DEL.ICIO.USNorwood breaks out for big gains
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Jerious Norwood’s 67-yard scamper on a pass to the flat came complete with high steps, seven points and a 21-point lead on New Orleans to start the fourth quarter.
But it was the eight-minute, 30-second drive on the Falcons’ previous possession that proved just as important in their 34-20 victory Sunday.
Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Falcons running back Jerious Norwood glances over his shoulder on the way to the end zone for a 59-yard touchdown run during fourth quarter.
Michael Turner pounded out 32 yards on eight carries, all but one of those carries running between the tackles, and Jason Elam kicked a 27-yard field goal.
More important than the number of points was the amount of time the Falcons kept the ball out of the hands of Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
The Saints used the 10:58 they possessed it in the fourth quarter to score 14 points. Anywhere close to that amount of time in the third quarter and the Saints might have drawn much closer than the final score.
“That’s one of the things we wanted to do, control the ball and control the clock,” Turner said. “Eight minutes, that’s pretty good.”
Outside of the failed third-and-6 to set up the field goal, the Falcons went to third down only once in the first 11 plays on the drive, and that was a third-and-1.
“We’ve made an emphasis on winning the early downs, so we can stay out of third-and-long,” left guard Justin Blalock said. “People get exotic and do all kinds of crazy things [on third-and-long]. We were able to do that for the most part today.”
It also makes things easier on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, enabling him to throw on less predictable downs.
“I thought that was an important drive,” Ryan said. “Our offensive line has done a great job all year, but specifically on that drive, they played very physical and controlled the line of scrimmage. Our running backs played physical as well.”
As good as the Falcons run game has been all season, it had been stumped in division games. Turner was held to 42 yards against Tampa Bay and 56 yards against Carolina. He rushed for 96 yards Sunday against New Orleans.
And his inside runs helped set up the speed of Norwood on the edge. Norwood’s 67-yard reception on a pass to the right flat was the longest reception of his career.
“A couple receivers downfield made some great blocks [Laurent Robinson and Michael Jenkins],” Norwood said. “And I was able to squeeze in between the blocks and get into the end zone.”
Norwood finished with 178 all-purpose yards, including 17 yards rushing, 88 receiving and 73 yards in kickoff returns.
“It’s great to be able to have two running backs: a power back and a speed back, and Mike also has good speed,” Norwood said. “It’s great to be able to wear a defense out and put me in and I get a chance to run around the defense, get all the great love, I guess.”
— Staff writer D. Orlando Ledbetter contributed to this report.
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