RUNNING BACK BY COMMITTEE

 

The Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers running back committee might work after all.

For the second game in a row, Rodgers took more snaps at running back than Turner in Thursday night's victory over the New Orleans Saints
Rodgers played 53 percent (31 of 58) of the offensive snaps. Turner played 34 percent (20 of 58).

Turner and Rodgers combined for 126 rushing yards on 20 carries and one touchdown against the Saints.

Turner, Rodgers, Jason Snelling and Mike Cox combined for eight catches for 38 yards.
Cox, who is getting up to speed since being re-signed on Nov. 7, had some nice lead blocks in the run game against the Saints.

Will Mike Cox fill the FB void left by the loss of the MUGBOAT?

"Mike Cox probably played his best game since he's been here, including the games that he played last year," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "We got some movement at the line of scrimmage. We got our backs to the second level, and when you get backs to the second level, you're going to get a chance to get some explosive runs."

Smith noted that the Falcons had five runs of 12 yards or more against the Saints.

It was the fourth consecutive home game in which Turner has scored a rushing touchdown. With the 58th score of his tenure as a Falcon, Turner broke the mark previously held by Falcons wide receiver Terance Mathis, who played in Atlanta from 1994 to 2001.
With the Falcons determined to run on the Saints, Turner had 67 yards on five carries in the first quarter. That total was more than he gained in all but three other games this season.

Turner was held to 17 yards on 13 carries Sunday against Tampa Bay.

In the previous meeting with the Saints, Turner was held to 15 yards on 13 carries and was stopped on a key third-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 1:56 to play in the 31-27 loss.

COACH MIKE 

Falcons coach Mike Smith didn't plan to do any "television scouting" nor keep track of the Tampa Bay at Denver game on Sunday.

A Denver victory gives the Falcons the NFC South title with four games to play.
"I will not be watching that game," Smith said on Friday. "I'm going to spend some time with the family and get focused on Carolina"

With the Thursday game, the Falcons approached the weekend as a mini-bye. Smith gave the players the weekend off.

"We're just starting the fourth quarter of the season and there is going to be a lot of things happening over these last four weeks," Smith said. "It'll be fun for the teams involved. It ought to be fun for the fans and it's going to be fun for the coaches. Football in December, it can't get any better."

The extra time will give cornerback Asante Samuel's shoulder extra time to heal.

"Asante knocked his shoulder again on the deep ball there," Smith said. "Unfortunately for us, he only got three snaps in the ballgame."

Christopher Owens and Robert McClain split up Samuel's playing time. Owens played outside in the nickel and McClain went inside.
McClain played outside in the base defense.
"It was very good to see Christopher Owens come in and man that corner position," Smith said. "I thought he did a nice job. He had a pass break up on a deep ball there in the second quarter."

ETC. 

-Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez couldn't believe the uproar that ensued after the Saints team bus was egged while leaving Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on Wednesday night.

"Why are they complaining about these eggs," a perplexed Gonzalez said. "When I was out in Kansas City and we'd go out and play Kansas City, we were egged every game. When we went out there, it was eggs, batteries and beer." 

-The Falcons scored on their opening drive against the Saints for the eighth time this season.

-They lead the NFL with 44 points (five touchdowns and three field goals) on their first offensive possessions this season.

-Kicker Matt Bryant moved into the top five on the team's all-time scoring list.

-His 11 points against the Saints pushed his total to 404 points and moved him past kicker Norm Johnson (395) into fifth place.

-Bryant made two extra points and field goals of 45, 29 and 55 yards. The 55-yarder tied his season-long. 

-Defensive end John Abraham had a sack to push his total to 10 and mark the seventh time in his career that he's had double-digit sacks. 

-He is currently the NFL's active sack leader with 122 career sacks.

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