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
E Love
November 12th, 2012
5:58 pm
Third and one and fourth and one is about WILL and PRIDE. Knock somebody on their butt
rocket pocket
November 12th, 2012
5:59 pm
mike are not makin anything happen with the ball in your hands unless the whole is big enough for a mack truck to go through. also anytime we need short yardage we have to run a trick play to get it. you cant tell me that the 3rd and one play when he was stopped by a corner coming from the outside should be able to stop dough-boy for a loss by his self
E Love
November 12th, 2012
6:01 pm
Falcons I am a big fan? Make no mistake about this statement. You have let a dangerous team back in the playoff race and we will have to deal with them a third time in January? O line get it together
Falcon Fan 30291
November 12th, 2012
6:03 pm
Turner should be benched. We have 2 other backs i feel could get it done on the roster all ready.
E Love
November 12th, 2012
6:07 pm
O line show some pride a guts when it is time to run the ball. We can’t miss the Super Bowl over lack of effort to hit and push the man in front of you so a back can make a play
Lesa
November 12th, 2012
6:07 pm
I am so surprised that McClure is throwing MT under the bus like this. Sheesh! The Falcons lose one lousy game and they start turning on each other?? I hope this is not a sign of things to come. I really thought they had good team chemistry and had each other’s backs. Wow, just wow.
E Love
November 12th, 2012
6:14 pm
We have to live with the backs that we have this year and i hope that we can survive our shortcomings this year at RB by coaching up the backs and the line
CHUCK
November 12th, 2012
6:14 pm
the real problem here is GM . how you do not draft a running back or quarterback in seven rounds of the last 2-3 drafts is just stubborn ( hard headed ) . we are lucky to be where we are from our fruits or lack that of from our last few drafts.
adamreyn
November 12th, 2012
6:14 pm
The Skins have RG3 and the Birds have MT3….Michael Twinkle-Toes Turner. He does not run with a lick of authority or decisiveness. If you compare him coming out of the backfield with most other running backs, you easily see his timing is out of sync with the blocking. He’s too slow and indecisive.
E Love
November 12th, 2012
6:17 pm
Adamreyn. I agree
old man
November 12th, 2012
6:19 pm
Where’s Antone? (2)
Heat Check
November 12th, 2012
6:20 pm
11-2…. enough said OWNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SawThat1nce
November 12th, 2012
6:21 pm
The Falcons could have easily won this game, with just a little bit of a running game.
Heat Check
November 12th, 2012
6:21 pm
“They do all the talking, we do all the hitting! We own this division!!!!!!!!!!!”
-Drew Brees
Heat Check
November 12th, 2012
6:21 pm
Matty Ice Your membership has been accepted
Sincerely,
The 1 & Done Committee
Heat Check
November 12th, 2012
6:23 pm
Anybody know the difference between the “dirty” birds and a dirty bath tub?
Give up?
A dirty batch tub HAS a ring!!!!!! hahahahahahaha
SawThat1nce
November 12th, 2012
6:24 pm
The Falcons are still 8-1, and will more than likely win the Div.
I doubt very seriously that the Taints will even make the playoffs.
GregKennesaw
November 12th, 2012
6:26 pm
Start Snelling against Arizona, at least he tries.
GregKennesaw
November 12th, 2012
6:27 pm
NFC South Champions, own the division
Heat Check
November 12th, 2012
6:33 pm
GregKennesaw,
and as this season is still not complete… who are the reigning NFC South Champions?
Don’t worry I’ll wait for your answer
old man
November 12th, 2012
6:33 pm
Where’s Antone? (3)
LakeDawg
November 12th, 2012
6:36 pm
There is plenty of blame to go around. The OL is getting ZERO push. Turner is tip-toeing to the line looking for a crease, when there will be no crease on 3rd or 4th and one. He needs to hit the hole hard on short yardage situations. Finally, I find the play calling on the goal line to be too dependent on ryan and perfect execution. How about some bubble screens to Julio to spread the D? Maybe some fakes into the line and then a flare to Quizz. In other words, the Falcons are too predictable. Other teams know they can just stack the line and come hard.
ATL/UGA #1 fan
November 12th, 2012
6:39 pm
story of the game…lets face it…
THE DEFENSE WAS AWFUL! NO D ENDS, LOUSY PASS COVERAGE AND RUSH…FOLKS THE DEFENSE LOST THE GAME…LIKE OLE ROY SAID…OFFENSEI SCORED 27 POINTS…WE SHOULD VE WON!
WONTWINITWITHMIKESMITH
November 12th, 2012
6:44 pm
Coach smith isnt capable of winning big games. Too conservative. He’s Tony Dungy. we need JOn Gruden.
