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+--- Thread: Falcons: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" (/Thread-Falcons-McClure-on-running-game-More-to-it-than-five-guys-up-front)
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - mdrake34 - 11-13-2012 12:22 PM
In all seriousness, I hope that Smith has a little chat with the players. We're 8-1, leading the division and looking at a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. We need a divisive locker room like Abe Lincoln needed to go see Our American Cousin.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - RnB - 11-13-2012 12:28 PM
Yes, its a video interview on AtlantaFalcons.com. Whether it was edited or not, I don't think so.
I feel like McClure shouldn't have said that, even though there is some truth to it. It is definitely a TEAM effort to run the ball, but he should have manned up and said what we all know "We are trying our best and are not getting it done."
We all know Turner does not have that burst speed to get to the LoS as quickly as he used to. We all know that the OLine has been terrible with run blocking, going back to LAST season. We all know that our running game is spotty at best and terrible when it comes to picking up two yards or less. If people didn't realize how much of an assett Ovie was in our power running game, they do now. He was injured most of last season then released due to our change in philosophy on offense. I think that once Ovie was out of the picture (even though Cox did decently filling in) our running game took a noticable decline and has never recovered. Ewing being injured before the season even started really fucked up our plans regarding our rushing attack, I think.
Whether we decide to move on from a power running attack (less fullback, younger/faster/lighter backs, more Quizz) or try to stick with the mold that worked for us for a long time remains to be seen. Whatever they decide, there are many pieces that need to be addressed. First and foremost the OLine needs to get its shit straight. Pat Hill needs to find guys on our roster that can maul in the running game. McClure is definitely not one of them. He either needs to step it up, keep his mouth shut, or ride the pine. Once the OLine is actually creating running lanes again, then the running back position can be evaluated to see if it is finally time to move on from Turner.
We need this shit straightened out before the playoffs. No more fucking around; we have to get back to being a dominant rushing team.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - Beef - 11-13-2012 01:08 PM
It's easy to say we must get back to being a dominant rushng team, but it's painfully obvious at this point that isn't possible with the same personnel we've been using.
We're averaging 3.8 YPC. While 3.8 x 3 = 11.4 and a first down, we all know that this isn't the reality of the situation. We've run a whopping 834 yards on 220 carries. But the kicker is, 22 of those 220 carries account for 500 of our 834 yards.
That means that the other 334 yards has come from 198 carries. An average of 1.7 YPC.
I can't begin to explain how horrible that is. As if 3.8 YPC wasn't already shitty enough. (Opposing teams are averaging 4.9 YPC against our defense, by the way)
Turner 3.8 YPC, 140 carries, 529 yards, 58.8 YPG.
Quizz 3.7 YPC, 45 carries, 166 yards, 18.4 YPG.
Snelling 2.1 YPC, 8 carries, 17 yards, 1.9 YPG.
Antone Smith 0, not a single snap.
Our fastest RB BY FAR who actually had a steller pre-season, hasn't gotten one snap.
I'm not at all saying he's the answer, but he has to be given a shot. Quizz is not exactly what we thought either. Could he flourish with more snaps? I would think he could. It does take time to get in a groove and being labeled the starter and knowing the responsibility is mostly on you, has to add something to the effort.
But the eye test is telling me our OL can't sustain open holes like they should and we need a faster RB who can get to the line, into, and through those holes sooner before they collapse. Turner has proven he simply can't do it anymore. It sux and I hate it, but that's reality. And I'm afraid Quizz is a notch below that speed level as well. I think law of numbers and his size and shiftiness would compensate and he'd be more successful than Turner, but I still think we need a really fast RB for this job right now. Our OL isn't good enough for slower RB's.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - RnB - 11-13-2012 01:23 PM
I tend to agree Beef. I firmly believe we need the OLine situation fixed before we decide on our RBs.
I am a huge fan of Turner but he simply can not get it done with the way our OLine is playing and its doubtful if he could get it done even if we had a dominant OL in the run game. Quizz definitely has promise, but I tend to agree that he suffers from the same thing Turner does when it comes to running between the tackles or around the edge, simply not enough speed without superb blocking. Snelling is a great "all purpose" back, but again, he is not a fast running back and is molded more like Turner. I hear people talking about Antoine Smith and see no reason why he couldn't get some more game reps. He has shown flashes in the preseason and has been on our roster for what seems like forever.
I think that when our OL is sorted out, we will be able to better gauge exactly how good our RB squad is. Until they actually have somewhere to go with the ball to show their ability, they are all going to look mediocre. It would be great if we had a superb athlete at RB like AP that can get it done regardless, but we don't. Therefore, we need to have MUCH better OL play to make up for the apparent speed/talent deficiency we have at RB.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - Beef - 11-13-2012 01:59 PM
You know what would be cool to see, is 2 RB's on the field at the same time who can both also run routes out of the slot.
Imagine Julio outside left, Roddy outside right, Tony on the line, and Quizz and Antoine Smith start out pre-snap in the "T". Matt reads the defense and calls the play. Then either Quizz or Smith shifts to the slot on the right or left and the other moves to the single back spot behind Matt.
The possible plays are limitless.
Either back can run or catch a screen or catch a pass out of the slot or stay behind to block. Hell, you could leave both of them in the backfield to block on deep passes if need be and if pressure penetrates, both of them could chip off to either side in the flat or in the middle for a check-down as Matt backpeddles or rolls out.
Right now, when Turner is in there, you can tell when it's going to be a handoff to him. We've become a little predictable again in that regard. Granted we still throw to our receivers a lot when Turner lines up in the backfield too, but the chance of him catching a screen or running a route out of the slot are virtually nil at this point. The defense really doesn't have a lot of guessing to do with Turner in there. We either run him or we throw to the other 3 receiver options and that's it.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - RnB - 11-13-2012 07:53 PM
Dirk says Turner had no chance on most of the running plays against the Saints
Quote:We only ran the ball 18 times. We need to run the ball more efficiently as a team. It doesn’t matter who the runner is. When you look at the tape on the majority of Mike Turner’s runs in the game the other day, he had no chance. We had free runners at the point of attack.
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - Drathdon - 11-13-2012 10:33 PM
^
This.
Turner didn't forget how to run. He still has a major role to play for us this year, so quit breaking him down and help cheer him on!
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - JDaveG - 11-13-2012 10:51 PM
(11-13-2012 12:22 PM)mdrake34 Wrote: In all seriousness, I hope that Smith has a little chat with the players. We're 8-1, leading the division and looking at a first round bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. We need a divisive locker room like Abe Lincoln needed to go see Our American Cousin.
Yes. Because as a fan, I do NOT want to end the season with someone asking me "but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - mdrake34 - 11-14-2012 10:26 AM
(11-13-2012 10:51 PM)JDaveG Wrote: Yes. Because as a fan, I do NOT want to end the season with someone asking me "but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
RE: McClure on running game - "More to it than five guys up front" - TeamPlayer1 - 11-14-2012 08:08 PM
Just an observation but when Turner is in on short yardage, the defense knows that he only runs tackle to tackle so they rush the QB and the LB's fill the gaps. When Turner gets the ball the d-line is on him because they know he no longer has the speed to bounce out. I've watched the rewind 4 times. Watch for yourself.