Five Things to Know About Chris Chester

The Falcons announced the signing of veteran guard , who is coming into his 10th season, on Saturday morning and we've got the five things you need to know about him: He’s durable: After a year in which the Falcons’ offensive line was decimated by injuries, it’s refreshing to look at Chester’s stats and see he hasn’t missed a game since 2010. In fact, during his nine professional campaigns — five with Baltimore, four with Washington — he’s made 138 of 145 possible appearances. Chester’s rookie season was the only time he dressed in fewer than 14 contests. Experience in the system: Chester joins the Falcons with a strong understanding of the playbook they’ll use in 2015. He and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who held the same job in Washington from 2010-13, know each other well. As Shanahan continues to install his zone blocking scheme, the 6-foot-3 veteran should have little trouble fitting in. By the numbers: Pro Football Focus has liked Chester’s work in two of the last three years. He was particularly good in 2012, when his 13.4 overall grade ranked 15th among qualifying guards. In 2014, he earned positive marks in 11 of 16 matchups. His 2013 performance may have ranked lower, but he did excel on rushing downs. That season, Chester’s run blocking, which produced in a 3.7 rating, helped Washington amass 2,164 yards on the ground, the fifth best total in the league. Moreover, he’s been remarkably disciplined: Chester has been called for just 13 penalties since 2010, according to PF — an average of 2.6 per season. A converted tight end: In his final year of high school, Chester ranked as the country’s eighth-best tight end, according to Rivals.com. He played that position at the University of Oklahoma before shifting to O-line as a senior. A familiar face: Chester is not Atlanta’s only signee who came from Washington. Fellow offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus, who inked a contract with the Falcons earlier this month, played alongside Chester in the nation’s capital for most of the last four years.

Five Things to Know About Chris Chester

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