The Scale of Falconliness: Leeman Bennett

by Jason Kirk on Jul 28, 2010 6:40 PM EDT in The Scale of Falconliness

Who's the ultimate Falcon? And who's the ultimate anti-Falcon? That's what we're going to find out with our summer project: the Scale of Falconliness. We'll rate former Falcons on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most Falconly. The rule: minimum of three seasons with the Falcons for coaches, five seasons for players.

We still have quite an assortment of coaches to wade through. Luckily, the prereq is three years with the team, so we won't have to wade through Wade Phillips at any point.

A tip for our younger associates: if you ever need to gain access to a room guarded by a middle-aged Falcons fan, simply say: "Leeman Bennett never should have been fired." Instant Level 4 clearance.

Leeman Bennett, Head Coach (1977 - 1982)

Falconly

Unfalconly

Led the Falcons to their first-, second-, and third-ever playoff trips, first playoff win, and first division title.
Third-longest tenure of any Falcons head coach.
First coach to leave the team with a winning record -- still one of only two.
Tied for the league's best regular season record in 1980, unique among Falcons coaches.
Introduced the world to Jerry Glanville's highly successful Grits Blitz, known to casual fans as the play you call on Madden when you're down by 21 and just threw your fifth interception. (For a detailed chart on how the GB worked, see here. Pretend the vuvuzela is nine anonymous pass rushers.)
Returned to the A in the 90s, chairing the Peach Bowl's selection committee (the 1992 East Carolina-NC State classic didn't select itself, baby), working at an Atlanta private school, hunting animals to death, playing some sort of minor role in the 1996 Olympics selection process, and starting a bank in John's Creek.
He's a blogger now! Just like us!
Sabotaged the Tampa Bucs for two years, leading them to 28 losses.

Coached the Tampa Bucs for two years.

Current standings after the jump:

Poll

How Falconly is Leeman Bennett?

1

7 votes

2

1 votes

3

1 votes

4

0 votes

5

3 votes

6

7 votes

7

16 votes

8

46 votes

9

54 votes

10

41 votes

176 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Leeman Bennett never should have been fired.

He gets a 9 from me, for all the ulcers he must have endured.

by johnnybacardi on Jul 28, 2010 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone know where

I can read up on the Grits Blitz? I would love to know how it worked. That was a little before my time. All wikipedia says is that 9 men blitzed on every down.

Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!

by phoenix falcoholic on Jul 28, 2010 7:12 PM EDT reply actions

God Bless Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0a9ErSXS-s

Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!

by phoenix falcoholic on Jul 28, 2010 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you can go to church with Youtube

Youpraise

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 28, 2010 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Leeman Bennett

Man, that name brings back memories. He’s the first Falcons coach I can remember. Just the name yanks me right back to sunny Sunday afternoons in the fall, relaxing and watching the Falcons game. I remember back when they played at Fulton County Stadium; for the first month or two of the season, part of the field was bright red Georgia clay because they shared the stadium with the Braves and the basepath was still there. The players would get that clay all over their uniforms and my mom would wonder whose job it was to get them clean again.

Amazing what memories can come back just from hearing a name. Bennett’s a big part of the reason I became so devoted to the team back then. Glad you posted this.

by Mad Molecule on Jul 28, 2010 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

I wished I lived back then

Things seemed more simplier in lifestyle and technology.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 28, 2010 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You know I hear people say that but.....

Have you ever had to use a pay phone in the rain or try to find a number in the yellow pages, not .com either. I’m not even sure I knew where Myanmar was til Google earth came out, now I can see an albino hiding in a bowl of rice in indo china while lounging in my boxers.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 28, 2010 11:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Oh yeah GP freaking S

I’m pretty sure people would be driving around in corn fields without it these days.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jul 28, 2010 11:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

No...

I guess I have a little Amish in me
I do like technological innovations. I do think they are wonderful and more, but I feel at the same time we take it for granted. It’s too easy to find and do things. We will end up like the Jetsons.

I belong to NO ONE...and no one belongs to ME.

by brotherbrown on Jul 29, 2010 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Evidence of how stupid Rankin Smith was...

When they fired Bennet they said “we want to take the team to A NEW LEVEL”. Yeah, straight down.

by CaptK on Jul 28, 2010 9:37 PM EDT reply actions

That what happens...

When you hire Dan Henning, who couldn’t coach a bunch of preschoolers!

by EvilFalcon on Jul 29, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Leeman Bennett holds a special place for all long term Atlanta fans. I would have given him a 10 but due to his limited number of years he gets a 9. Still he’s who I consider THE COACH when it comes to Atlanta Falcons.

by JCush on Jul 28, 2010 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

12-4

Every long suffering falcon fan remembers that record.

by aces666high on Jul 28, 2010 11:52 PM EDT reply actions

Wait a minute...

We actually fired the guy??? Sorry, but being a California born falcon fan and being all of 8 when that happened I had no idea! Also I was very concerned about the whole bobba fett taking Han solo to jabba the hutt thing at the time. Wow, I always wondered when looking at the ram/falcon game programs at our past coaches records why a guy would leave after winning a division title. Strike shortened or not.

by aces666high on Jul 29, 2010 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

Gave Him a 9...

Because of one certain playoff game in 1980, where he and the coaching staff decided to go conservative in the second half, only to lose. Doesn’t do that, we ain’t having this discussion, now are we? It also proves that Rankin Smith and Falcon management in those days were a bunch of goobheaded morons (would love to discuss that subject with anybody). Overall, good coach in my opinion. Just happened to work for a bunch of boobs.

by EvilFalcon on Jul 29, 2010 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

I didn't realize the grits blitz was sending 9 random people.

That’s a brilliant idea. I’d always wondered how good a D would be if the QB never had any time at all because of outnumbering the O blockers.

I guess that answers my question, eh.

"Ryan, under center. Single receiver set, to either side. Ryan, gonna throw. First professional pass.....CAUGHT!! Jenkins! 30! 25! 20! 15! 10! 5! He lives in Atlanta!!!" -Wes Durham

by Zippo729 on Jul 29, 2010 5:34 AM EDT reply actions