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
Tebow Rotting On Bench
December 19th, 2012
11:19 am
If Goodell had a set of nerts then Suh would have been suspended for kicking Flacco in the twigss & berries. But the weak Commish 9as proven by the Saints bounty-gate dismissal) should wear a dress in the booth. Weak man, very weak.
mgm
December 19th, 2012
11:24 am
This o line excels at pass blocking but doesn’t run block well. When they pass block they use quickness to neutralize the speed of the outside DE’s and that is what they are good at. But when it comes to run blocking, they need to get a push on the line and that is where they are weak. That’s why we can’t get a first down on 3rd and 1. We get manhandled when it requires a push.
LawDawg
December 19th, 2012
11:37 am
There are only three players in the entire league I would have no sympathy for if they had a Theisman-like injury on the field and all three play on the Detroit D-Line. Suh, Avril, and Fairley are awful people.
JSS
December 19th, 2012
11:39 am
Wishing people hurt… Lot of civility there, just warms the heart!
JSS
December 19th, 2012
11:42 am
Dang, Matt Schaub and Joe Flacco are twins? Who knew?
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
11:49 am
@mgm…very true. I think last Sunday they showed a little improvement against a pretty big D line on the run. I sometimes think we have the mindset that on a 3rd and short, you must run between the tackles. I think our OC has enough in his playbook to compensate for the lack of push. I wouldn’t mind seeing something different using the speed of ‘Quizz or even A. Smith. Hate to say it, but I miss Mr. Dahl!
Go Falcons!
Thomas Brown
December 19th, 2012
11:54 am
Fan since 66,
I said the same to his post yesterday. He corrected it, and I replied that it didn’t seem to improve it any, either way.
It does seem that he is not happy with the Falcons, reading what he writes ?
2012 is the Falcons’ best chance. I believe he is a rain on that parade poster, if that is what qualifies as a Falcons’ post ?
Like you Fan since 66, I have been too. And, like you too, I see JSS only posts as ones only to say how stupid everyone is with a qb doing whatever he said Matt Ryan is doing.
So, according to JSS, if we are actually happy with The Dawgs and actually happy with the Falcons, we should pack ourselves up from HIS BLOG, because by God, he doesn’t agree with where we are. I presume, therefore, if the Falcons were doing whatever the hell it is he wants the Falcons to be doing, instead of what the Falcons are doing, that he would still say that we aren’t doing whatever the hell it is he wants the Falcons to be doing instead, which wouldn’t warm his heart either. Right ?
I read his worthless drivel, corrected, or uncorrected, and have no concept of why he is so mad at the entire world. What does he want, since he wants the blog to be all about him, right ?
Thomas Brown
December 19th, 2012
12:05 pm
You posted it in public JSS. You posted the URL Link to the Kibbles and Bits ad from 1981. I had no idea you were not a serious poster, talking professional football, since talking the feeder system who make up 90 percent of the professional football players is not allowed, per you by your by God Rules. Kregg Lumpkin, for example. I enjoyed seeing Kregg Lumpkin Sunday playing us. I thought he did well. It is the goal of these guys to get in the League. Then, they would like to have a chance like Kregg Lumpkin had against us Sunday, in front of his home crowd. All of us watching. And, he knew we were all watching him. Great Stuff.
JSS, I really apologize for actually being interested in the game, the players, the strategy, the history, and enjoying other fans such as Fan since 66, for example.
My own personal goal in life is to grow up one day and be like you wish I would be in your eyes. That’s all I want for Christmas.
I mean you do spend your time correcting us all. To make us better, right JSS ?
So that we can grow up and be just like you JSS.
D man
December 19th, 2012
12:41 pm
Our Line needs to do whatever it takes to protect Matt from the beasts on the Lions Defense. Holding, Chop blocks, face mask, whatever to protect Ryan. These guys don’t care about fines and will be trying to end Ryan’s season with cheap shots. Protect Matt at all costs…
JSS
December 19th, 2012
12:48 pm
Only you would ramble off 5 paragraphs trying to vindicate your obsession with 18-22 year olds who went to school in Athens… Lumpkin was sitting at home two weeks ago. It doesn’t matter that he went to UGA or the Crisco Polytechnic in Swainsboro… If Andre Brown was healthy, he’d never see an NFL field again. You are obsessed with a system that is corrupt and even more damning is awash in blood money for no greater reason than to keep a bunch of crazy people entertained, not the bettering of the education of any those young men…
Enough of that cesspool, I feel the slime dripping from walls just considering it…
As far as your backhand slaps like 18th century dilettante, history is broader and way more darn diverse than the SEC, the pay-for-pay monstrosity of the corrupt post Oklahoma/Penn State/UGA -vs- the National Collegiate Athletic Association environment, or your myopic slant of what is relevant historical data… False store bought loyalties are just that, you posting 25 paragraphs of pure gibberish is going to change that… Ask anybody that was a Boise State fan, Utah, or the myriad of other programs that have prostituted themselves what the system is, was, and will be…
Lastly, you were not the person being answered with the post that you stuck your nose in… I want you to let that point to sink in… You can pontificate and others can gravy-train as they always do on the matter, but it is a pure unadulterated fact. I don’t correct you or anyone to make you better, that is your job as a adult. I will address falsehoods, myths, and generally outright lies (that is greater and different than a falsehood). Like think is available for people like you and 66 on a multitude of blogs (especially the D3 Falcons “Fan” Blog). Still, you refuse to avail yourselves of it as the outlet for your need for such affirmation… This is Jeff Schultz’s blog, 66 refuses to see or understand that point, no matter how many times that man tells him that fact… As the old saying goes, that is a sign of insanity… I’ve told folks like you over and over, I can careless if you like me or hate… I will not let bloggers however, disrespect the brand or take shots at people who have place being in a place derision simply because of my association with them.
