AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2005 > November > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMora’s right to defend linemen but delivery’s all wrong
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Flowery Branch — He said what? Not only that, Jim Mora said it about whom?
Something’s up here. After all, two things are quite apparent about this thinking man’s coach of the Falcons: He’s bright, and he’s perceptive. So surely there was more to the story when Mora responded to that rather harmless question the other day involving former team legends Jeff Van Note and Mike Kenn by theorizing that their loquacious ways as offensive linemen contributed to the Falcons’ yearly spiral into purgatory back then.
That’s in contrast to Mora’s group of offensive linemen who have opted to spend a second consecutive year speaking only slightly more than a blade of artificial grass in the Georgia Dome.
Whatever works, which only was part of Mora’s point by contrasting the philosophy of his offensive linemen with that of Van Note and Kenn. To hear Mora tell it, the quiet ways of his guys contributed to his first Falcons team reaching the NFC championship game last season. He also suggested that it is helping his second Falcons team contend high in its division this season at 5-2. Which brings us to the primary reason why Mora said what he did regarding Van Note and Kenn (“Were they good talkers? How were their teams? Pretty good? My point exactly.�), and that is: Call him Sigmund Mora, master at preparing his players mentally as well as physically.
In other words, courtesy of this Van Note and Kenn thing, Mora has another way to support the silent wishes of his offensive linemen in general and of Alex Gibbs, their former coach and current consultant, in particular. More importantly, this is just a continuation of Mora doing what he should do, and that is to keep separating the shiny image of his Falcons from those of the franchise’s gloomy past.
The problem is, Mora does so clumsily on occasion.
“You have to understand where he’s coming from, though, which is that he’s kind of in that ‘Grrrrrrr’ mold, where he’s all about his players, and he will do anything to defend them until the end,â€? said Jamal Anderson, who gained quite a few yards for the Falcons and once ran them into a Super Bowl. That said, Anderson supports Mora’s philosophy of operating as if the Falcons’ history began on Jan. 9, 2004, the day that Mora was hired. “He’s never going to throw his guys under the bus, and he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Hey, I totally understand what he’s trying to do, and it’s necessary in order to get rid of 30-something years of mediocrity.â€?
No question there. It’s just that, well, this Van Note and Kenn thing wasn’t the best way for Mora to go. “Jeff and Mike didn’t misconstrue what I said. I talked to both of them, and they appreciated [my comments],� Mora said on Thursday after practice. “As I pointed out, they’re both nominated for the Hall of Fame. I mean, the only persons who could have misconstrued what was said were the people who weren’t in this room and heard the line of questioning. I was just responding to the question.�
Just like Mora was responding to another question regarding this Van Note and Kenn thing by saying, “I can never remember an offensive lineman being quoted, and I’ve been around a long time.�
Yeah, well. Centuries ago, when I covered the Oakland Raiders for a San Francisco paper, two of the most interviewed players were guard Gene Upshaw, now head of the NFL players union, and tackle Art Shell, the league’s first African-American head coach in modern times and currently in the NFL office. Plus, Mora was an assistant in New Orleans under his father, the older Jim Mora, for the first half of the 1990s. Those Saints had Willie Roaf, a Pro Bowl offensive lineman who was so popular that he had his own radio show. In addition to Van Note and Kenn, the list of prolific talkers among offensive linemen for the Falcons have ranged from Robbie Tobeck to Jamie Dukes to Bob Whitfield.
Anyway, Mora told me with a straight face that his offensive linemen have only one designated speaker each week for another reason: “It’s great for a guy like [backup center] Austin King to get to talk to the media. It’s a great learning process for those young guys.�
Then, after a slight pause, Mora burst into laughter.
He gets it.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Categories: Falcons / NFL, Terence Moore
Comments
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By Great Falconi
November 4, 2005 03:30 AM | Link to this
Terence, I think Jam hit the nail on the head about what Mora was trying to do. However, maybe the Falcons organization should try bringing the old, successful guys back and talk them up some. You know, turn the Falcons organization into a family that embraces the great players the franchise has had. That (along with putting a consistent winner on the field) would go a long way to making Falcon fans forget about Dimry and Jeff George.
By kemet
November 4, 2005 10:36 AM | Link to this
I like what mora is trying to do. I enjoy the “egoless” falcons in that no one appears to be above himself. as i recall thats what football is made of teamwork, many great teams had incredible teamwork. like patriots, spurs, and pistons. we dont want egotrips, they dont win, ie TO, Randy Moss, recently Kobe
By Robert Sagoes
November 4, 2005 12:23 PM | Link to this
I see what JM, is doing and it is good. As I see it there is no “I” in team~~~
By lawton
November 4, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this
im i missing something here? the falcons offensive linemen can do one thing and one thing only, HOLD and cutblock within the rules. sneaky stuff, thats why gibbs want them small, little pesky holding offensive linmen getting in the way. when its time to manup on the pass rush, they fold.
By DbleD23
November 4, 2005 08:53 PM | Link to this
Mora is right, the old Falcons don’t deserve respect b/c they sucked.
By blackscorpion
November 4, 2005 10:02 PM | Link to this
One day we are going to find out that Mora is as crazy as his dad. The guy is paranoid. When the going gets tough Mora will crack just like his dad and start screaming PLAYOFFS!!!PLAYOFFS
By TD
November 5, 2005 07:27 AM | Link to this
Much ado about nothing? I’m surprised an article is evern written about this topic. We should all take another hit from the ammonia stick and move on…mmmmmm…ammonia……mmmm nostrils burning..
By PreyDawg
November 5, 2005 12:24 PM | Link to this
Great Falconi,
You are usually better than this. I know you should know better. The Blank Regime has done a steallar job of honoring old Falcons (i.e. Hanging Jerseys from the Dome Rafters;putting Bartkowski and several others on the board of directors).
They have done their part in honoring old Falcons players. That is why Mora’s comments shocked me? I think he just was in a testy mood about something and just went off when he thought his guys were being criticized.
Bottom line: He probably screwed up. But he called the parties involved and made it right. End of story.
By Dr Mojo
November 9, 2005 02:14 AM | Link to this
I agree that Mora may be crazy, and one day we’ll all look back and wonder why we didn’t see it. It’s like having Glanville back sometimes. But as long as he’s winning, hey. Go for it crazy man.