Atlanta Falcons: Todd McClure on struggling run game: ‘More to it than five guys up front’
By Michael Cunningham
FLOWERY BRANCH–Falcons center Todd McClure doesn’t want to hear about how Atlanta’s failure to convert short runs for first downs against the Saints yesterday paralleled their inability to do the same in the 2012 playoffs against the Giants.
Loading ...“That’s two totally different ballgames,” McClure said. “That’s what [ticks] me off more than anything is you guys are going to write about how bad we are up front and that we can’t get in the end zone. But there’s more to it than just blocking up front, and that’s all I’m going to say about that.
“I get really frustrated when I hear things and read things knowing there’s more to it than five guys up front but we take the brunt of the blame. I don’t want to talk about that anymore because I don’t want to say anything I regret.”
The Falcons managed 46 yards on just 18 carries against the Saints, who were the worst team in the league against the run entering the game. Atlanta running back Michael Turner, who was dropped for a loss of one yard on third down during the penultimate possession, gained just 15 yards on 13 carries.
McClure didn’t elaborate on the issues in the running game but said the struggles are about the offense overall not just the line.
“It is in every aspect of it,” he said. “But we get the ball on the one, we are expected to get it in. I just get frustrated sometimes the past couple years. There’s more to it than just lining up and blocking the guys wherever they line up. And that’s it. I can’t talk about it anymore.”
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305 comments Add your comment
Man.....
November 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
See Quizz’s move he made to get down inside the redzone?
That’s what a back is suppose to do.
If you’re gonna run the ball at the one, try Quizz, try Snelling, try Ryan even.
Why is it that the best running teams in the league are that?
Because they have HBs like Foster, Forte, and Adrian Peterson.
Guys who are fast, and can cut back.
The only thing Turner cuts nowadays is his steak………..
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
4:50 pm
So i guess you saying Matt Ryan is a thug Blackcow, who does not pay child support and dances around?
Blackcow
November 12th, 2012
4:59 pm
Nope, Matt Ryan is one of a few on this team who is not a thug. It’s not even so much the Falcons, just the entire NFL. It’s really no secret, is it? Most of these players are coming straight out of the hood anyway…that’s just become football in America.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:00 pm
Go ahead put your sheet with the eye cut out on……..at least tell us who you are without the code name “Thug”
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:01 pm
BTW Seen have you seen Drew lead his team to a 4-5 record this year? That guy is blasting and setting records. He is the man!
WTF#33
November 12th, 2012
5:01 pm
Why does everyone keep blaming the OL for our horrible running game. If I am not mistaken, this is the same OL with the exception of one player that had MT putting up huge rushing numbers back when he was not slow and out of shape. So now that he can’t atleast get back to the line of scrimmage due to being touched on the foot and falling down so easily, so all of a sudden that same OL has forgot how to block. The holes are there for a few seconds but it takes MT so long to get started that the DL has now disengaged the initial block while he is still dancing in the backfield like he is Barry Sanders or something.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:02 pm
And as far as your “hood” reference, last I checked they came out of college. Like I said put your sheet on so we can see you coming. At least be proud of who you are. Dont hide behind code words.
robo71
November 12th, 2012
5:08 pm
if turner appeared to be giving maximum effort he may not receive so much negative attention. let him see a open hole and he runs hard. if he has to make a cut or contact he is 1/2 speed at best. there has to be a player on a practice squad somewhere that wants to make a name for himself running hard. our line didn’t play that well but damn turner pick up the pace….
4BsihTneeS
November 12th, 2012
5:09 pm
AnswerThis: LOL! Your team got exposed yesterday, watch Arizona take advantage of that game tape and gash your team’s soft defensive belly. LOL!
Falcon Fan 30291
November 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Fudge That Skit! Even if the O line did run block the greatest a good to decent back can get 1 yard on his own. Not to mention a 250 lb back. Turner is finished, to many cup cakes and trips to Magic City. Its not like he got gang tackled he lost every one one battle. Goes down on the first hit every play its time to run a more Hungary back how bout Selling / RODGERS SPLIT THE CARRIES.
jaz
November 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Just wondering if a vertical skycan video of the goal-line play exists, that would help determine what the line and back did (or didn’t) do?
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:10 pm
Watch my team have a 8-1 record…….whats your teams record?
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:13 pm
And like I said Seen…….its hard to beat New Orleans in the Dome……………………..
Unless you Kansas City
Just saying………………
4BsihTneeS
November 12th, 2012
5:13 pm
8-1, LOL! And nobody is in awe of it, certainly not in New Orleans!
4BsihTneeS
November 12th, 2012
5:14 pm
It’s hard for your team to beat my team, anywhere!
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:18 pm
1. you dont have to be in awe, you just got to get out of third place
2. 8-1 = 1st place
3. 4-5 = third place……….
just saying, we did not beat you. and we still got a 4 game lead…….dont be in awe just do something to get out of the cellar!
Falcon Fan 30291
November 12th, 2012
5:22 pm
Like i said i don’t care if the o line blocked or not Fat Boy should be able to get 1 FkN years on his own. He is not dancing 8 man fronts. No team can play us like that with our passing game and like my 1st lost he never wins the 1 on 1 battles. Play Selling and Roggers b4 it cost us in the playoffs.
Blackcow
November 12th, 2012
5:24 pm
Oh these gangsters are given college scholarships, don’t go to class, most barely make passing grades, and they’re not thugs anymore? Right.
