Atlanta Falcons: Get ready for ‘The Burner & Quizz Show’
FLOWERY BRANCH – Much of the offseason chatter has been about screen passes and a vertical passing game under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
But the Falcons’ calling card over the past four seasons has been the rushing attack, powered by running back Michael Turner, who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in three of the past four seasons.
He had 1,340 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He had 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2010. In 2008, he rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns.
In 2009, he was slowed by a high ankle sprain and rushed for 871 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games.
Turner, who caught a career-high 17 passes last season, is embracing change.
“Playing running back is playing running back,” Turner said. “You’ve got to get the tough yards and make explosive plays. There might me a little bit more passing than
Falcons running back Michael Turner bulls his way into the end zone following a block by Justin Blalock for a 1-yard touchdown run and a 28-0 lead over Tampa Bay during 1st half action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012. The touchdown gave Turner a franchise best with 49 career touchdowns. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
normal from what Falcons fans are used to. But you just have to be ready when your name is called.”
Turner had 301 carries last season, 334 in 2010 and 376 in 2008.
“Michael has been our workhorse for a few years,” Running backs coach Gerald Brown said. “We’ve discussed the possibility of making sure that we monitor his reps so that he can stay strong for us, through the season and into December. We feel very good about Jason Snelling and Jacquizz [Rodgers], who have played.”
Turner just chuckled at the notion that his carries will be monitored more closely.
“They always say that,” Turner said.
Turner noted that Koetter’s Jacksonville offense led the league is rushing last season despite having a rookie quarterback and an impotent passing attack.
“I have to take my hat off to [Jacksonville running back Maurice] Jones-Drew for still getting the job done when they say he had no help out there,” Turner said. “We’ve got names across the board here. It gets me excited that he still led the league in rushing and did great things for them without any help.”
Atlanta Falcons' Jacquizz Rodgers (22) celebrates his touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers with teammate Joe Hawley (61) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. AP
Turner said he’s made sense of wide receiver Roddy White’s contention that they need to do less on offense for the unit to improve.
“I understand what Roddy is saying by that,” Turner said. “It’s not all on Roddy. It’s not all on Matt. If we all contribute together or collectively, we are all doing less, but accomplishing more.”
Turner is set to be backed up by Jason Snelling and second-year man Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons have high hopes that Rodgers can handle an increased load.
Turner is fine with splitting up some of the action with Rodgers, who will have the benefit of the offseason program this season.
”He got basically thrown into the fire right away,” Turner said. “This will slow things down for him a little bit and he’ll get into a groove. He’ll be ready to go this year.”
Rodgers senses that he could play a big role in the screen game.
“Right now, everybody is getting a shot at running screens,” Rodgers said. “I’m looking forward to being a part of that. Coach Dirk (Koetter) is huge on running the screen, so we have a lot of screens in store.”
Rodgers played in all 16 games last season. He had 57 rushes for 205 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 21 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.
“What he was able to do with not having an offseason, we thought was really good,” Brown said. “With an offseason, we think it can do nothing but make him a better player. Even last year, when we game-planned, we made sure that Quizz had some touches because he can do some things in the run and pass game. He’s an explosive player and we’ll try to get him the the ball.”
The Falcons released former Pro Bowler Ovie Mughelli over the offseason and will have a new fullback. Bradie Ewing, Mike Cox and Lee Meisner are competing to replace Mughelli.
“Last year, Cox ended up playing from the Indy game on,” Brown said. “He’s an NFL veteran. Ewing has done some really good things since he’s been here. We are happy about the competition that we have at the position right now.”
Turner, who turned 30 in February, hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.
