Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 4, 2014 16:45:20 GMT
Saturday special: Nate Stupar
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
Each Saturday during the regular season, we will feature a member of the Atlanta Falcons' special teams. This week, it's linebacker Nate Stupar
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- When asked to describe something unique about himself, Atlanta Falcons linebacker Nate Stupar paused a second.
"I’m not that special off the field," he said. "I just go home to be with my wife. I love 'The Voice,’ and "Scandal" is back on, so we watch those shows. Other than that, there’s not too much to me."
Stupar typically uses the commercial breaks during his favorite shows for extra fllm study. He gets in plenty of work at the office as a four-phase special teams player for coordinator Keith Armstrong.
"He plays with some good energy," Armstrong said of Stupar. "He did a nice job a couple of weeks ago in the coverage because he can run. He’s fitting in well.
"Obviously, he’s a Big Four guy. He’s doing a nice job in the punt protection. Kickoff coverage-wise, he’s done a good job for us. Punt return, he allows us to match up on some speed. So, he’s contributed."
Stupar, who leads the team with four tackles on special teams, aims to make a greater impact. He has finally adjusted to his new surroundings after being claimed off waivers from Jacksonville on Aug. 31. The Falcons actually played the Jaguars in their final preseason game, so the coaching staff got a close look at Stupar’s capabilities.
"I had two tackles on special teams in that game," Stupar said without recalling which Falcons he tackled. "And it’s funny to come here and meet the players that you just played against. It was pretty cool to do that. It’s funny, though, to go to a different team that you just played."
Stupar, originally a seventh-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders from Penn State, admitted pressing a little bit upon joining the Falcons.
"I was trying to go out there and prove myself for a couple of weeks," he said. "You’ve just got to go out there and play within what you’re capable of doing. It’s all about playing as a unit.
"You can’t go out there and be selfish. When tackles come to you, they’ll come to you. You’re trying to make plays, but you have to play within the means of the coverage. I think that’s where we needed to get better: playing together and playing as a unit; covering and playing off each other."
Stupar plays the left tackle on punts, left or right end on punt returns, right guard on kickoff returns, and the R4 on kickoffs.
"I would say left tackle on punts is the toughest position to play because you get a lot of pressures," Stupar said. "You get a lot of up-and-unders and a lot of problems with getting too short or really fast with the wide guy. Gaining depth, striking, and finally running down and releasing to try and go make a tackle, I would say that’s probably the toughest job."
Stupar seems more than capable of excelling with his special teams tasks, which should make him rather unique.
By Vaughn McClure | ESPN.com
Each Saturday during the regular season, we will feature a member of the Atlanta Falcons' special teams. This week, it's linebacker Nate Stupar
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- When asked to describe something unique about himself, Atlanta Falcons linebacker Nate Stupar paused a second.
"I’m not that special off the field," he said. "I just go home to be with my wife. I love 'The Voice,’ and "Scandal" is back on, so we watch those shows. Other than that, there’s not too much to me."
Stupar typically uses the commercial breaks during his favorite shows for extra fllm study. He gets in plenty of work at the office as a four-phase special teams player for coordinator Keith Armstrong.
"He plays with some good energy," Armstrong said of Stupar. "He did a nice job a couple of weeks ago in the coverage because he can run. He’s fitting in well.
"Obviously, he’s a Big Four guy. He’s doing a nice job in the punt protection. Kickoff coverage-wise, he’s done a good job for us. Punt return, he allows us to match up on some speed. So, he’s contributed."
Stupar, who leads the team with four tackles on special teams, aims to make a greater impact. He has finally adjusted to his new surroundings after being claimed off waivers from Jacksonville on Aug. 31. The Falcons actually played the Jaguars in their final preseason game, so the coaching staff got a close look at Stupar’s capabilities.
"I had two tackles on special teams in that game," Stupar said without recalling which Falcons he tackled. "And it’s funny to come here and meet the players that you just played against. It was pretty cool to do that. It’s funny, though, to go to a different team that you just played."
Stupar, originally a seventh-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders from Penn State, admitted pressing a little bit upon joining the Falcons.
"I was trying to go out there and prove myself for a couple of weeks," he said. "You’ve just got to go out there and play within what you’re capable of doing. It’s all about playing as a unit.
"You can’t go out there and be selfish. When tackles come to you, they’ll come to you. You’re trying to make plays, but you have to play within the means of the coverage. I think that’s where we needed to get better: playing together and playing as a unit; covering and playing off each other."
Stupar plays the left tackle on punts, left or right end on punt returns, right guard on kickoff returns, and the R4 on kickoffs.
"I would say left tackle on punts is the toughest position to play because you get a lot of pressures," Stupar said. "You get a lot of up-and-unders and a lot of problems with getting too short or really fast with the wide guy. Gaining depth, striking, and finally running down and releasing to try and go make a tackle, I would say that’s probably the toughest job."
Stupar seems more than capable of excelling with his special teams tasks, which should make him rather unique.