Dirk Koetter shares love for a former student who should have a huge impact Sunday.

Quite a showdown is gearing up tomorrow at the Georgia Dome.

Those who plan to sleep well thinking the Falcons have a crap offensive line might want to stop reading here.

Manning right tackle for Atlanta is Ryan Schraeder, a tackle who possesses an honor that some consider the greatest in all of football.

According to Pro Football Focus, aka the PFF Tribe, Schraeder was the best right tackle in the NFL last year.

The Falcons inked Schraeder to a restricted free agent tender this spring, granting him a one-year deal and setting him up for a contract year windfall. An undrafted free agent in 2013, Schraeder, 28, has made 30 NFL starts, 14 of them when Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter was calling plays for the Falcons.

“Big No. 73,” Koetter referred to him lovingly last night on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

“Schraeder was one of my favorites. A guy that came out of nowhere.”

Koetter also talked about how newcomer free agent Pro Bowl center Alex Mack solidifies the middle of the Falcons’ line, with former first-round pick Jake Matthews at left tackle. Koetter also added that America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, is in his ear daily regarding the greatness of Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, his old teammate at Florida State.

So left defensive ends Will Gholston and Jacquies Smith should be the guys tangling with Schraeder most of the afternoon. It’s definitely a matchup to watch.

If Schraeder holds down the edge, then the Falcons odds of winning will improve exponentially.