SB Nation - Todd McClure

A Very Falcoholic Discussion: The Great Injury Conundrum

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:00:28 -0000

by John Bazemore - AP

This photo has nothing to do with the post, but lookit! He's in the air! Whoa! (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

I put up my Christmas tree at about midnight, a mere two hours after I had gotten out of work. Putting up a Christmas tree, I've found, is a lot like being a sports fan. It's a lot of work and a lot of anguish, and hopefully the end result is something you can enjoy and be proud of. Thankfully, rooting for the Falcons on Sunday doesn't usually require the use of a hacksaw, and the end result doesn't usually leave me with my hands and arms covered in sap.

Usually.

But that tangent aside, you're here for the discussion. As you know, we've got an extremely difficult game with the New Orleans Saints on tap, a game that would be even more difficult to win if we don't get Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Michael Jenkins, Harvey Dahl, Sam Baker, Todd McClure, Chris Houston, Tommy Nobis, Gerald Ford and Flipper the dolphin back by Sunday. That's what lit the extremely dim bulb in my head this morning.

Basically, I want to know how many players we'd have to get back from injury to win this game. Maybe you think we can win it with everyone gone, or maybe you think every single person has to be back and turned into a steam-powered automaton to pull it off. Whatever your thoughts, discuss 'em here and we'll get this ball rolling.

Getting The Atlanta Falcons Rushing Train Back On Track

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:33 -0000

More photos » by JOHN BAZEMORE - AP

This man may be the key to revving up a stagnant rushing attack. At least, we hope so. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Browse more photos »

While our optimism has flickered slightly in the face of a raging hurricane of difficult scheduling (?), the Atlanta Falcons are still a good football team. The next big test comes in the form of the the San Fransisco 49ers, the most numerically named team in the NFL, who just so happen to have a strong defensive front seven.

That's relevant because I don't think there's anyone here who is really all that thrilled with how the ground game has performed this season. Michael Turner was dynamic last year and the single biggest piece of our offensive success, but he's been just about average thus far in 2009. It's a bit of a puzzling and worrying problem, so it's a relief that our coaching staff made it a priority during the bye week.

Interestingly, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter D. Orlando Ledbetter writes that most of the focus was on the offensive line's performance through the first three games of the season, suggesting that Turner is not the cause of the problem at all. That suggestion isn't even raised in the article, frankly. Todd McClure sees ways the team can improve:

"We just have to concentrate on the little things," McClure said. "Whether if it's footwork or hand placement or helmet placement once you get up to the second level."

If the entire line starts stepping an inch further to the left and opening up holes so big a herd of Michael Turners can run through them, I'm going to be the last person to ridicule that statement. If making some small changes can get us going against one of the tougher run defenses in the league, that would go a long way toward opening things up against a more average Niners secondary for Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White.

Somehow, though, I think we can't lay this entirely on the feet of the offensive line. Having Jerious Norwood back to switch up the pace could be critical, and it's probably time for the coaching staff to live up to their promise of getting him prominently involved. Turner has looked just a step slow getting to the hole, and while having more room to run would help out with that, he's got to clear of the line of scrimmage a little faster. His more bruising style is well-accompanied by the threat of Norwood, and it's fair to ask if he's missed having him around. My hunch is yes.

What are your thoughts on the running game, and how will it fare against the Niners?

Atlanta Falcons Cut Seven Players, More Yet To Come

Dave the Falconer — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:00:37 -0000

by John Amis - AP

Jason Snelling stiff-arms the first round of cuts. And also the Ravens. But that's less important. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

View full size photo »

We knew the axe would be falling again following Thursday's pre-season game against the Baltimore Ravens, and it claimed seven Friday afternoon.

There's not a name on this list that blew me away, but this signals that bigger names are to come. Perhaps the biggest surprises were Chandler Williams, who had been excellent in special teams duty but probably didn't show enough as a receiver to stick around, and Ben Wilkerson, who had been a sturdy backup center for the better part of the last two seasons. Cornerbacks Glenn Sharpe and Tony Tiller were clearly heading out, safety Erick Brock was only a mild surprise and Ryan Stanchek and Adam Speer weren't long for this offensive line. This is depth on its way out.

