The Beat Blog

In his weekly Monday news conference, Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith had little details to offer on the status of starting running back Michael Turner (sprained ankle) other than that he expects Turner to play again in 2009, but he did offer some optimism on No. 2 back Jerious Norwood (hip flexor), who has missed the last four games.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SMITH’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Turner, the NFL’s second-leading rusher in 2008 who had accumulated 428 yards on 47 carries over the last three games, left Sunday’s game in the second quarter and did not return. Smith said that Turner had undergone tests and would undergo further tests after the 3 p.m. news conference. He said he expected to have more news on Wednesday, the first day by which the team must issue NFL-mandated injury reports.

Smith was asked to offer his assessment if Turner cannot play on Sunday.

“Assuming the worst, if Michael cannot play then Jason Snelling will play our running back, as well as Jerious Norwood,” he said. “We are certainly hoping that Jerious will be back… We are anticipating a chance for him to get out there and work with us on Wednesday.”

Smith said he did not want to divulge too many details on Monday for fear of giving the Giants a competitive advantage, but prodded by the media he twice responded that he was “very confident” Turner would play again this season. He also said that after the game Turner “was moving around pretty good.”

Snelling, who rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in the 28-19 loss to Carolina on Sunday, said he was ready to assume Turner’s spot if Turner could not play.

“If Mike’s out — or whatever the situation is – I’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Wide receiver Roddy White praised Snelling for his work, but he was honest in appraising Turner’s worth.

“Snell came in and played well,” White said. “He rushed the ball real well in that situation. We’re going to miss the big guy [Turner] in the goal line ’cause he goes down there and usually punch it in real easily… Hopefully, we can get Mike back as soon as possible. Sunday, preferably, and we can get rolling again. Three straight games over 100 yards, he looked like he was going to be on a tear for at least 200 in that game. We need that guy. He’s special. He’s our MVP, man. As long as we got him, the offense kind of rolls smoothly.”

Examining the Field Goal Unit

Jason Elam missed his fifth field goal of the season on Sunday, a 34-yarder. His 64-percent success rate ranks him 33rd of 36 kickers in the NFL this season.

“The missed field goal yesterday we did not handle the operation of the snap, hold and kick very well and when that operation does not go smoothly, it puts stress on the attempt,” Smith said. “Jason has not kicked the ball as well as he has in the past. And it definitely is a concern for us.”

jmanasso The Day After Jason Snelling, Jerious Norwood, michael smith, Mike Smith, Roddy White

In the big picture, this 28-19 loss will be remembered for the Falcons’ failure to capitalize on their opportunities — and possibly for Michael Turner’s sprained ankle. The ones that will stand out the most are Jason Elam’s missed 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter might and Matt Ryan’s two interceptions — the fourth time in five games that Ryan has thrown two or more interceptions in a game.

Both of Ryan’s interceptions resulted in Carolina touchdowns. The second in particular will linger. It came immediately after Eric Weems‘ 24-yard punt return gave the Falcons a first down at the Carolina 49-yard line with 3:59 remaining and the Falcons down by only two points.

And don’t look now, but with the Falcons dropping to 5-4, the Panthers — once 0-3 — have won four out of six and are 4-5 — only one game behind the Falcons. Next week’s game at the New York Giants (5-4), the losers of four straight coming off their bye this week, already loomed large on the calendar but it could effectively be an elmination game for the loser in terms of the NFC playoff race. The health of Turner and his ability to play could have a big impact on that game.