ATL/UGA #1 fan
November 12th, 2012
6:45 pm
ATL COACHES ARE YALL LISTENING…IF US FANS KNOW THE PROB..SURELY YALL DO OR ARE YALL GONNA BE STUBBORN LIKE BOBBY COX AND KEEP LETTING AN O FOR 97 HITTER KEEP STARTING IN THE LINEUP…GOOD GRIEF..TURNER DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER..TOO MUCH ALCHOHAL.AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE…
Sophie's Man
November 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Hate to even throw this one out there, but we all know that running up the middle isn’t cutting it with MT.
How about the wishbone?
Run to the ends. We’d need speed – we have no “break away” speed in the backfield at this time, but we can get some from the college ranks.
There was once a famous coach in Green Bay that made a killing in the league by the “toss sweep”.
playmeortrademe
November 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Where is TJ Duckett when you need him?
I wish we could get endzone views of Turner’s 3rd-and-1 runs yesterday to see the gaps he did/did not have. I think on the one after Samuel’s INT a corner or nickel came up and played the edge. I think the 4th quarter goal line was about the line push and Turners inability to bounce outside.
I also think Ryan’s cadence needs to improve in short yardage. Sometimes I think the defense knew the snap count and could get off the blocks quicker as a result. Throw off the timing. If the D-line is forced to wait and react rather than jump the snap. the O-line’s job gets much easier.
phil
November 12th, 2012
6:51 pm
Mcclure can talk all day….
That’s not gonna fix one thing.
Talk, talk, talk and no results in the end. Same thing every year.
It’s clearly coming yet again.
keith
November 12th, 2012
6:59 pm
I love what he said, without saying too much.
coleski
November 12th, 2012
7:31 pm
I must not have seen the same game some of you saw. It looked to me like the whole o-line was
getting their butts kicked. So Turner is not so quick we see that, But there are no holes to run thru
I don’t care who the running back is. I like Quizz, but he is definetly not the answer. Also ,Snelling
has not had holes to run thru when he has played. The game with Dallas he was thrown to no
hole for a run. Sorry guys, I believe it is 95% o-lines fault.
ct
November 12th, 2012
7:31 pm
so matt ryan can get a 3rd and one with the line and turner cant lets be real we all know mike should not be starting anymore and we all know this is his last season with the falcons, i just get tired of him running soft problem is when the line block he looks like a star but when they dont he looks less than average the line was blocking yesterday enough for him to get a year instead he dances around like he is i a hip hop video and lose a yard
james
November 12th, 2012
7:32 pm
God we lose 1 game and all you crybabies come out,get your mommies to put you to bed with your bottle.
Nativebird
November 12th, 2012
7:35 pm
McClure is right. Michael Turner has completely lost it. What’s worse, is mike smiths inability to recognize it. Kinda like holding onto what is clearly now proven two wholly ineffective coordinators for 4 years. This organization has some big big “problem recognition” issuers all the way
Nativebird
November 12th, 2012
7:36 pm
McClure is right. Michael Turner has completely lost it. What’s worse, is mike smiths inability to recognize it. Kinda like holding onto what is clearly now proven two wholly ineffective coordinators for 4 years. This organization has some big big “problem recognition” issues all the way up to and including the GM and owner.
Riser Upper
November 12th, 2012
7:37 pm
@LakeDawg, I was thinking the same thing. Falcons are WAY too predictable in goal line short yardage situations. I was BEGGING the TV for a screen or a play action or something different. Coaches are WAY too stubborn sticking with a non-existent running game inside the 5. And without the threat of a screen or other trickery it becomes WAY too easy to play the pass. Mix it up!
And I agree with most about MT33, I despise watching Turner the “anti-Burner” run the ball. He looks like he’s got on cement shoes. Remember the last drive last week. Who was dancing outside breaking tackles? Sure wasn’t the Burner.
tfalcon
November 12th, 2012
7:38 pm
Its clear our run game sux!,maybe we should be more creative if we are going to always run up
the middle.But guys they had plenty of chances to win this game other than at the end of it.as bad as our run game was,Im more concerned about the tackling on the D,just seems to me if u been playing ball almost ur whole life,how can u forget how to tackle,Maybe DOL could ask them if they
were afraid of something
Falcon Fan
November 12th, 2012
7:39 pm
Hole? What hole? I saw at least 5 or more plays were there were 2 or 3 Saint defenders in the backfield before Ryan even handed the ball off to Turner. That is not Turner’s fault. It’s only one loss people calm down and continue to root for your team. I hope nobody thought we were going 16-0. There will be bumps along the way, this is the NFL. Everyone is good and sometimes we will get outplayed and out coached. But we still have the best record in the NFL and our team needs our support. I want to apologize for bashing this organization last year. They know more football then all of us combined and our team is not as talented as most elite teams especially on the O line. Coaching has got us this far so bashing them after one loss sounds crazy to me.
techduck
November 12th, 2012
7:39 pm
Hey Todd,am not even going to read on your commets either.it wasn:”t just this game nor the giants game last year.You over paid grown so be pro. are way over paid anyway players.its been like this since Turner has been here.He will never be what all NFL people on espn and all of sports on T.V. say he is.Now this is where you can get a lot done just by talking and get a lot of respect and be one of the best player in the nfl and never be able to pick up a yard when you need only half a yard.Then you lose the game when only a yard was needed.Sick man,sick man.But i can say you are right on its not just you 5.all of you 11 guys are accounted for.With this Coach and This Q.B. and both lines or a disgrace to all of us.
