Turner the Burner returns, and the Falcons breathe easier
Here's the churnin' Michael Turner we're used to seeing. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Flowery Branch – Napoleon Bonaparte, not to be confused with Napoleon Dynamite, famously said an army travels on its stomach. A good NFL team travels via its legs, and for a while there was concern the Falcons’ legs — meaning Michael Turner — had been sapped by an expanding midsection.
Put simply, there were those who believed the big back had gotten too big. Turner insisted Wednesday such was never the case. “My weight was the same as last season — 244, 245,” he said. “I get bigger in the offseason, but I work the weight off … You notice [increased weight]; you feel sluggish. But that wasn’t the issue.”
But there was no denying the dip in production. The man who’d rushed for 1,699 yards in 2008 was, through six games of 2009, on pace to gain 1,075. He was averaging 3.4 yards per carry, down from 4.5 last season. He’d managed 30 yards in a narrow victory over Chicago and 50 in a loss at Dallas. And he was, for the first time as a Falcon, being criticized.
“I was hearing it,” Turner said. “I didn’t like it. I had to evaluate myself.”
What he found: “I wasn’t getting breaks.” But breaks, or the lack thereof, couldn’t explain the entire decline, could they? Turner again: “Some of it was situational. Some of it was runs I’d just been missing, the one tackle I didn’t break … We needed a better effort on my part.”
And that rankled more than anything. Michael Turner is a proud pro. He came here because, after four years of spelling LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, he wanted to carry a team on his broad back. He’d done it to spectacular effect in 2008, and now he was hearing whispers that he might just have been a one-year wonder.
“I devoted myself to putting more effort into it,” Turner said. “I wanted to be more explosive … And we had some running backs [Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling] down, and I was the only one who knew the system.”
It was a transformed Turner who showed up in New Orleans. He gained 151 yards that night and was quick and decisive and irresistible. Six days later he creased Washington for 166 yards, and after those two massive games he can say: “I’m getting my groove back.”
And that’s essential. Matt Ryan was a splendid rookie quarterback, but his burden was eased by the bashing being done by the tailback. It was no coincidence that Ryan’s mini-slump began at a time when Turner had hit a similar downtown. Now the Burner is back. Can Matty Ice be far behind?
Turner on his surge: “I felt I had to step up my game. Thirty yards here, 50 yards there … that wasn’t what I wanted. The numbers needed to improve.”
Two big games and Turner again ranks among the NFL’s leading rushers. (He’s No. 7 now; he was second to Adrian Peterson in 2008.) He has cast aside the notion that the 370 carries from last season had eroded his burst. “As soon as the season was over, I didn’t feel worn out,” he said. “And I didn’t feel any effect at the beginning of this season.”
He wasn’t too heavy. He wasn’t too tired. Still, he did go six games without running the way we’d grown accustomed to seeing Turner run, and that was troubling. But the No. 33 of the past two week … that guy we know.
“I’m the same guy,” said Michael Turner, smiling now. “I felt I’d never left.”
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89 comments Add your comment
SSG Hunter
November 11th, 2009
1:27 pm
1st!!!
Denver Bird
November 11th, 2009
1:28 pm
we’re ready now.
Lord Noobzor
November 11th, 2009
1:30 pm
Second
Delbert D.
November 11th, 2009
1:35 pm
Mark – Your front page “Icon” photo ain’t you!
F-105 Thunderchief
November 11th, 2009
1:38 pm
I’m thinking Red Ryan’s performance will improve as Turner continues to burn.
INDIAN BIRD
November 11th, 2009
1:38 pm
If you like physical football there is not a better RB to watch than Turner. The last 2 weeks I noticed for the first time this year that once he gets those legs going they don’t stop. Watching him run over people is as good as it gets.
Ryno
November 11th, 2009
1:39 pm
And Mr. Turner’s return to form will do wonders for the passing game.
The ability to move the ball on the ground won’t leave Matty Ballgame in so many lond situations and should keep him on his feet.
Get well Norwood! We miss you too!
1990_Champs_GT
November 11th, 2009
1:39 pm
They’ve got three tough games left (Eagles, Aints and Giants) and only one is on the road. If they can get Turner rolling down hill on teams, it frees up Ryan to do his thing.
But it has to happen every week. Do that and they will make the playoffs.
