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We’ve been talking a lot about the Buccaneers and Panthers and what they may do in the draft and that’s mainly because they’re the only two NFC South teams with a first-round pick.

The Saints don’t pick until the third round, but now that we’re into April, it’s a good time to start talking about the Falcons and what they might do in the second round (at No. 55 overall).

A lot of people are talking about Atlanta getting a left tackle. But you don’t usually find future All-Pro tackles deep in the second round. The Falcons could take a tackle somewhere in this draft, but coach Mike Smith recently made it sound like the team will give Sam Baker one more chance.

When asked about tackles that might be available in the second round, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay ticked off a group (Florida State’s Zebrie Sanders, Cal’s Mitchell Schwartz and Mississippi’s Bobby Massie) that he referred to as "third-tier offensive tackles."

“Bobby Massie would probably be the best available and maybe best case scenario coming out of Mississippi,’’ McShay said in a recent conference call with the national media. “I don't know that he's going to fall all the way there, but if he does it's a possibility. Zebrie Sanders from Florida State, there is a good chance he'll be there. He kind of fits what they want to do. He fits that Florida State zone-blocking scheme, and I think he has the athleticism to play left tackle, but I'm not necessarily convinced of it. It's always hard to plug your left tackle, and it's not going to be easy to do.’’

I’m not sure it makes sense for the Falcons to take a “third-tier offensive tackle’’ with their first draft pick. They were reluctant to play interior linemen Joe Hawley and Mike Johnson right away when they drafted them in the middle rounds in 2010. I don’t see them being more willing to play a rookie right away at left tackle.

McShay brought up another interesting scenario for the Falcons with their second-round pick and this guy should be familiar to Atlanta fans. McShay mentioned Georgia cornerback Brandon Boykin as a possibility and he did it enthusiastically.

“He's just so fast,’’ McShay. “Everything he does is fast. I think his instincts need to improve. I know his instincts need to improve. He's late diagnosing some throws. When they put him in the zone, he can get lost a little bit, and that's not really his strength. But he's such a good athlete. He can absolutely fly. His vertical leap is just insane. He's just so physically gifted. You see the suddenness, the explosiveness. To me, maybe he's just a nickel corner, but maybe you get production out of him on the offensive side if you're creative enough. You definitely get production out of him and potentially some big plays in the return game.’’

Hmm, I have a tough time seeing Smith, who usually is viewed as a conservative type, letting someone play offense and defense. But, then again, maybe owner Arthur Blank can get in Smith’s ear about that possibility. Blank has developed a pretty strong relationship with Deion Sanders, who once played a little offense in addition to cornerback. Sanders also was a top-notch return man.

That’s a skill that could make Boykin particularly attractive to the Falcons. They recently let return man Eric Weems leave via free agency.

A very quick update to our previous item on Atlanta fullback Ovie Mughelli. The Falcons officially announced he’s been placed on injured reserve.

They also have placed guard Mike Johnson on injured reserve. To fill their roster spots, the Falcons signed fullback Mike Cox and offensive lineman Kirk Chambers.

Cox, a Georgia Tech product, previously appeared in 32 games with the Kansas City Chiefs. Chambers gives the Falcons some veteran depth at tackle. That’s notable because left tackle Sam Baker missed the last game with a back injury and struggled prior to that.

Chambers has been in the league since 2004 and has spent time, mostly as a backup with Cleveland, Buffalo and Cincinnati. He was released by Detroit prior to this season.

Detroit defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Cliff Avril were not available for comment on Chambers joining Atlanta’s offensive line.

ATLANTA – There’s some pretty major pregame news from the Falcons. Defensive end John Abraham will not play in Sunday night’s game with Green Bay.

Abraham has been declared inactive. He was added to the injury report Friday with a hip injury. With Abraham out, the Falcons likely will look to Kroy Biermann and Lawrence Sidbury to share time at his spot.

The other inactives for the Falcons are cornerback Darrin Walls, running back Antone Smith, center Todd McClure, offensive lineman Mike Johnson, defensive tackle Carlton Powell and defensive end Cliff Matthews.

