atljbo Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 http://espn.go.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/3386/bears-analyst-tice-brings-edge-to-falcons#comments Bears analyst: Tice brings edge to FalconsTom Thayer knows a thing or two about offensive line play.The Chicago Bears play-by-play analyst was the starting right guard on the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl champion team. And Thayer’s brother-in-law is John Scully, who played on the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line for nine seasons.So naturally, Thayer has strong opinions when it comes to offensive line play. He watched new Falcons offensive line coach Mike Tice perform the same role for the Bears during the 2010 and 2011 seasons."The toughest rooms on a team better be the offensive and defensive linemen, and that’s what I think Tice brings to the room,’’ Thayer said. "He brings structure, all levels of success with his background of being a quarterback then a tight end then an offensive lineman-type of guy. He brings a lot to the package. He brings a great a deal of experience. His years in the NFC North/Central or whatever you want to call it is good for the Atlanta Falcons.’’Tice coached with the Minnesota Vikings from 1996-2005, starting as the tight ends coach and then serving as the team’s head coach from 2002-05. Although he had a Hall of Fame lineman on his team in Randall McDaniel, he only took credit for developing Pro Bowl linemen Jeff Christy, Matt Birk, Todd Steussie, and Korey Stringer while in Minnesota.In Chicago, Tice’s offensive line contributed to surrendering a league-high 56 sacks in 2010 and followed with 49 sacks allowed the next season (tied for fifth most). But as Thayer saw it, Tice did the best with what he had plus was handcuffed by then-offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s complex offense."You look at the offensive line that the Bears have the year after Tice leaves and there’s no one still there (except ex-Falcon Roberto Garza),’’ Thayer said. "That tells me that he was trying to hold together duct tape, masking tape-talent with an archaic-style offense. It was going to be really hard to succeed given the talent. I think in some terms, the Bears are probably fortunate that they had him at such a moment of weaknesses, personnel-wise.’’In Chicago, Tice had two first-round flops in Gabe Carimi and Chris Williams and two seventh-round picks as starters in Lance Louis and J’Marcus Webb. None of the four are still with the team, although Louis grew tremendously under Tice before suffering an ACL tear.On paper, Tice doesn’t have much to work with in Atlanta, either, after the line contributed to quarterback Matt Ryan being sacked a career-high 44 times and contributed to the running game ranking last in the league this past season. But the Falcons seem destined to upgrade at least a few spots along the line, with Justin Blalock and Sam Baker -- if healthy -- likely the only players assured roles in 2014.Whatever group Tice has to work with, Thayer expects him to make a difference."When you play for a guy who has played, he kind of tells you different positions to be in before you ever experience them because that’s how the play is going to kind of work its way out,’’ Thayer explained. "As you come out of your stance to pull, you know what you’re looking for with your first step rather than waiting to get there. It’s all those types of things that he can reiterate to these guys because he's seen them 1,000 times from a stance. That’s the good part of Mike.’’Plus Tice's ability to instill toughness can’t be overstated."You’ve got be edgy,’’ Thayer said. "Tell me what great player doesn’t live on the edge? Mike kind of brings that Type-A personality to the room, which you really need."(Mike) Ditka always used to say, `It’s not a right to play in the NFL; it’s a privilege.’ And I think that’s a part of living on the edge. Every guy who lives on the edge, ultimately they want to succeed. And that’s why a guy like Mike Tice lives on the edge.’’ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EightyEight Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Very good article. Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest facelessman07 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I just hope he's as good as the other coaches were as far as training our linemen to play virtually every position on offense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 No problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LookAboutFalcon Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Nice read, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g-dawg Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 enjoyed the aricle. He needs players though. Right now, all Tice has is Blalock. I do believe he is an upgrade over Pat Hill, but in fairness to Hill, Dimitroff gave him garbage to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_ELLIS24 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 very good hire! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiccolas Cage Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 TD better let Tice make the selection on linemen in the draft. I would have made that a condition of my employment if I were Tice looking at that clown's track record of drafting linemen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossFALCON™ Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 baker and the #6 pick should settle in as our long term tackles, or at least for the next 2-3 years. a healthy baker is solid, not a probowler, but solid. we all know blalock is the rock of our line. I think reynolds and hawley have potential, but i didn't see either of them progress under pat hill. they need to improve, but I think they both have the potential to be good starters for us if tice can coach em up. now we need to address the DT position and pass rush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring It Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 As they say...................TALK is cheap...........I just hope TD gives Tice some QUALITY pieces to make a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radiohead Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 enjoyed the aricle. He needs players though. Right now, all Tice has is Blalock. I do believe he is an upgrade over Pat Hill, but in fairness to Hill, Dimitroff gave him garbage to work with.This. Hill was a scapegoat as I remember analysts and fans alike proclaiming the exact same thing when we got Hill, so... yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atljbo Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Its all about the players ... we must start getting good aggressive olineman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1989Fan Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Give Tice a big nast like G. Robinson and see what he can do with him. Bring in Asomoah for RG as well, and let him do his magic.LT - Baker, Robinson or HolmesLG - Blalock or KonzOC - Hawley or KonzRG - AsomoahRT - Baker, Robinson or Schraedersome healthy competition across the board....may the best 5 win! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Culain_04 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 enjoyed the aricle. He needs players though. Right now, all Tice has is Blalock. I do believe he is an upgrade over Pat Hill, but in fairness to Hill, Dimitroff gave him garbage to work with.I agree our best OL is a Guard that can't run block, maybe Tice can help with that and Blalock can earn what he's getting paid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Flare Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Good, now we just have to replace the girls on the O line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFatboi Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 enjoyed the aricle. He needs players though. Right now, all Tice has is Blalock. I do believe he is an upgrade over Pat Hill, but in fairness to Hill, Dimitroff gave him garbage to work with.Hill couldn't get anything out of them. Namely toughness. I see the talent in some of the guys but as I always say we lacked mean n nasty. Which is the same as playing in the edge. Tice was good at getting guys to play tougher. He may be able to pull that out of one or two of them. IF they have the right attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwell1 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Hill couldn't get anything out of them. Namely toughness. I see the talent in some of the guys but as I always say we lacked mean n nasty. Which is the same as playing in the edge. Tice was good at getting guys to play tougher. He may be able to pull that out of one or two of them. IF they have the right attitude.it did seem like alot of the pressure came from guys not knowing who to block instead of guys simply getting beat one on one every time. I'm no oline expert. I actually don't no sh*t lol but it came off as more mental and technique errors from certain guys instead of simply not having the talent.....well except Reynolds, that guy is donkey kong crap lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFatboi Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 it did seem like alot of the pressure came from guys not knowing who to block instead of guys simply getting beat one on one every time. I'm no oline expert. I actually don't no sh*t lol but it came off as more mental and technique errors from certain guys instead of simply not having the talent.....well except Reynolds, that guy is donkey kong crap lolYea it's definitely some talent there. It just wasn't sound and mentally on point. Plenty fixable things went on from bad footwork to technique. Holmes has the talent and athleticism. No good technique and terrible footwork and loss of leverage and slow off the ball at times. All fixable. It's amazing what good fundamentals and sound technique and discipline can bring out of a player. Konz issue is all technique and footwork. Leverage too. If Tice can get that together and get them to play with attitude and toughness the line can be better. We'll still take some guys in the draft too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerSteve Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 We have no idea how he'll work out here with our OL, but I like his experience and I love the toughness this coach will bring to the team. If we have one overall losing trait, it's being way too soft and passive. I hope we get a helluva lot more Type-A personalities on this staff and this roster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HASHBROWN3 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I agree much of the disaster was mental. I mean guys just blowing by on stunts etc... but we got pushed around too... lets be honest. lets get these young men signed quickly out of the draft room and straight to the practice field. They will have to contribute in 1st year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Lubba Lubba© Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 TD better let Tice make the selection on linemen in the draft. I would have made that a condition of my employment if I were Tice looking at that clown's track record of drafting linemenWhy do you say that? Do you think Tice drafts good OL? (Hint: All the OL drafted while he was HC of Minnesota have completely busted out except 1st Rounder Bryan McKinnie.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HASHBROWN3 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Why do you say that? Do you think Tice drafts good OL? (Hint: All the OL drafted while he was HC of Minnesota have completely busted out except 1st Rounder Bryan McKinnie.)At 6 we know who the best behemoths will be. If they bust then they would have certainly been busts by another team as well. The odds are better with our draft position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roman42 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I saw all I needed to see from our O=line from game 1 when Vaccarro cheap shotted our QB and everyone stood there and watched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerSteve Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I saw all I needed to see from our O=line from game 1 when Vaccarro cheap shotted our QB and everyone stood there and watched. Truly a moment that will live in Falcon OL infamy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconcrest58 Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 I like the type A personality but other than that.....he lived in a real world and the same world we live in which means his QB has his Azz handed to him when the talent wasn't there. That's our problem....TD can't find OLs or has not invested in them. The same goes for the DL. How Many OL and DL coaches have been fired since Smitty and TD got here????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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