By now Falcons opponents know they’d better get rookie defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman blocked on field-goal attempts or risk him getting a hand on the kick.
Yet Hageman still is doing it. Hageman blocked an extra-point try by the Packers on Sunday for his league-leading third blocked kick on the season. He said he’s been getting extra, illegal attention from opponents.
“I’m definitely getting held a lot more, tripped a lot more,” Hageman said. “That’s just part of the game. Whatever the refs don’t see, just put it behind you and try harder. There have been a few obvious ones. At the end of the day, I’m not going to have the refs stop me from doing my job.”
Hageman also blocked a point-after attempt by the Bears in Week 6 and a 63-yard field-goal try by Carolina on the final play of the Falcons’ 19-17 victory in Week 11.
Hageman’s size, strength and burst off the ball make him suited for blocking kicks by collapsing the line in the middle and getting a hand up. At the NFL scouting combine Hageman measured 6-6 and 310 pounds with 34 ¼ inch arms.
“He does a good job,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “We’ve got some really good push. He’s long-armed and if he gets in the flight of the ball, he’s going to knock it down.”
During his final season at the University of Minnesota, Hageman blocked a point-after attempt and a field-goal try. A teammate returned the blocked field-goal attempt 78 yards for a touchdown against UNLV.
Hageman has carried over that production to the NFL.
“I’m just shooting off the ball and trying to get depth in the backfield and shooting my hands up,” he said. “My main focus is to stop the kicker to get a field goal. I’m pretty much doing whatever it takes.”
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