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DEL.ICIO.USBlocking scheme under fire again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The cut-blocking techniques used by the Falcons have come under fire again. Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said some of the Falcons’ blocking in the Titan’s 24-21 preseason victory Friday came close to crossing the line in regards to player safety and that he would alert the NFL about it.
Falcons’ players refuted Fisher’s claim by saying they do cut block defenders legs, but they do so within the rules. Officials rarely, if ever, have called penalties for illegal blocks, they argue, so opposing teams are going to have to deal with what they do and how they do it.
Consultant and former offensive line coach Alex Gibbs brought the blocking scheme to Atlanta from Denver, where teams occasionally complained about the cut blocks lineman used, as well. Defenders said the frequent blocks at their knees put them in danger of injury, especially when the offensive linemen were coming at odd angles.
Both the Broncos and the Falcons had successful running games behind the blocking scheme, which is unusual compared to most schemes used in the NFL.
Do you feel the Falcons’ linemen are playing dirty or that they’re are just using a system that is unusually and effective and bothers teams because they aren’t used to it?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By L.J.
August 22, 2005 04:43 PM | Link to this
As a Falcons fan I will be totally honest. If some other team’s linemen used cut blocks vs. the Falcons, I’d say they were dirty. But since the shoe is on our (the Falcons’) foot, looks clean to me, baby! I would use the analogy of piching high and inside in baseball. You aren’t trying to hurt the guy, but if you get in his head, he’s thinking “bail out” instead of focusing on hitting the ball. Cut blocking achieves the same objective.
(as a side note, I am glad we have a new blog. Someone really did their research on Cafaro. That’s kinda creepy)
By William Kitchens
August 22, 2005 05:10 PM | Link to this
Dang… Wasn’t this subject a paid blog last year? Now it’s free!
By William Kitchens
August 22, 2005 05:14 PM | Link to this
I may go google someone now… Not you Matt we got that scoop…. or we could have a google party? But very few of us use our last names…
If y’all google me, I’m not the William Kitchens that died in the Texas Electric Chair… I’m the professional singer (hit) songwriter and DJ one… That loves America, his wife and kids and voted for Bush!
PS… I have nothing to say on the cut-blocking that I didn’t already say last year.
By Josh
August 22, 2005 05:16 PM | Link to this
As a long time fan and season ticket holder, I can not call the cut blocking by the Falcons dirty. If the blocking is in the perameter of the rules then other teams need to get over it. I do wish the Falcons went to another blocking scheme however. Cut blocking is great for a running game or drop back passer because it keeps the defender from pursuing a certainn hole for the running back or a pocket for a passer. In the Falcons case they have a quarterback who scrambles in order to creat holes to pass because of his size. So when an Atlanta linemen goes to the turf to cut block a defender he has now taken himself out of the play to continue to block for Vick in other directions from other defenders. I think the Falcons need to go to a more tradition blocking scheme in which the pocket and linemen can move and adjust to Vick’s scrabbling abilities. Until then, good luck Falcons and fans pray for Vick to live past 30.
By Skydawg
August 22, 2005 05:41 PM | Link to this
Well Josh, you are partially correct here. First of all, run blocking and pass blocking are two different things all together. You DO NOT cut block when you are pass blocking. You see, this is where the weaknest of our offensive line is brought to the forefront. Any average, or even less than average offensive lineman can cut block on a running play. Especially when its in tandem and in a scheme it can be very effective. The problem being is when those average lineman (or less than average as the Falcons have) have to drop back in pass protection, their lack of skills, strength and maneuverability are exposed. If our lineman were trying to cut block on pass protection, Vick would be in even more trouble than he’s already in. Our offensive line will be our downfall this season. Unless its that hideous excuse for pass defense we had this past weekend.
By Jennifer Sabatier
August 22, 2005 06:32 PM | Link to this
Gawd, snort puhleeze don’t Google me. You’ll get a picture and it aint purty….it’s purty scary. Talk about fat……and the bleach blonde hair….I’m in agony!. At least I’m back to red, the way God intended…..
Anyway I wonder…Philip, I think it was Philip, while blasting Vick had something in there about the lineman not blocking for Vick because they don’t know where he is, or something like that. How much of that is really a problem?
Since this is about blocking and lineman I don’t want to hear anymore flame about Vick and his still-immature ability.
By Matthew Cafaro
August 22, 2005 06:36 PM | Link to this
William and LJ,
I know… but it’s kind of cool. I mean, I didn’t know you could Google ME. Thanks to Worthless’s Mama for that. It’s just kind of neat. I just wish she would have spent that extra energy she must have in raising a more well-adjusted child. Kinda like Mama McNabb did with Donovan. I mean, Donovan is a stand-up guy, who won’t use his agent to concoct fake injuries and maladies to try and cover for lazy play. Donovan has no problem signing autographs at Camp for the kids. He’s also willing to stand in front of a bank of microphones and answer the tough questions. He’s the Anti-Worthless. But you know what they say… for the way a child grows up and behaves, a lot of the blame must go to the parents if they behave wrongly. Mama McNabb… good mama. Worthless’s Mama… well, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.
But she totaly misread my use of “expert” in my email. I won’t explain it for the 101st time here, but if y’all want my 100th explanation, click on the last blog.
Look, Steve… come on. This subject has been rehashed ad naseum.
How about some stuff ABOUT the line, and why they suck so bad in pass blocking.
Or maybe more about the wideouts.