With a 4 p.m. deadline Saturday to cut all the way down to 53, we haven't seen the last of the cuts, and it's likely that a few rookies from the 2009 draft are on the block. Feel free to discuss your own thoughts on the roster and who will make the final team, and I've posted my own 53-man following the jump. Let's see what Saturday brings.

QB Matt Ryan
QB Chris Redman
QB John Parker Wilson
RB Michael Turner
RB Jerious Norwood
RB Thomas Brown
FB Ovie Mughelli
FB/RB Jason Snelling
WR Roddy White
WR Michael Jenkins
WR Brian Finneran
WR Marty Booker
WR Eric Weems
TE Tony Gonzalez
TE Justin Peelle
TE Keith Zinger
T Sam Baker
T Tyson Clabo
T Garrett Reynolds
T Michael Butterworth
G Quinn Ojinnaka
G Justin Blalock
G Harvey Dahl
C Todd McClure
C Brett Romberg
LS Mike Schneck

DE John Abraham
DE Jamaal Anderson
DE Chauncey Davis
DE Kroy Biermann
DE Lawrence Sidbury
DT Jon Babineaux
DT Peria Jerry
DT Trey Lewis
DT Vance Walker
OLB Mike Peterson
OLB Jamie Winborn
OLB Stephen Nicholas
OLB Coy Wire
MLB Curtis Lofton
MLB Tony Gilbert
CB Chris Houston
CB Brent Grimes
CB Tye Hill
CB Chevis Jackson
CB Chris Owens
SS Eric Coleman
SS William Moore
FS Thomas DeCoud
S Jamaal Fudge
S Antoine Harris

K Jason Elam
P Michael Koenen

Poll

Is Dave the Falconer's final roster projection realistic?

You can see into the future! Get out of my head!

30 votes

Don't quit your day job...if you even have one

20 votes

I'm going to wait and see before passing judgment

19 votes

What, no Steve Bartkowski? This is an outrage!

30 votes

99 votes | Poll has closed

Report: C Jeremy Newberry Will Retire

Dave the Falconer — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:44:14 -0000

Man, you just sign a guy and he decides to quit football forever. Isn't that just the way of things?

ProFootballTalk reports that Jeremy Newberry, he of the bad knees and veteran pedigree, will retire before the season begins. This removes the veteran insurance from the equation if something happens to ~~Troy~~ Todd McClure and brings signing Brett Romberg into a backup role. The team might also crawl back to Alex Stepanovich and beg him to come back, which probably will result in a West SIde Story-style love, er, story. I just re-signed a lineman named Stepanovich...

Crazy ramblings aside, this isn't a good thing. Newberry was somewhat of a question mark because of his injury history, but it's rare to see someone of his skillset backing up a starter who has had one or two injuries of his own to contend with. Our depth takes an immediate hit, and while I like Romberg, we're not really sure what he's going to be able to do.

Of course, this is all moot if McClure just stays healthy and effective all year, but this rainy day must be killing my optimism. What are your thoughts?

Vote for the Greatest Falcons C of All Time

tlozwarlock — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:00:19 -0000

As Ms. Zombie Robot just told you, it's time to vote for the greatest Center in all of Falcons' history. Only three candidates were named. Follow the jump for a rundown of the currently nominated offensive linemen. We still need at least two left guards on the list. Otherwise, the two nominated RGs will be auto-inducted and I'll just shift one over to LG.

Candidate	Pos	Years as a Falcon	Pro Bowls	1st Team All Pro
Todd Weiner	RT	7	0	0
George Kunz	RT	6	5	0
RC Thielemann	RG	8	3	1
Bill Fralic	RG	8	4	2
Jeff Van Note	C	18	5	0
Jamie Dukes	C	8	0	0
Todd McClure	C	9	0	0
Bob Whitfield	LT	12	1	0
Mike Kenn	LT	17	5	2

Poll

Who is the Greatest Falcons C of All Time?

Jeff Van Note

334 votes

Jamie Dukes

27 votes

Todd McClure

71 votes

432 votes | Poll has closed