Joe Hawley is expected to start in place of McClure, who has a knee injury.

In his Monday afternoon news conference, Atlanta coach Mike Smith admitted he’s not happy with the play of his offensive line. It’s good that Smith realizes he’s got a problem on his hands, because that much has been pretty obvious to the world for the first three games.

Quarterback Matt Ryan is getting hit more than he ever has before and the Falcons had only 30 rushing yards in Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay.

But how do you fix offensive line problems in the middle of a season? Smith said he and his coaching staff will take a hard look at their scheme and personnel. He also said all the positions on the line are open to competition, and the guys who play best in practice will play Sunday in Seattle.

The sudden collapse of Atlanta’s offensive line is a little puzzling. The Falcons did lose right guard Harvey Dahl in free agency. But that was a departure the Falcons willingly allowed. They had used several draft picks on offensive linemen in recent years to prepare for that scenario.

Garrett Reynolds won the job in training camp, but he’s been one of the guys who has struggled most. The Falcons could look to a pair of second-year pros, Joe Hawley and Mike Johnson, to replace Reynolds. Johnson was in a close competition with Reynolds throughout the preseason. Hawley started the first two games at center because Todd McClure was hurt. But McClure returned Sunday and Hawley also can play guard.

I can see the Falcons shaking things up and giving either Hawley or Johnson a shot at starting. But the other problem area -- and a much bigger one -- has been at left tackle. That position is held by Sam Baker. He was drafted the same year as Ryan, and the thinking was the Falcons wanted a franchise left tackle to protect their franchise quarterback.

Baker’s first three seasons were far from great, but he wasn’t a liability. This year, he’s become one. There’s no easy or obvious way to solve this problem. The only backup tackle the Falcons have is Will Svitek. He’s a career backup, but he did an adequate job while starting two games for an injured Baker in 2009.

Svitek isn’t the long-term answer at this position. But maybe the Falcons should make one last-ditch effort to light a fire under Baker. Maybe they should bench him and start Svitek for a game or two. Maybe that will inspire Baker and he can win the job back in practice and play well the rest of the season.

Or maybe, benching or not benching Baker will have no real impact. That’s not a real pleasant prospect.

At this time of year, you can’t just go out and find a solid left tackle, because they’re all playing for someone else. Unless Baker really steps up his game the rest of the season, the Falcons will have to use next year’s draft or free-agency period to find a left tackle.

TAMPA, Fla. – Here are the inactives for the Atlanta Falcons and there’s a bit of a surprise.

Starting linebacker Stephen Nicholas is out with a calf injury. Veteran Mike Peterson likely will take his place. Cornerback Kelvin Hayden, cornerback Darrin Walls, center Brett Romberg, offensive lineman Mike Johnson, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and defensive end Cliff Matthews are inactive.

Center Todd McClure is active and expected to start after missing the first two games with a knee injury.

We’ll be back with the inactives for the Bucs in just a few minutes.

Also, a quick weather report. It’s been raining hard in Tampa for the last 30 minutes or so. The University of South Florida played a game here Saturday night, so it could be interesting to see how the field holds up. Also, there's been some lightning in the area. If that continues, a delayed start is possible.

ATLANTA -- We just got the Falcons’ inactives for Sunday night and there are no major surprises.

Two injured starters, defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and center Todd McClure, are both out, as expected. Joe Hawley will start for McClure and Peria Jerry for Babineaux.

The other inactives for the Falcons are cornerback Darrin Walls, running back Antone Smith, linebacker Spencer Adkins, offensive lineman Mike Johnson and defensive end Cliff Matthews.

CHICAGO -- As expected, the Atlanta Falcons will be without two starters in Sunday’s game with the Bears. Center Todd McClure and defensive tackle Corey Peters, who both are injured, have been declared inactive.

The Falcons said Joe Hawley will start in McClure’s place and Peria Jerry will start for Peters.

The other inactives for the Falcons are cornerback Darrin Walls, running back Antone Smith, linebacker Spencer Adkins, offensive lineman Mike Johnson and defensive end Cliff Matthews.