Delbert D.
November 11th, 2009
1:40 pm
And Barnhart’s photo is “The Zooma 5K and half-marathon”. Huh?
Decatur Native
November 11th, 2009
1:40 pm
welcome back burner, we missed you
steverino
November 11th, 2009
1:43 pm
whoo hoo
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 11th, 2009
1:45 pm
Mark,
Not saying it’s the case with Turner but how many times in your sports writing career have you seen an athlete go through a slump and then find out later they were dealing with some sort of nagging injury that they and the team are trying to keep secret? A player or team obviously doesn’t want opponents knowing if they have a weakness. I’m thinking it probably happens more than we realize.
Delbert D.
November 11th, 2009
1:46 pm
Need to see more of that hop-jump that he did against the ‘Skins. The DBs have been diving at his ankles all year.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
1:50 pm
Turner the Burner is a pretty good name. We was always careful of pet names, though. Some of the girls called us, Sonny the Honey but we was always modest about that when we was in school. They was always wanting to go out with a Clusters and we was all about playing ball back then. But, we was ripped and guess we understand what they was thinking. After the state championship they was plenty time for girls and Dairy Queen dates. Girls do like a good Dairy Queen. That may have been Turner’s problem at the beginning, a little too much Dairy Queen.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
1:57 pm
They is more than 5,700 Dairy Queens and not many of them are in New York where a certain Dairy Queen loving ballplayer is playing ball. They is about 600 Dairy Queens in Texas and that is a long way off from Citi Field. A trade may make some sense and if that happens a Dairy Queen should be throwed in as a signing bonus.
pilgrim
November 11th, 2009
2:00 pm
That Curtis Compton photo above says it all: one guy crumpling, one guy driving.
BugKiller
November 11th, 2009
2:03 pm
Mark,
I think Turner still looked a little Andruw Jones-ish, play my way into shape. It can happen once. He had a great, Pro Bowl Season. He was nationally recognized. He probably couldn’t enter a bar without someone buying him a shot or a beer all off season. No one can blame him for getting a little fat and happy for the year he had.
The thing is, he can’t make the same mistake twice, or several times, as Jones did for years.
And Ryan is in a slump for MANY reasons that tie into the running game. I would caution you to look at Eli Manning right now, who is also missing a running game.
No running game means no respect for playaction passes. Unless you’re New England or Indianapolis, EVERY NFL offense is predicated on the running game and playaction pass.
No respect for the playaction pass makes a good offensive line suddenly look bad (like New York) and an average offensive line look terrible (like Atlanta).
It’s no secret that in those first few games, the other team still respected the playaction pass because they respected the running game. So there were no heavy blitzes.
That all changed with Dallas, who saw Turner in decline over two weeks of film study, and mercilessly came after Ryan no matter what he did: hand it off, fake the hand off, or just drop back to pass.
NO QB, unless they’re P. Manning or Tom Brady, can win without a running game. Not Big Ben (who looked terrible until Mendenhall broke out). Not Rivers (who looked bad until Sproles replaced LDT). No one.
Looking at the rest of the schedule, with a bruising Turner back to playing speed, the Falcons should finish no worse than 10-6, beating out New York for the final playoff spot, have a VERY good chance to go 11-5, and have a puncher’s chance at 12-4.
Unfortunately, 12-4 won’t win this division this year, because the Saints are going 15-1 or 14-2, so even if the Falcons surprise everyone and win out at 13-3, they’re STILL not winning the division.
But at 12-4 or 13-3, they could win the conference.
gsbid
November 11th, 2009
2:13 pm
I have really been surprised that no one else seems to have noticed that Michael Turner’s statistics have improved greatly since Ovie Mughelli is back from being injured. There was one replay in the Saints game that I remember that Turner got at least 3 or 4 extra yards because he had just enough of a wedge to squeeze through after following his lead blocker (Mughelli) through the hole. I’m really curious if Turner himself has commented on the difference that Mughelli makes.
A Rod
November 11th, 2009
2:14 pm
Just keep him off donuts and get Ryan on roids.
