The Scale of Falconliness, Cornerbacks Week: Rolland Lawrence

by Jason Kirk on Sep 2, 2010 1:00 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.

Rolland Lawrence, Cornerback/Returner (1973 - 1980)

Falconly

Unfalconly

Eight years as a Falcon. Never did he miss a game, and never were his talents employed in the service of another NFL team. More games than any other cornerback.
1977 All Pro, Pro Bowl, Falcons Player of the Year. I say again: he was the team-elected Player of the Year for the greatest statistical defense in NFL history, sure. But it was a defense that left its corners isolated like none other in history. First rule of gameplanning, insane defensive coordinators edition: you don't blitz nine freaking guys unless you have an absolute shutdown corner, and even then you only do it when you're at your craziest which is every other play since you're Jerry Glanville. Revis Island is a gotdamn archipelago compared to Lawrence Planet THIS SENTENCE MADE NO SENSE.
Also contributed to the 1978 and 1980 playoff teams.
All-time Falcons interceptions leader with 39. That record's safe for a while, folks -- he's 32 ahead of the highest current Falcon. Record-holder for pick return yards, too.
Nine interceptions in 1975, the second-best single season in Falcons history. In fact, Lawrence had five of the top 16 picksiest Falcons seasons. Kind of sounds like pixiest. I apologize, Mr. Lawrence.
Top ten in return yardage in 1976.
Also played a little baseball and basketball, making him at least somewhat Deion Sandersly and Brian Jordanly.
Answers to "Bay." Though he lives in Pennsylvania, he still makes it out to Atlanta from time to time.
A man of peace.

Why don't you just let us know when you find something that belongs here.

Current standings after the jump:

Poll

How Falconly is Rolland Lawrence?

1

1 votes

2

1 votes

3

0 votes

4

0 votes

5

0 votes

6

4 votes

7

6 votes

8

13 votes

9

14 votes

10

47 votes

86 votes | Poll has closed

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1980 playoffs vs. Dallas

Danny White to Drew Pearson for the utterly heartbreaking winning TD. “Covering” for the Falcons: Rolland Lawrence.

I would have an easier time forgiving the (hypothetical) man who stole my wife and raped my cattle. 6/10.

by tom slick on Sep 2, 2010 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

Isn't that kinda like judging Keith Brooking on his 3rd and 16 gaffe in '08?

One play does not a career make. :/

"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 Sep 2, 2010 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I admit to being totally unfair here...

…though I will never get the image of #22 flailing at that ball out of my mind. In my 40ish years of Falcons fandom, that was my most horrible, painful loss ever. In fairness, the root cause was the coaches playing it too conservative late in the game, both on O and D.

by tom slick on Sep 2, 2010 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

It happens

Had Roddy White never become anything more than a middling wide receiver, the wide open, easiest catch I had ever seen inside the five yard line would have been my lasting image of him.

Not experiencing that play firsthand and looking at his career as a whole, looks like an easy 9 to me.

by Dave Choate on Sep 2, 2010 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, but emotions matter here too.

Excuse my language, ma'am, but that damn Dodd's gonna beat my butt today. -- Bear Bryant, November 1962

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by Jason Kirk on Sep 2, 2010 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I would have an easier time forgiving the (hypothetical) man who stole my wife and raped my cattle. 6/10.

That’s pretty sick.

I lost a woman too though…so I know how bad that feels.

Feeding the Monster since 1984

by brotherbrown on Sep 2, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

The Man

His best years were the years I first became a Falcons fan. And he was my favorite player. He gets one of the few 10 scores I’m giving out.

by Ed Edwina on Sep 2, 2010 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

If emotions count...

…then I bumped him up to 8 since he was on my favorite Falcons teams. Still, that playoff loss..Jesus wept. So did David (my real name, not the biblical figure. I bet he would be a Cowboys fan).

by johnnybacardi on Sep 2, 2010 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

Thank you

That was the only Falcons game that ever made me shed a manly tear.

by tom slick on Sep 2, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Why don’t you just let us know when you find something that belongs here

Back in those days it was bliss to not have the media of today back then. The littlest thing you do could go unnoticed.
What we don’t know now, we may never know.

Feeding the Monster since 1984

by brotherbrown on Sep 2, 2010 7:43 PM EDT reply actions