Jason Spriggs in the tackle experiment. Not much time was lost on the guard, but Mayfield will need every replay to be ready for the opening game against the Eagles. This is the first step towards it.
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