Ryan Clark Announces Retirement

Maybe Keisel and Ike can convince him to come out of retirement and take over for Troy?

 

He ended up being a very good Steeler, up until they changed the rules on hitting. After that, they took away what he did best. He was a good Steeler and helped us win a lot of games. How about that hit he put on McGahee while playing for Balt? Most of us will never forget that one.

[video=youtube;uNmEeTgYLvw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNmEeTgYLvw[/video]

 

happy for him but its 2 years to late.lol

 

We'll still see him on Sundays. He'll move right into a role on ESPN or some other gig.

 

I know he's shooting for ESPN but he should replace Rich Eisen. Heck, put a stray cat in there and it would be better than that tool.

 

One of the most pleasant Steelers surprises since I became a fan, and a huge reason we won another Super Bowl after Chris Hope left. He was supposed to be a bridge to Anthony Smith, but he became one of my favorite players. Also, I typically hate loudmouths, but I really agree with everything Clark says, and I also feel he says it not for typical self-promotion, but to try and retain some integrity to the game.

Too many great hits to show them all. This one's one of my all-time favorites. Maybe #1. Devastating, clean as can be, and drew 3 flags. Classic Ryan Clark!

[video=youtube;-Z13P_wzwSE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z13P_wzwSE[/video]

 

Ryan Clark > Mike Mitchell

Good luck in retirement, Ryan. You made the B&G proud.

 

I agree, I`m gonna miss Ryan Clark.

Not that the Steelers usually make a HUGE splash in free-agency, but I think Ryan rates as one of their all time best pick ups...

I don`t think he deserves to be in the Hall, like Jerome, but, he did a hell of a lot of good for us, nonetheless!!!

And I am always a fan of players who speak their mind to the media while they are playing, instead of giving boring, politically correct press interviews, as long as they aren`t throwing their teammates under the bus, when they do it.

And I think he is in that category.

I`m not sure if it`s an issue with my computer, or the site, but, I couldn`t view either of the embedded videos?

I will never forget the hit on McGahee, but I don`t remember the one on Welker.

Would like to see it.
Are the vid`s working for everyone else?

Also, I forget which reciever he laid out legally during a game, that had Coach Tomlin showing the video to the team, to show them how to "legally" hit a reciever nowadays, during their film review at the beginning of the week after the game, then he got fined for the hit by the league, later in the week...
His playing style, is hard to get away with in today`s game, but, Damn, he was good at it, and I miss it!!!

Best of luck to ya, #25!
Thanks for your time here!!!

Edit,

Ok, nevermind, exited, and went back to this page, and the videos workd...
The one on Welker was just .. BEAUTIFUL!!!...

Think I might have to go find a youtube tribute page to his all-time best career hits...
Just can` do that much anymore... Damnit!

GO STEELERS!!!

 

I always liked Clark. I'll always remembering being really concerned for him the first time we heard about his sickle cell issue at Mile High. He will be remembered as one of the good Steelers.

 

Blast, I don't think he was flagged for that hit. It did cause a rule change. The nfl inventing a new word, LAUNCHING It wasn't illegal till after that hit

 

I always liked Ryan Clark. Met him at training camp. He was hilarious.

 

I swear I could hear that McGahee hit in the upper deck!

 

Not much to add to what others have said.

Fierce competitor, shackled by silly rule changes. Not afraid to speak his mind, and rarely far from the truth with it.

Also: left the team at the right time, and retiring at the right time. Best of luck to him.

 

glad he's retiring a steeler. thanks clarkie for your service.

 

Agree to all of the above. Those freaking new rules and interpretations might have actually costed us a ring. Our entire D philosophy was to punish ball carriers and receivers; once they took away our ability to create fear it pretty much took our heart and soul out. I hated hearing it, but Clark said in this D, a hard hit was valued more than a pick, and you could tell by our hits and lack of picks that he was accurate about that. But I think the lack of valuing interceptions hurt this team as well. Turnovers are too huge to have that kind of attitude. The lack of turnovers was one major cause for the non-winning ways 2012-2013.

