freebird310 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 The Atlanta Falcons just sent out a very short release announcing offensive line coach Paul Boudreau is leaving the team.“We would like to thank Coach Boudreau for his contributions to our team over the past four seasons, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” coach Mike Smith said.Consider Boudreau another scapegoat for a team that went 10-6 in the regular season, after going 13-3 last year, and got bounced in the first round of the playoffs.Boudreau joined the Falcons in 2008 and, for his first three seasons, I thought he was one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. He got a unit that didn’t have a lot of high draft picks to overachieve.But Atlanta’s offensive line suffered a noticeable drop-off in 2011. Left tackle Sam Baker and center Todd McClure were banged up early. Baker struggled mightily and eventually lost his job to journeyman Will Svitek. The Falcons also let Harvey Dahl go in free agency and, at first, replaced him with Garrett Reynolds. But Reynolds played his way out of the lineup and was replaced by Joe Hawley.Atlanta’s pass protection struggled early in the season, and that was a big reason why the Falcons weren’t as successful in the deep passing game as they had hoped. The Falcons hired new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter on Sunday, and it's likely he'll have a big say in hiring the next offensive line coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb4242 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Definitely disagree with calling Boudreau a scapegoat. That's an insult to scapegoats everywhere. Boudreau DESERVED his firing, it was well earned. He wasn't taking the fall for anyone except himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Boudreau was a huge disappointment to me. Reynolds, Johnson and Baker all have far underachieved. Coach isn't a scapegoat at that point but a full blown culprit. Reynolds is a true RT, not a G but a tackle. Baker isn't a tackle and after this past season I'm not even sure if he's an NFL caliber backup. Johnson is the one that really puzzles me. There's no reason why he isn't the starting RG except for coaching. Yep, this move was sorely needed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share Posted January 19, 2012 Yep .....fresh winds of change are coming to the O-line, I still think he is a good posistion coach, but high time to move in a totally new direction....anybody got anyone they like to replace him ? .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muskokas finest © Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Don't judge by the circumstances, judge by the results. O-line was a sore spot all season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) SCAPE GOAT or it's just time for boudreau to retire or move on 4 years is an eternity in the NFL. Edited January 19, 2012 by MattRyan2Canton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Don't judge by the circumstances, judge by the results. O-line was a sore spot all season.because of injuries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vabchbirdlover Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 because of injuriesLack of talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phattywankenobi Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 It's pretty common for OC's and DC's to bring in their own guys so I wouldn't slap the scapegoat lable on it especially since the Oline did have issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Lack of talent.you discredit your fellow alumn greatly. mike johnson can play and i believe at a high level, no OTAs and an early head injury stopped all that. instead you had a guy the good lord made to play tackle 6'7 300 something playing right gaurd. in a system that calls for the right gaurd to be a head smashing run blocker, not a long sauntering pass protector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vabchbirdlover Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) you discredit your fellow alumn greatly. mike johnson can play and i believe at a high level, no OTAs and an early head injury stopped all that. instead you had a guy the good lord made to play tackle 6'7 300 something playing right gaurd. in a system that calls for the right gaurd to be a head smashing run blocker, not a long sauntering pass protector.Played both R/l Guard at Bama and yes I do have hope for MJ, despite his injuries, but I'm looking at the the long term effect of the neglect that has plaugued the Falcons with regards to the Oline. Edited January 19, 2012 by vabchbirdlover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falken Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 You can't plan on a vertical passing attack when the quarterback is laying horizontal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Played both R/l Guard at Bama and yes I do have hope for MJ, despite his injuries, but I'm looking at the the long term effect of the neglect that has plaugued the Falcons with regards to the Oline.they've drafted linemen in every draft, draft the name itself implies crapshoot, some guys just don't pan out. or weren't drafted to play certain positions. reynolds was clearly playing out of position. hawley wasn't ready out of college most centers aren't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb4242 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 because of injuriesThe OL has been a sore spot for years. We're a "run-first" team with an OL that hasn't been able to pick up 3rd or 4th & shorts with any consistency and we have barely averaged 4 ypc (actually 3.9978) under Bourdeau's guidence the last 3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) The OL has been a sore spot for years. We're a "run-first" team with an OL that hasn't been able to pick up 3rd or 4th & shorts with any consistency and we have barely averaged 4 ypc (actually 3.9978) under Bourdeau's guidence the last 3 years.baker was a 3 time all american in college injuries have killed his career. injuries were also a huge problem at right gaurd. concussion to mike johnson who is the protypical right gaurd coupled with no ota's was a recipe for terrabull. reynolds for all intents and purposes is a right or left tackle. 6'7 300 ''not a pulling gaurd in a run heavy set' Edited January 19, 2012 by MattRyan2Canton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattRyan2Canton Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 i'm ready for change on the oline though. so good riddance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vabchbirdlover Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 they've drafted linemen in every draft, draft the name itself implies crapshoot, some guys just don't pan out. or weren't drafted to play certain positions. reynolds was clearly playing out of position. hawley wasn't ready out of college most centers aren't.Maybe it's possible that the GM of this team lacks the talent to effectivily judge talent with regards to Olinemen? Take the easy way out with the Boo disimmal, but the blame lies withe the person who makes the personnel decisions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtlantaFalconPokerPro Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Wasn't he fired 2 days ago? Before we hired Nolan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuerillaOntology Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 You can't plan on a vertical passing attack when the quarterback is laying horizontal.TITCR.Wasn't he fired 2 days ago? Before we hired Nolan?That was what I was thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robb4242 Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 baker was a 3 time all american in college injuries have killed his career. injuries were also a huge problem at right gaurd. concussion to mike johnson who is the protypical right gaurd coupled with no ota's was a recipe for terrabull. reynolds for all intents and purposes is a right or left tackle. 6'7 300 ''not a pulling gaurd in a run heavy set'I definitely agree that injuries have hurt, but not drafting OL has hurt us just as bad. Our OL was bad, especially in the power game for more than just this season. IMO it all goes back to drafting (or lack thereof) of offensive linemen. From 1992-2011 we ranked 12th in fewest OL drafted. We ranked 7th in fewest OL drafted in rounds 1-3. That's NOT how you build an OL. We have been a little, but not much, better under Dimitroff. We rank right in the middle of the pack in both categories now. For the 11 years or so I've been on this board, I've been begging for the FO to draft more OL to give us more & better depth. But it was the FO/HC's choice to go into this season with Reynolds this year at OG, he beat out Johnson in training camp. It's not a good situation when you have to go that route. Like you though, I though Johnson would make a very good RG for us & I was very happy about the Johnson pick when we made in in 2010. But bottom line is he couldn't make the active roster as a rookie for a single game & then this year was beaten out by a backup OT before going on IR with a foot injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capologist Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 I wish we could have snagged Bill Callahan before the Cowpokes did. I'd love to get Joe Wickline but I don't know if he'd leave Oklahoma State... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rajhae Battle Posted January 19, 2012 Share Posted January 19, 2012 Bourdeau may be considered the scape goat, but for the most part we only lost one guy from last year,so the next guy should have been able to step up, McClure was hurt, but Baker & Renoylds just got shoved around, beat up, & almost never got a push at the point of contact. Alright we weren"t impressed by Baker anyway, but other than Will S. none of the backups were ready to play etheir & that part i have to put on the coaching. The d-line wasn"t getting an interior push against good lines also, but i believe Nolan can address that, Unfortunally someone has to go when u fail to meet expectations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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