Michael Turner hasn’t had a great week, but he’s still needed
Michael Turner's job is to break tackles, not get tackled. (AP photo by John Bazemore)
Flowery Branch – A lot of folks are down on Michael Turner. He’s averaging 2.6 yards per carry, which means if you handed him the ball four times in a row he’d make a first down, but you’d need a measurement to prove it. He also managed to sully one of the sweeter moments this franchise has lately known by getting arrested for DUI on the way home.
Comments left on AJC.com blogs suggest that Turner should be benched, cut or traded within the next half-hour, but none of the above is up to happen anytime soon. Because the Falcons, like it or not, still need Michael Turner.
Their offense is changing, yes, but it isn’t changing so much that it will have no further use for yards rushing. On the contrary, the more you throw — and the Falcons under Dirk Koetter have and will throw more than they did under Mike Mularkey — the greater the opportunity is to run. We saw it happen Monday night: The Falcons deployed five defensive backs on nearly every snap to counter Peyton Manning, and Willis McGahee ran for 113 yards.
Defenses will do the same against the Falcons’ offense. Heck, they’re doing it already. “That’s one of the things that happens when you put that personnel group [three wide receivers] on the field,” quarterback Matt Ryan said Wednesday. “You spread out the secondary. That’s something we plan for, something we look to exploit.”
To date, they haven’t. The Falcons are tied for 26th in the 32-team NFL in yards rushing. (Meanwhile, Ryan leads the league in passing efficiency.) To their credit, they’re 2-0. But Victory No. 2 was imperiled because the Falcons couldn’t do against Denver what coach Mike Smith insists his team must do, which is run the ball when it needs to be run.
Up 27-14 with 11:48 remaining, the ideal would have been to hand the ball to Turner and let him pound. The Falcons handed it to him on first and saw him gain a yard. On their next possession, they tried the same tack and saw him gain three yards. With 3:25 left and the lead down to six points, the Falcons handed it to Turner twice. He gained four yards on first down, one yard on second. If not for Ryan’s nerveless third-down completion to Julio Jones, this sweet franchise moment might have become just another Falcons whiff.
Some will put the blame on Koetter/Smith for Getting Too Conservative With A Lead, but that’s the way of the neo-NFL: You throw to get ahead and run to stay there. If you keep throwing it every down when you’re in front, you don’t burn the clock and you run the risk of getting intercepted and blowing your lead. But if the Falcons can’t line up and push somebody backward when circumstances mandate, they’re going to blow some leads that way.
No, the lack of a running game isn’t all Turner’s fault. Backups Jacquizz Rodgers and Jason Snelling totaled a whopping five yards on four carries, and there didn’t seem to be many holes until Turner popped the clinching 15-yarder on the night’s final handoff. To that point, the longest gain by a Falcon had been a 7-yard Ryan scramble.
Said Ryan: “We need to keep chipping away. We’re close.”
Also this: “[Running the ball] is something we want to do better. But it’s early.”
Then, speaking of Turner: “He’s proven he can do it. He’s consistent.”
Over his first four seasons here, Turner averaged 1,320 yards on 4.4 yards per carry. Through two games he has 74 yards. The Falcons hinted over the offseason that they wanted the big man, who’s 30, to accept a slightly lesser role, but doing less isn’t the same as doing nothing. He’s still the feature back. (Rodgers hasn’t proved he can run between the tackles, and Snelling is a career backup.) He’s still the Falcon most apt to get the toughest yards.
Addressing the media for the first time since his arrest, Turner apologized to the organization and to fans and expressed what sounded like sincere contrition. “It was a bad decision on my part,” he said, and then: “I don’t think anybody is more disappointed than I am.”
Michael Turner can’t take back the hours that led to his early-morning arrest, but he can show that there’s still spring in those massive legs. Even this Koetting-edge (sorry, couldn’t resist) offense will have moments when it needs the Burner to churn. He doesn’t have to gain 1,000 yards anymore; he just has to bang out the necessary ones. Like it or not, no other Falcon can do what he does.
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175 comments Add your comment
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2012
8:45 pm
You would think a professional football player would invest in a radar detector, if not a personal driver. I can’t say I haven’t driven at 90 on that stretch of 85 before, but never while drunk and never without a radar detector.
Turner would be a lot less needed if Jacquizz Rodgers was above average at any aspect of the game. Rodgers has been hyped up like he’s the next Jerious Norwood without the injuries, but so far he hasn’t come close to showing it.