 

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/02/ryan-clark-stabilizing-force-steelers-defense/

nice article on Ryan Clark

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford should get plenty of helpful advice from a knowledgeable source as he prepares for the 2015 season.

Long-time NFL defensive back Ryan Clark, who officially retired from the NFL on Wednesday to become a full-time analyst for ESPN, will train Alford in Louisiana starting in three weeks.


Alford
"All the advice and things I do have to offer him he's going to get, from helping him watch film to helping him understand where he was beat on certain plays, to how he can improve himself, physically,'' Clark said. ``But also the mental approach to the game. So I'm excited about getting an opportunity to work with him. Anytime you get a chance to work with a true friend, somebody you've known a long time, it's exciting.''

Alford and Clark both are from Louisiana. Alford's brother, former New Orleans Saints cornerback Fred Booker, was Clark's college roommate at LSU.

``That's how I met Rob and that's how our relationship has continued to grow,'' Clark said. ``And it really started to become a relationship when he was coming into the draft: just advising him on certain ways to work, certain things to watch out for, certain pitfalls. And that just continued to blossom into what has become a friendship now. Hopefully, it turns into a mentorship.''

Clark said Alford is rehabbing in Atlanta right now. Alford suffered a season-ending broken wrist that required surgery.

It will be interesting to see how new Falcons coach Dan Quinn and his staff assess Alford, who has plenty of speed and athleticism but needs to work on his hands to avoid penalties. He was flagged seven times for pass interference or defensive holding last season.

``I think the way you work on that is you getting him confident enough in his skills of playing the ball and his skills of being down the field with receivers where he doesn't panic and have to grab,'' Clark said. ``A lot of times, it's about not having confidence in finishing that play that makes defenders grab the offensive player.

``We're going to work on those things. We're going to work on those drills. But also, it comes through the confidence in training camp and [organized team activities] of being on Roddy White or being on Julio Jones and stopping those guys from catching balls and then knowing that 90 percent of the guys he'll play against won't be better than practicing against those two every day.''

The Falcons are expected to bring in a cornerback or two to possibly compete for starting roles. Desmond Trufant no doubt is set at one spot. Alford could be pushed if the team signs a player such as free-agent-to-be Byron Maxwell, who started 17 games for Quinn in Seattle the past two seasons.

It wouldn't be a stretch to wonder if the Falcons would consider moving Alford into a nickel back role, considering they want to upgrade that spot anyhow.

``I think his skill-set is actually good for that,'' Clark said of Alford at nickel. ``He's a quick guy. He's fast. You can get him stronger. But also mentally, I think he can handle the load of doing that. So it wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But it would be a bad thing to Robert because he would feel like it was a demotion.

``Whatever happens, happens. But I think the cool thing about me being able to work with Robert is my last position coach was [Falcons assistant head coach] Raheem Morris. There will be some things from [Morris] that I can pass on to Rob that he can have a leg up going up against some of these guys in training camp and OTAs. And hopefully he will do well.''

http://espn.go.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/

Ryan Clark to be mentoring Falcon CB Robert Alford this offseason. Some nice insight on how the lack of confidence results in grabbing the WR down the field.

 

great player great hitter

 

He was flagged. It's well-documented, plus you can see one of the three flags in the video (from the first angle, it comes in from the left on the bottom of the screen).

I don't think that hit is technically illegal in any era, including this new one. He hit Welker in the chest. Not the head, and not even the head area. Launching is and always has been okay, as long as you hit in the appropriate place.

The great and powerful genius Mike Pereira had a very confusing stance on the call: it was definitely legal, but he's still glad the refs threw the flags, because it was just so hard.

 

I loved watching Ryan Clark play along side of Troy. It was truly when QB'S, along with WR'S were incredibly fearful of passing over the middle of our defense. Unfortunately, when Clark left, he took a lot of Troy's freelance ability with him.

Enjoy your retirement with ESPN.

Do not, I repeat,.. DO NOT drink the Kool Aid!