Does the O-line miss Dahl’s nasty swagger?
Tyson Clabo (right), Harvey Dahl and Todd McClure and Justin Blalock (Sam Baker not pictured). (Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com)
Everyone is searching for answers about why there’s been a dramatic dropoff in the offensive line’s performance.
We interviewed right tackle Tyson Clabo (he didn’t like the line of questioning), center Todd McClure (fundamentals/techniques), right guard Garrett Reynolds (He’s been trained well. More on fundamentals/techniques), head coach Mike Smith, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Left tackle Sam Baker and left guard Justin Blalock have been noticeably absent during the first two of four “open locker room” sessions this week. We’ll see if they show up today and Friday.
It turns out that the line might be missing Harvey Dahl’s meanness and nastiness.
Here’s how the story turned out:
Falcons offensive line coach Paul Boudreau wants his players to start knocking people on their, um, butts. Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Mike Smith promised a full and detailed inquiry into the play of the offensive line.
The coaching staff, in addition to game-planning for Seattle, held exhaustive meetings this week to put the offensive line under the microscope.
They found some reasons and recognized that the new practice rules, which limit teams to one day a week in pads, are contributing factors to the 13 sacks of quarterback Matt Ryan and the 21 hits he has taken.
Also, somewhere during the offseason, the unit lost its swagger.
Four of the five starters are back, and the only missing player is right guard Harvey Dahl, who was widely considered the meanest and nastiest player in the bunch.
He signed with St. Louis during free agency.
Tackle (75) Garrett Reynolds levels a tackling dummy while running a drill. He will replace Harvey Dahl as the team's starting right guard. Curtis Compton, ccompton@ajc.com
“I think these guys miss Harvey, but we’ve been in the same system for four years and we should be able to go out and whoever is playing, and make it work,” offensive line coach Paul Boudreau said.
But Dahl isn’t coming back and Garrett Reynolds, his replacement, has been solid. There’s more to it than just losing Dahl.
“I told these guys ‘respect everybody you play, but don’t fear anybody,’” Boudreau said. “Maybe right now, we might be respecting people a little too much. … We’ve got to go back to hey, ‘there’s the guy, you take the right steps, put your hand in his chest and you finish.”
That’s how the line played for the past three years under Boudreau and helped the Falcons reach the playoffs in two seasons. Boudreau wants some more of that nastiness, and he and the rest of staff will look at their reserves to see if they need to make any changes.
Joe Hawley, who started two games at center for Todd McClure, can also play guard. Will Svitek, who has been used as a blocking tight end can play tackle.
If the Falcons shuffle the deck along the line, they want to see that “block until you hear the whistle” mentality that Dahl brought to the unit.
ew season, bigger beard. Falcons offensive lineman Sam Baker has let his beard grow out, sporting some additional length on his chin. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
“That’s what we did for three years,” Boudreau said. “It didn’t matter who we played. It didn’t matter what they said about us. You knew when you played the Falcons you were going to get hit. We were going to knock your [expletive] on the ground. We were going to get back in the huddle and do it again.
“Maybe we’ve got to get back to that. Maybe we are respecting guys a little too much. We have to get that little confidence back, a little bit of that swagger.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey has been involved in the meetings.
“The one thing that we have not had an issue with is their effort and physical play,” Mularkey said. “I have no problem saying that it wasn’t that. There are things that we need to clean up.”
In defense of the offensive line, the Falcons have been imbalanced, as they’ve thrown the ball 112 times and run it 58. They’ve fallen behind by double-digits in each game.
“The biggest thing that we’ve got to do as an offense is come out of the tunnel fast,” Boudreau said. “You can’t play and be one dimensional. If you’re down by 10 or 20, all of a sudden you’re throwing the ball on every down and that stresses everything in your protections.”
Falcons guards Justin Blalock (left) and Tyson Clabo help Ryan to his feet after a hit against Tampa Bay (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)
In the first two games of the season, the line did well in run blocking when running back Michael Turner rushed for 100 and 114 yards. However, the problems leaked over into the run blocking last week as Tampa Bay held the Falcons to 30 yards on 15 carries.
On their march to the NFC South title, the Falcons allowed 23 sacks and were a finalist for the John Madden’s most valuable protectors award, which goes to the NFL’s top offensive line.
Right tackle Tyson Clabo seemed perturbed when asked for some rationale for the slippage in play. Reynolds and McClure talked about getting back to basics and using their techniques.
“We want to learn from our mistakes in the past few games, put them behind us and go out and put something good on tape,” McClure said.