Here are some other observations:

• The outcome of the game might have turned on three key plays with less than seven minutes left in regulation. With the Falcons trailing by two points and the ball at the Panthers’ 16, Ryan was stopped on a quarterback sneak for no gain. Then Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith chose to challenge the play. The challenge failed and Smith sent Elam into try a 34-yard field goal. Elam’s kick failed, preserving the Panthers’ lead.
• Thomas DeCoud missed a block on Panthers’ punter Jason Baker on Weems’ 24-yard punt return that could have cost the Falcons a touchdown.
• The Falcons had two fourth-down conversions and both came on touchdown drives. The first was a defensive pass interference call that Roddy White drew on the Panthers’ Chris Gamble in the second quarter a fourth-and-8 and the second was Ryan’s 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-inches.
• Neither team sacked the other’s quarterback.
• Carolina Head Coach John Fox said one of the keys to his team’s resurgance was the ability to fix its turnover problems today. Carolina had no turnovers on Sunday and forced two by the Falcons.
• The Falcons’ stop of the Panthers with 11:16 left in regulation was their second in a row — the first time in the game that the Falcons forced stops on consecutive possessions.

jmanasso Gameday Chris Gamble, Eric Weems, Jason Elam, John Fox, Justin Peelle, Matt Ryan, Mike Smith, Roddy White

Offensively, the Falcons appear to be getting what they need from Jason Snelling at running back in place of Michael Turner.

Snelling has 54 yards on 13 carries, including 48 yards on nine carries in the third quarter. With the Falcons poised to score a touchdown (they are on the Panthers’ 3-yard line to start the fourth quarter), Matt Ryan also is looking much more efficient than he was in the first half. Ryan was 8 of 10 in the quarter for 97 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns.

With the Falcons having cut into that 11-point halftime deficit by three, here are some observations for the final 15 minutes:

• When Chauncey Davis blocked John Kasay’s 51-yard field goal attempt, it was the Falcons’ defense’s third stop of the game. Carolina had scored touchdowns on three of its previous four possessions. That was big to stay in the game.
• The Falcons had the ball for all but 3:21 of the third quarter.
• The Falcons have scored on all three trips in the red zone but they only have one touchdown. They had to settle for field goals from the 17- and 6-yard lines. (Of course, that could all change in a matter of seconds now.)
• The Panthers are often defending Tony Gonzalez with a cornerback. Richard Marshall broke up Matt Ryan’s throw to Gonzalez in the end zone on third-and-4 from the 6 in the third quarter. Earlier in the first quarter, Chris Gamble was matched up with Gonzalez. Maybe that it was a decision that Panthers Head Coach John Fox made when he lost linebacker Thomas Davis, an excellent runner, last Sunday for the season with a knee injury.
• Brent Grimes is in at left cornerback, replacing Tye Hill. Hill got beat a few times in the first half.

jmanasso Gameday Brent Grimes, Jason Snelling, John Fox, Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez, Tye Hill

He finished third in the MVP voting in the NFL last year and now the Falcons are looking at possibly having to make up an 11-point halftime deficit without the services of running back Michael Turner, who left Sunday’s game with a sprained right ankle.

And this on a day when quarterback Matt Ryan is struggling.

Turner appeared as if he would be a key to victory on Sunday, as he was tearing through the Carolina defense with 111 yards on just nine carries.

On his last 47 carries, he has averaged 9.1 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Ryan has completed just 7 of 19 passes (37 percent) for 48 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. While Ryan made one costly mistake, he’s getting pressured, hit, and the Falcons have at least two drops. One drop was by tight end Keith Zinger in the first quarter and Michael Jenkins had another just before halftime.

Meanwhile, Carolina has its own injuries to key players to deal with. Starting right tackle Jeff Otah is out with an ankle injury and will not return and wide receiver Steve Smith, after receiving a hard hit from Falcons safety Thomas DeCoud after Smith caught a 1-yard touchdown pass, was listed as questionable with a rib injury.

Ryan’s interception — the only turnover of the first half — helped Carolina to regain an 11-point lead.

Ryan overthrew Jenkins on a roll-out and the ball landed right in the stomach of Panthers’ rookie safety Sherrod Martin at the Falcons’ 45-yard line. After Martin’s 12-yard return with 3:32 left before halftime, the Panthers took over at the Falcons’ 33 and needed six plays to go the 33 yards for a touchdown. Smith got the 1-yard reception from Jake Delhomme that put the Panthers up 21-10 with 1:08 left in the second quarter, giving Carolina its second 11-point lead of the period.

