Falcons: Something The Falcons Need To Learn

[AUTiger7222]

Reading 'Bill Walsh The Score Takes Care of Itself' and Bill Walsh said something that I think the Falcons need to learn and take to heart.

Quote:"It also meant as the years accrued, personnel had to be changed so that we remained near the summit. Players past their peak or near the end of their usefulness had to be taken out of the organization....when I had to look a great performer in the eye and say "It's time for you to leave." There is perhaps no way you can do it without causing deep pain. But, the organization, our team, came first."

I think the Falcons need to learn that and implement it. I say this because there are 2 players that are doing more harm than good for the team this season, Todd McClure and Michael Turner. There are players on the roster that would be upgrades over each player and make the team better.

But because Mike Smith respects what they have meant to the Falcons success over the years he doesn't want to make a change. But a change needs to be made for the better.

[RFlagg]

In my opinion, both guys are gone after this season, no matter what we do in the playoffs. I think the front office recognizes that both players are past their prime and will tell Mike Smith it's time for them to go.

I fully expect our first few draft picks this season to be offensive and defensive linemen. I think we're willing to go into next season with a committee backfield of Rodgers, Snelling and Smith.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

They wil be gone. The team does know. If you go back to war room and the start of the franchise now. Our coaching staff have done a lot of this. Turner and MCClure have reached that point this year. But they both had more to offer before the season began.

Have a little faith. Hell TD did this himself back in New England.

Again no sacred lambs meant just that. But seriously if Hawley wasn't ready then what could we have done with the cap situation we had. I don't think we can release turner without financial damage.. But we need to lead with Jacquizz and Snelling another back and perhaps stil give doses of turner. But not as a premier back.

[Drathdon]

I think, if you look at every player we've let go under this regime, they all had a drop-off when they left. Even with the cap a big influence, our front office has an amazing track record of analyzing our talent. I trust them, as they deserve to be trusted.

As for Turner... since the plan was always to save him for the post season, I don't think we can accurately judge him until we see what they had planned. If he comes out and rocks the post season, fresh and full of plays he was made for, then we know what we saw before never mattered to the coaches, and I would call his year a success. I'm not sure if that will happen (pray it does), but I will withhold judgment until I see what he was saved for, and if it works for us.

[AUTiger7222]

(12-28-2012 06:18 PM)Drathdon Wrote:  I think, if you look at every player we've let go under this regime, they all had a drop-off when they left. Even with the cap a big influence, our front office has an amazing track record of analyzing our talent. I trust them, as they deserve to be trusted.

As for Turner... since the plan was always to save him for the post season, I don't think we can accurately judge him until we see what they had planned. If he comes out and rocks the post season, fresh and full of plays he was made for, then we know what we saw before never mattered to the coaches, and I would call his year a success. I'm not sure if that will happen (pray it does), but I will withhold judgment until I see what he was saved for, and if it works for us.

I can accept the wait and see approach.

[AUTiger7222]

(12-28-2012 05:48 PM)FullMetalFalcon23 Wrote:  They wil be gone. The team does know. If you go back to war room and the start of the franchise now. Our coaching staff have done a lot of this. Turner and MCClure have reached that point this year. But they both had more to offer before the season began.

Have a little faith. Hell TD did this himself back in New England.

Again no sacred lambs meant just that. But seriously if Hawley wasn't ready then what could we have done with the cap situation we had. I don't think we can release turner without financial damage.. But we need to lead with Jacquizz and Snelling another back and perhaps stil give doses of turner. But not as a premier back.

I have full faith in TD and co. Just saying that Turner still starting and still getting the majority of the carries and Snelling and Rodgers getting very few carries just blows my mind since the offense has looked so much better when one of the latters is in the game. Most of the Falcons 3-and-outs this season involve Turner getting a carry.

[FullMetalFalcon23]

(12-28-2012 06:33 PM)AUTiger7222 Wrote:  I have full faith in TD and co. Just saying that Turner still starting and still getting the majority of the carries and Snelling and Rodgers getting very few carries just blows my mind since the offense has looked so much better when one of the latters is in the game. Most of the Falcons 3-and-outs this season involve Turner getting a carry.

Agree with you. And they are often drives that are doomed from the start from a bad carry from Turner it's like 2nd down has to be the sum of both first and 2nd down thanks to the rhythmic hole his bad plays can drop the team into.

Whether he is on the team next year or not. We clearly cannot run with him as our lead back. Either we bring in someone else or we allow Smith to get involved too.

McClure I think he has to go now. He is in a situation where I think his mind is ahead of his body. He does the right thing. But he cannot execute it the way he would like to. This will be interesting to see how this is handled. That 1st rounder could be used to take the top Centre in the draft if he matches up value wise. With us then keeping Konz at Guard. Alternatively a true RG could be there and that gives us a chance to bring then experience and familiarity with Matt to the Center spot whilst injecting youth and better strength in at Guard. The problem is, that that is a lot of youth and inexperience to pair up in the doorway to the QB. That's why i feel the replacement has to come from within the roster at least in the short term. It just sea like too much youth to put in there. I don't know if many teams if any have done that. Yes you have two rookie guards like what San Fran did. But they were anchored and surrounded with more exoerienced players who could help them by handling their own assignments or chipping in with theirs or simply through the line chemistry. The Falcons o line. Outside of Clabo. Is more technical than physical. And that's fine so long as the chemistry works that way. What you don't want is a guy who Mauls but can't grasp that if they don't remain controlled in their execution they can create chinks. We have Konz and Johnson both of him were lead blockers for great college backs. The backs did a lot of work but these guys opened up or made lanes. Run blocking is more konz's forte than pass blocking what with the system they have at the Badgers so that may play into the decision as to whether it is Hawley or a another Center who comes in. From my recollection whilst not a stellar run guy. Hawley's athleticism. Does make him viable and valuable as a Center as he can maintain ground and keep his man infront of him.