Ryan said he might be adding to the problems by holding on to the ball too long when attempting to pass.
“We just need to execute a little better, myself included,” Ryan said. “The ball needs to come out. You can’t keep hanging on to it back there.”
Boudreau has little doubt that the offensive line will get things turned around.
“Here’s the deal. I’ve trusted them for three years, and they’ve got to trust themselves,” Boudreau said. “They have trusted the plays and their techniques. That trust is going to make that play work.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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146 comments Add your comment
BigHittas
September 29th, 2011
2:45 pm
in addition to missing Dahl, they’re missing the chemistry that they had. AND being out-coached. How much more vanilla could the O calling get?
willie g in atlanta today
September 29th, 2011
3:03 pm
the falcona are losers just like the braves this team will not make the playoffs this year i told all of you in july the braves were bad right as usual, this team lost harvey dahl, they need to trade and get him back st louis really sux, so get dahl back or MATT RYAN WILL DET DESTROYED WHEN THEY PLAY THE LIONS.. domaanke SUH WILL KILL RYAN. , UNLESS HE HANDS OFF TO THE RUNNING BACKS ALL DAY, IT WONT BE PRETTY, DIMITROFF NEEDS TO IMPROVE OR HE NEEDS TO GO.
BYRDDAWG
September 29th, 2011
3:04 pm
Duh……….YES!!!
JeanE
September 29th, 2011
3:06 pm
I knew this would happen, they should’ve paid Harvey to stay here. Dang straight we miss that nasty mean a** Mother. I don’t care what he’s doing in STL, he was the dirty player known around the league. Now, we don’t have that and it may just be a mental thing but it’s definitely affecting the line play. Hopefully they improve.
59
September 29th, 2011
3:15 pm
the problem started in 08 when we drafted Baker he was a massive reach but there was no other option in that draft there was a bunch of tackles picked from 15-32 and the falcons wernt the only one that reached.. draft a real first round talent at left tackle and your problems disappear.
Tree Rollins
September 29th, 2011
3:15 pm
Here’s what my eyes see:
1) Matt Ryan DOES hold on to the ball too long and he also has happy feet and does not trust the pocket (thus the linemen trying and figure out which direction to block their man).
2) Michael Turner has become a slow, fat, bowling ball that hits the line so slowly the hole has closed by the time he gets there. NO LINE can make him look good right now. Steve Slaton just got dropped by Houston – pick him up and drop Jason Snelling.
3) They absolutely DO miss Harvey Dahl who apparently was their inspirational leader and that was a dumb decision by management – too late to fix that now.
You can fix #1 by having Ryan throw timing patterns rather than looking to see who is open. #2 can only be fixed by facing reality and looking elsewhere for a runner. #3 is too late – damage done.
Notso Fast
September 29th, 2011
3:16 pm
The Falcons certainly have looked bad in all departments. The offensive line has looked very bad and Sam Baker just doesn’t look as he belongs. The line has always been made up of over-achievers and 1 now has gone and 2 have just received new contracts. Just saying maybe they think they have achieved.
RL
September 29th, 2011
3:23 pm
Some coach or personnel guy coined the phrase “athletic arrogance” to describe certain players who have the swagger or attitude that they are the best player on the field. Roddy White, got it. Drew Brees, got it. Jerry Rice,oh yeah. Deion Sanders had it to the third power. The OL of the last three seasons HAD an “athletic arrogance” or as DLED posits, “swagger”. Some may cringe at the word swagger as a negative because it conjures up a list of master self promoters like Deion, Terrell Owens or Chad Ochocinco. But if memory serves me, Joe Willie Namath also had swagger. He predicted a win and made good on it. Namath had athletic arrogance. He had swagger. When he stepped on the field, he believed he was better than any opposition. The Falcon’s OL does not have that right now or at the very least haven’t shown it. Dahl was nasty and even borderline dirty but he was part of the crew and the poster child for the OL’s swagger the last 3 seasons. Say what you want, the opposing defense had to have their heads on a swivel until the whistle blew or risk a Falcons lineman blowing them up. And they seemed to enjoy that swagger.
This season, the OL helped their starting RB gain 100+ yards 2 of the three games. They helped the QB throw for 300+ yards in the same number of games. But for a few less hits, rushes and sacks on Ryan and just one more win and we might be asking, Harvey who?
Yeah, we miss what Dahl brought to the table but Mike Kenn and Bob Whitfield , two of the all time best, aren’t here anymore either and we still were 13-3 just last year. Success breeds swagger and not the Terrell Owens version only. Success breeds the swagger of Dahl’s era. Somebody will step up and we’ll see it again. At least I hope so.