Delhomme, by the way, has been about as efficient as he could possibly be. He has completed 11 of 14 passes for 137 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The Falcons will need to sack and harass him in the second half to curb his effectiveness if they want to make a comeback.

The first time the Falcons fell down by 11, Turner helped to rally them back within four. He ran for 42 yard on that drive, but came out of the game with his injury before he could help the Birds finish it. Most of the running duties on that drive went to Jason Snelling.

Snelling capped a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with a 1-yard run with 5:56 remaining in the half. The biggest play of the drive was an 8-yard pass interference penalty on Panthers’ cornerback Chris Gamble against Roddy White on fourth-and-8 from the Panthers’ 37-yard line. The Falcons converted third downs on a 13-yard reception by Roddy White and Snelling’s touchdown run.

Snelling has shown promise in the past, but he will have to help to take the team on his shoulders in the second half and Ryan and the offensive line will have to do a better job. For its part, the defense will have to do better than the 222 yards it allowed in the first half and forcing some turnovers of their own would not hurt either.

jmanasso Gameday Chris Gamble, Jason Snelling, jeff otah, Keith Zinger, Matt Ryan, Michael Jenkins, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Steve Smith, Thomas DeCoud

Falcons running back Michael Turner, who rushed for 111 yards on nine carries in the first 24 minutes of Sunday’s game with Carolina, has a sprained right ankle and his return is questionable.

Turner rushed for 10 yards from the Panthers 25-yard line with less than 10 minutes left in the second quarter, his final play on that drive that resulted in a Falcons’ touchdown.

Turner was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Week this week and in the last three week found the form that made him the NFL’s second-leading rusher last season with 1,699 yards and finished third in the MVP voting. In the last three games, including Sunday, Turner has rushed for 428 yards on 47 carries for an average of 9.1 yards per carry.

jmanasso Breaking News, Gameday

If the Falcons were worried about the running game with starting left tackle Sam Baker out with an ankle injury, the first drive should allay some of their fears. Michael Turner gained 47 yards on two carries to the right side in setting up a 35-yard field goal by Jason Elam on the opening drive. About the only thing that went wrong on that first drive was that tight end Keith Zinger dropped a pass for a short gain.

That could have cost the Falcons a first down.

Oddly, however, as successful as the run was in the first quarter, the passing game struggled. Michael Turner gained 69 yards in the quarter on four carries and overall the Falcons had 71 yards on the ground. However, quarterback Matt Ryan finished the quarter below 50 percent in his completion percentage (4 of 9) and his long pass was 12 yards. So while the offense gained a lot of yardage, it failed to connect at the key times, as they punted from Carolina’s 39-yard line and had to go for a field goal from the Panthers’ 17.

Conversely, after Carolina’s first drive ended in a three-and-out, the Panthers got things going.

They appear to be using the no-huddle offense to particular effect. The Panthers took the lead 7-3 — where the score stood at the end of the quarter — on an 80-yard touchdown drive, most of which came through the air. The Panthers got a big conversion on third-and-7 on a 13-yard reception by tight end Jeff King. Usually in third-and-long, the Falcons will go to their nickel package, but instead they kept three linebackers in the game. Linebacker Mike Peterson said earlier in the week that the Panthers often run in situations that you would expect them to pass, that’s one possible explanation.

Muhsin Muhammad then had two big catches, one of 21 yards and the other of 22. On the second, Muhammad seemed to push off on Falcons’ cornerback Tye Hill to make the catch. Then the dangerous Steve Smith, after a fumbled exchange between Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and running back Jonathan Stewart resulted in a 5-yard loss, picked up some big yards after the catch for a 19-yard gain to the Falcons’ 1. Stewart took it in on the next play.

On their next drive, the Panthers again appeared to move the ball with ease with the no-huddle, mixing runs of 7 yards by Stewart and 6 and 8 by Stewart with a 9-yard pass to King.