Now, do what you do, the scroll lock is off…
Thomas Brown
December 19th, 2012
1:04 pm
That’s 6 paragraphs. I skipped the whole thing.
(1) Did you want to correct anything in it ?
(2) Did you give us your URL Link to the Kibbles & Bits 1981 ad ?
(3) Did you correct EVERYONE, and I do mean EVERYONE ?
(4) Did you say Falcons suck because qb whatever the hell it is you say?
(5) Did you tell us ALL to get the hell of YOUR BLOG, again ?
(6) Did you tell us all all the other items we all need to fix to be like you ?
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
@ Thomas Brown…man…I am almost speechless! I think you and I have been insulted, but not quite sure. I always believed that there was nothing wrong with supporting your local, or for that matter, non-local collegiate team. In spite of what was just written above, the “system” does better most of the young adults who attend on scholarships. I speak as someone who attended college on an athletic scholarship, and the time spent there was one of the best learning experiences of my life. Most of these young adults who attend because of their athletic ability DO improve themselves and use the experience to get a jump start on the “real world”. Granted, some blow the chance, but most of them, like me don’t become a professional athlete, rather they enter the business world having a greater knowledge of how to suceed.
As for this being Jeff’s blog…duhhh! Never said it wasn’t, and don’t pretend to be a moderator, or self-proclaimed blog guru. I just like to blog with people who like to discuss the Falcons. Given that the AJC is the local media outlet for the Falcons, I read the blogs. I never intended to get in a pis$ing match with a pseudo-intellectual who sometimes puts forth sentences so long and convoluted that I, with my limited intellect, can’t wrap around my head. I just find it frustrating that we can’t blog about the good and yes, the bad, about our Falcons without being continually insulted.
As for the above diatribe, gotta say, I can’t really figure out what is being said. Can someone enlighten me?
Oh, and btw… Go Falcons!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
@Dman, I agree somewhat with what you are saying. However, I don’t think we need to go into the game with the mindset that we intentionally foul to protect Matt. I think our guys are good enough to protect Matt without that. We would just be lowering ourselves to the level of those we berate. I agree that the last meeting with Suh & Co. left a bad taste in our mouths. It’s kinda like the bad taste we had for the Giants after the playoff game last year. Well, we got our revenge for that last week, and I think we can do the same to the Lions this week. And do it in a legal and professional manner!
Go Falcons!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
@ Lawdawg…thanks for reminding me about Fairley. I forgot about him being on the Lions. Yet another class act. I can’t forget his play against the Dawgs his senior year. Guess we have to have our big boy pants on Saturday night!
Go Falcons!
tmc
December 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
Crappy organizations focus on dirty players… or what they did to us last year…
The old Falcons (R. Smith years) would be talking about last year vs. Lions and what they were gonna do. The Lions organization blows and they are most likely talking trash among themselves about the Falcons…
Our goals are MUCH larger than revenge, Suh, the Lions or this game.
The best thing we can do is bury this team as quickly as possible and get Matt Ryan off the field healthy and move on.
Go Falcons!
tmc
December 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Fairley was just put on IR and will not be playing.
Probably has something to do with the 80-100 lbs he’s put on.
Did he swallow an air hose or what?
I’m fully expecting him to fail a drug test soon…= loser.
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
@tmc…Amen to that, Brother!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Was talking about your 1:44 post, but would apply to the 1:47 post as well!
Fan since 66
December 19th, 2012
1:50 pm
Was talking about your 1:44 post, but applies to your 1:47 as well
Detroit lions – Daily Cut-Up: Lions hope to salvage something from final 2 games
December 19th, 2012
2:23 pm
[...] Falcons’ line on a roll, now gets rematch against Suh Jeff Schultz – Atlanta Journal ConstitutionDecember 19, 2012 [...]