FALCONS SORRY
November 11th, 2009
2:31 pm
TURNER BURNER! YOU ARE THE MAN! IT IS UP TO YOU TO CARRY THIS WHOLE SORRY FRANCHISE! 2009 IS YOUR YEAR TO SHINE ONCE MORE MY MAN! EVERBODY KNOW WE AINT GOT NO QUARTERBACK TO HELP US! AND THAT LOW DOWN SORRY SO CALL OWNER WE GOT IS A CHEAP SKATE WHO DONT CARE ABOUT NOTHING EXCEPT FOR HIS OWN SELF AND FOR CHASING AFTER ANY THING THAT IS WEARING A SKIRT AND PERFOOM! IT IS A WONDER BLANKS PAY CHECK TO THE FALCONS PLAYER DONT BOUNCE YET! IF BLANK TOO CHEAP AND OR TO POOR TO GET YOU SOME HELP THEN YOU ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE MAN AND DO EVERTHING THAT NEED DOING TO GET THE FALCONS TO THE PLAY OFF! YOU KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO TB! KEEP RUNNING HARD AND MAKING PLAYS! AS LONG AS YOU ARE TOATING THAT ROCK WE DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MATTY HOPELESS TURNING IT OVER! COACH SMITTY KNOW YOU ARE THE KEY TO EVERTHING ON OFFENCE! IF THE FALCONS ARE GOING TO DO ANY THING THIS YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH NEW OLEANS THEN IT WILL HAVE TO BE YOUR STRONG QUIK LEG THAT TAKE US TO THE HOUSE TB! DONT GET DOWN ABOUT ALL THESE MATTY HOPELESS SO CALL FAN THAT ONLY CHEER FOR HIM AND IGNORE EVERTHING YOU DO TO HELP THIS TEAM WHEN NO BODY ELSE CAN OR WILL TB! LET YOUR HATERS BE YOUR MOTORVATERS TURNER BURNER!
BRAD
November 11th, 2009
2:36 pm
The first few games, it looked to me that for some reason, Turner was running to the line of scrimmage very timidly. Maybe he was exspecting huge hole to run through. Now he is just running hard regardless of a hole, and if there isnt one he is running over people to make one.
chemdawg
November 11th, 2009
2:36 pm
Turner struggled against defenses that can stop the run early this season just as he did last season. The schedule was just that easy last year. The run defenses are softening up for the 2nd half this year, so expect better numbers. His frame reminds me of Jamal Anderson (the RB not the DL). He doesn’t have elite speed, so he will struggle against teams that load the box.
Falcons Sorry is a racist
November 11th, 2009
2:48 pm
Falcons Sorry — go kill yourself. It’s negros like you that ruin it for the rest of us.
Dr. Warren
November 11th, 2009
2:48 pm
It was mental. He looked like Pippy Longstockings running the ball until New Orleans. Now he’s attacking the line, an aggressor rather than a reactor. I think the one-hit wonder whispers got under his skin.
wiki
November 11th, 2009
2:53 pm
Don’t forget that most of the teams the Falcons played before New Orleans play a 3-4 defense geared to stop the run. Most of the teams they play the rest of the way employ a 4-3.
Bill
November 11th, 2009
2:56 pm
The secondary,not the offense will be the downfall of this team.Too many injuries back there.However this is the first time I have ever believed Falcon management wil address and fix this problem.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.The Falcons won’t break the thier record of fultility this year.The next 2 years they will have back to back winning seasons.
jim
November 11th, 2009
3:12 pm
You get the Michael Turner Boner!
willie martinez
November 11th, 2009
3:14 pm
Mark, would you at least put something interesting out for people to comment on? Like my abilities as a defensive coordinator?
Thanks, willie
MV7
November 11th, 2009
3:15 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? Have you seen my career?
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
3:21 pm
Not many people know that Dairy Queen is wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway. That’s not T. Boone Pickens, that’s Warren Buffet the great singer. We was always partial to Dairy Queens and to cheeseburgers in paradise.
Singletary
November 11th, 2009
3:22 pm
Welcome back, you always were our ticket out… (with props to Welcome Back, Kotter.)
Michael Vick's Mama
November 11th, 2009
3:27 pm
Now Mikey boy, time to go clean yo room! You need to stop toying around bein a nobody now in the NFL and move on witcha life, make yo mama proud! Be home by eleven. You caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan tell time cantcha? The clock mutha clucka, 11 oclock bring yo azzzz heeeyah!