Jaded
September 19th, 2012
8:45 pm
I agree we need more production from the running game, I’m just not sure Turner is our best option anymore. The explosiveness he had in 2008 is long gone. The toll of ranking near the top of the league in carries the last two years has clearly caught up to him. I think Rodgers and Snelling are better backs at this point.
Najeh Davenpoop
September 19th, 2012
8:47 pm
Also, it isn’t Turner’s running ability that is the big problem (although that is also declining); it is that the Falcons have shifted to a pass-first approach and Turner can’t catch passes.
Snake Doc
September 19th, 2012
9:03 pm
Ignoranuses like Billyho and Barry don’t even know what the word etiquette means
Hillbilly D
September 19th, 2012
9:10 pm
JSS
Thanks. I was just curious. I was thinking back when I was a young whipper, refusal to take a test was considered admission of guilt, which seemed to fly in the face of the 5th Amendment but what do I know?
JSS
September 19th, 2012
9:16 pm
Must legislatures have carved out an exemption in the self-incrimination clause with a phrase saying you can challenge it in court… But of course, the science defeats challenge 97% of the time…
JSS
September 19th, 2012
9:16 pm
Oops “most”
Dom Perignon
September 19th, 2012
9:20 pm
If Turner was .10 after drinking for three hours, he likely had the equivalent of about 8 drinks during that time period, figuring for the amount of alcohol in a drink, time elapsed, and extrapolating the loss of some alcohol through breathing and other bodily functions. Now, if you want a guy that has had 8 shots of liquor driving 97 miles an hour next to you and your family on the interstate, more power to you, but I don’t. And, for those who don’t think he was impaired at that level, you may need to think about a treatment program yourself.
Hillbilly D
September 19th, 2012
9:21 pm
JSS
I don’t drink so this is all academic to me but I did use to work with a guy who had been a cop in Florida and he said he’d advise anybody against taking a field sobriety test (walking the line, etc). He said that if the guy says you failed that test, odds are you’d be convicted or at least arrested. He said the smart thing to do is ask for a blood test. For whatever that’s worth, of course if you’re guilty, it ain’t going to help.
Thump Thump
September 19th, 2012
9:22 pm
Barry is the ultimate Falcons fan. Love that guy.
We had better fix this running game and fast, because we can’t afford to live by the pass, especially with Julio inheriting Roddy’s dropsies.
Defense really surprised me. Haven’t seen something that impressive since the Gritz Blitz.
Norwegian Blue
September 19th, 2012
9:22 pm
GT Phenom- I agree he has to deal with the consequences (legal, professional, and personal) of his actions. I just appreciate PB Orr telling it like it is. Most people I know (lawyers, doctors, teachers, GT students, plumbers, and sportswriters), get behind a wheel at 0.08 BAC once a week, if not more often. So I don’t think Turner’s actions are outside the parameters of normal behavior. He just got caught… because he was going 97 mph, which is reckless, dangerous, and stupid.
Hillbilly D
September 19th, 2012
9:27 pm
Most people I know (lawyers, doctors, teachers, GT students, plumbers, and sportswriters), get behind a wheel at 0.08 BAC once a week, if not more often.
That’s a scary thought, even though there’s probably a lot of truth in it.
eric
September 19th, 2012
9:35 pm
P B Orr has it right. The legal drunk BAC limit of .08 is ridiculous and needs to be raised considerably. It’s just typical knee-jerk, paranoid sensationalism that has made such a low and arbitrary BAC level a crime. You really could say the same thing about most of our speed limits which are stupidly low and more often than not end up causing accidents rather than preventing them….
Getaway
September 19th, 2012
9:41 pm
Well, if someone blowing .08 or even .109 is drunk and frightens you so much (or fills you with self righteous indignation) you might want to stay home. There’s tens of thousands of bars and restaurants in the metro area filled to the brim every night with people having one or two drinks – just enough to blow .08 – and driving home, safely.
I’m not excusing the real drunks nor the dangerously reckless, just saying…
Hobbler
September 19th, 2012
9:43 pm
He still has the talent God gave him but he failed to rise up in the off season to lose weight and hard training to gain foot speed, quickness and hone his skills (i.e., like Ryan and others did). I think he has become complacent at where he is. I hope this is an awakening that will drive him to sacrifice to be the best he can be on and off the field. I think his actions/play the rest of the year will determine if we will be the NFL Champs or not.