Ichabod
September 29th, 2011
3:25 pm
I suspect TD got caught up in evaluating individual talent rather than the chemistry of the OL when he let Dahl go. I realize it was the $ but I think he missed it. Clabo misses his buddy but he needs to get over it.
Ryan can help himself by using a hard count more often, surprised he hasn’t. As far a screens go, it’s a good idea on paper but we haven’t been able to run one in years. Maybe we can with Quizz.
And why does Ray Edwards think it takes more than one game to get back into rushing the QB,
instead of waltzing with the DT?
Gee, the secondary didn’t make my short list, so they must be getting better…good going!
MountainDawg
September 29th, 2011
3:27 pm
Of course they miss Dahl. Sam Baker “plays” like a matador out there. They game is essentially won or lost in the trenches, so they’d best make vast improvements…or it’ll be a sub .500 season.
North FLA Falcon
September 29th, 2011
3:37 pm
OK I sent this earlier but it got zapped. *I blame the play calling! First down, what do the Falcons do? Run up the middle. So stack the box. Oline gets overwhelmed, Turner for -1 yards. 3rd and long, with 5 wideouts? Guess what? PASS! No blitz pickup so Ryan is on his duff. We are so predictable! Use our speed … put Snelling and Rogers into some screens or quick toss plays. If Turner is slow at the hole then get him out in space … I keep hearing about his “great hands” so give him a chance to catch a quick pass then turn it upfield, maybe with a pulling guard. Ryan is holding the ball for a long time … roll out, tuck it and run if there is an opening, or throw it away, man! DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. We can dominate at Seattle. A road game might be a good opportunity for some soul-searching and a circling of the wagons. Then get ready for the Packers! GO BIRDS.
pigskin punk
September 29th, 2011
3:44 pm
eh, As bad as our line is we could have won last week if Roddy makes a play in the red zone. As good as our record was last year, there were several games that could have gone the other way. Still same playcalls etc.. Players just have to do their jobs–we will be ok. we do appear “softer” this year and that is what is concerning to me
RobbE33
September 29th, 2011
3:58 pm
Will giving up Koenen, Dahl, Finneran and potentially a hand full of draftees be worth the price for Julio? Perhaps in the future but only if the Falcons’ coaching staff, players and front office can come to a unified consensus of the team’s direction. Until then, I’m afraid we’ll have to suffer with the Jekyll and Hyde dysfunction we’ve seen through the first three games.
Ichabod
September 29th, 2011
4:06 pm
It’s Attitude, not swagger. Swagger might come after everybody makes All Pro this year !
It’s little things like #55 lining up offiside, or that “What Me Worry?” look on Roddy’s face when he had the touchdown pass bounce off his chest…
The coaches speak like they are afraid of offending the players. Gone are the Lombardi days. So it will be a decision by the players to get themselves jacked up for the rest of the season, or else an 8&8.
Dwayne C
September 29th, 2011
4:15 pm
The Atlanta Falcons will not “bounce back”. Are they terrible? No. Are they good? No. They’re mediocre at best right now and I expect to see them post an 8-8 or 9-7 season in 2011 and fail to make the playoffs.
KPH
September 29th, 2011
4:16 pm
YES! We needed to sign Dahl.
jason
September 29th, 2011
4:19 pm
Baker is not that good. He might be a right tackle but he lets too many players by since he has T-Rex arms. Not to mention the false starts.
QB/DB
September 29th, 2011
4:19 pm
Dahl was mean which I don’t see on this OL. What a waste to let him go, ST. LOU. is not doing him any GOOD. The Falcons have to make a trade or get a FREE AGENT. They must, you can’t have all that high price talent and not protect it. I wished they would give VALDEZ a try. I bet he is meaner, better or just as good as those guys. TD don’t do this half way, finish the job please!
Great Falconi
September 29th, 2011
4:20 pm
Get after that a**, get some confidence back, and get a win. That’s the Falcons’ mission this week.
KPH
September 29th, 2011
4:24 pm
No RobbE33 giving all of that up for Julio was not worth it.
GT GRAD
September 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
Sam Baker is simply not getting it done………..find a replacement soon.
I wonder if he can play guard? I would be concerned with him at guard right now the way opposing DE players have been bull rushing him (among other techniques).
Are there any solid Left Tackles available (cap casualties or maybe even practice squad players on other teams)? If not, I say we give Valdez or Svitek a shot!
