DEL.ICIO.USNFL: ATLANTA FALCONS
Falcons want Norwood more involved with offense
As a running back, receiver, returner he’s able to contribute in a variety of ways
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Flowery Branch — The pleas to get running back Jerious Norwood the ball, have been heard. Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey stays up late at night figuring out new ways to deploy the fleet running back.
“[Mularkey’s] having fun,” running back Michael Turner said. “It’s probably like playing a video game to him. He’s moving guys all around and doing all kinds of stuff.”
Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons running back Jerious Norwood has more than 1,000 multi-purpose yards — 285 rushing, 115 receiving and 561 on kickoff returns — through eight games this season.
Early in last Sunday’s game against Oakland, Mularkey unleashed the full throttle Norwood plan.
He played quarterback. He flanked out wide receiver. He was the deep back in the backfield. He caught a swing pass and scooted up the sideline.
“Jerious is a very gifted athlete,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He can do a number of things. He’s very multi-faceted. He’s an integral part of our football team. It’s not a surprise that he’s had the success that he’s had. When you give him opportunities to get touches he’s made the most of them.”
Norwood’s versatility has led to more than 1,000 multi-purpose yards — 285 rushing, 115 receiving and 561 on kickoff returns — through eight games.
“As far as me running and catching, I feel like that’s some of the best aspects of my game,” Norwood said. “So far it’s been great. I’m just glad to be a part of the team and help out any way possible.”
Turner gets a kick seeing Norwood line up all over the offense.
“It’s helping this whole team,” Turner said. “We want to get our weapons on the field. We are just trying to find ways to get him on the field and get him the football.”
Norwood puts in extra study time to stay on top of all of his assignments.
“That’s a credit to his athletic ability and how smart he is,” quarterback Matt Ryan said. “He learns a ton of different positions. He works so hard during the course of the week that it allows him to go out there on Sunday and line up as a wide receiver, line up in the backfield, do some different things.”
When Norwood flanked out to the right at wide receiver, he went on a pass route. Ryan threw deep, but Norwood broke the route early.
“It was just a miscommunication,” Norwood said. “Some of the little details that we’ve got to work on. We’ve got time to do that so hopefully we’ll come back to it and make a positive out of it.”
Norwood said there isn’t a different mind set at wide receiver for him.
“I just want to go out and win,” Norwood said. “Beat the guy that I’m matched up against and just win.”
When Norwood was at quarterback in the shotgun formation, Ryan went out in motion to his right. It was a running play to the other side.
Norwood wouldn’t say if can throw the ball out of the quarterback position.
“Hopefully we will down the road,” Norwood said. “I don’t want to say anything right now. I don’t want to give any tips away.”
The Falcons don’t have a name for their formation when Norwood goes to quarterback.
“We use, like last week we played Oakland, we called it Oakland,” Norwood said. “Just Oakland.”
The Falcons are playing New Orleans this week, but Norwood wouldn’t say if the formation would be called New Orleans or not. He didn’t want to tip off any of Mularkey’s formations.
“He really has some creative plays,” Ryan said. “We always have something new each week. The biggest thing is that we’ve had success with those plays. He’s draws them up well and calls them at the right time.”
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