Falcons 6-0 but Turner is frustrated with running game (UPDATED with video)
Michael Turner found little room to run on those rare occasions when he was given ball. (AP photo)
When a team is a 6-0, every negative critique should begin and end with, “… but they’re 6-0.” Because ultimately, the record determines the standings, the playoff field and whether some climate-controlled, pass-dominating offensive Dome team is going to be forced to head for the snowdrifts of Green Bay or Chicago in January in the postseason.
So we start again by reaffirming that the Falcons are 6-0. All hail.
But anybody witnessing the last three victories, sloppy exercises over mediocre opponents Carolina, Washington and Oakland, can attest to the team’s issues going into the bye week. Need confirmation? Ask their starting running back, who has had a close-up look at probably the Falcons’ biggest failing right now: their lack of a running game.
When Turner, a relative spectator in the mistake-plagued 23-20 win over the Raiders’ Sunday, was asked about the Falcons going into the bye week “the right way,” he didn’t respond with sunshine and lollipops.
“Yeah, a win is a win,” he said. “But we’re looking at something beyond just winning right now. We’re trying to be special and special teams don’t play like that.”
Beyond Matt Ryan’s three interceptions, beyond the defense allowing the NFL’s worst rushing team to run for 149 yards, beyond an offense that was matched in touchdown production by one late-game Asante Samuel pick-six but again was rescued by the foot of Matt Bryant, the Falcons’ problems start with their inability to jam the ball down the other team’s throats.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has all of these wonderful toys to play with. It’s clear Atlanta is now a pass-first team. That’s fine. The NFL has become a pass-first league. But at some point the Falcons will need to be able to run the ball, whether it’s late in the season, and/or on the road, and/or in the playoffs
Trailing 13-10 in the third quarter, they had a first-and-goal at the Raiders’ 2-yard-line following a turnover but had to settle for a field goal. The plays: incomplete pass, Turner for 1 yard, Snelling for a 1-yard loss (from the one-foot line).
Tied at 13-all in the fourth, they had a third-and-a-foot from their 45 but opted for a passing play. Ryan misconnected with Tony Gonzalez. They punted.
Turner seems frustrated. He was held to 11 carries for 33 yards Sunday. Ryan covered half that with a 15-yard scramble. The team’s rushing total: 45 yards.
The Falcons have managed to tip-toe around this issue all season. It hasn’t gotten in the way of them winning yet, but that seems inevitable.
Ask the running back.
“I’m not sure why it’s going like this,” Turner said. “It’s great to be 6-0 and everything. But we can’t just assume we’re always going to be able to get an interception or a last-minute field goal every time. At some point we’re going to have to run the ball. We’ve got to be able to knock it in [the endzone].”
Turner’s runs by quarters: two for 12 yards, three for 12, three for minus-one, three for 10.
Some of this lack of production is on him. He looks slow at times.
Some of it is on the offensive line. It generally has been far better at pass protection this season than opening holes or getting any push. (It wasn’t good at either Sunday.)
Has Turner lost confidence?
“No. I’m still here. I’ve never lost confidence.”
Have the Falcons lost confidence in Turner or their ability to run the ball at all?
“You would have to ask them that. That’s not something they would tell me. It’s their team, their scheme, their offense. I’m just here to try to help them win.”
Coach Mike Smith conceded the running game isn’t where he would like it to be. He referenced the first-and-goal drive, saying: “I know the next question is going to be when you’ve got the ball on the 1½-yard line, do you feel like you have to get it in there? Yes. The goal of our football team is real simple. It’s to score points and to score points any way that we can.”
They managed just enough again. They have won their last three games by two, seven and three points on drives with :05 (field goal), 2:46 (touchdown) and :01 (field goal) left. That makes them 6-0. But they’re playing a dangerous game.
By Jeff Schultz-
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327 comments Add your comment
Banned by Mark Bradley
October 15th, 2012
12:41 pm
Dave O’Brien is another blogger who does not hesitate to ban someone if you speak ill of his over the top lusting of Fredi.
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
12:56 pm
Michael M.
October 15th, 2012
12:34 pm
just makes no sense to spend your valued time wasting it on this Choke dude……………………………he is messed up in the head apparently…………………….lmao …and I am out !
_____________________
You are correct–on both counts. And no “apparently” to it.
Flat Tire on I95 in Jacksonville
October 15th, 2012
1:08 pm
If the dude would quit drinking and party’in…maybe he could run better! He has lost a step!!
