Dahl finds a home with Falcons

Like the ancient Roman coliseum before it, Oakland's mammoth labyrinth of

concrete passages wind underneath the stadium. Only yards away from the

field inside one of the tunnels, football players ‹ modern-day gladiators ‹

filed into the locker room, some taking their time, others rushing into the

small room to shower, dress and head to the team bus.

At the end of the crowded locker room filled with almost 100 players, team

officials and reporters, Fallon's Harvey Dahl sat on a narrow bench, hunched

over with both arms on his knees, his gray T-shirt drenched with sweat

around the collar and arm holes, his forehead still drippng with beads of

perspiration.

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Dahl had finished another day at the office, that as

an offensive lineman for the rejuvenated Atlanta Falcons, one of this year's

surprise teams in the NFL. The former Fallon all-league, all-state football

player and all-state wrestler didn't know what to expect when this season

began with summer training camp. Almost 13 months ago, Dahl had been a

member of the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad with hopes earning a spot

on the roster fading.

Then, came a whirlwind 24 hours for Dahl in mid-October 2007. The Falcons

initiated a trade for Dahl with the 49ers, and the Fallon native was headed

to Georgia within 24 hours. In what appeared to be a setback for Dahl has,

instead, turned into a jackpot for him.

Although the season ended with a loss in the first round of the playoffs,

Dahl received one of the biggest honors a player can receive in the NFL. He

was named the top right guard, nudging out the New York Giants Chris Snee.

Dahl was described as "From NFL Europe to mean-streak Falcons leader."

Sports Illustrated's 2008 All-Pro team focused on a youth movemnet arising

in the NFL. According to columnist Peter King, he said the theme of the team

is youth.

"Fourteen of 23 players on offense and defense are 27 or younger," King

wrote.

A good fit for Dahl

Dahl said the trade was "a blessing in disguise." Gone are the uncertainties

of being on the 49ers' roster. Instead, Dahl fought for a starting position

last summer and emerged as the Falcons top right guard.

That desire did not surprise Paul Boudreau, the Falcons' offensive line

coach.

"Harvey has made a lot of improvements because he earned the starting job,"

Boudreau said. "He's learning how to play in the National Football League.

He is going through a regular season and through the pre-season. He has

learned a lot about himself and a lot about the defense than when he first

started out."

Something was lacking in San Francisco.

Dahl kept fighting for a starting position, but he couldn't budge from his

No. 3 spot on the depth chart. The 49ers thought highly of Dahl, though, and

had him play in the NFL's Europe League for a season where he gained

invaluable experience.

During the spring draft, however, the 49ers drafted a top offensive lineman,

and Dahl saw his chances to keep a roster position on the team diminish. His

hunch proved correct. Come August, the 49ers cut him from the 53-man squad,

but they signed him to a contract to play on their practice squad.

Dahl considers those days in San Francisco as history. Today, life couldn't

be better in Atlanta.

"We have a good thing here ... good chemistry, the O-line plays well, and

everyone wants to win," Dahl explained.

Turning Atlanta around

And Dahl, at the age of 27, has become part of Atlanta's youth movement to

turn the Falcons into a contender in the NFL South.

"He came here with a whole new coaching staff," Boudreau pointed out. "The

thing for him is he got an opportunity. I can't speak for the coaches at the

other teams he has been a part of, but it happens around the league. You

have invested a lot of money in first, second or third draft choices, and

you are not going to get a lot of reps for that free agent."

Support from his teammates has also been important to Dahl.

Running back Michael Turner credited the offensive line for his success this

season, and especially Dahl on the right side.

"He keeps improving, and that comes from experience and getting better each

week," Turner said, standing before his open locker. "Harvey opens up those

holes and does a great job up front."

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan said he was blessed with a great offensive

line.

"We came out each week, very balanced," he said, explaining how the

offensive line opened up holes for the runners and provided solid pass

blocking for the quarterback.

Ryan said the offensive line, from tackle to tackle, created holes and

played physical, game after game.

"Our two guards ‹ Justin (Blalock) and Harvey ‹ are very physical. We have a

great running game with them pulling, and they're good with their pass

blocking," Ryan added.

Boudreau agrees.

"His whole attitude is to play until the end of the whistle. In training

camp, he was playing a little over the edge and maybe after the whistle. We

didn't discourage that a whole lot because we wanted to establish something

as a group. There were a couple of signs up in the stands that called the

offensive line the Œnasty boys.' He's kind of the poster boy of that way of

playing. If you line up against him, it's just going to be an all-day

sucker. We are trying to have all five guys do the same."

Rooting for Harvey

Although many of Dahl's friends and family didn't see him play in Oakland,

one of the Reno area's most successful football coaches did.

Rollins Stallworth, Hug High School's football coach, recollects when Dahl

played against the Reno school in the 1990s and how his backs avoided the

Fallon guard.

"I remember most about him is how we ran away from him. We went after the

other guy," Stallworth said, cracking a big smile.

While Dahl was "the enemy" in high school, Stallworth rooted for him when

the offensive lineman played for the University of Nevada. Now, Stallworth

has a bigger reason to holler his support for Dahl. Stallworth's favorite

NFL team is Atlanta.

"To play for my team is special," Stallworth said. "I had a teammate of mine

(in college), Eric Sanders, in the late 70s who played with the Falcons."

Now, the Hug coach said it's amazing to see Dahl's progress.

"He's playing on a team in the top five rushing offense in the league,"

Stallworth said. "He's opening up huge holes."

Chris Klenakis, a Fallon native who coached the Greenwave in the 1980s,

recruited Dahl to the Wolf Pack as an assistant coach in the late 1990s.

"I am extra, extra proud of Harvey," Klenakis said. "I can't put into words

how proud I am of him."

Klenakis said he tries to keep updated on Dahl's progress, and he likes what

he sees.

"Harvey has adjusted to the speed of the game (in the NFL)," Klenakis said.

"He has improved his pass protection technique."

Klenakis said Dahl's experience as a wrestler also helped his game.

"I always love O-linemen who wrestle because they have good leverage,"

Klenakis said.

Dahl said he speaks to his sister, Rachel, at least once a week.

Rachel knows how important his career means to him in Atlanta.

"It's awesome. We're super happy for him," she said.

Until he earned a spot on the Falcons, Rachel said her brother felt as

though he hadn't made it in the NFL. That has changed since he played most

of the game on offense. She wanted to see him play in Arizona 10 days ago,

but her parents both flew to Phoenix to see him play.

Although Harvey Dahl looks menacing on the line, his older sister knows

better.

"He looks so big and mean, but we know the real Harvey," she laughed. "He's

just a big teddy bear."