ATLien
November 11th, 2009
3:27 pm
So Matt Ryan is throwing 2 picks a game because Michael Turner won’t average 150 yards a game?? Oh….that explains it. /snark
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
3:28 pm
We remember when Mark got his start writing obits in the AJC. Instead of Turner the Burner it was Go Sadly with Bradley.
chemdawg
November 11th, 2009
3:28 pm
Clusters, go away. The act is a little tired.
Turner the MVP
November 11th, 2009
3:28 pm
That whole “splendid” rookie performance by Matt Ryan was nothing more than splendid game management huh Mark Bradley?? LMAO
Geez…well Turner, you see who’ll get blamed when the golden boy’s “intangibles” dont hold up.
Webster
November 11th, 2009
3:29 pm
Please tell me Ryan and Turner werent just one season players. I enjoy watchin them get er dun, so, from the bottom of my hart, geeeeet errrr dun!!!! GO FALCONS!!!
Nativebird
November 11th, 2009
3:51 pm
The was no doubt a more timid “mosie” to the line of scrimmage early season, trying to pick holes (that were’nt there) and being too “patient” in his running. the 3-4 defense effect is also indeed a real issue, which is Mularkey’s problem to fix (let’s hope he can).
But the Burner has made the adjustment, and has flat turned it on and is awesome. The fact that we got self reflection, responsibility and ownership of the problem from him versus deflection, finger pointing, loud mouthing and blame-gaming like many other’s in this league do consistently, is a VERY reassuring sign that we have a true PRO mentally as well as physically at running back. This will bode well probably more for Falcon fans than any other feature this pro bowler brings to the table for years to come.
Roger
November 11th, 2009
3:51 pm
I like Sonny Clusters observations !
timthebrave
November 11th, 2009
4:04 pm
Turner has the most exciting runners in football when he is on his game. More than once in the last few weeks he had me jumping out of my chair screaming. Go dirty birds!
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
4:09 pm
chemdawg, we was impressed by you and then you go and spoil it. If you can get by and spray our lawn we will pay you.
leland
November 11th, 2009
4:10 pm
Dear Mr. MB–now don’t get me wrong–you’re my favorite source of news on the Falcons and my favorite writer on the AJC. I’m not kidding. But did you know they have a tv program on tv about nothing but the Falcons? “Falcons Face to Face,” is what it is. Sunday morning before the game at eleven o’clock. And, oh, irony of ironies, on channel 11, where they have Lebenalivenews. They got this guy goes by the name of Randle Walters–real funny guy, alltime laugh, alltime funny–and another guy whose name slips me at the moment. They get on there and start talking about the Falcons and everything like that, and then they get a Falcon on there. (I’ll have to say, Mr. MB, that’s something you can’t do in your column.) The guy on the left talks real fast sometimes; you can’t understand what he says, but it don’t make no difference. Leastwise, to me. And Randle sometimes interviews a Falcon who, most of the time, I can’t understand either. But I do catch a few things like “the team has a real good bonding,” and “we need to stay focus, is all it is,” and “playing Carolina might be a trap game,” and “we beat New Orleans, it’s a signature victory,” and “all we need to do is execute, is all it is,” and “we need to get in a position to win,” and “it will be decided in the trenches,” and a lot more I can’t even think of. One of them said, “It’s one game at a time, is all it is.” Check it out, you’ll like it. On channel 11 at 11 Sunday morning. One of the Falcons said, “You help a man build a fire, and he’ll be warm all night. You set him on fire and he’ll be warm the rest of his life.”
Nice to see FalconsSorry back.
Your pal, Leland
All I'm Saying Is...
November 11th, 2009
4:19 pm
“It was no coincidence that Ryan’s mini-slump began at a time when Turner had hit a similar downtown.” I think you meant to type downturn.
Now that Turner’s downturn is over going on two straight games (with one victory and one loss for the Falcons in both), what will you now blame Matt Ryan’s sub par statistics on?
When will somebody call Ryan out for forcing the ball to Tony G and not going through his reads?
Our wide receivers are not getting the ball thrown their way enough and emphasizing Tony G. too much doesn’t help Turner because TG runs his routes over the middle giving the safeties another reason to play up closer to the line of scrimmage.
[And, by the way, some people have one act and it works for them for years: Evel Knievel, Soupy Sales, and Sonny Clusters with corn-pone bromides. If you don't like them, then don't read them.]
