Broncos report: Falcons' Turner poses formidable challenge

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 12, 2008 at 8:18 p.m.

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Photo by Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images

Michael Turner has been a workhorse for the Falcons this season after languishing as a backup with the Chargers.

Click to enlarge. Broncos vs. Falcons

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The Broncos have seen enough of Michael Turner running the ball to know it's trouble. But they figure to see a whole lot more of Turner on Sunday now that he has gone from a backup role in San Diego to the centerpiece of an offense in Atlanta.

"You knew he was good," Broncos linebacker Louis Green said. "You knew he was fast. Now he's dragging guys 8, 10 yards."

In his four seasons with San Diego, Turner had a limited role in the offense, a player the Broncos would only have to defend if do-it-all running back LaDainian Tomlinson was injured or needed a breather.

Turner would pop in for a few plays, then back to the sideline again, but his potential as a lead back was clear, at least to Denver, last season when he had 147 rushing yards with a touchdown on 10 carries in the Chargers' 41-3 win against the Broncos.

And since signing as a free agent in March, Turner is the leading man for the 6-3 Falcons. Meanwhile, the Broncos, who were having troubles defending the run even before they started filling up their training room with injured players, are playing backup players in five defensive spots, at linebacker or in the secondary.

"He's a stud, just a stud," Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik said. "Hard to tackle, runs over people, runs around people, runs through people, can't arm tackle, can't tackle him high, can't tackle him low."

Added Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil said: "Right now, he's setting up everything they do on offense."

That he does. In his first regular-season game with the Falcons, Turner rushed for a single-game career-high 220 yards in a win against Detroit. He since has had three other games with at least 100 rushing yards and four times in the Falcons' past five games, Turner has carried at least 25 times.

First-year Falcons coach Mike Smith said Turner has become the focus of what he believes the team's offensive philosophy should be.

"I know a good running game makes it easier for everybody," Smith said. "I'm talking about the quarterback, the defense, the special teams. Nine-tenths of this game to me is possession of the football. When you have possession of the football, usually good things are going to happen."

The Broncos have surrendered at least 150 rushing yards five times this season, including 160 yards Nov. 6 in a 34-30 comeback win in Cleveland. And those results have rippled through their games.

As a result, opposing quarterbacks also are completing 70 percent of their passes against the Broncos and averaging 6 yards per play overall.

"Our running game contributes to a lot of what we were able to do offensively in these first nine games," Smith said.

Turner's presence also has allowed the Falcons to bring along rookie quarterback Matt Ryan a little more quickly without subjecting him to the rush in a pass-first mode. Ryan has thrown five interceptions and has been sacked 12 times.

He already has handed the ball to Turner 203 times - Turner had 228 regular-season carries in his four years with the Chargers - and the Falcons have run 312 times, the second- highest total in the league this season behind only Baltimore.

"We knew philosophically we wanted to be a team that could run the football," Smith said. "We knew to win in this league, and I know it sounds cliche, you've got to run the football regardless of who the quarterback is."

Reunion time

Former Broncos cornerback Domonique Foxworth has started the past three games for the Falcons and figures to start Sunday against the Broncos.

Foxworth, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent at season's end, was traded to the Falcons just before the start of the regular season. The Broncos received a seventh-round pick for Foxworth, but the compensation improves if Foxworth re-signs with the Falcons.

"We got him right before the season started, so he was a little bit behind in terms of what we were doing schematically and how we put our defense together," Smith said. "He's done a whole lot to try and catch up."

Foxworth did enough to catch up to start at left cornerback in the Falcons defense against Philadelphia, Oakland and New Orleans.

Against the Saints, Falcons coaches credited him with five pass break-ups. Foxworth was a visible player in the community in his time with Denver, having been active in the efforts to raise funds for the Darrent Williams Teen Center at the Boys & Girls Club, and he also has been the Broncos' local representative for the NFL Players Association.

Time heals

The Broncos had a little more time since their Thursday night game in Cleveland last week to rest their weary bones.

But the Falcons likely got a little more time to prepare for what the Broncos offense might toss their way as well. Because of injuries at running back, the Broncos went to a no-running back look at times against the Browns and basically were forced to use a one-back, pass-first attack for the game's second half.

Quarterback Jay Cutler said it worked because the Browns, in a short week as well, didn't have a lot of things prepared to deal with that.

"They had one (defensive call), maybe they put another one in there for the red zone," Cutler said.

Cutler said the Browns basically played both of their safeties deep to "hope for the best."

Knowing the Broncos' injury situation hasn't improved all that much, the Falcons will have a full week to prepare for what the Broncos might do in the passing game. Smith, a former Jaguars defensive coordinator, faced the Broncos three times in the previous four seasons.

Etc.

* Former Broncos kicker Jason Elam, now with the Falcons and a budding author, said Wednesday his first book, Monday Night Jihad, just went to paperback and a second book, Blown Coverage, is due out at Christmastime. Elam said a third and fourth book in the series are planned.

* Selvin Young (groin), cornerback Champ Bailey (groin), safety Marlon McCree (ankle), linebacker Nate Webster (knee) and linebacker D.J. Williams (knee) were held out of Wednesday's practice.

* For the Falcons, Elam (hip) did not participate in practice. Left tackle Sam Baker (hip/back) and defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead (foot) also did not practice.

* The Broncos put in a waiver claim on running back Michael Bennett, who was released by Tampa Bay. But San Diego also put in a claim and because the Chargers (4-5) have a worse record than the Broncos (5-4), Bennett will go to the Chargers. Bennett appeared in five games for the Buccaneers this season and has 12 yards on seven carries.