Jimmy Crack
October 15th, 2012
1:26 pm
It’s not the RBs if they can’t even get started. There were ZERO holes being opened by our O line in yesterday’s game. On the goal line plays Oakland was in the backfield before our linemen MOVED. Either the Raiders figured out our snap count in the first quarter or our Offensive line cannot run block. I also saw #61 try to submarine someone who simply hopped over him. You’re 300 pounds, Hawley, HIT SOMEBODY.
Fakawi
October 15th, 2012
1:35 pm
I am not sure where the blame lies. Some lies with the O-line and their lack of blocking. Some lies with Turner, who seems slow and ponderous at times, and a lot of the blame to the offensive coordinator for calling really boring and dull running plays.
However, however much one likes the run, putting points on the board is more important.
LOL at the Aints
October 15th, 2012
1:36 pm
Turner looks like he’s dragging a piano when he runs,
Michael Turner Frustrated with Falcons Running Game « The Falcon Project
October 15th, 2012
1:52 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlights Turner’s frustration: “I’m not sure why it’s going like this,” Turner said. “It’s great to be 6-0 and everything. But we can’t just assume we’re always going to be able to get an interception or a last-minute field goal every time. At some point we’re going to have to run the ball. We’ve got to be able to knock it in [the endzone].” [...]
tim
October 15th, 2012
2:02 pm
I THINK WE N EED TO STOP GIVEING TURNER THE BALL WHEN WE ARE DOWN ROUND THE 20YEARD LIND WE NEED TO WAITE UNTIL WE ARE SOME WHERE AROUND THE40YARD LIND ARE MID FILL I BELIEVE HE WOULD BE A BETTER RUNNER FOR USE THEN.WHEN WE PLAY PHILL WE NEED TO HAVE IT TOGATHER. And i am a Big Falcon fand all the way a Dirty Birds.
tim
October 15th, 2012
2:04 pm
I THINK WE N EED TO STOP GIVEING TURNER THE BALL WHEN WE ARE DOWN ROUND THE 20YARD LIND WE NEED TO WAITE UNTIL WE ARE SOME WHERE AROUND THE40YARD LIND ARE MID FILL I BELIEVE HE WOULD BE A BETTER RUNNER FOR USE THEN.WHEN WE PLAY PHILL WE NEED TO HAVE IT TOGATHER. And i am a Big Falcon fand all the way a Dirty Birds.
Mike Franklin
October 15th, 2012
2:09 pm
Yup, that’s exactly the way it is. Someday, like yesterday when we needed to exercise our ground game, the muscle was already showing signs of being atrophied from disuse.
Yup. 6-0 is hard to argue with and so is our passing game when it is firing on all cylinders… but a balanced attack is always better than a one-dimensional playbook.
When the attack through the air is backed up by the one on the ground, your opponents have no place to hide.
Mike Franklin
October 15th, 2012
2:13 pm
One thing about Turner is that opposing Ds know that the way you bring him down is by the ankles. They practice that before playing the Falcs… when Turner is in, get low and grab his legs and ankles and he’s stuck in place.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Choke just doesn’t like blonde-haired, blue-eyed guys! She likes the dark, swarthy types. That’s why she keeps MV7 posters pinned to the ceiling above her head, and why she can’t stand that Matt Ryan took his place here. Never mind that it was Mike’s own fault!
Matt is 6-0, but that doesn’t matter to Choke! He could be 7-0, or 10-0, or 16-0, but Choke would still bring up LAST YEAR’S playoff loss. She gives her boy Mike a pass for being 3-3 because he won a couple of playoff games — the last one 8 years ago!
He hasn’t won a playoff game since he was in PRISON, and he won’t ever win another one because he really, really sucks now!
Yeah, that’s a REAL IMPRESSIVE career!
HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:34 pm
@Michael
You are missing the point. They are laughing at their 6-0
record because they have struggled vs teams with a 42-54 2011
record and only the Chargers are barely near the 500 mark.
They are laughing because comes playoff time it all leads to…..
6 picks in last 4 games?
3 picks vs 1-4 team?
Getting shutout in last playoff game?
Getting blown out 72-23 in last 2 playoff games?
Being 0-3 in playoff career?
Being out scored 102-47 in the playoffs?
Everybody has seen CHOKE beat up the basement dwellers but comes
playoff time he gets a case of Deer Meets Headlights Syndrone.
HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:38 pm
FOOLS GOLD
6-0 vs basement dwellers don’t prove you are on the upper
echelon. It just shows you are mediocre with a misleading record.
Comes the 1st round of the playoffs CHOKE will be saying…..
“Which way did he go George?”
HA HA
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
2:39 pm
Mike “CHOKE” Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
Choke just doesn’t like blonde-haired, blue-eyed guys! She likes the dark, swarthy types. That’s why she keeps MV7 posters pinned to the ceiling above her head, and why she can’t stand that Matt Ryan took his place here. Never mind that it was Mike’s own fault!
Matt is 6-0, but that doesn’t matter to Choke! He could be 7-0, or 10-0, or 16-0, but Choke would still bring up LAST YEAR’S playoff loss. She gives her boy Mike a pass for being 3-3 because he won a couple of playoff games — the last one 8 years ago!
He hasn’t won a playoff game since he was in PRISON, and he won’t ever win another one because he really, really sucks now!
Yeah, that’s a REAL IMPRESSIVE career!
_________________________
MCR’s also a coward, a liar, a deceiver, and a seething, hate-filled racist. Other than that, not a bad fellow.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:40 pm
Is it the 2nd round of the playoffs yet?
Oh it can’t be because CHOKE plays in two weeks……
HA HA
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:41 pm
You LOSERS sound like women watching a chick flick………
Stop whining………..
HA HA
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
2:45 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:38 pm
FOOLS GOLD
6-0 vs basement dwellers don’t prove you are on the upper
__________________
In six games, the Falcons have played one basement dweller (K City).
See what I mean about you being a liar?!
jimbo
October 15th, 2012
2:46 pm
Yes 6-0 is great but unless we can get a yard or inches from the goal line and have to try to force a short pass into the end-zone coverage we are going to lose a lot of games by year-end. There are ONLY SO MANY MIRACLE FINISHES available each year. We have already used up this year’s allotment. Matt Ryan showed that he can play pretty bad sometimes. Yet we won three games that we could have just as easily LOST. Take the bye week and address these problems with the O-Line and the RBs or we will be a first round casualty again. Guaranteed..
Ivan
October 15th, 2012
2:51 pm
Seen on Philly Inquirer…..
“Eagles collapse into the bye”
“Vick’s turnover issues continue”
“Eagles’ flaws are fatal”
“Eagles are behind 8-ball now”
“Eagles again at a loss”
“Philly’s ‘Vick Experience’ Falling Apart for Good?”
“Breaking Down Vick’s Career Consistency Problems”
“Source: Vick Must Reach Playoffs to Keep Job”
georgianabulltiger
October 15th, 2012
2:51 pm
I predict that eventually the Falcons are going to lose a game. Then you’ll all see how brilliant choke is.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:59 pm
@DawgNole
vs Redskins 3-3
vs Broncos 2-3
vs Carolina 1-4
vs San Diego 3-2
vs Oakland 1-4
vs Kansas City 1-5
Combined record: 11-21
Next lie?
HA HA
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 15th, 2012
3:10 pm
M.V.7 don’t need a Puppy…..I bet he FUMBLED it on it’s head and had to send it to BadNewZ Kennels for rehab. LOL
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 15th, 2012
3:11 pm
CHOKE…………..Who has played the BEST TEAMS and has a winning record?
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
3:11 pm
The Falcons have beaten the teams on their schedule. That’s all you can ask any team to do.
But Choke says they haven’t beaten anybody who is any good.
The Falcons beat the Chiefs. They DOMINATED the Chiefs.
The Falcons beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos. The Broncos beat the Steelers. The Steelers are pretty good.
The Falcons beat Phillip Rivers and the Chargers. On the road.
The Falcons beat Cam Newton (Choke’s kind of player) and the Panthers. The Panthers beat the Saints.
The Falcons beat RGIII (Choke’s kind of player) and the Redskins. On the road. The Redskins beat the Saints and the Vikings.
The Falcons beat the Raiders. The Raiders beat the Steelers.
Any given Sunday, baby. Any given Sunday.
HA HA
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
3:16 pm
Mike is 6-0 against innocent, defenseless puppies.
Spot is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
Spike is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
Fido is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
Rover is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
Butch is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
Jack is 0-1 vs. sick, sadistic Vick.
HA HA
The clock is ticking...tick..tick...tick...