It's gonna be interesting.

[ggp]

(12-28-2012 07:39 PM)FullMetalFalcon23 Wrote:  Agree with you. And they are often drives that are doomed from the start from a bad carry from Turner it's like 2nd down has to be the sum of both first and 2nd down thanks to the rhythmic hole his bad plays can drop the team into.

Whether he is on the team next year or not. We clearly cannot run with him as our lead back. Either we bring in someone else or we allow Smith to get involved too.

McClure I think he has to go now. He is in a situation where I think his mind is ahead of his body. He does the right thing. But he cannot execute it the way he would like to. This will be interesting to see how this is handled. That 1st rounder could be used to take the top Centre in the draft if he matches up value wise. With us then keeping Konz at Guard. Alternatively a true RG could be there and that gives us a chance to bring then experience and familiarity with Matt to the Center spot whilst injecting youth and better strength in at Guard. The problem is, that that is a lot of youth and inexperience to pair up in the doorway to the QB. That's why i feel the replacement has to come from within the roster at least in the short term. It just sea like too much youth to put in there. I don't know if many teams if any have done that. Yes you have two rookie guards like what San Fran did. But they were anchored and surrounded with more exoerienced players who could help them by handling their own assignments or chipping in with theirs or simply through the line chemistry. The Falcons o line. Outside of Clabo. Is more technical than physical. And that's fine so long as the chemistry works that way. What you don't want is a guy who Mauls but can't grasp that if they don't remain controlled in their execution they can create chinks. We have Konz and Johnson both of him were lead blockers for great college backs. The backs did a lot of work but these guys opened up or made lanes. Run blocking is more konz's forte than pass blocking what with the system they have at the Badgers so that may play into the decision as to whether it is Hawley or a another Center who comes in. From my recollection whilst not a stellar run guy. Hawley's athleticism. Does make him viable and valuable as a Center as he can maintain ground and keep his man infront of him.

It's gonna be interesting.

I believe that Konz was drafted as the heir to McClure. Konz has the perfect mental make up for the Center position. In my opinion, his play experience at RG will allow him to step into the Center role without a hitch.

With regards to the RG position, I would like to see us draft a starter. However, I think that TD is comfortable with the expected development of Reynolds and Mannley.

We shall see.

[AUTiger7222]

(12-28-2012 07:39 PM)FullMetalFalcon23 Wrote:  Agree with you. And they are often drives that are doomed from the start from a bad carry from Turner it's like 2nd down has to be the sum of both first and 2nd down thanks to the rhythmic hole his bad plays can drop the team into.

Whether he is on the team next year or not. We clearly cannot run with him as our lead back. Either we bring in someone else or we allow Smith to get involved too.

McClure I think he has to go now. He is in a situation where I think his mind is ahead of his body. He does the right thing. But he cannot execute it the way he would like to. This will be interesting to see how this is handled. That 1st rounder could be used to take the top Centre in the draft if he matches up value wise. With us then keeping Konz at Guard. Alternatively a true RG could be there and that gives us a chance to bring then experience and familiarity with Matt to the Center spot whilst injecting youth and better strength in at Guard. The problem is, that that is a lot of youth and inexperience to pair up in the doorway to the QB. That's why i feel the replacement has to come from within the roster at least in the short term. It just sea like too much youth to put in there. I don't know if many teams if any have done that. Yes you have two rookie guards like what San Fran did. But they were anchored and surrounded with more exoerienced players who could help them by handling their own assignments or chipping in with theirs or simply through the line chemistry. The Falcons o line. Outside of Clabo. Is more technical than physical. And that's fine so long as the chemistry works that way. What you don't want is a guy who Mauls but can't grasp that if they don't remain controlled in their execution they can create chinks. We have Konz and Johnson both of him were lead blockers for great college backs. The backs did a lot of work but these guys opened up or made lanes. Run blocking is more konz's forte than pass blocking what with the system they have at the Badgers so that may play into the decision as to whether it is Hawley or a another Center who comes in. From my recollection whilst not a stellar run guy. Hawley's athleticism. Does make him viable and valuable as a Center as he can maintain ground and keep his man infront of him.

It's gonna be interesting.

Tyson Clabo played guard for the Falcons in 2007 and it was his position in college. I think a lineup of Baker, Blalock, Konz, Clabo and Holmes would work. It is something I would like to see at least looked at in the preseason next year.

I think Konz regardless of his position next season will be much better after a full off-season in an NFL training program to get stronger.

[ATLBound]

(12-28-2012 08:04 PM)AUTiger7222 Wrote:  Tyson Clabo played guard for the Falcons in 2007 and it was his position in college. I think a lineup of Baker, Blalock, Konz, Clabo and Holmes would work. It is something I would like to see at least looked at in the preseason next year.

I think Konz regardless of his position next season will be much better after a full off-season in an NFL training program to get stronger.

This ^^^^^^


Man o man would I love to see that lineup with a healthy Clabo. I think that lineup would not lose anything in the passing game and gain A LOT in the run game.