Falcons’ line on a roll, now gets rematch against Suh
Ndamukong Suh grabbed Matt Ryan's facemask (and did some other things) in last Falcons-Lions game.
FLOWERY BRANCH – This won’t play well with any coach who believes his weekly game plans belong on life’s top shelf, along with quantum physics and atom-splitting. But football really isn’t that complicated. To quote Vince Lombardi, “Some people try to find things in this game that don’t exist, but football is only two things – blocking and tackling.”
Which is why, after the Falcons’ most impressive victory among their 12 this season, it seems appropriate to throw a few roses at their offensive line. The blockers on this team don’t get talked about a lot, except maybe when Matt Ryan gets drilled or Michael Turner gets stuffed for no gain on third-and-1.
They’re not unique in that regard. Nobody thinks about the pipes in their house until they leak.
“That’s most o-lines,” Falcons tackle Tyson Clabo said. “Who has a good o-line? Across the league, everybody’s o-line is the [supposed] reason they can’t win games. So we’re not taking it personally.”
The Falcons have not been a great running team for most of the season, and, yes, the offensive line gets a share of the blame for that. But collectively, (left to right) Sam Baker, Justin Blalock, Todd McClure, Peter Konz and Clabo are coming off their best game of the season. The Falcons rushed for 129 yards and Ryan was seldom touched in a 34-0 win over the New York Giants. The line neutralized a Giants’ front four that buried them in last year’s playoffs.
Ryan ranks seventh in the NFL in pass attempts (539) but only 21st in times sacked (25).
By nature, offensive linemen don’t brag a lot. Besides, they know better. This week, the Falcons could get steamrolled by Detroit assault weapon Ndamukong Suh for a few sacks — between pile-drivers and kicks to the groin — and suddenly nobody would be worshiping at the altars of Baker to Clabo.
As McClure said when asked if the Giants game had altered perceptions of the line being just average, “Well, for one week we have. Next week we could be the worst guys to ever play the game. You guys may write we shouldn’t even be on a high school football field. But we bust our tail. We don’t take this lightly.”
This week, it’s the Lions and Suh. Will Ford Field be encircled with barbed wire?
When these teams met a year ago, the Falcons won 23-16 and it was as close as they ever came to a street brawl. Before the game in the tunnel, they saw Lions players standing in the corner of the end zone, blocking their path to the field. Linebacker Mike Peterson recalled telling teammates, ‘We’re not going around them — we’re going this way [straight ahead]. Get the bleepity bleep out of the way.’”
Then came a game filled with cheap shots. Suh and end Cliff Avril reportedly taunted Ryan when he was on the turf writhing in pain with what appeared to be a significant knee injury. McClure said later, “I had respect for Suh before the game. But when Matt was on the ground, the things he was saying and the trash he was talking was definitely uncalled for. There are certain things you don’t do. [He said], ‘Get the cart’ and several other things that I can’t repeat.”
Roddy White said, “I lost a whole lot of respect for 90 [Suh] today, and also 92 [Cliff Avril], the [bleep] they were doing when Matt got hurt. That was unacceptable. … Like 92 was kicking [Ryan’s] feet, saying, ‘Get him off the field.’ … I mean, ‘Get the cart’? Are you serious?”
Suh denied it all. But there has been no shortage of incidents and accusations since. The Falcons said nothing Tuesday to fan the flames. Ryan said he never actually heard Suh say anything, joking, “I think I was too busy yelling at [trainer] Marty [Lauzon].”
When asked if McClure and White would fabricate that, Ryan smiled and said, “They’ve always been pretty honest with me.”
Clabo actually praised Suh. He called him “a throwback. Back in the old days nobody would’ve batted an eye about the way he plays. Part of me appreciates the violence that he brings to the game.”
Reminded of comments by McClure and White, Clabo said, “I don’t need to try to hang out with him or have him over for a barbecue. I just have to block him.”
If the Falcons can do that, the line will be a non story, which is just what they want.