October 15th, 2012
3:18 pm
The Falcons are very weak in the Red Zone. Always have been and probably always will be. It’s just a matter of time when they will lose. They are not going to the Superbowl in 2013 because they are NOT Superbowl material. Their fans are fairweather fans. When their team win, they are supportive of them, when they loose all you see are a lot of empty red seats in their stadium when they are playing. With fans like that…so wonder the Falcons are a sorry team.
Mike Franklin
October 15th, 2012
3:22 pm
Interesting comment just above that uses the records of our opponents against us. What the commentator fails to understand is that those records denote a loss to the Falcons. For instance, the Redskins record… as well as SD, would be a lot prettier had they not lost to… dare I say it? The Falcons.
So, using the records of those we have beaten against us… isn’t worth a lot, even in a kangaroo court.
Mike Franklin
October 15th, 2012
3:25 pm
Hey Choke… if the Falcs hadn’t beat them, it would look like this:
vs Redskins 4-2
vs Broncos 3-3
vs Carolina 2-3
vs San Diego 4-1
vs Oakland 2-3
vs Kansas City 2-4
Combined record: 17-16
(hack, hack… don’t choke, lol)
Creaky
October 15th, 2012
3:27 pm
Go birds!
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
3:29 pm
The Falcons beat the Broncos and the Raiders.
The Broncos and the Raiders beat the Steelers.
The Steelers beat the Eagles.
Here it is in equation form:
Falcons > Broncos > Steelers > Eagles
Falcons > Raiders > Steelers > Eagles
So Choke is right. The Falcons haven’t beaten anybody yet!
HA HA
DawgNole
October 15th, 2012
3:31 pm
Matt “CHOKE” Ryan
October 15th, 2012
2:59 pm
@DawgNole
vs Redskins 3-3
vs Broncos 2-3
vs Carolina 1-4
vs San Diego 3-2
vs Oakland 1-4
vs Kansas City 1-5
Combined record: 11-21
Next lie?
______________________
The next lie will be your next post. Like I said, Mr. Crap for Brains, ONE basement dweller. Oh yeah, remind us again how Vick beat the Steelers two weeks ago. And how he rallied the Eagles to victory yesterday over the Lions. Well, you said he did anyway. Two more lies.
You also said the Falcons would lose every one of their games so far this year. That’s six more lies. And we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the filth you post on here. Liar.
Harry Pitts
October 15th, 2012
3:34 pm
What I don’t understand is, WHY DO WE HAVE A MIDGET PLAYING RUNNING BACK?? What is Quez, 5′2″ 185 lbs? Let’s get a back with some meat on his bones to spare turner. Someone that can hit the line and actually push the big linemen back a little. Not hit the line and bounce off. “COME ON MAN”!!
Ivan
October 15th, 2012
3:36 pm
Eagles fans are wishing they had Kolb back. LOLOLOLOL
Esquire
October 15th, 2012
3:37 pm
“Trailing 13-10 in the third quarter, they had a first-and-goal at the Raiders’ 2-yard-line following a turnover but had to settle for a field goal. The plays: incomplete pass, Turner for 1 yard, Snelling for a 1-yard loss (from the one-foot line).”
***************************************************
Above ….the incomplete pass on 1st down wasn’t really an incomplete pass. It was #99 Lamarass Houston blowing past Tyson Clabo and Matt Ryan having to throw the football away or get sacked for a 10 yard loss. It went in the books as an incomplete pass for Ryan, a hurry for Houston. On the Turner run he probably had a better chance of getting in cutting outside to the left which the only person who could have taken him on was #33 Tyvon Branch, forcing Branch to bring him down head to head which I think Turner would have won that battle. As it was Branch had an angle and cut his legs out from under him while #56 Miles Burris (Sam Baker’s responsibility, basically gave up on him and didn’t continue the block) hit him high which rotated Turner putting his body parallel to the goal line but unfortunately not over it. On third and goal there was an encroachment penalty called on #99 Lamarass Houston but it was actually #58 Tollefson who encroached. We are lucky illegal procedure wasn’t called on Clabo as he actually did flinch causing Tollefson to make contact. And on 3rd down after the penalty Snelling never had a chance as the entire O line got their butts handed to them.
Mike "CHOKE" Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
Choke? Where are you? We’re anxiously awaiting your response!
Come out of the bathroom with that Eagles Fan magazine! We saw you go in there with it — it’s the one with the Mike Vick centerfold!
HA HA
(Note to the editor: I’m not making a homophobic innuendo. Choke intimated in a post last season that she is actually a girl!)