Some hard hitting questions for the coaching staff.
Thanks for the new blogging space and everything, but just because we no longer pay for the privledge doesn’t mean we’ll expect last year’s leftovers served up as new news.
We’re hungry for some info!
By Dominic Hughes
August 22, 2005 08:12 PM | Link to this
William, I can understand your frustration at this subject rearing its head but I’m going to cut Steve a little slack. First, he wasn’t privy to all our blogs last season. And then even if he did know this subject was heavily discussed then, he has to take all the new freeloading bloggers into account. Like you, I have nothing much new to say on the subject though. Except that if you were to draw up a list of problems I think our offensive line has, cut blocking wouldn’t be at the top for me right now. While it remains within the rules the Falcons can and will do it. If the NFL changes the rules, then it’s a discussion. I’m more worried about the fact it looks like the O in O-line is going to stand for “Oh no, Vick’s down again”. As for Googling folks - anyone googling me thinking they’ve found me will probably find it is instead another journalist called Dominic Hughes who works for the BBC.
By Steve Wyche
August 22, 2005 10:18 PM | Link to this
Hey guys,
I know this stuff has been covered in the past. The only reason it being brought up against is because Jeff Fisher filed a complaint with the NFL to get it stopped, which is interesting because the Titans and Falcons don’t meet in the regular season.
We’ll touch on some other subjects but when an opposing coach goes to the NFL suggesting dirty play, it’s newsworthy. I thought it would be a good topic for discussion.
By William Kitchens
August 22, 2005 10:22 PM | Link to this
Steve, please believe my grief is not with you personally, unless you are the Sports Editor in Chief… He is the one that approves your stories, makes assignments, and answers to a marketing department that promotes promises that are basically untrue. I think your writing is fine, we just want more of it.
Unless you have direct access to post new stories to this site without approval, you are not responsible.
And further more, it (your story)became news because of Fisher… however, what another coach thinks about our offensive schemes 3 days removed (posted) from the actual game is not exactly the news Falcons Fans are dwelling on…
Did anyone ask Jacksonville coach Del Rio what he thinks or how he prepares his team for the Falcons offense… I mean he’s not going to give up his plan, but his thought on the game would be more interesting than Fisher’s view on history.
We would certainly appreciate more stories, tougher questions etc…
Where are the reports/interbiews from the coaching staff…
Has anyone even interviewed an offensie lineman or has Gibbs as a “Consultant” still mumming them.
Last season we had daily reports/articles coming from camp, the famous Vick vs. Schabb debate and all kinds of cool Falcon dialect.
If I got to put up with pop ups, give me some news AJC!
Why not also open a weekly blog letting the reader post questions or stories they would like to see covered? This should go up at least within a few hours after the game. If not minutes.
Just give it a title with a final score or something… we’re only posting text. It’s not like the ajc doesn’t have the server space to store our rants and raves.
OK.. enough of that.
Jenn I would never Google you without your permission… besides you a married woman. :-)
I don’t know who Mama is, but she seems to be doing some serious research on Matt. I am glad he felt honored…
And now, I have become to the AJC Sports department what Matt is to Peerless Price!
Give me my Falcon News! Daily!
By William Kitchens
August 22, 2005 10:29 PM | Link to this
Let me correct something… give me my blog headers… daily! I want to comment on your coverage.
By Dominic Hughes
August 23, 2005 01:39 AM | Link to this
Steve, yeah, I can see why Fisher bleating on about the cut blocking makes it news again. And it certainly did prompt some more discussion of the issue. I’m more worried though that the line appears to have gone backwards as a unit rather than improved on last season when Vick got sacked an awful lot. It’s still just the pre-season I guess, but it doesn’t bode well.
By Andy
August 23, 2005 11:25 AM | Link to this
I have no comments on the cut block thing. It will always come up from time to time, especially on big runs where an O-lineman may be outside the tackle box.
I am more curious about if Steve gets to watched the practices that are now closed to the public.
I also want to know what he thinks about Peerless. George Henry’s writing seems to suggest he is gone. I think he should stay for this year. You never know when you are going to need WR depth.
I also want to know what the safeties think of all the knocks on them by pre-season mags, cbs.sportline.com, etc. Me, I think it is unfair as D.Hall, J-Web, Carpenter and Scott have yet to play in a game together and they are the starters. I think then you can judge them.
J-Web is starting to look like a bust if he can’t stay healthy.
By dawkins looms
August 23, 2005 03:53 PM | Link to this
I think the Falcons offensive line needs to play dirty. They simply need to do something or else they have NO shot at winning. Heck, UGA’s line is better. I see another long year of teams blitzing Vick. Philly will take him by game one. Doesn’t matter though, even when healthy he can’t hit the side of a barn.
How’s Algea Crumpler feel? Tell him Dawkins says hello.
By FalcoW810
August 23, 2005 08:48 PM | Link to this
Maybe it’s time to stop listening to Gibbs’ rant about, not needing high picks waisted on the OL. If what Skydog said is true, wich makes sence to me, then why not spend at least a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th rd. pick or picks on pass blocking specialists and then teach them the cheap trick of cut blocking. Given all the horrible drafts we’ve had in the pass, when was the last time we went for a dominant OL player? Does Denver use the same tactics? Might that be why the Titans are complaining? Why aren’t all teams using this method? Last but not least, is it really that complicated, I’d like to know? One more, can we keep this about the Falcons?