Joe
November 12th, 2012
7:39 pm
We definitely need a change at RB, Turner’s inability to make a short yardage play just isn’t there, 15 carries 12 yards? cmon! and you lose yardage against the worst rushing defense in the league? Please start Snelling against Arizona. Turner has flopped so many times this year.
techduck
November 12th, 2012
7:41 pm
SICK
techduck
November 12th, 2012
7:46 pm
Hey Joe, not just this year ,every year he has been here.not worth the time. HE looks like he could get it done.But from the shoulders up he cant.
Falcon Fan
November 12th, 2012
7:50 pm
Man you guys are disrespectful. You run into a brick wall 20 times a game for 5 years or however long Turner’s been here and see how your body feels. It’s not that easy or I would have had my application in a long time ago. Turner is one of the best FA pickups this team has ever had. How many times do top flight FA’s diss Atlanta for other cities or use us as bait to get more money from other teams? Turner actually came to our team when he probably could have broke the bank from another team or at least got into a bidding war.
old man
November 12th, 2012
7:52 pm
coleski:
It did look our O-Line was getting their butts kicked on running plays.
Here’s why:
If you are on the defensive line, and you know that the RB has ZERO ability to bounce outside, you know that your angle of attack against the guy trying to block you should be . . . INSIDE.
I see other teams have “great” blocks replayed on TV, and the announcers will talk about how smart the blocker was because he just took the defender in the direction he was going. That’s what Jiu Jitsu is about, right? Use your attacker’s weight and momentum against them.
Our OL does not have that option. If the play in the playbook says MT is going to run to the 4 gap, they are going to have to block their opponents in a specific direction to open up the 4 gap, because they know MT cannot bounce it to the 6 or 8 gap, or cut back to the opposite side. Defenders know that as long as they fight against a block, they will be headed . . . TOWARD MICHAEL TURNER. When other teams play against a legitimate running back, they know that if they fight the block, the offensive lineman might just take them right where they are trying to go, because they know their running back has the agility and speed to take it to a hole that was not diagrammed for that play.
Here is my point: A SLOW IMMOBILE BACK MAKES THINGS HARD FOR YOUR OFFENSIVE LINE. And, the defensive line knows that if MT somehow bounces outside, the odds are that a linebacker will track him down pretty darn quick. So they have every motivation to key on MT, fight the direction of the blocking lineman, and they know the play will just break down for us every time.
THIS EXPLAINS WHY OUR OFFENSIVE LINE WAS “FLAWLESS” (according to Mr. D. Orlando Ledbetter) IN THE PASS GAME, BUT SUDDENLY TURN INTO CR@P IN RUN BLOCKING.
D-Led, when we run 75% passes, and so our O-line is “flawless” on 75% of the total plays, how do they get a D minus??? Really????
Look at MT. He is overweight, slow, no flexibility, no agility. JUST LOOK AT HIM FOR GOD’S SAKE.
techduck
November 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
No excusees Grown Boys and weighs 300# and can:t get a half yard. FIRED all of them. PUT some (high schoolers in there) and paid them their money.
Falcon Fan
November 12th, 2012
7:54 pm
Falcons RB Michael Turner has 60 career rush TD’s and needs 1 to equal totals of OJ Simpson & Herschel Walker. Not a bad career at all if you asked me.
old man
November 12th, 2012
7:55 pm
Falcon Fan
Read my post above. I agree it looked like our OL was getting their butts kicked on running plays, but I think my post makes sense.
How can they be great on pass plays and stink on run plays. An athlete is an athlete.
Falcon Fan
November 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
Old man I agree, I know what my eye saw. I also watched the Sunday night game and the hole’s Houston were blowing open for Foster were enormous!
tom
November 12th, 2012
7:57 pm
run Turner off the tackles instead of up the middle. Check the stats this year and last and see the difference.
Falcon Fan
November 12th, 2012
7:59 pm
I have faith that this coaching staff will figure it out.
old man
November 12th, 2012
8:00 pm
FalconFan
I will bet you that TONS of Foster’s runs were into HUGE holes that were NOT IN THE PLAYBOOK BECAUSE HE HAS THE AGILITY TO HIT A HOLE THAT IS NOT IN THE PLAYBOOK.
It may look like the Houston OL just blasted open a huge hole, but lots of times its the defender going to the intended gap, and Arian Foster cutting it to the spot he just vacated.