The final preseason games for all NFC South teams are Thursday night.

Baltimore plays at Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. ET and Tampa Bay at Washington kicks off at the same time. Pittsburgh at Carolina and Tennessee at Houston start half an hour later. Since final preseason games generally don’t feature a lot of playing time for the starters, we’ll make our preview a little more comprehensive.

Instead of doing three things to watch on each team, we’ll do one.

Cam Newton’s last test. The Panthers appear to be set to go with the rookie quarterback as their starter for the regular season. He has not had a great preseason as a passer and probably won’t get a lot of playing time tonight. But it would be nice to see him complete a few passes against the Steelers. That would help his confidence and also bring some optimism to the fans.

Cameron Jordan’s role. The Saints pulled a surprise Tuesday when they cut starting defensive end Alex Brown. Conventional wisdom says that probably means they’re ready to use Jordan, a first-round draft pick, as a starter. Coach Sean Payton hasn’t committed that far and said the Saints will use a rotation at defensive end. But Jeff Charleston, Junior Galette and Turk McBride aren’t the kind of guys you expect to see in the starting lineup on a weekly basis.

Mike Johnson vs. Garrett Reynolds. This competition for Atlanta’s starting right guard job is coming down to the wire. Johnson missed some time early on with a concussion and that gave Reynolds the early edge. But coach Mike Smith has said Johnson still is a contender to start and a strong showing could be the deciding factor. No matter if it’s Johnson or Reynolds opening the regular season at Chicago on Sept. 11, the Falcons will have two new starters on the line that day. Center Todd McClure will miss the opener with a knee injury, and second-year pro Joe Hawley likely will get the start.

Rudy Carpenter in a starting role. He was Tampa Bay’s No. 3 quarterback last season. But Carpenter will get the start against the Redskins and there’s a lot riding on this one. Carpenter is in a competition with Jonathan Crompton for the No. 3 spot. But coach Raheem Morris admitted that it’s possible the Bucs may go into the regular season carrying only Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson on the active roster, which would free up a spot at another position. Carpenter needs a strong outing to prevent that from happening.

Atlanta coach Mike Smith just told the media that veteran center Todd McClure, who recently had knee surgery, will not be available to play in the Sept. 11 regular-season opener at Chicago.

Unless the Falcons go out and find a veteran, that almost certainly means second-year pro Joe Hawley will start in McClure’s place. A fourth-round pick out of UNLV last year, Hawley never has started an NFL game. But he’s worked behind McClure since last year and appeared in 15 games, mostly as a special-teams player, last year.

The news also means McClure’s franchise-record 144 straight starts will come to an end. Smith wouldn’t speculate about McClure’s availability beyond the Chicago game, but it’s possible he could miss more time. He’s 34 and has played through lots of other injuries through the years.

The Falcons drafted Hawley as an eventual replacement for McClure. Atlanta’s offensive line already will have one new starter at right guard with either Garrett Reynolds or Mike Johnson taking over after Harvey Dahl left via free agency.

Right tackle Tyson Clabo and left guard Justin Blalock were also free agents, but the team re-signed them in large part because the front office and coaching staff wanted to keep as much continuity as possible on the offensive line. Now, the Falcons will have to play at least one game with two new starters on the line.

A morning look at the headlines from around the NFC South.

Atlanta offensive line coach Paul Boudreau says the competition at right guard between Garrett Reynolds and Mike Johnson will go right down to the wire.

The NFC has had a different champion each of the last 10 seasons. Elliott Harrison makes the case why the Falcons can keep that streak going. Each of the other three NFC South teams have won the NFC during that span.

Rookie defensive tackle Terrell McClain has started to get some work with Carolina’s first-team defense. Look for him to move ahead of Corvey Irvin before all is said and done. The Panthers are high on McClain’s potential and never have seen all that much out of Irvin.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton said the knee injuries to guard Carl Nicks and running back Mark Ingram are minor. Nicks has a contusion and should return to practice after Sunday’s preseason game with Oakland. Ingram experienced some swelling and is only expected to miss a few days of practice.