LET’S GO FALCONS!
SamInAtlanta
November 11th, 2009
4:19 pm
Mark. You have a gift of getting to the center of a situation. Yes, the Falcons are like a finely tuned machine. All the parts need to work together or the engine does not run well. We have no superstars yet and if any part of our team lags behind, the entire effort suffers. When everyone does their part. the Falcon’s can be quite a good team.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
4:26 pm
Sonny Clusters is feeling the love. We was never one to blog where we was not wanted. Being a state championship we has unique perspectives not held by all. Good thing Mark can understand us because it’s his blog.
willie martinez
November 11th, 2009
4:33 pm
Mark makes room for everyone in his blog. he will even take comments from overworked, underpaid defensive coordinators.
tryin to learn how to walk like the heros,we thought we had to be.
November 11th, 2009
4:59 pm
Clusters is dang funny. Not laugh out loud funny- but I read all his posts. We wuz always that way.
tryin to learn how to walk like the heros,we thought we had to be.
November 11th, 2009
5:09 pm
Chemdawg is cool, but he proly never hung out at Dairy Queen, sippin PBR, in an old F-150. Or was they F-100 back then. Dont matter- if you had a menbers only jacket-T-top ride, and could buy beer from the bootlegger on Sunday, you was cool. Clusters Rocks.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 11th, 2009
5:28 pm
Geez I didn’t know Warren Buffet owned Dairy Queen. I’ll never eat there again.
Barry
November 11th, 2009
5:34 pm
Hey Y’all:
It is midseason and our FALCONS are in “GREAT” mid season form. THE PROCESS IS STIL CONINUING AND EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD. Yes, Turner did start off slow, but I attribute that to his not usually being a “premier back” in the leauge, this being his second season as a starter in the NFL. I believe now he understands he really is a “priemer back”, for a damn good football team, and HE GOT’S TO BRING IT AND ENJOY IT EVERY GAME. He is a “HEARTBEAT” and he has to “BEAT” them up everygame as “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” with the rest of the team. THEY ALL HAVE TO CLICKING IN ONE MOTION. I guess TURNER just woke up from a bad dream. Now he is running with a vengeance as if he making up for lost time. I AM LOVING IT MAN. THE “NAYSAYERS” ARE ALL CHOKED UP. The team is clicking in “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” mode again, with all parts in tune and ready for action, and are getting “STRONGER” with each game. THE COACHING, THE OFFENSE, THE SPECIAL TEAMS, THE FANS, AND THE MEDIA ARE INTO THE SEASON IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” fashion. We are together with this.
Our ATLANTA FALCONS are establishing a wonderful football foundation in this city and it starts with Coach Mike Smith. He has this team playing SMART, INTELLEGENT, TEAM ORIENTED, PHYSICAL, NASTY FOOTBALL. They have each others back and we the fans, the community and the media have theirs. They represent our town. And they play for us, THE FANS, and themselves. I am starting to feel that “FALL” football aptmosphere where we wilL be watching football with our families and friends during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with our FALCONS in the hunt for the SUPERBOWL. This is just getting started and it won’t be pretty because our FALCONS are going to be playing some PHYSICAL, NASTY, DIRTY, INNOVATIVE footbalf down the stretch. NOW ARE YOU READY TO RUMMBBBLLLEE!!! THE “PROCESS” CONTINUES, AND I AM LOVING IT. I AM LOVING IT IN “ONE HEARTBEAT!!” THE BEAT IS GETTING LOUDER! CAN YOU HEAR IT? THUMP! THUMP!! THUMP!!!…………………. IT’S TOO LOUD!! AND I LOVE IT.
NOW ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!!!??????
LET”S GO FALCONS!!! LET’S KICK SOME BUTT!!!
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a SECRET from a FALCN FAN. TELL EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!
……………………….”ONE HEARTBEAT, BABY!!!”……………
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2009
5:41 pm
Hey, Leland. Hey, Sonny. Hey, everybody. Sorry to be out of touch all afternoon, but you know what I always say: Better to be out of touch than out of gas.