89viking
September 29th, 2011
4:33 pm
stupid stupid stupid question! evidence shows they miss him,,,oh, and i know T.D doesnt miss alot on players but sam baker is such a bomb that his nickname should be “Nuke” !!! if he was released right now i bet his agent would not receive a call for his services (if any coaches look at his tape). he has moved past aundray bruce and bruce pickens as all time draft bust!
saintbim
September 29th, 2011
4:50 pm
.
saintbim
September 29th, 2011
4:52 pm
what have we got in atlanta? what is riseing up?????????????
JoFo
September 29th, 2011
5:13 pm
The season is actually “over” for the FALCONS!!! :0
D-JECTED
September 29th, 2011
5:15 pm
Put a dagger in the swagger……good players don’t need or want the so called swagger.
bama52
September 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
The O-Line needs more recruits from the SEC.Our linemen once they’re engage with a defensive player they don’t use their legs. You cannot block with just your upper body you have to move your feet and legs. We have the right size but no quickness.
Eric
September 29th, 2011
5:54 pm
This was a statement made by coach Smith today after practice “I think there’s been way too much emphasis on the offensive line. We protect as a team, it’s not just the offensive line. Again, our guys are being evaluated each and every week and we’re going to make sure that we’re trying to put the best guys out there.”
ARE U SERIOUS??? HOW WOULD MATT RYAN KNOW IF THE RECIEVER’S EVEN RAN THE CORRECT ROUTE WHEN HE IS RUNNING FOR HIS DAM LIFE??? OUR OFFENSIVE LINE HASN’T BLOCKED A SOLE THIS YEAR, THAT IS THE PROBLEM!!! WE ALL KNOW IT, MATT RYAN KNOWS IT, AND AUTHUR BLANK KNOWS IT!!! STOP SUGAR COATING IT COACH!!!!
bama52
September 29th, 2011
6:04 pm
Jose Valdez (Falcon), Duke Robinson (Carolina) and Roy Schuening (Raiders) one of these may be able to help us. Some of our present offensive linemen have been with the team awhile and they can’t block well, hate to panic but we need to make a decision.
Juuuuuuuuuulio
September 29th, 2011
6:17 pm
They’re all saying the right thing, but no one is speaking from the hip. It’s all BS. I’d like to hear the real feelings from these guys not this scripted dialogue.
Quote S.Baker: “Man I beat up Sunday. I can’t believe I was knocked on my azz twice from a bull rush. Dang this sucks”
Quote Reynolds: “I suck. I’m the reason Matty Ice can’t step into his throws cause I’m playing like a bull fighter. As soon as the balls snapped I’m providing the defense with a free pass to smack my QB. Well I’m soft as hamster fur, as a baby’s bottom, soft as a womans thighs with cocoa butter, soft as wet paper towels, no make that wet napkins, soft as my Sealy pillow top with egg crates, as soft as lamb skin…, as soft as the Democratic party during election season.”
They better get it together quick!!!!
CGD..
September 29th, 2011
6:49 pm
Dont worry Coach Clean Shot Greyhound will be waiting for ya!
CGD..
September 29th, 2011
6:51 pm
Oh your the best Coach the Falcons ever had 3 consecutive winning seasons,as some of the fanatics like to bring to our attention!
ZERO PLAYOFF WINS!!!!!!!! Come ON MAN???????????
CGD..
September 29th, 2011
6:54 pm
This Oline is getting Ryan crushed out there coach!
You’ll starting to sound and look more like Jim Mora! Keep it up dude…
Next you’ll be calling your mentor from the side line asking for advise..
That cost Mora 25k back in in 05.. May cost you 50k?
coleski
September 29th, 2011
6:58 pm
I don’t think the offensive line was all that hot last year. When they come up against a pretty team they
could’nt run it. Ryan had to get rid of the ball in a hurry. Lets face it this is just the Falcons.
bobwhite
September 29th, 2011
8:20 pm
Another “Vanilla” reply from the coaches and players..Truth is..the whole team sucks..from top to bottom..Mediocre play from a mediocre team=Mediocre results..Seattle by 9
Mike Rich
September 29th, 2011
8:20 pm
Fix the running attack and the pass protection will get better. They are not respecting the run; also feel they can stop Turner and force us into the pass game. Look at the 3 games, the running attack has been ineffective. Unfortunately we lose good players, we will miss Michael Koenen and all the worse since he is with our arch enemies the Bucs.
Super g
September 29th, 2011
8:36 pm
The offensive line has been mediocre to inferior for the ten years I have been a Falcons fan. When Dimitroff came I thought the days of over allocating payroll to skilled positions were over. We have gone cheap on the DL until recently. The Patriots have always had a premier offensive line. Look at the success teams are having around the league with strong OL/DL’s. At least we aren’t overpaying for dime a dozen running backs. There is still time for Dimitroff.