I love football but the NFL really needs to focus on getting quality people and role models like Tim Tebow. Tebow isn’t the best player in the league by far, but he’s a great person. And what does he get? Made fun of and ridiculed while these classless losers are praised and looked up to.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
In your opinion! not going to go back and forth with you its a Falcon football blog not a code bait so you can talk about people that you have formed an opinion on blog. Your comments show who you are and what you are about. Feel bad for you. RISE UP NATION.
Delbert D.
November 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
How about a big offensive lineman at fullback?
Blackcow
November 12th, 2012
5:27 pm
Thank you. Please pray for me.
PMC
November 12th, 2012
5:29 pm
last column should be all of the above.
The Front 5 is doing a great job of pass blocking and a bad job of run blocking. Turner doesn’t fit this scheme. He isn’t bad but he needs space to run in, he’s a guy that requires lead blocking.
For the 5000th time, the personnel with this team is not quite good enough at tackle, the center is long in the tooth, and the linebackers are nowhere close to as good as they need to be.
We missed on some guys, Robinson isn’t as good as he’s paid to be, the safeties don’t understand that they are the last line of defense, and Ray Edwards is an incredibly worthless bum who may be the softest defensive end to ever collect a paycheck.
Turner requires a lead blocker, because he’s not quick enough. Jacquizz Rodgers is not strong enough to run inside.
USE JASON SNELLING! It’s not a magic elixer but he can actually catch.
papadawg
November 12th, 2012
5:30 pm
I thinking if your OLine can’t push the other team 1 stinking yard then you are right. The whole running game is pitiful and has been since that meanest lineman in the league left.
Blackcow
November 12th, 2012
5:30 pm
If you’re implying I’m a racist, you’re just reading into what you want to hear. There’s no denying that there are a large percentage of NFL players who are complete gangter wannabes. Sorry if you are insecure about your race, but I’m just stating the obvious. Nobody ever said anything remotely racist..
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:31 pm
A
N
T
O
N
E
S
M
I
T
H
Falcon Fan 30291
November 12th, 2012
5:31 pm
How bout start snelling at hb.
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:32 pm
R
U
N
S
N
O
R
T
H
A
N
D
S
O
U
T
H
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:33 pm
ANTONE
SMITH
RUNS
A
4.29
40
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
ANTONE SMITH IS ON OUR ROSTER RIGHT NOW.
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:34 pm
WHY NOT ANTONE?
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:35 pm
Hit dog will holla! BTW I am white! Just saying!
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:36 pm
DID YOU HEAR WHAT THE SECOND ANT SAID TO THE THIRD ANT?
WHERE IS ANTONE?
GET IT? ANT ONE?
Falcon Fan 30291
November 12th, 2012
5:36 pm
Get this Blackcow looser off the blog. Its supposed to be about the run game all this loser wants to talk about is football players wanting to be rappers. I don’t care what the player looks like as long as he can play you are on the wrong blog loser.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:37 pm
By the way I would love to know where you got those figures…..complete gangster wannabes? LOL. They look like complete millionaires to me………..just saying
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:37 pm
By the way, I don’t know cr@p about football. But could someone tell me why we have not given the rock to Antone just a few times? Is there some “football” reason I just don’t understand???
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:38 pm
Thanks Falcon Fan…….I could not put it any better!
@ Old man
That is FUNNY!!!!!!
Who did Ant one piss off? Can he not get one touch?
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:40 pm
My wife said, “How can they be so lousy run blocking when they are good at pass blocking? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Even the wifey knows.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:41 pm
Smart woman! I still think its Mr. Two Piece Thigh………AKA……….MT33……..AKA……..A8/285/After magic city!
Grimey
November 12th, 2012
5:41 pm
Bench Turner, start rodgers. Draft explosive running backs
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:42 pm
Is Smitty worried about nepotism charges if he plays Antone?
PMC
November 12th, 2012
5:43 pm
All for Antone, do SOMETHING.
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:45 pm
Answer this:
Oh, he can get “a” touch–WHICH IS WHY HE HAS ONE REGULAR SEASON CARRY IN THREE YEARS. That was his single touch.
He always looks good in preseason to me.
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:47 pm
Remember “Where’s Waldo?”
Well dangit, I’m starting “Where’s Antone?”
I’m going to start printing bumper stickers.
Answer This
November 12th, 2012
5:48 pm
RISE UP FOR ANTONE!
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:49 pm
Maybe it was just random luck, but every time I tuned in a preseason game over the past 3 years, and he got the ball, I would say, “dang, who is that guy?” Maybe I just went to the bathroom ever time lost 20 yards, fumbled the ball, etc.
Does anyone else remember seeing him play these past 3 preseasons?
100%
November 12th, 2012
5:50 pm
One loss and the players and the fans are throwing everyone under the bus, lol. Crumble. Reminds me of Smitty not being able to handle pressure, guess coach leads by example and everyone follows…
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:53 pm
Heck, maybe Antone is one of the guys who practices like cr@p, but brings it on game day. I’ve heard of guys like that before. So how do we know if he never plays?
Honestly, anything is better than “please, God, don’t let them run the ball here.” When all the fans are saying this prayer every time you need one yard, you know you have a problem.
If you have ever been praying this on critical short yardage, raise your hand.
I thought so.
old man
November 12th, 2012
5:54 pm
Where’s Antone?
E Love
November 12th, 2012
5:55 pm
The o line needs to take responsibility for not be able to open a hole for one yard. Man to man blocking. Zone blocking. I don’t care knock someone on his butt and get one yard. Fix this problem now
Falcons line doesn’t want all the blame for run game
November 12th, 2012
5:57 pm
[...] of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “That’s what [ticks] me off more than anything is you guys are going to write about how bad we are up front and that we can’t get in the end zone. But there’s more to it than just blocking up front, and [...]