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
Eskoballa
November 13th, 2012
10:50 pm
and that will be a priority for offseason. drop or trade turner, and get a new hammer hitting running back from free agency or draft. same can be said about the defensive end positions. and dont forget the tight end position too as tony G wont be back next season.
Barry
November 14th, 2012
9:09 am
TURNERS PROBLEN IS THAT HE CAME INTO CAMP OVERWEIGHT AND LOST HIS SPEED AND POWER. NOW THIS IS IMPACTING THE OFFENSIVE RUNNING GAME. FOR THIS YEAR, THE TEAN WILL HAVE DEAL WITH IT UNLESS HE IS DISCIPLINE ENOUGH TO REALIZE HIS PROBLEM AND START LOSING WEIGHT NOW, AND MAYBE HE WILL GET TO HIS NORMAL RUNNING WEIGHT BY SEASONS END OR THE PLAYOFF. AFTERWARD, HE MUST REMEMBER HE IS AN ATHLETE THAT MAKES LIVING ON RUBBING FAST AND FOR HIM DISRESPECT HIS PROFESSION BY COMING TO THE. SEASON FAT AND OVER WEIGHT, AND HIS MAJOR ROLE ON THE TEAM, IS TRAGEDY AND UNPROFESSIONAL. HOPEFULLY, HE IS LEARNING FRON. THIS. HE IS A MAJOR PART OF A TEAM. HIS RUNNING, KEEPIBG IN RUNNING SHAPE IMPACTS THE TEAM WHEN HE IS OB THE FIELD. GET PROFESSIONAL TURNER. STAET LOSING SOME WEIGHT AND RETURN TO “THE BURNER”.
Jimmy Crack
November 14th, 2012
9:12 am
George Washington: “It wasn’t me, it was this darned axe that did it!”
Fine Todd, it was BOTH YOU AND TURNER that can’t do your jobs.
Atlanta Falcons: Ghosts of past short-yardage failures still haunt | Atlanta Falcons
November 15th, 2012
9:40 am
[...] The offensive line took much of the heat for the Giants game and center Todd McClure doesn’t want that narrative to gain steam again. [...]
Amaurice
November 18th, 2012
10:39 am
I agree with McClure, It’not a line problem, back problem or scheme probelm. It’s all the above. Yes, i agree with you all on Turners behalf. He is not the type or style of running back the them needs today because of the change in the teams scheme and make up
Turner is a volume runner, who get’s better as the game progress. The falcon’s are no longer that team. The team will need to use rodgers more offten and early. We should run more out side and off tackle with a mixture of screen passes and quick slants from the slot to soften up oppossing deffences in the middle. Then spread the field when in the red zone and let ryan determine to run or pass with both options open at the line of scrimmage. This way you have a tired and confused deffence. It’ no all on turner. We should only use him in the 4th quater when we have established a lead to use clock or in the spread formation as an up back on a quick dive, a singal back setting while using the spread for a delayed draw play or as a decoy for play action or blocking. Turner still has value in this offenese. It all depends in how the birds decide to use him. So far he is not comfortable in his postion. Falcons, please stop using turnet to catch passes! He is not reggie bush, darren sproles, LT or AD. I rest my case. Go Falcons.