Michael M.
September 29th, 2011
8:54 pm
So much been said on whats wrong, what needs fixed, who needs to be fired, who needs to be resigned,whos not this, whos not that, whos gonna win,whos gonna lose……..Lets wait and see what happens !
KenK
September 29th, 2011
9:28 pm
Missing Dahl is NOT the problem. We are not running the ball as much as we did in previous seasons.. We are passing i think about 70percent of the time. the defense is finding the weaknesses which is mostly Baker .Baker is another TD mistake. We will not see a replacement of Baker it because Baker is a 1st round pick by TD. TD is not going to sit Baker down and admit to a mistake. Last season we passed mostly off of play action fake run them pass. This season Matt is mostly dropping back and passing. which shows the weakness in our pass blocking OL mostly Baker..
KenK
September 29th, 2011
9:38 pm
NO we are just passing more now
Mike is back
September 29th, 2011
9:43 pm
DLed, I have seen Valdez name mentioned a several times on the blog…I was high on Valdez too…after the way he played last pre-season…is there a chance a guy from the practice gets a shot at some minutes at the LT position…Because honestly the LT position was a problem…EVEN when we had Dahl.
What is your assessment of the LT position?? Of course that is rhetorical question…I don’t expect you to answer that.lol
Anyway, I don’t think Baker was a reach…Dude just ain’t been the same since the concussions…before the concussions you could kind of say…Baker looked solid…clearly that is not the case any longer.
I didn’t want to just single out Baker…he wasn’t the only guy having his struggles…But I know one thing…I seen a lot of DEs getting their kicks on Route 66.lol
RISE UP BIRDS…LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike is back
September 29th, 2011
9:45 pm
DLed, I have seen Valdez name mentioned a several times on the blog…I was high on Valdez too…after the way he played last pre-season…is there a chance a guy from the practice could get shot at some minutes at the LT position…Because honestly the LT position was a problem…EVEN when we had Dahl.
Anyway, I don’t think Baker was a reach…Dude just ain’t been the same since the concussions…before the concussions you could kind of say…Baker looked solid…clearly that is not the case any longer.
I didn’t want to just single out Baker…he wasn’t the only guy having his struggles…But I know one thing…I seen a lot of DEs getting their kicks on Route 66.lol
RISE UP BIRDS…LETS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DR. FALCON
September 30th, 2011
12:14 am
HELL YEAH, WE MISS DAHL, D-LED!! DAHL WAS THE CLOSEST THING TO BILL FRALIC THAT THIS ORGINIZATION HAS SEEN AT THE GUARD POSITION! IN FACT, I WOULD TAKE A 49YR OLD FRALIC TO REPLACE SAM BAKER, RIGHT NOW! BAKER IS THE PROBLEM! THE ONLY REASON HE IS ON THE ROSTER, IS BECAUSE MGMT DOES’T WANT TO LOOK STUPID FOR DRAFTING HIM IN THE 1ST RD. JUST 4 YEARS AGO! BAKER GETS “CLOWNED” EVERY WEEK!
KenK
September 30th, 2011
8:17 pm
mike is Back, I also would like to see Valdez get a shot at playing. i have not seen that much of Valdez but what i have seen has been very good. This is just a dream but we all know that Genius TD is not going to let that happen. If he did he will be admitting to a mistake so look for the Baker to get help on pass blocking RB will help block his man etc..
painter
October 2nd, 2011
11:00 am
I saw a play from last week where Julio takes off and is wide open. Ryan looks at him but inexplicably holds onto the ball, does a little two-step dance, and then dumps it off incomplete just past the line. I must say that I haven’t seen much progress in Ryan this year. I’m wondering if he has hit his ceiling. He needs to get rid of the ball, react like #12 in Green Bay when the pressure comes. Ryan has a hall of fame TE, one of the most physical receivers in the league, and one of the future stars at WR in Julio Jones. I really don’t get what’s going on with Ryan, but from what I’ve seen this year, it’s a bit mental. With all the changes to the offense and the shortened season, I’m afraid #2 is a bit behind the curve thus far. Let’s hope he gets it going this week.
Jim in Dalton
October 2nd, 2011
3:56 pm
An offensive line needs “nastiness” to get into the defensemen’s head. The QB feeds off it from a confidence standpoint. If you don’t think a running back finds it inspirational, then you have never played on a great offense. This is the Falcon’s front office’s first glaring error. Good luck next year.