Falcons’ free-agent signees have been a bonus

Falcons head coach Mike Smith knows that every football team needs some blue-collar workers.

After making a big splash in free agency by signing running back Michael Turner, the Falcons focused on other players.

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Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Kicker Jason Elam has made 16 of 17 field goals this season, including the game-winner against Chicago in the closing seconds before the bye week.

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Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com

Atlanta safety Erik Coleman puts a hit on Kansas City’s Tyler Thigpen in the Falcons’ 38-14 win in the Georgia Dome last month. Coleman has 47 tackles this season.

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“We kid them and call them our blue-collar crew or our lunch pail guys,” Smith said. “They come to work and you know what you are going to get out of them, a good hard day’s work. When you have guys like that, you’re going to have a chance to be successful.”

The Falcons spent handsomely to get Turner, giving him a six-year, $34.5 million contract with $15 million in guarantees.

The rest of the free-agent signees didn’t hit the jackpot but have been important to the Falcons’ early-season success.

The “Blue Collar Crew” includes safety Erik Coleman, tight end Ben Hartsock, place-kicker Jason Elam, defensive tackle Kindal Moorehead and defensive end Simon Fraser.

Defensive back Von Hutchins was hurt in the first practice of training camp and defensive tackle Rashad Moore did not make the team.

The players don’t mind the nickname.

“I think that’s going to have to be what it is,” Hartsock said. “Now, I’m not a flashy guy by any stretch of the term.”

Here’s a look at the Falcon’s “Blue-Collar Crew”:

ERIK COLEMAN

• The deal: Signed four-year, $10 million contract with just under $3 million guaranteed

• Old team: New York Jets

• Contribution: Has started all six games at free safety and has 47 tackles and one interception.

“Coleman was a starter in this league for his first four years,” Smith said. “We knew that he would make a contribution. He’s a very solid player.”

BEN HARTSOCK

• The deal: Signed four-year, $9 million deal with $2.25 million guaranteed.

• Old team: Tennessee

• Contribution: Has helped in the running game with his blocking. Has just two catches, but that’s not his forte.

“Once the Falcons started to express some interest, I knew the staff they were putting together suited my skill set,” Hartsock said. “We were just excited to come and try it out.”

JASON ELAM

• The deal: Signed four-year, $9 million deal with $3.3 million guaranteed.

• Old team: Denver

• Contribution: He’s made all 13 of his extra points and 16 of 17 field goals this season.

He won the Chicago game with a last-second field goal.

KINDAL MOOREHEAD

• The deal: Signed two-year contract.

• Old team: Carolina

• Contribution: Has recorded a tackle in four of the six games.

“We dress seven or eight guys every game and everybody plays,” Moorehead said. “Most teams dress eight guys, but only four or five guys play. I feel like the depth is pretty good.”

Moorehead had four tackles against Chicago.

SIMON FRASER

• The deal: Undisclosed

• Old team: Cleveland

• Contribution: Has played in four games and been inactive for two.

“Pretty much, my role down here is to be prepared for any situation that comes up,” Fraser said. “Just help out the team in whatever facet that they ask me to.”

VON HUTCHINS

• The deal: Signed four-year, $9 million deal with $2.35 million guaranteed.

• Old team: Houston

• Contribution: Was slated to be the most experienced cornerback on the team before fracturing his foot on the first day of training camp and being placed on injured reserve.

RASHAD MOORE

• The deal: Undisclosed

• Old team: New England

• Contribution: None. Made it to last cutdown.