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
2:41 pm
So what’s the over & under that CHOKE is 1 and done again?
Last white guy in Stone Mountain
December 19th, 2012
2:50 pm
I think they should line big Mike Johnson up and fullback and have him lead block straight up Sue’s tushy for a whole series of downs non=stop. Three in a row or if they get a 1st down keep going until his big butt is sucking air like an open chest wound. And then do it again and again and again, especially if we get a good lead. Johnson 1st, maybe have another lineman pull, maybe Claybo, and run Turner behind straight at the boy named Sue.
Rmblg Wreck
December 19th, 2012
3:24 pm
Matt “Choke” Ryan
Whats the over under that you don’t post again when Matt Ryan does win in the playoffs this year?
Terry
December 19th, 2012
3:48 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan, I guess you don’t remember the Aints losing their last three games of the season during their 2010 Super Bowl run, here’s a reminder.
Lost to the Dallas Cowboys, an 11- 5 team 24–17
Lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an 3-13 team 20–17
Lost to the Carolina Panthers, an 8- 8 team 23–10
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
4:36 pm
Terry
December 19th, 2012
3:48 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan, I guess you don’t remember the Aints losing their last three games of the season during their 2010 Super Bowl run, here’s a reminder.
____________________________________
No I don’t recall that, considering the Packers won the superbowl that year
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
5:10 pm
Jeff Schultz
December 18th, 2012
10:18 pm
DawgNole –No profanity means no profanity, even abbreviated. Capiche?
_____________________
Did not see your cautionary post until this evening, Jeff. Didn’t realize that abbreviations were off limits. Thanks for the heads-up. Will post again with appropriate modifications.
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
5:11 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 18th, 2012
7:18 pm
So when do you guys get some Carolina 2-9 payback?…ha ha
_____________________
Still lying about Carolina I see. Worthless piece of garbage.
Thomas Brown
December 19th, 2012
5:15 pm
Fan since 1966,
Yes, I too was on the sports team at college. I was a walk-on. I was never on scholarship, but I didn’t need it anyway. My whole family went to college, and like you got up and ran with the team every morning. Then, ate. Then, went to classes. Then lunch. Then, practices. Then, dinner and studied. I, too, would not trade all that for anything. I actually had a great time doing it all. Never a dull moment. I knew I was never going pro, too. And, boy did I take advantage of my opportunity to get an education. Go Falcons, too ! Have a Merry Christmas. And, the other guy ? I could care what he means when he writes. Like I said, 1 read one once. Never did figure out what he was saying. I think he was trying to say that he does not like Matt Ryan. I mean, how could he with what he writes ? Seems to me like Matt Ryan is a Top 10 Quarterback. He’s young. He’s durable. He can absolutely put the ball in there. Did you see that TD in the back right corner Sunday ? That was beautiful. I guess there is something wrong with playing sports in college, since he is only a professional fan of professional sports, you know ? Don’t tell him that 90 % of the players all played in the feeder system : College Football.
After further review
December 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
Terry
December 19th, 2012
3:48 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan, I guess you don’t remember the Aints losing their last three games of the season during their 2010 Super Bowl run, here’s a reminder.
Lost to the Dallas Cowboys, an 11- 5 team 24–17
Lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, an 3-13 team 20–17
Lost to the Carolina Panthers, an 8- 8 team 23–10
LinkReport this comment.Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 19th, 2012
4:36 pm
Terry
December 19th, 2012
3:48 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan, I guess you don’t remember the Aints losing their last three games of the season during their 2010 Super Bowl run, here’s a reminder.
____________________________________
No I don’t recall that, considering the Packers won the superbowl that year
In point of fact, the Sints won the Super Bowl in 2010 and the Packers won the Super Bowl in 2011. If you were 1/3 the manyou think you are, you’d apologizew to Terry for the flame. Don’t bother with a snided rmark at me, because I’m impervious to your nonsense.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
5:40 pm
A lot of angry Falcants fans in here….ha ha.
Relax guys, have a coke and a smile…ha ha.
Now enjoy your 0-3 loser, losers….ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
5:42 pm
30-24 48-21 24-2
That would make me angry too…..ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
5:45 pm
Hey guys, you still never told me why Vick at age 22 won his 1st playoff game and CHOKE at age 27 hasn’t won any playoff games.
I’ll wait. This should be good
JSS
December 19th, 2012
5:46 pm
” Like I said, 1 read one once. Never did figure out what he was saying. I think he was trying to say that he does not like Matt Ryan. I mean, how could he with what he writes ?”