Falconfan
September 19th, 2012
9:44 pm
The Burner is now the Tortoises…time to go!
Falconfan
September 19th, 2012
9:46 pm
Hillbilly D…I agree
Billyho55
September 19th, 2012
9:47 pm
Snake Doc,
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE BIG BOY!!!
mdcc
September 19th, 2012
9:49 pm
he was speeding faster than he can run. a wadhed up fat slow guy will not get you any where. never been a fan….
Billyho55
September 19th, 2012
9:50 pm
HOW’S THAT FOR ETIQUETTE!
mark
September 19th, 2012
9:52 pm
mae a trade go grab cj man he is tired of playing for the titans a 2 round pick would do it, i saw monday the holes where there is just that turner dosent have any burst left he looks old,fat and derpesed
techmule
September 19th, 2012
9:54 pm
why do we have this so be runningback Turner any how ?Has he show (you) he can get the job done?No he hasen” t plain and simple.He or you can”t blame the offense.You know he has those huge thighs that suppose to get them hard 5 or 6 yards a carry.He can not hit the (right) hole nor can he hit it fast enough either. Even if our offense average 330 lb a body he still wouldn”t get 3 yards a carry. Just think the ticket holders is paying this huge thigh want to be millons of dollars to gain just 2 yard a carry per game.Sure you could go back and find where he had a 100 or more yards in a (few)games and could count them a one hand.Those few was where there were busted plays and miss asignments he luck up on and got a 44 yard run ,cause you sure aint seen him run more than 50 yards and not get tackle.Give me some feed back on this mr.Mark so sports writter of the A.J.C.Why do we i meant (you) think we need him and give a us a good anwser.
Norwegian Blue
September 19th, 2012
9:56 pm
Yikes. That post makes me derpesed.
FalconJim
September 19th, 2012
10:05 pm
Yes, we need Turner, no doubt about it. And, I’m thinking he’s gonna want to “redeem” himself after his little fiasco. I’m willing to give him a second chance, myself (everybody deserves one, you know).
If he continues to timidly hit the hole like he has been so far this year, he probably won’t be around next year. But I’d still have to give him kudos for 4 good years, and time well served…
Billyho55
September 19th, 2012
10:08 pm
Snake Doc,
P.S. IT’S CALLED IGNORAMUSES GENIUS!
Fats Johnson
September 19th, 2012
10:15 pm
P B Orr is right. MT didn’t kill a bunch of people driving 100 mph so what is the problem?? It didn’t effect P B Orr so everything is good, right Orr??
DawgNole
September 19th, 2012
10:18 pm
Norwegian Blue
September 19th, 2012
9:56 pm
Yikes. That post makes me derpesed.
_______________________
So you’re “derpesed”??? Hello?
Doesn’t sound like an affliction I’d like to have.
I wonder
September 19th, 2012
10:22 pm
what would the response be if one of your children were to go out tomorrow and the bus driver could blow that so called Sissy reading that some have pointed to. I am sure folk would be upset that someone who should know better was drinking and driving there lil darlings around town.(Maybe even letting them hold the beer bag). But one of our fine sports hero’s gets out drinking well he was just doing what he does and its all ok right? I mean its not like he killed anyone … this time.
I dont care if he is on or off the team but that man needs to be sat down and spoke to about taking the lives of our loved ones in his drunk hands. If he dont care about his life or job what ever just dont take any of us with you when you go ,
Norwegian Blue
September 19th, 2012
10:23 pm
DawgNole- C’mon man! I was responding to mark @ 9:52…
Stumpknocker
September 19th, 2012
10:38 pm
The M Turner I saw Mon night didn’t look like a 1000 yd rusher………instead he looked old and slow.
MarkATL
September 19th, 2012
10:48 pm
I think Turner will come out being a better and more mature person after this. Don’t start trying to dismiss Turner yet. After all, we have SD coming up this week. And Turner did do a great job against his old team the last time ATL and SD played each other. So RISE UP FALCON FANS!!! WE WILL BE 3-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fred-D
September 19th, 2012
11:08 pm
People need to stop complaining about Turner. He is not going anywhere, although you can’t call him the “Burner” anymore, he is still the best running back we have. I believe the bigger issue is the poor run blocking. It’s hard to get satisfactory positive yardage when you constantly have to dodge defenders in the backfield, and it doesn’t help when your top back is not very elusive.
