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falcon057 · 09-21-2010, 07:41 AM

Smith: Be aggressive, but don't get caught
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D. Orlando Ledbetter; Staff , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Updated Sep 21, 2010 7:13 AM ET

FLOWERY BRANCH --- Falcons left tackle Sam Baker has drawn the scrutiny of officials early this season. He's been whistled for four holding calls in the first two games, which equates to once every six Atlanta possessions.

"Yeah, they got me for a couple," Baker said Monday. "I think it comes down to playing your techniques and playing to the line and not going over it."

Falcons coach Mike Smith preaches about being aggressive, playing until you hear the whistle and playing on the edge. However, players might have trouble pursuing that aggressive brand of football without going over that proverbial edge.

"It's difficult," Baker admitted. "You have got to be on that line. The refs will warn you. They'll let you know where that line is going to be for that day. Then you have to take the responsibility to find where that is."

Smith believes the rash of holding calls on Baker are related to the new positioning of the umpire, who now lines up in the offensive backfield and not behind the defensive line. While Smith doesn't want to appear to be making excuses, he said the coaching staff does plan to monitor when the offensive holding calls are made and by which official.

"We have to make sure that we understand how they are calling the game," Smith said.

Smith would not concede that Baker has a specific problem with holding.

"I don't know that there is any issue. The umpire is definitely in a new position. We've got to block better," Smith said.

The Falcons have been called for nine penalties for 99 yards in two games. In Sunday's 41-7 pummeling of the Arizona Cardinals, they had six penalties for 75 yards.

Smith also was troubled by unnecessary roughness calls against fullback Ovie Mughelli, wide receiver Brian Finneran and safety William Moore, which may have been byproducts of the team establishing a more physical tone after losing 15-9 to Pittsburgh in overtime in the opener. Finneran got tangled up with Arizona safety Adrian Wilson around a pile of players.

"The guy flopped all over the place," Finneran said. "It was unfortunate. I shouldn't have reacted. ... I barely touched him and he took a flop. Those things happen during the course of a game."

Though the Falcons are among the 10 least-penalized teams in the NFL, Smith wants the penalties to cease. But he doesn't want his team to stop playing aggressively, either.

"It's a very fine line," he said.

Before Monday night's game, the Oakland Raiders led the league with 22 penalties for 167 yards. The New York Jets have 20 penalties for 183 yards and the Cardinals have 20 penalties for 181 yards.

"I think we can continue to play on the edge and play physical," Smith said. "We just have to make sure that we don't get those flags. Those penalties can hurt you. That's 15 yards."

Next for Falcons

Who: at Saints

**Tandy** · (This post was last modified: 09-21-2010 08:03 AM by Tandy.)

Maybe we should be practicing those flopping techniques as well. But, hey - if they are going to be flag happy - we should knock those guys the hell out - if you're going to get the penalty anyway - make 'em pay.

falcon057 · 09-21-2010, 08:06 AM

(09-21-2010 08:03 AM)Tandy Wrote: Maybe we should be practicing those flopping techniques as well. But, hey - if they are going to be flag happy - we should knock those guys the hell out - if you're going to get the penalty anyway - make 'em pay.

acting 101 , I thought I saw him hit Brain !st but it's always the 2nd guy that gets the call Big Grin

***phocis850*** · 09-21-2010, 08:39 AM

Yea that was hilarious.

***Peyton*** · 09-21-2010, 08:55 AM

I think Baker has talent, but at some point you have to start wondering if the guy is a LT.

I don't know, maybe they should give Clabo some work in practice on the left side and see if switching them is an option.

**kibitzer** · 09-21-2010, 09:09 AM

"I barely touched him and he took a flop"

I'd rather think of it as "I laid the dude out on his ass". But that's just how I roll... Big Grin

**Tandy** · 09-21-2010, 09:13 AM

(09-21-2010 08:55 AM)Peyton Wrote: I think Baker has talent, but at some point you have to start wondering if the guy is a LT.

I don't know, maybe they should give Clabo some work in practice on the left side and see if switching them is an option.

Watching Clabo - I don't think he's the answer either. What we need is one big, athletic bruiser on that line in the left tackle position.

We need to get a real top talent LT to protect the QB and give him time to throw without having to hold.

***Peyton*** · 09-21-2010, 09:14 AM

If we are beating teams 34-7, I have no problem with Finneran bitch slapping a safety.

***Peyton*** · 09-21-2010, 09:16 AM

(09-21-2010 09:13 AM)Tandy Wrote: Watching Clabo - I don't think he's the answer either. What we need is one big, athletic bruiser on that line in the left tackle position.

We need to get a real top talent LT to protect the QB and give him time to throw without having to hold.

I agree with you 100% long term.

I'm just wondering if we might hold up better in the playoffs this year if we switched those guys.

I think right now Baker has a real confidence problem, and it's not mentally where you want to be at LT.

falcon057 · 09-21-2010, 09:23 AM

(09-21-2010 09:16 AM)Peyton Wrote: I agree with you 100% long term.

I'm just wondering if we might hold up better in the playoffs this year if we switched those guys.

I think right now Baker has a real confidence problem, and it's not mentally where you want to be at LT.

it was 34 def with Poter in an upright position rather than a down lineman, he was getting a jump on him and making it hard to key on. He even tried to move back and got the call on him. he'll be OK until we get one in the draft IMOP