Falcons plan to monitor Turner’s workload

By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Flowery Branch — On the sixth and final time he touched the ball last Saturday, Falcons running back Michael Turner eased around the right side of the line and threw it into overdrive against the Lions.

Forty yards and a few moments later, Turner was in the end zone, making his final numbers quite economical: 63 yards, six carries, one touchdown.

It was a good sign for the Falcons, who plan to monitor Turner’s workload this year after he led the league with 376 carries last season. Counting the 18 runs from scrimmage in the postseason makes for 394 in 17 games.

That makes Turner the latest running back to face the dreaded “Curse of 370.”

“I’m not thinking about the 370 thing,” Turner said. “I just have to be ready when my number is called.”

The stat was “discovered” by Football Outsiders founder Aaron Schatz in 2004.

Running backs who rush for more than 370 carries in a season will either have a significant decline or get hurt the following season. Only one running back, Eric Dickerson, has been able to beat the curse.

In 1983, Dickerson rushed for 1,808 yards on 390 carries as a rookie. He followed that season up with 2,105 yards on 379 carries.

In 1988, Dickerson had 388 carries for 1,659 yards and in 1989 he had 1,311 yards on 314 carries. That’s one way to get into the Football Hall of Fame.

The “370 Curse” has reared its head in the Falcons locker room before.

After Jamal Anderson powered the Falcons to the Super Bowl with 410 carries in 1998, he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 1999 and was never the same.

Gerald Riggs ran for 1,719 yards on 397 carries in 1985. He followed up that season with 1,327 yards on 343 carries but although he played five more seasons, he never eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark again.

Some of the latest players to succumb the curse include Seattle’s Shaun Alexander, Kansas City’s Larry Johnson, Tennessee’s Eddie George and Miami’s Ricky Williams.

The Falcons braintrust is aware of the “curse,” but don’t plan to pay much homage to it.

“We’re not counting,” Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey said. “When we need a run and we need yards, I’m going to call Michael Turner’s number.”

Mularkey doesn’t believe that Turner, who ran for 1,699 yards and a franchise-record 17 rushing touchdowns last season, was over-used.

“We weren’t saying we are going to do this many, that’s just the way it turned out,” Mularkey said.

Some contend Dickerson was able to carry such a load because he was a long strider and would dip out of bounds near the sidelines to avoid some collisions.

But the Falcons believe that Turner has a secret weapon, too.

“The one thing that goes, and never is talked about, is the offense’s ability to finish plays to where they keep guys off of Mike, so there are no extra hits and extra players that are piling on Mike,” Mularkey said. “So he’s not getting the hits per se most backs get.”

Mularkey is counting on the line’s style of play to help Turner again in 2009.

“If people ask me how’s he going to hold up, his teammates are going to hold him up,” Mularkey said. “They are responsible as much as I am for helping him hold up.”

No one appreciates their duty downfield more than Turner.

“They were protecting me a lot last year,” Turner said. “They were running down field and getting those extra hits off of me. I appreciate them for doing that because it saved me a lot of trouble during the season.”

To the players up front, it became a matter of pride.

“You just want to finish,” right tackle Tyson Clabo said. “You don’t want to not be down there and have that guy make a tackle. If you have an opportunity to break a long run, you want to help spring it.”

The Falcons spent much time in the offseason working on improving the passing game. They also added tight end Tony Gonzalez, a 10-time Pro Bowler. A more diversified attack should help ease Turner’s load.

“We are not going to change a lot,” Mularkey said.

Even before the touchdown run against the Detroit, the Falcons had not seen any dip in Turner’s play during training camp.

“Michael has stepped his game up some,” running backs coach Gerald Brown said. “He’s practicing with a lot of energy.”

And as for the Curse, those who witness Turner’s low and powerful running style on a daily basis wonder if he may be immune.

“Have you seen his legs?” wide receiver Roddy White said. “They look like tree trunks. I would never want to tackle that guy.”

Here’s a look at how players have done after running the ball for more than 370 times in the season. The Falcons will get to face the “Curse of 370” for a third time.

NAME TEAM YEAR ATT WHAT’S NEXT?

Larry Johnson, Kansas City 2006 416 Rushed for just 559 yards in 2007.

Jamal Anderson, Atlanta 1998 410 Suffered a torn ACL in 1999

James Wilder, Tampa Bay 1984 407 Had a strong 1985, but dipped in 1986.

Eric Dickerson, LA Rams 1984 404 Only one to beat the curse.

Eddie George, Tennessee 2003 403 Never the same back.

Gerald Riggs, Atlanta 1985, 397 Had a 392-yard dip.

Michael Turner, Atlanta 2008, 394

--Source: NFL Record & Fact Book