Snelling runs for career-high 147 yards

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

TAMPA – If Jason Snelling is looking for a fan club president, he doesn't have to look far.

Just a couple of stalls down in the Falcons locker room sits fullback Ovie Mughelli.

"I've been talking about that boy since he came here as a rookie," Mughelli said. "I've been watching him on the scout team. He gives our defense headaches because he's just that good."

Snelling, a three-year veteran, bore out Mughelli's scouting report Sunday, running for a career-high 147 yards on 25 carries against Tampa Bay in the Falcons' 20-10 victory at Raymond James Stadium.

Snelling and Jerious Norwood have been splitting the carries since Michael Turner went down with a high right ankle sprain. Both had filled in as well as they could , but the offense had not had a 100-yard rushing effort since Turner went down against Carolina on Nov. 15

"He's one of those guys who just needed a chance," Mughelli said. "I'm happy that he got a chance this year. He showed a lot of people that he's one of the best running backs out there. We have a stable of good running backs. Mike, Jerious and Jason. Now people know."

Snelling had only 16 yards at halftime. But he took over the game in the second half, as offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey elected to pound the ball at a stacked Tampa Bay defense.

"It was slow early in the first half," Snelling said. "But we kept with it."

Mughelli contended that the Bucs put as many as 10 players in the box. If the Bucs bunched up inside, the Falcons hit the corners. If they spread out, Snelling rammed it up the middle.

"We had to determine where to go and then just out-hit them and [play] more physical," Mughelli said.

Early in the third quarter, the Falcons were backed up at their 2-yard line. After Mughelli had a 4-yard run, the Falcons ran Snelling five straight times and moved the team out to the 31-yard line.

"We wanted to keep pounding the ball," Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

When the Falcons went ahead 17-10 with 4:14, it became Snelling's job to salt the game away. The 229-pounder ran seven straight times and picked up 62 yards.

"We take pride in running the ball," Snelling said. "We had it going today. We kept with it. We kept grinding it out."