The Falcons need to get in sync on offense and find an answer for the Panthers’ no-huddle on defense.

jmanasso Gameday Jake Delhomme, Jason Elam, Jeff King, Jonathan Stewart, Keith Zinger, Michael Turner, Mike Peterson, Muhsin Muhammad, Sam Baker, Steve Smith, Will Svitek

When one thinks of sports teams taking a bus to make a road trip, the image evoked is one of an earlier time when air travel was less abundant.

But in some ways, it also can be a more efficient mode of transportation. The Falcons decided that that was the case for this Sunday’s game in Charlotte and made the trip, which is not much more than 200 miles from the team’s practice facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., in a six-bus caravan aided by an escort from police in three different states — Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The trip was designed to save time on both the front and back ends of the trip, as it’s almost a 60-mile trip from Flowery Branch to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

“We will get there quicker,” Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith said of the move. “The drive from Flowery Branch down to the airport, having to unload, load the plane, go through [Transportation Security Administration], fly over there, get off the bus, unload the plane and get to the hotel — we will actually get there quicker by just leaving here from Flowery Branch. Our support staff has done it for years and they always get there quicker. We leave at the same time and they always beat us to the hotel and beat us back. It’s to take the wear-and-tear off our bodies.”

Smith said that when he was a linebackers coach with the Ravens, the team often took alternative modes of transportation. Washington, D.C., is a mere 40 miles away, Philadelphia is about 100 and New York is a little more than 200. He said the Ravens would bus to Philadelphia and take the train to New York.

“It’s something when you’re in close proximity in this league, that’s really the mode of operation with either buses or train if you’re up in the northeast,” Smith said.

Wide receiver Roddy White said the players’ first reaction was to laugh when Smith informed them of how the Falcons would make the trip. But “when coach told us we were going to get there quicker, everyone was like, ‘Oh, yeah. That’s a better route to go,’ ” White said.

Safety Thomas DeCoud said it reminded him of playing Amateur Athletic Union basketball during his high school days. Playing his college football at Cal, DeCoud only bused to nearby Stanford for the Bears’ rivalry game.

“Actually, I’m kind of looking forward to it,” DeCoud said on Thursday. “A little road trip… You have a lot of fun. It’s a camraderie kind of thing. Guys have fun.”

jmanasso Gameday Mike Smith, Roddy White, Thomas DeCoud

The Carolina Panthers have some significant names on their inactive list — although running back DeAngelo Williams is not among them. Williams, the league’s fifth-ranked rusher, missed practice on Wednesday and Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable. However, his fullback, Brad Hoover (ankle) is inactive. Tony Fiammetta will take Hoover’s place.

Carolina is hardest hit on defense. Starting safety Charles Godfrey and second-string tackle Nick Hayden are both inactive on top of the loss of starting linebacker Thomas Davis (ACL), who was lost for the season last Sunday.

In a Wednesday conference call, Panthers Head Coach John Fox and starting linebacker Jon Beason both complimented the job that rookie Sherrod Martin has done the last two games in place of Godfrey (ankle). Martin, who played at Troy, is from Griffin, Ga.

jmanasso Gameday Brad Hoover, Charles Godfrey, DeAngelo Williams, John Fox, Jon Beason, Nick Hayden, Sherrod Martin, Thomas Davis

Falcons offensive tackle Will Svitek spent a few minutes earlier this week talking to reporters and recounting his family’s compelling story of fleeing Communist Czechoslovakia for safe refuge and the freedom of the West. Svitek was only 2, but he had siblings who were teenagers or adults  and his parents acted as if they were going on an all-day hike through the Alps. They went on an all-day hike, all right, but they crossed into Austria. Eight months after living in a refugee camp, they were given passage to the United States and Svitek grew up in California and played football, eventually earning a scholarship to Stanford.