And somewhere, an English Composition professor is thanking heaven for the anonymous nature of the internet…
Producing 90% of all NFL players with a corrupt system does not validate the system. It means the exploitive nature of the system continues to be used! You’d have love the old reserve clause in MLB, it worked to exploit as well… You love corrupt institutions, just be man enough to admit it…
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Even Tim Tebow, T.A. Yates & Mark Sanchez have won at least 1 playoff win.
Dang CHOKE is such a LOSER….ha ha
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
6:32 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 19th, 2012
5:47 pm
Even Tim Tebow, T.A. Yates & Mark Sanchez have won at least 1 playoff win.
_____________________
So they “won a win,” eh?
Not only a liar, but an illiterate one at that.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
Did anyone see how Joe Flacco took FULL responsibility for the Ravens loss? That’s what leaders do. When have you ever heard CHOKE e-v-e-r taken responsibility for any of his MANY meltdowns?
He would say…..”Well WE could have done better, WE are learning”.
This FOOL never admits he cost the team wins, especially in the playoffs. He rather throw the whole team under the bus instead of taking responsibility like Flacco just did.
What a loser
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
7:39 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
He rather throw the whole team under the bus instead of taking responsibility like Flacco just did.
_____________________
“He rather”?
More illiteracy from the liar. You must’ve taken you English lessons from Vick.
LOL at the Aints
December 19th, 2012
7:42 pm
LOL
True Falcon Fan
December 19th, 2012
7:48 pm
Yo ZERO/JSS, get back in that GROTTO, your clairvoyance of expressed self paranoria is exceding the limits of your moronic idiocy. So it’s not too late to retire unself to your domain and not return!!!!.
“GO AWAY” —- its obvious you’ve worn out your welcome “AGAIN”!!!!!!!!!
Go Falcons — Lions next
Georgia
December 19th, 2012
8:08 pm
Falcons!
JSS
December 19th, 2012
8:18 pm
And the stalker who makes even single cell amoebas cringe gives its daily appearance from the Flying J Wi-fi… Dude, you don’t even know what a grotto is… But maybe the Mayans are right and on Friday I can have the pleasure of seeing your outline in the Flying J parking lot next to your broom and dust pan!
Say What
December 19th, 2012
9:43 pm
Always remember, that even though he excels at one thing, being an annoying jerk, it’s best not to respond to JSS. However, if you do, bait his sorry self by asking him, like I did last year, why the Falcons don’t run screens. He went on and on about how they didn’t have the talent and personell to run them. LOL. Look at them this year, from Yasinkas on ESPN:
We’ve talked a lot about how coordinator Dirk Koetter has made the screen pass a much bigger part of Atlanta’s offense this season.
Let’s talk a little more about Atlanta’s screen game, which was rarely used by former coordinator Mike Mularkey. Koetter is letting Matt Ryan throw lots of screens and they’re working.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Ryan has completed 50 of 57 attempts on screens. His completion and attempt numbers are second in the league behind Buffalo’s Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has completed 64 of 74 screens.
Ryan’s 374 yards on screens rank No. 5 in the league. But the most important stat is that Ryan leads the league in touchdown passes on screens with five.
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
9:45 pm
Let’s see, season-high for Durant, team record for consecutive wins, blah blah blah. Why do these so often seem to happen to ATL teams?
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
9:46 pm
Oops–wrong blog.
Dogmatic meme
December 19th, 2012
9:52 pm
hey CHOKE on this…Sukadong Suh is a loser and so are you! yo mama callin ya she’s ready for your chicken don’t forget the coke
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
10:01 pm
DawgNole
December 19th, 2012
7:39 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
December 19th, 2012
7:06 pm
He rather throw the whole team under the bus instead of taking responsibility like Flacco just did.
_____________________
“He rather”?
More illiteracy from the liar. You must’ve taken you English lessons from Vick.
_____________________________________________
“You must’ve taken (you) English lessons”……and you are correcting me….ha ha
I guess we both took the same class………ha ha ha ha ha.
You know when you are losing a debate when you go off topic
and criticize something totally away from football.
Now go enjoy your 0-3 LOSER, LOSER…..HA HA
goFalcons
December 19th, 2012
10:07 pm
choke on this fool we are the best
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
10:07 pm
Hey guys when can expect CHOKE to pass for 200 yards in the playoffs?
Oh yeah, none of you have answered the question why at 22 Vick accomplished what the 72 million dollar LOSER hasn’t accomplished at age 27.
I’ll just take it that you are stumped as usual………….
Now go enjoy your LOSER, LOSERS…………….
HA HA HA HA
0-3…..HA HA
30-24 48-21 24-2……
HA HA HA what a LOSER and a CHOKE
goFalcons
December 19th, 2012
10:08 pm
Falcons do what they want when they want and that is that
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
December 19th, 2012
10:12 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLst59NTKjU
The LOSER making excuses for throwing 5 picks…..
ha ha