The Atlanta Falcons' first play from scrimmage in Sunday's 13-8 win over the New York Jets saw center Drew Dalman and quarterback Desmond Ridder fumble the snap exchange.
Some 12 plays later, on Atlanta's final offensive snap of the first quarter, Dalman was driven backwards off the line of scrimmage by Jets defensive line Quinnen Williams and into running back Bijan Robinson, who was dropped in the endzone for a safety.
For some, that's an indictment not only of Dalman's game but also his season, as snap issues have been a recurring theme over the past year and a half.
But there's more than meets the eye to the 6-3, 300-pound center, who's now started each of Atlanta's past 29 games and has played every offensive snap this season.
Dalman's become the anchor inside for the Falcons' offensive line, serving as the lead communicator on a unit that's generated the league's sixth-best rushing attack at 135 yards per game.
Better yet, Falcons coach Arthur Smith believes the best is still yet to come.
“Another young guy at a critical spot that’s continuing to improve,” Smith said. “It’s him and the quarterback. They touch the ball every play. Drew is another guy that’s extremely conscientious, works hard at it. There’s a lot that we put on his plate. He’s continued to improve, and I thought he did a really good job in the run game.”
Atlanta's success on the ground is no coincidence when considering Dalman rates as the NFL's best run-blocking center, generating a 91.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
As a collective, Dalman's 84.2 overall grade has him slotted as the second-best center overall, behind only Miami Dolphins standout Connor Williams, who's played 329 fewer snaps this season due to a groin injury.
The 25-year-old Dalman doesn't rate as favorably as a pass blocker, as his 53.2 grade puts him at No. 26 among centers. He's also been flagged for five penalties, tied for seventh-most among offensive linemen.
Still, Dalman's numbers inspire confidence there's better days ahead.
Dalman, the son of seven-year NFL offensive lineman Chris Dalman, has allowed 24 total pressures in 453 pass blocking snaps, a pressure rate of just 5.3 percent, and has given up only two sacks and five quarterback hits.
But as Dalman goes, so too does the Falcons' offensive line. The unit ranks 10th in the league in sacks allowed at 33, a stark contrast from its run blocking prowess.
A 2021 fourth-round pick who spent much of his rookie year as a backup, Dalman's still ironing out flaws ... but Smith feels he's doing so at an encouraging clip and growing alongside quarterback Desmond Ridder in the process.
“Every year he’s been here, he’s improved,” Smith said, “and as you’re going with a young quarterback and a young center, they’re working through some things at times, but have a great appreciation for him.”
The Falcons' offensive line has boasted the same five starters in every game this season. Continuity has been present, but so have consummate inconsistencies in performance level.
In a sense, the high's and low's mirror Dalman's play - as does Atlanta's identity as a run-first offense with flaws to overcome in the passing game.
But Dalman remains an improving player ... who just so happens to already grade amongst the best at his position league-wide, even with more room to grow.
And that, by all accounts, is reason for excitement entering Sunday's 1 p.m. EST kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7), when the Falcons (6-6) will look to add to their one-game lead in the NFC South - with Dalman captaining the ship offensively.
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