Samuel
November 11th, 2009
6:09 pm
We need Matty Ice to step his game up moving forward, But we got to get help from the special teams. Eric Weems has to get several kick off return run backs before the season ends. If Tye Hill becomes a shut down corner and gets his grove back. The sky is the limit. Look for Jason Snelling to come back and give us a spark, especially with screen plays and catches out the backfield. kudos to Babbs for having a solid game against the RedSkins, I hope Johnson can come back against the Panthers we need his help. Svetek should be able to step in and protect Ryans blind side. What happen to Marty Booker in the slot position. He’s a good vetern player. GO DIRTYBIRDS!!
bman
November 11th, 2009
6:31 pm
The fact that anything was made of this so called “slump” just shows how lazy most journalists can be. Do some research. look at the numbers ( instead of speculating about weight gain , etc.)
Of the 4 teams Turner had ” subpar” rushing games against ( he scored a TD in 3 of those 4 games BTW) , 2 are currently in the top 12 rushing defenses in the league and the other 2 are top 20. He rushed for 97 yards and 3 scores against SF who currently has the 5th best run D. what does this guy have to do ??
on the flip side, if he wants to use the undeserved crit. for motivation and stomps everyone into the ground the rest of the year, I won’t be complaining!
I came for you, who am I to ask you to lick my sores
November 11th, 2009
6:32 pm
Sombody is pickin on Clusters Mark. That ain’t right.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
6:34 pm
Actually, Mr Taber owned the local Dairy Queen and his daughter was hot. She would always make sure me and Jeff got the extra goodies and we didn’t have to pay. It would have never worked out with a Clusters because she was used to the security of a Dairy Queen and we was mostly adventuresome and hard to settle down. Still, she looked good in that Dairy Q
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
6:36 pm
. . . those Dairy Queen shorts. Sometimes Windows Vista wants to do things a Clusters don’t want to do yet. We may get us an Apple.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 11th, 2009
6:45 pm
Bradley
Give it a rest – your bandwagon of tauting this CHUMP as the best rookie ever in the NFL at quarterback is making your credibility sink faster than his PATHETIC QB RATING…………
This team lives and dies by Turner’s performance. Turner has rushed for 317 yards combined, the last 2 games and what has the CHOKE done?
Put up 4 INTERCEPTIONS & 46 & 81 QB RATINGS, along with back-to-back below 200 yards passing, 135 in the last game. What more can Turner do? Play quarterback too? Maybe Turner can be a Glorified Back, like “YOU” people called the previous quarterback
“YOU” people labeled him the second coming of Peyton Manning, well Peyton still beats up the ELITE teams, whether the running game is performing or not.
The Falcons need to DUMP THE CHUMP and count there losses.
“You can’t send a boy to do a man’s job”
STOP MAKING EXCUSES!
Mark Bradley
November 11th, 2009
6:48 pm
That ain’t, Sonny. I agree.
Dairy Queen Shorts
November 11th, 2009
6:51 pm
Now thats funny, I dont care who u r
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
6:54 pm
When we was in school they was a bully a lot like some blog bullies. That bully come up to Sonny Clusters one day and swung as hard as he could and we just ducked and he ended up hitting Jeff. Jeff was bleeding and foaming and swearing and mad as heck. Coach come out just in time and we was all told to go to class. Later, we had a little something for that bully in a special parfait we was able to get Mr. Taber’s daughter to let us make. Bullying don’t pay with a Clusters.
Frank Wren
November 11th, 2009
6:58 pm
“YOU” people labeled him the second coming of Peyton Manning
No Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy did that on national TV.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 11th, 2009
6:59 pm
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
There is and never was anything wrong with Turner. How in Hell do you find running room, if the line has to block 9 in the box.
Defenses don’t fear the passing game, because this CHUMP has a NOODLE ARM and is not a down field threat. The only way he can pass more than 20 yards is to step into the ball and heave with all his might – hell I can hear him grunting
I heard all the excuses for his decline, blaming everybody and his mother. This CHUMP gets a free pass, no matter how much he STINKS up the place.
“DUMP THE CHUMP”!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 11th, 2009
7:01 pm
Frank Wren
November 11th, 2009
6:58 pm
“YOU” people labeled him the second coming of Peyton Manning
No Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy did that on national TV
“Yep 68, 66 & 46 QB RATINGS are Peyton-Like”
drunk guy
November 11th, 2009
7:02 pm
Had a litle wine, couple SR Celabration Ales, and half a milk glass of cheap bourbon- Damn Clusters is really funny now.
drunk guy
November 11th, 2009
7:03 pm
Meant Sierra Nevada C ales-I am a drunk guy- hard to type.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
7:05 pm
Meant “celebration”, too, we bet. Hard to spell probably. We was that way with too many parfaits.
drunk guy
November 11th, 2009
7:22 pm
albuquerque , so there.