The Bucs don’t know if cornerback Aqib Talib will be suspended by the NFL, but coach Raheem Morris said they’re ready for that possibility. Morris said the Bucs will follow the “next man up’’ philosophy. In this case, that’s E.J. Biggers, who has started before. The larger question might be who would step into Biggers’ place at nickel back. Second-year pro Myron Lewis has potential, but Ashton Youboty and Elbert Mack have more experience.

Time for a morning trip around the NFC South.

New Orleans wide receiver Marques Colston missed his fifth straight practice session Wednesday night. He said medical personnel are still trying to find the cause of his knee irritation. It remains unclear if he’ll play in Friday night’s preseason opener, but I wouldn’t count on it. There’s no sense pushing your best receiver on the field for a preseason game when he hasn’t been practicing.

Speaking of injuries and the Saints, they’ve got some players banged up in the defensive secondary. That’s allowed second-year cornerback Patrick Robinson and rookie Johnny Patrick to impress. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was frequently critical of Robinson last season, but has been singing his praises this camp.

Atlanta’s Mike Johnson will miss Friday’s preseason opener due to a concussion. Johnson is in a battle for the starting job at right guard with Garrett Reynolds. Johnson had been practicing with the second team and Reynolds with the first. If Reynolds plays well Friday, he could be close to locking up the starting job.

Former Buccaneer and current broadcaster Warren Sapp stopped by practice Wednesday and said he sees quarterback Josh Freeman as an MVP candidate this season. No argument here. Freeman carried the Bucs to 10 wins this offseason and has been having a great training camp so far.

With defensive tackle Ron Edwards (and thanks to all who bombed the mailbag to point out I had referred to him by an incorrect first name) out for at least the short term and possibly for the season with a triceps injury, the Panthers could be going with a pair of rookies at defensive tackle. The team already thought Terrell McClain would start next to Edwards and he’s done nothing to disappoint. Now, it looks like fellow rookie Sione Fua will step into Edwards’ spot.

METAIRIE, La. -- As we wait for the New Orleans Saints to hold a late-afternoon practice, let’s take a run through the NFC South headlines.

D. Orlando Ledbetter reports that Garrett Reynolds has a commanding lead in the battle for the starting job at right guard. That’s the position that came open when Harvey Dahl left for St. Louis via free agency. This report echoes everything I heard when I was in Flowery Branch last week. The Falcons are very happy with what they’ve seen of Reynolds so far. With second-year pro Mike Johnson missing time with a concussion, Reynolds appears to have the job pretty much wrapped up.

There were high hopes for defensive tackle Ron Edwards when he signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent. He was supposed to be an immediate starter and an instant upgrade over anything else the Panthers have had at defensive tackle the past few seasons. But a torn right triceps muscle has put a damper on all that. Edwards had surgery on the arm and it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play at all this season.

Mike Triplett reports that the Saints have made it clear that free-agent fullback Heath Evans won’t be returning. They’re planning to replace him with Korey Hall.

Anwar S. Richardson writes that Tampa Bay backup quarterback Josh Johnson will use the preseason as an audition. Johnson can become an unrestricted free agent next season. As long as Josh Freeman is around, Johnson doesn’t really have a shot at playing time in Tampa Bay, but he’s talented enough to attract attention from other teams in the future. He just needs to put together some strong game film while he has the chance in the preseason.

Carolina owner Jerry Richardson, who is getting very chatty after years of staying pretty quiet, has a nickname for quarterback Jimmy Clausen. It’s “Doughboy’’ and that’s a shot at the quarterback’s physique. Richardson also said Steve Smith is getting near the end of his career and hopes the receiver ends on the best possible route.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Every morning since training camp started, Matt Ryan has walked into the quarterbacks room and seen the same two messages on the board.

They were written by quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski, who was not with the Falcons last year. But maybe an outsider’s point of view is what the Falcons need to take the next step in a process that’s seen them post winning records the past three regular seasons but fall flat when January rolls around and the playoffs start.

