AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 21
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Guard play at crisis point
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons’ trumpeting of left guard Matt Lehr’s return to the lineup and the repeated talk of the team’s struggles in the running game without him delivered the message that coach Jim Mora and some players wouldn’t say publicly: The guard play is hurting the offense.
P.J. Alexander, who replaced Lehr for four games, has leveled off after a strong start. Same with Tyson Clabo, who replaced Kynan Forney at right guard after Forney’s right shoulder kept dislocating and he was placed on injured reserve.
That’s how things tend to happen with backup players. It’s like the backup point guard who plays well for five games then shows why he’s a backup. Opposing teams had no idea about Clabo and Alexander at first, but they’ve had weeks to scout, game plan and exploit their weaknesses.
Both players had rough games against the Ravens, which showed in pass protection (five sacks) and in the running game (104 total yards). On a fourth-and-one on the opening drive, instead of running up the middle, Atlanta tried to go off tackle (and failed), which showed a lack of confidence with the interior blocking.
Whereas Alexander is headed to the bench, Clabo will remain at right guard. He has no choice but to play better because there isn’t much help in reserve.
Coaches love rookie Quinn Ojinnaka, but they aren’t sure if they want him at guard or tackle, or if this would be the right time to put a rookie on the spot. There’s also Austin King, the backup center.
If the Falcons thought Ojinnaka or King were better than Clabo or Alexander, they would have used them in the first place.
In a side note, to show the impact of all the Falcons injuries, Ben Claxton would have been the first backup at guard — he was challenging Lehr at one point for the starting job. However, he suffered the dislocation of the ball joint in his foot in training camp (just like Brady Smith last season) and was placed on injured reserve. That means Clabo is actually the third option at guard. Alexander was an out-of-work free agent when he was summoned after Lehr was forced to take his unpaid leave.
As for Lehr, who knows if he will have as big an impact as coaches and players hope. He was away from football for a month and if he was using performance-enhancing drugs, it will interesting to see if he is able to compete at a high level without them.
Center Todd McClure said Lehr’s experience in the system and his fresh legs should be beneficial. They’d better be because the Falcons don’t have many more options or much more time to get it right.
