AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 28
Friday, September 28, 2007
Will the Falcons commit to the run?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons’ rushing attempts have dipped from 28 to 25 to 19, respectively, in their three season-opening losses. Heading into Sunday’s game with the Texans, that trend could change.
There seems to be an emphasis on committing to the run. So far, the Falcons have rarely called three running plays in a row, in large part, because things haven’t worked.
Offensive tackle Wayne Gandy told me this week that the running backs are still transitioning from the zone run scheme, where they ran to an area, picked a seam and cut, to the more traditional scheme, where they need to be patient and let a pulling guard engage his man or allow the lineman to establish leverage against his opponent.
There also seems to be signs that Jerious Norwood could be more involved in the running game. Norwood has just 20 carries in six catches in three games. That’s hardly enough to get into any type of rhythm.
Linemen are chomping for coach Bobby Petrino to give them a heavy dose of run plays. Some of them feel they’ve been able to control the line of scrimmage in the ground game but the team has gotten itself into too many bad down and distance situations to establish any type of consistency.