“It’s kind of those two things that, more so than anything else, are important to us,’’ Ryan said. “The one is 'The most important thing you bring to work every day is your attitude.' Great. The second thing is 'It’s not so much what happens to you, but how you respond to what happens to you that defines who you are.'"

What happened to the Falcons last year was that they cruised through the regular season. They went 13-3 and claimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

“And, then, bam, we just got shell-shocked in the playoffs," cornerback Dunta Robinson said.

The 48-21 loss to Green Bay in the Georgia Dome still weighs heavily on the Falcons. They’re not dwelling on it but are trying to use it for motivation and growth.

That’s why Bratkowski’s message about responding hits Ryan so hard. The Falcons have made big personnel moves, drafting receiver Julio Jones and signing free-agent defensive end Ray Edwards. They fit the profile of the “explosive’’ players coach Mike Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff talked so much about in the offseason.

The physical pieces might be in place. But for the Falcons to take the next step -- winning some playoff games and maybe a Super Bowl -- they know they have to deal mentally with the lingering aftermath of the Green Bay loss.

“Sometimes, you have to make mistakes to kind of push you forward,’’ Ryan said. “We need to take what we learned from that game and apply it to this season so we can hopefully go deeper than we have before.’’

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How is the offense going to get more explosive? It’s not as though Smith and coordinator Mike Mularkey have torn up the playbook and drawn up a whole new one. They’ve done some things really well in the past, but they’ve made some personnel changes and some tweaks in philosophy in an effort to get more plays of 20 yards or more.

Ryan has the arm to throw downfield, but other than Roddy White, he didn’t have a deep threat last year. Jones’ presence should change that, and we’re not talking just about the explosive plays he will make. Having him should open things up for White and may allow the Falcons to sneak tight end Tony Gonzalez down the field more often. It also allows Harry Douglas to concentrate solely on playing the slot, a position where he can have the most impact.

With all that passing going on, defenses might not be as focused on the running game, which may allow Michael Turner and rookie Jacquizz Rodgers to break off some longer runs.

2. How much will Edwards help the defense? There’s a bit of a misconception out there that the Falcons expect Edwards to come in and suddenly put up 15 or 16 sacks. That’s not realistic for a guy who never put up more than 8.5 sacks while playing opposite Jared Allen in Minnesota. Edwards will be playing opposite veteran John Abraham, and it’s possible Edwards could get to double-digit sacks.

But the Falcons will be happy if Edwards simply can provide some balance in the pass rush. They’ve got a good interior pass-rusher in tackle Jonathan Babineaux and are hoping 2009 first-round pick Peria Jerry is finally healthy and can generate some push from the other tackle position. For too long, Atlanta’s been relying almost exclusively on Abraham for a pass rush.

Now, the Falcons think they’ve got four guys who can pressure quarterbacks. If that’s the case, you’re going to see more mistakes by offenses, and that’s going to mean more big plays for guys such as linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Curtis Lofton and cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Robinson. Edwards doesn’t have to come in and be a one-man show. He just needs to play a role, and that will make the entire defense better.

3. Does Ryan really have what it takes to win some playoff games and firmly establish himself as an elite quarterback? Absolutely. Ryan’s been very solid in each of his first three seasons. But the supporting cast always has been lacking in one way or another.

Now, all the tools are there, and the Falcons may turn Ryan loose more than ever. White’s made some comments about how the Falcons could be like the old St. Louis Rams when they were known as the “Greatest Show on Turf." That might be a bit of a stretch because the Falcons don’t have a running back quite like Marshall Faulk. But then again, they’ve got tons of talent, and that should allow Ryan to really shine.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