“He’s been looking really good,” Brown said. “Physically, he’s running the ball well. He’s right on pace, where he should be. We expect the same thing that he’s been giving us. . . Mike is looking good.”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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74 comments Add your comment
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 8th, 2012
12:16 pm
Eddog — No new standouts. They are retweaking the old. Here’s some Pat Hill. http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-falcons-blog/2012/06/07/video-meet-new-offensive-line-coach-pat-hill/. Blockiing scheme looks the same other than they are working on more pulling for the screens.
lowdownjj
June 8th, 2012
12:21 pm
I”d like to see a couple of y’all call Turner fat to his face! Ya might get a FAT lip! Turner has been great for us. His numbers speak for themselves. As for the late season short yardage problems a little less carries to keep him fresh plus an O-Line that can at least let him start from line of scrimmage will solve that
Falcon Jim's stalker should be BANNED
June 8th, 2012
1:02 pm
Turner is like a lot of the big tough running backs that have a lot of longevity: Czonka, Bettis, Riggs, etc. He has a bit more tread on his tires, but he needs to be used properly.
Chub Rock
June 8th, 2012
1:46 pm
LOL.
David
June 8th, 2012
2:01 pm
D Led, I was born in 1950, I was 16 when the falcons first started, now who is the first fan ?
Paddy
June 8th, 2012
3:36 pm
David…….I have ties older than you!
DJ Sniper
June 8th, 2012
3:45 pm
The only time I remember Turner being overweight was in 2009, when he himself admitted that he got up to about 260. There are 2 things that I think have kind of held him back the last 2 seasons: 1. A nagging groin injury, and 2: the predictibility of Mularkey’s offense. With more diversification in the offense this year, Turner should be much more effective.
No more eggcuses 4 Perrier Jerry
June 8th, 2012
3:52 pm
Tippy toes turner?
He fall in 2 the pyle instead of trying 4 more yards. This has distaster writing all over it.
Michael M.
June 8th, 2012
6:09 pm
We saw that show last year and its not the answer to winning ballgames………………..hopefully this is the year we will see some high powered pass offense and use the running game really late in the ballgame to seal wins.
Scott Anderson
June 8th, 2012
6:25 pm
David – I find it very disrespectful that you are dissing a guy who’s ran for 1,300 yards in three of the last four years. That’s shameful. You can’t call yourself a “fan” doing that.
…………………………………………………
Turner might have gained 1300 yards because thats the only show in town.
What was his per yard average for that 1300 yds. Time and time again I watched Turner when the Falcons needed a first down or TD close to the goal only to see him tackled behind the line or get stuffed. In his young years he never got arm tackled like he has the last few years. Grab one of them size 40 in legs and down he goes in a heap. It aint his belly where he carries the weight. Its in his waist and thighs.
I got the info from 790 radio. They were really on Turner about weight. ‘
Matty Ice aint added no muscle. Tell him to take off his shirt and there will be no definition . Just average looking . If he was going to put on muscle he would have been working out since Jan and not sitting on the beachs in Belize.
Lets get real. Year after year the Falcons build us up just enough to care then smack us down in playoff games. Or in big regular season games. I have been watching the Falcons since 1974 so I think I know alot about how this team operates.
and for Blank to be wanting a new stadium is just not right. Come on the Dome is good for another 10 yrs easy. The fans are who will pay for it in the end. Its such a business anymore. The NFL wonders why many fans just dont care. We see the same things year after year.
and anyone who things Samual is going to be a top notch corner now is thinking wrong. The Falcons defense is going to be the same as it was.
Give them the big money and they really dont have to work at their craft too hard. Better to stay healthy and just coast. Remember Andre Rison. Or the smart mouth corner that got paid large then got traded and made big money for another 10 years. Talk about desperate entertainment. ok rant over.
Lose some weight Turner. You dont carry 295 lbs very well.
And Ryan you need to stay in a weight room or quit lieing about your new muscle mass. It aint going to help you sling it like Peyton or Brees.
GO FALCONS !
Firsttimer
June 8th, 2012
6:47 pm
Call the other 31 teams around the league and ask them if they would like Turner on their team. I don’t think there will be too many rejecting the offer. Turner is one of the elite backs in the league..Period! All the bashing, the name calling, and wise cracks about weight do not change that. Numbers do not lie. I am glad he is a Falcon and hope he remains one until there’s nothing left in the tank. With a training camp under his belt, Jacquizz should compliment Turner well. I have been a Falcon fan since they became an NFL franchise. Seen the good and bad…mostly bad. I am excited about the direction this team is heading, their consistent winning seasons and playoff appearances, and I truly believe we are building a dynasty.
