O.K., it's less than one certain running back on another NFC team ran for. But still...
Atlanta Falcon Head Coach Bobby Petrino was smiling during his regular Monday press conference. He was pleased with his team's offense after reviewing film. It was easy to see an improved running game as the team rushed for a season-high 155 yards and consistently put the ball in the hands of Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood agaist the San Francisco 49ers in last Sunday's game.
"Offensively, we established the run in the first half and I was very happy about that," Petrino said Monday. "Warrick ran very well. We stayed with it and kept calling runs. Joey (Harrington) did a good job of managing the game and made sure we did not make a lot of mistakes."
Both the Falcons touchdowns -- a 9-yard run by Dunn and a 1-yard plunge by fullback Ovie Mughelli came on the ground. It's the first time this season the Falcons have recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in a game.
The coach is confident the team can build on the running success.
"We were a little more bull-headed about doing it and Warrick certainly made some great runs and broke some tackles."
Norwood, too, showed flashes of speed and change-of-pace to Dunn's between-the-tackle work.
"It's important to us because everyone has been working hard," the coach said. "We've been keeping a good attitude and have had a good attitude with our preparation. You need to see that pay off and we need to build off of it. we need to come back this week and do it again. We need to get ready for the next game and perform well."
There would be no question that recent Atlanta Falcons teams would try to exploit a defense that had just given up almost 300 yards rushing the week before. The Falcons led the league in rushing each of the last two years. They always emphasized the run under former coach Jim Mora, but this is a new era.
The Falcons play Sunday at Jacksonville, which was supposed to have a strong defensive front but instead gave up a franchise-record 282 yards rushing in a 13-10 loss to Tennessee last week. Meanwhile, Atlanta running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood combined for only 88 yards rushing in a 24-3 loss at Minnesota.
The Jaguars, like many teams in the NFL, employee a two-back system featuring second-year running back Maurice Jones-Drew and veteran Fred Taylor. The duo didn't have much success last week, however, as the Titans dominated the running game on both sides (rushing for 282 and holding the Jaguars to 72 yards on the ground).
Last season they formed quite the pair, combining for 2,087 yards and 18 touchdowns (13 for Jones-Drew).
Atlanta rushed for 96 yards last week on just a 3.4-yard per carry average. Some of that was field position, as the Falcons were forced to pound the ball out of their own end for much of the game. Pro Bowl running back Warrick Dunn rushed 22 times for 55 yards while second-year back Jerious Norwood had five rushes for 33 yards.
Getting the running game on track will be a focus of the Falcons this week, especially with the success Tennessee had running against the Jaguars in Week 1.
But the Jaguars don't figure to be offering an easy path for opposing running backs, especially with a roster of athletic linebackers and defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson.
"We have to be able to get penetration," Stroud said Wednesday. "They're a zone-running team and they don't necessarily attack you. But they do a good job getting guys running side to side. Then Warrick Dunn or Norwood pick where they want to go and they hit it."
When it comes to stopping the Jaguars run, the Falcons are focusing their attention on the opening minutes of the game and on first and second down. The Vikings established the run early and rookie Adrian Peterson finished with 103 of the team's 139 rushing yards.
"We want to get off the field and give our offense time to make plays and do things," defensive end John Abraham said. "Letting Fred Taylor run for 5 or 6 yards on first down is not going to do it. I think we gave up a lot of yards on first down. That's a big thing we have to stop. We want to get them in to a passing down to give our pass rushers a chance to get to the quarterback."
According to Mike Vick it was painful, very painful. But there is no mention in today's AP report of anything measurable regarding the injury he says he suffered Saturday night. In fact, if you read the full report, Mike sounds like he's taking it easy. Please allow for the fact that the AP reporter may have shaded it that way. But at any rate, I can see how some people would see it that way based on this report.
I can't believe, however, that Jim Mora or Art Blank would allow Vick to miss practice for the very important upcoming game with Carolina if there wasn't something to the injury. Yet, I find the fact that Vick is yet to make it through a full season without missing a start due to injury interesting. Is it because he runs and takes so many hits? Is he injury prone? Will he play through an injury when necessary?
One other thing. Last week Dunn didn't practice but played. Norwood practiced but didn't play. Now Shaub is taking snaps. Is this more shenanigans?
Oh well, you guys have at it. I am inviting it on this one.
Updated 12/20/2006 6:18 PM ET
The Associated PressFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.
After Saturday night's game, Michael Vick said he "felt a pain I have never felt before." Vick had to leave late in the Atlanta Falcons' loss to Dallas on Saturday night due to the injury. Michael says his sore groin has improved, even though he didn't test the injury as he took a reduced role in Wednesday's practice. He was listed as probable for Sunday's game against Carolina and reported the sore groin "feels better." Vick, who has never started more than 15 games in a season, has made every start in 2006.
Backup Matt Schaub took the majority of the snaps with the first-team offense as he prepares for what could be his first start since Oct. 9, 2005 against New England. "As far as going a long period of time without starting, it doesn't help you," Schaub said. "You've just got to be focused and stay sharp in practice." "I think if anything you're still fresh. Schaub attempted only one pass this season before going 3-for-5 for 33 yards when playing behind Vick in the 38-28 loss to Dallas.
Flowery Branch, GA (Sports Network) - Atlanta Falcons running backs Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood are both listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Dunn is nursing a calf injury, while Norwood has a right knee problem. "The big question for us and for everyone else is just Jerious and Warrick," said Falcons head coach Jim Mora. "We'll just have to see where they are as the week goes on." Dunn left Week 14's 17-6 win against Tampa Bay midway through the third quarter and did not return. Norwood was injured later in the quarter and also did not return.
So good, so far.
If both backs are sidelined on Sunday, it is likely that Justin Griffith would see a bulk of the carries.
Oops! In a word, wrong! You see all running backs are not created equal. Griffith did a yeoman's job Sunday, but he is a tailback. Tailbacks are pass protectors and lead blockers, if the quarterback runs. They do not "see a bulk of the carries." They do catch passes.
At a minimum, I look to see more passes to backs this Saturday night like we saw in the second half Sunday. If I can see that in my crystal ball, Dallas sees it in theirs too, still Mora isn't going to telegraph it. Face it though, if your not sure your big dogs are ready to run, you have to see if you have some little dogs you might want to throw to. And isn't this a big part of the old West Coast offense anyway?
Questionable does not mean doubtful, therefore it is mathematically probable that one of the two injured backs will be able to play at speed on Saturday night. In fact, Michael Vick expects either Dunn or Norwood to be back on the field for the game. Mora might have liked to have left this more up in the air to see if Dallas might overpractice for a "different" Falcon's attack. However, Vick volunteered the info.
"If both backs are sidelined on 'Saturday' it is likely that Corey McIntyre, the third full back on the depth chart, who is getting more work this week, will be the man you see getting more carries than usual from the fullback position Saturday night. In addition today the Falcons added Jamal Robertson to their roster at fullback and he got some carries in today's practice. If neither Dunn nor Norwood can go, then you will see the tandem of McIntyre and Robertson getting most of the increase in carries. Put this all together and you can see why Griffith will not get "the bulk of the carries."
Fred McCrary is also available to help Griffith at tailback. As expected, both of their roles have increased. I expect they will see an increase in pass receptions this week.
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