By Jeff Schultz
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216 comments Add your comment
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
December 18th, 2012
9:03 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 18th, 2012
7:18 pm
So when do you guys get some Carolina 2-9 payback?…ha ha
_____________________________________________
Funny how the win over the Giants was only a “meaningless” regular season game, but somehow the loss to Carolina is SOOOOO important to Pamela!
HA HA
SCFalcon
December 18th, 2012
9:09 pm
Hey “Pamela” if the teams currently with the best regular season records make it to the Super Bowl, it would be “The great white hype” (as I remember some commenters calling Schaub back around 2007) vs “Matt Choke Ryan”….. They would be in a place MV7 has never seen (and never will…)
Now that would be special…….
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2012
9:22 pm
Good evening folks. A not-so-gentle reminder: Profanity, stealing of screen names, comments considered racist or anything-ist, questioning of ones sexual orientation will get you banned. Consider this your one and only warning.
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2012
9:25 pm
Put In Timeout By Ken .. — Not the time to be making “shooting” jokes.
Tommy Maddox
December 18th, 2012
9:36 pm
It won’t come close to a street brawl, it will be a “Pier 6 Brawl” [more Gordon Soley]!!!!
falCans
December 18th, 2012
9:47 pm
Too bad we cant see Grimes shut down the supposed Best WR in the league
SCFalcon
December 18th, 2012
9:53 pm
I just hope for a solid performance by the Falcons to get home field adavantage.
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2012
10:18 pm
DawgNole –No profanity means no profanity, even abbreviated. Capiche?
okeetee
December 18th, 2012
10:25 pm
Well, one things for sure, win or lose……we cannot afford to lose Ryan to an injury. If he’s out…..we might as well slit our throats and be done with it! So no matter what it takes, we’ve got to keep Ryan upright and healthy, kapesh?
Paul in NH
December 18th, 2012
10:41 pm
I will be surprised if Atlanta loses to Detroit. Suh is overrated, Stafford’s mechanics are poor and nobody is stepping up to be the receiver when Johnson is double teamed.
SemperFi
December 18th, 2012
11:40 pm
Don’t you love it when someone talks politics on a Sports blog? Way to go Jeff
Bruce
December 19th, 2012
3:15 am
At least Vick won a playoff game.
Drexel Gal
December 19th, 2012
3:20 am
And, all this time, I thought “block and tackle” was a system of pulleys used mostly on ships.
Realism is Key
December 19th, 2012
3:35 am
If Matt Ryan gets hurt we can DEFIENTLY kiss the season and any playoff hopes goodbye. OL needs to STEP UP this week and protect matt ryan like they did against the Giants. I hope this game is over by halftime so we can pull the starters in the 2nd half.
William Moore most likely wont be back until playoff time, and we cant afford anymore injuries.
Sidenote- Robert McClain is really coming into his own. He will be a absolute BEAST in about a year or 2.
BravesFan79
December 19th, 2012
5:02 am
Because of Stafford and Calvin Johnson, ‘the best receiver to ever come out of the ACC’, the Lions are now my 2nd favorite team in the NFL. But man does Suh put a damper on supporting them!
BravesFan79
December 19th, 2012
5:06 am
Once the Falcons get up by 3 touchdowns or more they need to rest the starters to avoid injury, and def sit Matt Ryan. We basically have no backup QB and if we loose Ryan the season is done!
BravesFan79
December 19th, 2012
5:07 am
Gives me comfort to know we can loose 1 of the 2 last games and still have the #1 seed! I say beat the Lions and sit everyone for (most) of the TB game.
BravesFan79
December 19th, 2012
5:15 am
I think the more interesting topic here is what can the Lions do to get a top 4 seed next year in the playoffs. I say… find a decent receiver or tight end to take pressure off Calvin (the best WR in the NFL!), upgrade the secondary, and find a coach who can reel in Suh. Stafford will be fine, hes twice the QB Arron Murrey will ever be!
I love the UGA to GT connection… its must see TV!
SawThat1nce
December 19th, 2012
5:56 am
Isn’t “Capiche” a bad word?
SawThat1nce
December 19th, 2012
6:04 am
Seriously, would you please post a list of the profane words that you do not want commenters to use?