HONDURAN FALCON
October 15th, 2012
3:42 pm
I agree with everyone that noticed Michael Turner’s use of “them”. Wow! Is he not a part of the team? I think we are all aware of how poorly he performed last year as well. However, if we are to make the Superbowl, the O-Line has to improve. I feel this is the ONE MAJOR WEAKNESS we have. GO FALCONS!!!
Esquire
October 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 15th, 2012
3:11 pm
CHOKE…………..Who has played the BEST TEAMS and has a winning record?
********************************************************
I guess they haven’t played us yet.
Bill
October 15th, 2012
3:51 pm
Maybe Turner should run like a 245 lb. power back instead of a 200 lb. scat back. He has no burst, did anyone notice McFadden from Oakland when he hit the line it moved……no matter who was in front of him. Come on…just run the ball hard, no way a guy Turner’s size should be stopped a yard short of the goa.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
Ivan
October 15th, 2012
3:36 pm
Eagles fans are wishing they had Kolb back. LOLOLOLOL
===================================
No R. Cunningham & even R. Peete are looking real good right now.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
3:54 pm
Mike Franklin
October 15th, 2012
3:25 pm
Hey Choke… if the Falcs hadn’t beat them, it would look like this:
vs Redskins 4-2
vs Broncos 3-3
vs Carolina 2-3
vs San Diego 4-1
vs Oakland 2-3
vs Kansas City 2-4
Combined record: 17-16
(hack, hack… don’t choke, lol)
_______________________________
That’s like saying…………….
Beat Arizona in 2008 they wouldn’t make the superbowl
Beat Green Bay and they wouldn’t be champions
Beat New York and they wouldn’t be champions
You LOSERS are really reaching………
HA HA
Esquire
October 15th, 2012
3:56 pm
Mike “CHOKE” Dogs To Death
October 15th, 2012
3:39 pm
Choke? Where are you? We’re anxiously awaiting your response!
Come out of the bathroom with that Eagles Fan magazine! We saw you go in there with it — it’s the one with the Mike Vick centerfold!
HA HA
****************************************************
Snails are hermaphrodites, so is choke.
Ivan
October 15th, 2012
3:56 pm
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 15th, 2012
3:52 pm
No R. Cunningham & even R. Peete are looking real good right now.
======================
Agreed
Brown
October 15th, 2012
4:08 pm
Beating bad teams is better than losing to bad teams
All About Running » Blog Archive » Michael Turner disappointed in Falcons running game after Week 6 fantasy dud
October 15th, 2012
4:09 pm
[...] that his team was 6-0 but he didn’t sound impressed with how it got there. Turner said (via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) that the Falcons were eventually going to have to be able to run the ball and can’t [...]
Esquire
October 15th, 2012
4:10 pm
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
bill
October 15th, 2012
4:29 pm
same team,same players,same playoff.the braves, hawks,an the falcons.
Los
October 15th, 2012
4:59 pm
U have to be able to score aTD from the 1 or 2 yd line , period !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially in a close game ! That coming from behind is going to get old . Need to quit the playing not to lose mentallity and start playing to win !!!
John Kramme
October 15th, 2012
5:00 pm
Wow, We are 6-0 and hes complaining that hes not getting the ball? Turner is what 250? Undisclosed weights tend to be higher than lower. We can all blame the line and thats fine because they are not playing that great when it comes to running the ball. At the same time, Turner needs to take some of the blame for always running into the back of his line. Someone should show Turner a video of Foster, Jones-Drew, Forte, McCoy, heck… even Legarette Blount. These guys have the ability to cut and even jump over players. Turner is called a bowling ball for a reason, all he can do is run forward until someone grabs his shoe string and a 5′9″ 190 pound corner back takes him down in the open field. That is unacceptable. If you want to run the ball more try doing something besides the 5-6 of 11 times you ran for 1 yard or less. Turner stats have always been overflatted due to the runs he makes when nobody is anywhere around him. (see Eagles game 2011) Turner which is one of his 60 yard runs. I wish someone would go back the past 2 seasons and see how many times he gets 2yards or less. Everytime I do, over 50% of the time they put the offense out of sync,
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
October 15th, 2012
5:34 pm
Hi guys, just a quick question.
Why was it so easy to win a playoff game in 2002 & 2004, but not
2008, 2010 & 2011?
Thanks guys…………..
HA HA