ALB FALCON
November 11th, 2009
8:13 pm
Choke…? Thought you were out of here… You are worthless…. To my recollection Flacco got his rear end handed to him by the BENGALS…For real man go ahead and vanish… I can’t wait til we play the team that gave a black man a chance to make a mark in history… Only for him to say f- the fans and start something that he knew was wrong. I will admit I love MIke, got a football that was autographed by him for christmas. But he made us the laughing stock of the NFL and now that a mature guy has come into town it burns you up. Flacco better go to the super bowl the way you riding his jock. Hey btw Ryan allowed for Roddy white to see his first pro bowl in his career of almost 5yrs… What did Rich McCay build in Atlanta? Certainly not the product that is on the field now… Sure Vick took us to to One NFC Championship… Sure he beat Future Hall of Famer Brett Farve in Green Bay, Sure he was the first QB ever to run for as many yards as he did… But beyond that what else does did he bring to a city that once he left was racially divided… Really mane you gettin really lame for those insults against ryan. It’s funny how you disapper when Flacco gets that butt waxed… But then you want to ride out on Ryan. Last time I checked Ray lewis was the freaking man bascially it’s hard to say that this team is not better with out Vick cuz it is…. How many 11-5 seasons did Vick have? Sure ryan has had one but if we finish 10-6 how many times did Vick make that happen? I see ya later folk… L053
FOXNOISE.NET
November 11th, 2009
8:42 pm
Glad to see Turner’s back but with the Norwood and Snelling injuries do you expect us to draft a Running Back early next year?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 11th, 2009
8:59 pm
Don’t forget the 2nd round pick given up for an aging tight end.
Reid Adair
November 11th, 2009
9:12 pm
Seeing Michael Turner getting things going has been great. Now if Jerious Norwood can get healthy, I think the offense will get things rolling heading into the second half of the season.
Charlie Criss was a shootin' fool
November 11th, 2009
9:22 pm
Mark, try the sausage dog at the Dome, you’ll never be out of gas again.
Good article, sorely needed with all of the crying about M Ryan being subpar. His game is enormously better when Burner is Burner. Ryan is, after all, still in his second year. Anyone remember Peyton’s second year? UGH
Nobis, Noter, Hammer and Kenn are HOF'ers
November 11th, 2009
9:31 pm
‘Choke’, ‘Sorry’, are you two guys sharing the same crack pipe? How did you get internet access in prison? Flacco couldn’t carry Ryan’s mother’s garter belt and Vick? He’s a running back who’s throwing ability was average at best. Pure, unadulterated 10 million dollar speed with a pure, unadulterated 10 cent brain. I’d take Ryan over anyone in the league not named Peyton Manning, Rothlisberger or Brady.
Sonny Clusters
November 11th, 2009
9:40 pm
They was a running back named Bubba Bean that would take the ball and dance around a little then run right into the back end of the tackle and fall to the ground. He did this about 15 times a game. We was always laughing at Bubba Bean highlight films Coach used to show. Now they is some good running backs here and it is a lot more enjoyable. Coach said William Andrews was special before he got hurt. Norwood’s speed is missing and when he gets back the game changes for everybody. We was always like that when we was playing ball. We had strength with Stinky Wintes and speed with Clusters but nobody could jump. Clusters don’t jump.
Scott
November 11th, 2009
10:03 pm
Yeah now we just need Tony G to quit worrying about his diet and stripping for the idiots at peta and to start wanting the dang football.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 12th, 2009
1:11 am
Nobis, Nimrod
Just for you: 2nd season statistics
Matt Ryan 8 games – 60.7% – 1,784 yds – 13 TDs – 10 Ints – 82.2
Joe Flacco 8 games – 64.9% – 2,044 yds – 12 TDs – 7 Ints
Mike Vick 15 games – 54.9 – 2,936 yds – 16 TDs – 8 Ints
“Looks like CHOKE’S mom is wearing the wrong jock strap”
Eric C.