I think that it would help prevent some us ignorant folks from using them.
Buddy Landel
December 19th, 2012
6:05 am
Speaking of the Gordon Soley era…remember when a rassler would win via the sleeper hold, then the referee (usually Scrappy McGowan) would MAKE the rassler wake him up with a hard slap on the back?
Buddy Landel
December 19th, 2012
6:06 am
It looks like someone went and tattled to the teacher.
North by southeast
December 19th, 2012
6:09 am
Enter your comments here
North by southeast
December 19th, 2012
6:15 am
Speaking of Michael Vick, when do those Eagles playoff tickets go on sale?
fan since 78
December 19th, 2012
7:24 am
when are these vick fans gonna get over it? they act like it was the falcons fault he went to prison. i rooted for him while he was here because he was the falcons qb. that was before we all found out about his sick hobby. we didnt win any superbowls with him here and he hasnt won any since he left! he had 2 out of 5 winning seasons here as a full time starter. ryan has 5 out of 5 winning seasons here, and playoff wins are about to start coming!
ramblingbuzz
December 19th, 2012
8:16 am
I would simply say Vick had great potential not that he was a great talent. Great college QBs don’t always translate to the pro game (see Vick, Tebow). Falcons really need this road win for home field advantage.
Rodster
December 19th, 2012
8:34 am
Give Suh the Atomic Elbow!
vesaversa
December 19th, 2012
8:35 am
Just do your damm job on Saturday and kick Shu ass. There is no place for cry babies in the NFL pay back is a motherfker .
Actually...
December 19th, 2012
8:57 am
Once again. It doesn’t matter if the Falcants’ have home field advantage or not. They will still lose the first game!
Actually...
December 19th, 2012
8:57 am
Once again. It doesn’t matter if the Falcants’ have home field advantage or not. They will still lose the first game!
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
9:04 am
Matt choke ryan
This will be my only comment directed to you. In order to converse with me, I have 1 simple requirement.
You must have a fully functioning brain.
You don’t so our conversation is over after this.
Vick is a thug. Vick is a dog killer. Vick got what he deserved. You are an idiot to defend him and pine for 8 years ago to flashback. Moron
Bazooka Joe
December 19th, 2012
9:29 am
Or the heart punch from Stan the Man Staziak
Bazooka Joe
December 19th, 2012
9:30 am
Or the high knee lift from Mr Wrestling #2
ASHCAN!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2012
9:59 am
All this noise about suh this and suh that. Anything done here to bring the past to the future. If he hurt ryan in this game then what???? Can’t believe this is even a subject, it’s the lions v/s the falcons.
ASHCAN!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2012
10:06 am
@dawginLex, Comments + retaliation = insecurity and a jacked up heart. Real simple when you read this, that’s if your smart enough to read between the lines.
Thomas Brown
December 19th, 2012
10:09 am
JSS,
I believe we’re all more than quite caught up with all your inane silliness while you rant about cutting and pasting what I come in here, research, and post myself of my own words.
Kibbles and Bits URL Links to advertisements in 1981, are your example on this very blog of what you deem to be relevant, important, pertinent, related, appropriate, suitable, right and correct ?
Mindless drivel, such as Kibbles and Bits URL Links ?
JSS
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
10:22 am
ASHCAN!!!!!!!
December 19th, 2012
10:06 am
@dawginLex, Comments + retaliation = insecurity and a jacked up heart. Real simple when you read this, that’s if your smart enough to read between the lines.
***********************
I’m smart enough to apply my rule.
Buddy Landel
December 19th, 2012
10:28 am
Bazooka Joe- Ox Baker had a vicious heart punch as well.