Fats Johnson
September 19th, 2012
11:12 pm
I wonder
September 19th, 2012
10:22 pm
Dm well said……. you jock sniffing goons making excuses for MT need to go reread what he posted
He could very well have killed himself and many innocent people driving like he did. Stand up Coach Smith and Man up and sit his Axx down . He has no respect for the public to do what he did. I am done
Mr. Dawg
September 19th, 2012
11:15 pm
I’m always amused by the people that post on these blogs that don’t know football. That’s why I like coming on and offering the voice of reason. Speaking candidly, I am a Compulsive Sports Genius. That being clarified, Turner made a mistake off the field. Hopefully it won’t happen again. I doubt it will. On the field, his line hasn’t given him room. As Mr. Bradley has pointed out, the other backs didn’t fair any better. Unless the Falcons can find a free agent RB that produces miracles, they have what they have and Coach Koetter has wisely taken what has been given to him.. Once Matty, Roddy, Julio, Gonzalez and Douglas prove they can’t be stopped – which they have so far, the running game will improve. Until then, I for one will take the victories. Not to mention, I LOVE THE DEFENSIVE SCHEME. GREAT JOB COACH NOLAN. GO FALCONS!!!!.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
11:33 pm
CHOKE couldn’t blow his nose without Turner.
With that stout run defense by the Chargers, expect a lot more
Dunkin’ Donuts from CHOKE this weekend
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
11:34 pm
Somebody please tell CHOKE the season does not end after the 1st round of the playoffs
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
11:36 pm
I heard CHOKE tried to enlist in the Army but when they found out what “All He Can Be” they took a pass
Mr. Mustard
September 19th, 2012
11:37 pm
Question for Mark Bradley, or someone on the board.
For 42 years I have watched the NFL and I hear that defenses get tired on long drives.
If so, why isn’t the offense tired too?
Just wonder and truly cannot think of the reason myself.
Thanks and go Falcons!
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
11:37 pm
And when he tried to enlist in the Navy, they said “Losing in the 1st round every year is not the adventure they had in mind.”
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
September 19th, 2012
11:39 pm
The Marines turned him down to, because when they told CHOKE “They Were Looking For a Few Good Men,” CHOKE referred them to Vick, Flacco & Brees
BigHittas
September 20th, 2012
12:00 am
As a fan, I don’t have any problems with Turner, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Dimitroff pull off a trade for a top RB.
BigHittas
September 20th, 2012
12:01 am
or sign a free agent, there’s plenty out there looking for work.
BigHittas
September 20th, 2012
12:03 am
dont know what happened to my first post, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see TD sign or trade for a new RB.
PaulieOldSchool
September 20th, 2012
12:17 am
Mark, good article as per usual. But I have 2 comments: we need a good offensive line so that it works whether we’re throwing or running the ball; and we need someone LIKE Turner, not necessarily Turner himself. To say he’s a shadow of his former self is not to tell even half the story. He’s lost way more than a step, he seems to be tentative and very slow to see any openings, no matter how few in number they are.
Mr. Mustard
September 20th, 2012
12:23 am
The “Amoeba Defense” – Two comments:
1) Great freaking idea, and it originated on the Falcons. The Falcons, the team that forgot how to throw a screen pass.
2) The Amoeba defense could not work without Dimitroff’s philosophy of athletic players who are versatile.
I don’t know how much we are paying Mike Nolan, but Arthur Blank needs to secure his services for the long term.
Still marveling at the fact that the Falcons actually created something excellent.
Dirty Bird does not count.
HAN
September 20th, 2012
1:49 am
I’d just say that Turner might have lost his swagger, but apparently sure has found his stagger!
JSS
September 20th, 2012
2:41 am
“The Amoeba Defense” – somewhere Jerry Tarkanian is searching for a mob lawyer to sue those trademark and copyright infringing Falcons! First they stole “Rise Up” from the Hawks and now they can’t even be original in naming a defense…
Dr. Warren
September 20th, 2012
2:48 am
Turner was a longtime backup before he came to the Falcons. Let’s try Snelling. The one time he started, I believe he ran for 150+ yards.
Samuel
September 20th, 2012
4:32 am
I think at the end of the day Michael Turner and the Falcons will be alright. The offense line has to open holes and when they can’t, Turner has to find one.
jdawg
September 20th, 2012
4:56 am
You say nobody can bring what Turner brings us. Snelling can…