After returning last season and playing a limited role as a backup, Jerry has been flying around the field in the early part of camp. The defensive tackle has shed the knee brace he wore all last year and appears to be playing with confidence. Rookie Corey Peters did well in a starting job last season, but he was simply a role player. If fully healthy, Jerry has the potential to be a dominant defensive tackle. The Falcons drafted him because he could get penetration against the run and also put pressure on the passer. If he really is healthy, Jerry can create negative plays by an offense and help produce turnovers.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Although the Falcons were happy when running back Jason Snelling agreed to a one-year deal Sunday morning, they're not happy he missed so much time from training camp. Snelling has been the top backup to Turner and the Falcons view him as an important part of their offense. They're making some tweaks to their system and Snelling will be well behind the rest of the running backs in terms of knowing the new parts of the offense. Snelling's absence also allowed Rodgers to get lots of work early in camp and the rookie has made a good impression. Snelling is a power runner like Turner and will remain the top backup in running situations. But Snelling used to be the top receiving threat out of the backfield. Rodgers could take that role away from him.

OBSERVATION DECK

• The biggest camp battle is at right guard, where former starter Harvey Dahl left for St. Louis in free agency. Garrett Reynolds has been getting most of the first-team work so far and appears to be the leading candidate to start. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix. But one of the most pleasant surprises of camp so far has been seventh-round pick Andrew Jackson. He might not be quite ready to start, but he’s likely to make the team and could emerge as a key backup at guard and tackle in the short term and potentially could be a starter down the road.
• The other key battle is for the nickelback position. The Falcons aren’t going to take the safe route and add a veteran later in the preseason. They’re set on letting Christopher Owens and Dominique Franks battle it out in camp and the preseason. The Falcons like both young players and are hoping the competition forces one of them to really step forward.
• The most impressive of the undrafted rookie free agents so far has been cornerback Kamaal McIlwain. He’s small (5-foot-10 and 175 pounds) and comes from Newberry College. But he’s shown great athleticism and is displaying a knack for being around the ball. Those traits have worked out pretty well for the Falcons in the past (see Grimes).
• A lot of people seem surprised that the Falcons didn’t do anything at tight end because Gonzalez is nearing the end of his career. But maybe the team knew what it was doing. Second-year pro Michael Palmer is having a very nice camp and is showing more pass-catching skills than he did as a rookie. His role could increase.
• The Falcons are very pleased with what they’re seeing out of second-year wide receiver Kerry Meier, who missed his rookie year with an injury. The Falcons aren’t going slowly with Meier because he’s fully recovered. He’s taken part in every practice and he brings a lot of versatility. Meier is the reason the Falcons didn’t bring back Brian Finneran. They believe Meier can do all the things Finneran did as a big receiver -- mainly being a reliable blocker and a dependable possession receiver. But they also think Meier can do some other things, like line up as an H-back or even as a fullback or tight end at times. Heck, you could even see him throw some passes because he’s a former college quarterback.

As happy as he is with the drafting of receiver Julio Jones, Matt Ryan is equally pleased about the return of most of his offensive line.

The Falcons faced the possibility of losing three starters from the line because right tackle Tyson Clabo, left guard Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl were all unrestricted free agents. The Falcons were able to re-sign Clabo and Blalock.

“It all starts right there, up front Ryan said. “We kept four of our five intact. You hate to lose Harvey, but you’re happy for him and his family because he’s in a great situation. But for us to bring two of those three guys back is huge.’’

We’ll have more on the battle to replace Dahl in Sunday’s Camp Confidential segment on the Falcons. But third-year pro Garrett Reynolds appears to be the early leader. Second-year pro Mike Johnson also is in the mix.

There’s one other surprise candidate. That’s seventh-round draft pick Andrew Jackson. Coaches are saying he's been one of the most pleasant surprises in camp so far. Even if Jackson doesn’t end up starting, he appears well on his way to a roster spot. He can be a key backup because he has the ability to play guard and tackle.

TAMPA, Fla. -- A quick bit of news as I sit on a plane at Tampa International Airport, waiting for takeoff.

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to terms on a six-year contract to keep guard Justin Blalock, according to a league source. That comes after the Falcons re-signed right tackle Tyson Clabo, but let guard Harvey Dahl escape to St. Louis through free agency.

That means Atlanta has four of five starting offensive linemen from last year. The Falcons prepared for this situation by drafting Mike Johnson and Joe Hawley last year. Those two are likely to compete for the starting spot.