The Broncos also put in a waiver claim on kick returner/cornerback Justin Miller, who had been released by the Jets. But the Raiders and the Dolphins also put in a claim and Miller was awarded to Oakland because it has the worst record of the three teams to claim Miller.

The Broncos also had former Southern California running back Ryan Powdrell in for a workout Wednesday.

• November 12, 2008

  8:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  If we can hold Turner to under 100 yards, we can win. I'm not concerned with our running game. I feel we will surprise a few people and show some of the eggheads who are talking smack about Shanahan, that he knows how to get the most from the backs he has.... And that will be enough to walk away from Atlanta with a W.

• November 12, 2008

  9:41 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ES writes:

  Shanahan is a great coach. I know nobody believes that. He is pretty smart. He is unpredictable and pretty intelligent. I think new players have a hard time understanding his plays. They are pretty complex at times.

  I'm more concerned with the physical training regiment that the players are using. Maybe they need to bring in specialists.

• November 12, 2008

  10:31 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Dynamicdave writes:

  ES, I watched how they bent Torain after the hit and rolled on his knee. It doesn't matter the conditioning, when you take a hit like that. It's a hard sport and the defenses have been really throwing it at the RB's. We just took some unfortunate hits. It happens.

• November 13, 2008

  6:45 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Rutabaga writes:

  I've been sitting by my Bronco phone for the past few days, waiting for Mike Shanahan to call. I think I could be a good RB. I watch the games so I sort of know what to do. I've been in jelly doughnut training for about a week now. All I eat is jelly doughnuts. The jelly is like fruit or something like that and it's good for energy. I don't know what the doughnut part is but I'm sure it's good for something. Anyway, I feel pretty good right now, ready to do my part for my favorite team.

  A message to Mike Shanahan... Hey Mike, if you call at night, I might be sleeping so don't get discouraged if no one answers. I'm awake all day mostly, so that's a better time to call. Oh yea, do I have to bring my own helmet to the tryout? Mine is cracked but it still works...

• November 13, 2008

  7:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  BroncoRick69 writes:

  Wow. That was hilarious.

• November 13, 2008

  9:02 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  Elam is an author? Interesting. Might have been nice to have a description of what the books are about though.

  DD is right as usual. As long as we keep Turner under 100 and hopefully out of the end zone, we can keep the game close. I feel Jay Cutler will have another career game this week. Can't wait to watch this one.

  Put some super glue on Tatum Bell's hands so he can't fumble! This is probably the only chance he's going to get to redeem himself so he better play his A$$ off!

• November 13, 2008

  10 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  denfanincali writes:

  With all of these articles focusing on our run game, I sure as heck hope Denver doesn't think it means they gotta get the run game going. We haven't had much of a run game all season. Just because the other team will least expect a run-heavy effort, doesn't mean that's what we should do. The way we are going to win this game is pass, pass and pass. And when we get done passing the ball, we need to pass it again.

  Our run game needs to be sprinkled in sporadically to keep them honest...but not on 1st and 10. If we come out 'cute' and try to run up the gut on 1st and 10...you might as well start pounding some beers because its going to be a long game.

• November 13, 2008

  11:06 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Coltgm56 writes:

  It is good to see some support for Shanahan, I am always with him win or lose. Mike knows football and how to prepare a team. The games are won and lost by the players and we have to remember that. WE have good YOUNG players and they are getting better. The injuries will stop. Tatum Bell gets a second chance and we need him to take advantage of it, I think he will but it may take a couple of weeks to get in game shape. No shame in selling phones at the mall, it proves he will do what he has to to take care of his family. Hang in there Mike/Tatum, tough times do not last tough people do. GO BRONCOS!!!

• November 13, 2008

  12:38 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Winthrop writes:

  Right on, if you can get away with holding for 4 quarters, Turner might only get 100 yards.
  This team not only needs a change in coaches, but also in personal; sign the Rutabaga now and give him the rock.

• November 13, 2008

  12:58 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Spider writes:

  Atlanta is kind of a double edged sword. Turner can tear it up on the ground and Ryan's not playing like a rookie. The way the D has been playing the O is going to have to take advantage everytime they are on the field. Long, time consuming drives that result in TD's has to be the protocol for the day.

• November 13, 2008

  1:36 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  denfanincali are you crazy? That's exactly what they did during the Cleveland game. Pass on 1st and 10. Incomplete... then run on 2nd down and get nothing. Then they have a 3rd and long. They need to go back to running on 1st down. Then it sets up the playaction and they can pretty much do what they want. No more passing on EVERY 1st and 10!!!!

• November 13, 2008

  2:33 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  denfanincali writes:

  sorry kmeissner...but the scordboard does NOT lie. everybody who knows anything about football knows that running on first down sets up the pass. but, we do NOT have that kind of running game this year. We don't. We have NEVER excelled this year, not once when we used the running game to set up the pass. If we use the passing game to set up the run we score points and win games.

  We scored 34 at Cleveland. Is that a problem for you? Look at games 1-3? Are those scores a problem for you? Case in point, the 3rd quarter of the SD game we shifted to a run-first attack and our Offense stalled and we got out of a rhythm. We didn't do diddly and it let SD back into the game.

  Usually, I'd agree with you. But not this year. NO way in hell. We cannot afford to play catch up while we are trying to work out the kinks in our run game.

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