November 12th, 2009
10:27 am
Mark…this isn’t pointed at you, but Is Carolina being that secretive? I’d like to hear a little more about how the Falcons are preparing for Carolina instead of reading about whether or not Gonzalez had clothes on in the PETA ad or how D-Hall got his feelings hurt.
In any case, it is great to see Turner running with some authority…maybe with Davis hurt, it will open things up a little against Carolina? I’m looking for Ryan to have a big game.
BurningRedBleedingBlack
November 12th, 2009
11:05 am
Turner is a beast and one hell of a running back Atlanta is blessed to have him, im glad hes getting better runs in i knew he would
Bongo
November 12th, 2009
11:27 am
Enter your comments here
IceFan
November 12th, 2009
12:00 pm
Chemdog, how dare you talk bad about Sonny Clusters!
Choke, I thought I told you to go play in traffic. Look for a big game from your “bust” on Sunday.
Vick Supporter
November 12th, 2009
12:09 pm
No Running by M.Turner = Matt Ryan INT’s.
The man is a good QB, but he can’t carry a team (Like Vick Could/Can). Most times in the NFL, the QB has to win the game, and Ryan has proven that he can’t.
“Vick Will Shine Again”
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 12th, 2009
12:11 pm
THE COMMISSIONER HAS SPOKEN:
The League doesn’t want Ghetto THUGS in the NFL.
Smitty break out the check book – you owe the Commissioner 15 Grand baby
That will teach you a lesson, to stay in your place and keep that street THUG life in your neighborhood
Yet another victory for the Virginia Tech boys
- Bonus case…………….LOST
- League disciple case…………..LOST
Damn it must hurt to know the league respects D Hall more than Smitty
Bobby
November 12th, 2009
12:22 pm
I agree that nothing was wrong with turner through out the season.I still will say he will struggle against teams with good defense and play well against teams without good defense.It all falls on the quarterback and we will see what Matt Ryan is made of at the end of this season.I think his problems will cost the falcons not to make the playoffs.He need to work on being pressured and the falcons need to try some screen passes to help him out.Second,his arm strength need to improve(throw the long ball sometime) to open up the offense and it will stop teams from stacking the box and help turner in the running game.Now if any of this happens then Matt Ryan will be a corner or two away from being a great quarterback or a Super Bowl caliber quarterback.
Keith Mercer
November 12th, 2009
12:49 pm
This kind of reminds me of the time that the Doctor told me about what was going to happen when I was scheduled for a colonoscopy, I told him I had bigger things up there when I was in the army.
Kid me not
November 12th, 2009
1:14 pm
Clusters, you make this blog enjoyable. Thanks!
TechBuzz
November 12th, 2009
1:20 pm
I think it is sad and pretty damn pathetic that the league “gives in” to MeAngelo Hall and fines Coach Smith, who was only defending his QB that got cheaply out of bounds, and NOT fine the weasel & a**hole Hall, that provoked the whole damn thing. Hall will, and ALWAYS will be a whiner b/c he sucks as a CB, and a big baby!!! Way to get this one wrong Commissioner!!!!!!
JT
November 12th, 2009
1:26 pm
DeAngelo Hall. YOU PLAY BALL LIKE A GIRL.
SirReal
November 12th, 2009
1:32 pm
I’m glad to see Turer getting back to himself….if he shreds the CAR D this weekend, he’s officially back!! We need him. I believe with him being down, MR2 was asked to do a bit too much. He’s a headstrong kid but like all youngsters he doesnt realize his limitations sometimes. I think we’re getting back on track at the right time. Lets go Birds!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
SirReal
November 12th, 2009
1:32 pm
I’m glad to see Turer getting back to himself….if he shreds the CAR D this weekend, he’s officially back!! We need him. I believe with him being down, MR2 was asked to do a bit too much. He’s a headstrong kid but like all youngsters he doesnt realize his limitations sometimes. I think we’re getting back on track at the right time. Lets go Birds!
“That is so STUPID”! Turner has rushed for 317 yards the pass 2 games and during those games CHOKE has 4 ints, 46 & 81 QB RATINGS. In the last game vs the Redskins he only passed for 135 yards.
Turner took all the pressure off of him in those games and he still stank up the place.
Quit making excuses…………
“DUMP THE CHUMP”!