While his family had to negotiate a mountain to gain their freedom, Svitek will have to overcome a different kind of metaphorical hurdle on Sunday when he makes his first start since 2007 in lining up at times against Panthers’ Pro-Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers, who has seven sacks this season. Svitek, who played some last week when starting left tackle Sam Baker got injured against Washington, will start in place of Baker, who is inactive. Svitek has only four career starts. Baker was on the Falcons’ injury report this week with an ankle injury and did not participate in practice on Friday and even that day he was limited. His status was questionable entering Sunday.

Another significant absence for the Falcons is wide receiver Brian Finneran (knee) who also is inactive. Finneran, who plays the third receiver along with Marty Booker, is significant in blocking schemes, as he is a smart player who can recognize opposing blitzes and often lines up in the backfield to provide extra protection for Matt Ryan. The absence might not have been much of a surprise as Finneran did not practice all week and the team cut running back Aaron Stecker on Saturday to make room off the practice squad to sign wide receiver Troy Bergeron, who will make his NFL debut. The Falcons were able to waive Stecker because of the return of Jason Snelling, who will be active for the first time in three games with a hamstring injury.

Another significant inactive is defensive tackle Trey Lewis. However, rookie Vance Walker, who has made eight tackles in the last two weeks — the first two games of his NFL career — remains active. Other inactives are Jerious Norwood, who will miss his fourth straight game with a hip flexor injury, John Parker Wilson (third quarterback), offensive tackle Garrett Reynolds, linebacker Spencer Adkins and safety Charlie Peprah.

jmanasso Uncategorized Brian Finneran, Charlie Peprah, Garrett Reynold, Jerious Norwood, John Parker Wilson, Sam Baker, Spencer Adkins, Trey Lewis, Troy Bergeron, Will Svitek

For all of the criticism that the 2-5 Redskins have taken this season, a look at some statistics might indicate a closer comparison to the Falcons than one would originally think.

First Down

The Redskins rank 28th in scoring at 13.7 points per game, but you’d never guess which team’s quarterback has the higher rating and has thrown fewer interceptions. If you guessed the former Auburn quarterback, you’re right. Jason Campbell’s rating is 85.8 to Matt Ryan’s 82.4. Campbell has eight touchdowns and seven interceptions while Ryan has 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Yet the Redskins lost to winless teams on three different occasions and in one of those, a 14-6 loss to Kansas City, Redskins Head Coach Jim Zorn removed Campbell from the game in the second half because of his lack of effectiveness.

It’s hard to envision a situation in which the same would happen to Ryan. Nonetheless, his seven interceptions in the last three games are alarming. He will surely face plenty of questions today during his media availability. One thing I want to know: Does Ryan believe in the concept of a “bad year” and is he having one?

Second Down

On Monday, Smith said that Michael Turner had reviewed old tapes of himself when he was running well as a sort of self-evaluation. Then Turner broke out with a huge 151-yard game against a good Saints defense. I’m curious to hear from Turner what he saw in himself on those tapes and how that helped him.

Third Down

Washington has the 22nd-ranked rushing defense in the NFL, but the second against the pass. Defensive end Andre Carter has 6.5 sacks and rookie end/linebacker Brian Orakpo has 3.0 and seems to play both positions. I’d like to hear from Smith as to how the Redskins use Orakpo in their scheme and his concerns about protecting Ryan.

Here’s another startling statistic to me: Opponents are running the ball 30.4 times per game against the Redskins. That’s the seventh-most in the NFL. I don’t think it takes a stretch of the imagination to realize that the Falcons, who ranked second in the NFL last season in rushing attempts per game, are going to show the Redskins a healthy dose of Turner.

And Out…

If there’s a reason why the Redskins have been torched in the press, it’s probably because of the image of a team that beats itself. They lead the league with 20 fumbles, although they have only lost eight. They also are minus-8 in the turnover ratio while the Falcons are plus-5.

So as we saw from Coy Wire and Thomas DeCoud last week, it will be incumbent on the Falcons to create turnovers. That’s always part of the Falcons’ game plan.

jmanasso Three-and-Out Coy Wire, Falcons, Jason Campbell, Jim Zorn, Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Mike Smith, Redskins, Thomas DeCoud