JSS
December 19th, 2012
10:36 am
Thomas Brown…
If I were so inclined to compare your obsession with 18-22 year old boys and the men who are overpaid to coach them, yep those diatribes you post; it is all mindless and useless drivel. Those mindless loyalties to schools that most of you never set a foot in a classroom of; It has led to a multi-billion dollar corrupt industry that makes military industrial complex look benign… No thanks…
And Kibbles N Bits circa 1982 fits the doofus that it was directed it at… You sound like that nut in Long Island that is about to be facing Federal cyberstalking charges because he did not have an off filter on Monday night… Now go back and post another 25 paragraphs on whatever…
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
10:41 am
Last week the O line had a good game protecting Matt against a Giant defense that isn’t what it used to be. They rank last in most defensive stats, including last in sacks. This week we face a Lion defense which has a dozen more sacks than the Gmen. I’m pretty sure the Offense will step up to the plate and pay special attention to “the boy named Suh” ( thanks Mike “Choke” , great line!!) I’m sure they remember last year and like they say…”payback is h@ll”! I’m thinking maybe a 10 point game, say 24-14. All in all, I think we Falcon fans should be rightly proud of our team this year. Sure beats the doldrums of the 70’s and 80’s!
Go Falcons!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
10:47 am
@ Thomas Brown… Dude, when are you going to learn? Trying to get JSS to actually debate about the Falcons football team (which I think this blog is supposed to be about), is a waste of time. I have tried to get him to do that on several occasions, but he is more about showing how smart he is, and how dumb we are. He comes on here and starts throwing insults around just to get the attention he needs. If we just ignore him, he’ll probably go away! Can’t believe Jeff puts up with it. However, I guess it does boost the blog entries.
Let’s try to keep it on focus…which is supporting our Falcons. This IS the year!
Go Falcons!
JSS
December 19th, 2012
10:49 am
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wah, Wah, Wah
Only Charlie Brown understands you…
JSS
December 19th, 2012
10:54 am
“Debate Falcons football?” What does an article majority of which was directed at assigning some grievance at Ndamukong Suh, a debate of Falcons football? You’re spouting nonsense…
RealisticFootballFan
December 19th, 2012
10:57 am
Until they can consistently win in the playoffs and get a SB ring…they will continue to be a good regular season team. Even with the win over the Giants…Can they beat them in the post season after the Giants adjust or better yet…Matt Ryan has yet to see the likes of Aldon Smith of the 49ers who has terrorized just about every team he’s played against…the real test for the Falcons doesn’t come in the regular season….We will see what they’re made of when they have to see a team like the 49ers. You think they don’t get respect now…let them lose again in the playoffs this year and they’ll be that much respected…
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
10:58 am
Wah, Wah, Wah
Only Charlie Brown understands you…
“Debate Falcons football?” What does an article majority of which was directed at assigning some grievance at Ndamukong Suh, a debate of Falcons football? You’re spouting nonsense…
Sigh!!!! Point made!
RealisticFootballFan
December 19th, 2012
10:58 am
LESS RESPTECTED….type
JSS
December 19th, 2012
10:59 am
Here’s a real debate, how can a team with one real offensive target being led by a QB who is about the NFL record for the most pass attempts in the history of the NFL has to somehow not turn the ball over 3 or more times with no running game of any circumstance while passing the ball 50 times?
Sssssssssssssssssh!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
11:05 am
@ Realistic… I agree completely. The Falcons have shown periods of excellence this year, but not on a consistent basis. I love my Falcons, but this year has been a test of patience. We have the players, we have the coordinators and a pretty darn good coach, but it still doesn’t seem like the complete package. I too have concerns about the playoffs, the 49′ers scare me, but I’m also watching the Seahawks. Their QB is quite a player. But if we host them at the dome, I think we’ll be ok.
Mind you, after all the terrible years of being a fan, these last few years have seemed like a dream. At least now, when I wear my 1990 Starter jacket, I don’t get laughed at! I’m still thinking that this team is different. Can’t explain it, it just feels that way. Either way, I’ll support them all the way!
Go Falcons!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
11:09 am
“Here’s a real debate, how can a team with one real offensive target being led by a QB who is about the NFL record for the most pass attempts in the history of the NFL has to somehow not turn the ball over 3 or more times with no running game of any circumstance while passing the ball 50 times?”
???? Does anyone understand that? Guess I’m too dense!
JSS
December 19th, 2012
11:16 am
Yep, you’re dense… But “you” said it, not I… I guess that is more of you not being civil? Well, that is with yourself…