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My fellow bloggers did an excellent job breaking down the Mike Tice hire earlier this week. A significant amount of you have questioned what Tice can accomplish with the existing personnel. It's a fair criticism, given how poorly his unit played under Pat Hill in 2013. We don't have to reiterate their deficiencies; you all witnessed them firsthand. Notwithstanding his pedigree and reputation, he's got his job cut out for him.
“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career ... A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
Sometimes all a guy needs is the right coach. But sometimes a new coach isn't enough. I think that's the point McClure is trying to make. Pretty simple, no?
I don't expect the Falcons to dramatically alter the offensive line. Sure, scheme changes will come. And sure, their approach will change. But I'd be shocked if the Falcons just start cutting guys. If anything, they will add one or two new faces and go from there. At this point, that doesn't seem like the worst approach. But a couple of years down the road, if they still don't have it together, hindsight will come knocking.
Your thoughts?
“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“I think they can make a big difference,” McClure said. “I know that Alex Gibbs kind of changed my career. He kind of ran the show. If he told you something, it wasn’t going to change. That’s just how it was. A coach can make a big difference, but you must have right guys to make the change also. You know, the right players.”
A new line coach probably saved Justin Blalock’s career. As a rookie and second-round pick, he played under Mike Summers, a first-year NFL coach on Bobby Petrino’s staff. Blalock was a hot mess and benched during his rookie season.
He regrouped under long-time offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, who came in with Smith in 2008, and has flourished.
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“He has great schemes,” McClure said. “I think if you look at where ever he goes, he’s been probably top five in rushing and I think that’s what these guys are looking for, to get the rushing game back going. From everything that I hear, his schemes and everything are great.”
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf“He has great schemes,” McClure said. “I think if you look at where ever he goes, he’s been probably top five in rushing and I think that’s what these guys are looking for, to get the rushing game back going. From everything that I hear, his schemes and everything are great.”
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpufHe believes Tice, and his tough guy persona, can help the Falcons.
“He has great schemes,” McClure said. “I think if you look at where ever he goes, he’s been probably top five in rushing and I think that’s what these guys are looking for, to get the rushing game back going. From everything that I hear, his schemes and everything are great.”
- See more at: http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2014/01/10/todd-mcclure-oline-coach-can-make-a-big-difference/#sthash.v1t8VYhg.dpuf