Chris Morgan's first year as Atlanta's offensive line coach proved to be a succesful one, as the Falcons' OL improved in just about every way possible. The run blocking helped pave the way for a 1,000 yard rusher; the pass protection did a good job keeping Matt Ryan on his feet; and, despite a bunch of moving parts, Morgan and Kyle Shanahan were able to turn their five-man front into a cohesive, stable unit.
Morgan's work garnered some well-deserved recognition on Wednesday, as Pro Football Focus named him the NFL's Offensive Line Coach of the Year and ranked Atlanta's OL as the fourth-best in the league.
"Atlanta's O-line turnaround was astonishing; the Falcons went from our 26th ranked unit in 2014 to fourth this year, without spending ridiculously in free agency or making a splash in the draft," said PFF's Neil Hornsby. "Regardless of cost, three new players had to be integrated, and that is a difficult task in itself. In the end, both tackles improved markedly over their previous season, and both new guards meshed well, too."