Atlanta Falcons: Michael Turner is ready if needed | football-feed.com
June 8th, 2012
8:10 pm
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
donte080
June 9th, 2012
12:21 am
“I got the info from 790 The Zone”
Well, that explains everything, scotty. Truly one of the dumbest posts I’ve seen on these boards in awhile….
D. Orlando Ledbetter
June 9th, 2012
12:36 am
David — You win. But I’m not a fan.
Falcon Fan
June 9th, 2012
1:10 am
I will also say that I heard 790 say the same thing about Turner being fat and out of shape. I guess seeing is believing, but it was said.
Scott Anderson
June 9th, 2012
5:48 am
Call the other 31 teams around the league and ask them if they would like Turner on their team. I don’t think there will be too many rejecting the offer. Turner is one of the elite backs in the league..
Period! All the bashing, the name calling, and
……………………………………………..
We could call all 31 NFL teams and no one would take him. Lets face facts. We are stuck with him and other teams know it. The Falcons could not get a 6th round pick for Turner the Burner.
And Rogers just may be too small to ever compete at this level. Granted he didnt have training camp last year, but from what I saw he was really smacked down hard alot. I dont think you train how to get out of the way for the nasty linebackers in the NFL looking to take your head off.
Good Luck Falcons. I think we are going to need it. And with this schedule there aint going to be too many gimmees this year.
Me Too
June 9th, 2012
6:14 am
But the Falcons’ calling card over the past four seasons has been the rushing attack, powered by running back Michael Turner, who has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in three of the past four seasons.
And what has having an offense centered around one running back gotten the Falcons? Nothing!!!
Not one playoff win. The team will not win unless “Smitty Ball” is abandoned and Turner is benched. The future has always been Matt Ryan but the head coach wants to use old style football in modern times.
keeping it real
June 9th, 2012
7:16 am
I really like the idea that the Falcons are working on and intend to use the screen pass. That gives us more options and makes the defense have to defend against it (possibly opening something else up.) My biggest concern is the ability of the OL to make the screen pass work. These are the same guys from last year and I have heard that they are not good at pulling (no facts to back this up though.)
Falcon Jim
June 9th, 2012
10:23 am
Green-Bay Sweep ! ! ! ! ! !
tyger
June 9th, 2012
12:42 pm
Good news! In re. screen passes….
Hope it’s more than cannon fodder…
but to hear Falcons going to actually run “screen plays”…
warms my heart…
I doubt they’ve run more than a handful in 3 years…
Screen plays keep aggressive defenses at bay…
And help struggling offensive lines…
Plus with excellent open field runners, Turner, Quizz, Snelling…
Big plays waiting to happen – we use to run them all the time…
I vividly remember Snelling/Norwood taking them to the house…
JayCool4DaBirds
June 9th, 2012
8:30 pm
Many of you negative bloggers humor me. Michael Turner is still one of the top backs in the NFL. 1300 yds. in three of the last four seasons is sick, how many backs can say that they did that. Not to mention last year he was running behind a questionable offensive line. The reason why the Falcons couldn’t get a 6th round pick is because they had no plans to trade him in the first place. I don’t even believe there will even be a significant reductions in his touches. Quizz has a big heart but is what he is, a change of pace back.
True Falcon Fan
June 9th, 2012
9:21 pm
Right-on 8:30 Cool – Good post
I’m wanderin’ where the the “Wizard of OZ” is – Blow-Ho of the south!
Go Falcons!
Falcon4ever
June 9th, 2012
10:03 pm
Burner & quizz show ???? Really ??? I thought Ryan was gonna be airing it out but it seems our beat writers know the truth . He can’t air it out and will have to rely on passes out of the backfeild like the Saints do . The unfortunate truth is , he ain’t Brees and we don’t have near the depth the Saints do at running back and as much as everyone said Mularkey was predictable , maybe it’s Ryan thats predictable . 3 playoff losses says alot
Ed
June 10th, 2012
3:47 am
I can’t wait to see these guys in action, missin me some Falcons football.