FLOWERY BRANCH – Over the past two games, the Falcons have shifted more carries over to Cordarrelle Patterson with the hopes of perking up their rushing attack.
The Falcons are averaging 87.8 yards rushing per game, which ranks 27th of 32 teams in the NFL.
Patterson had 14 carries to Mike Davis’ 13 carries in the win over the Jets in London. Last week against Miami, Patterson had 14 carries to Davis’ four. In the previous four games, Davis had more carries than Patterson.
The shift makes sense because Patterson has been more productive, with 55 carries for 233 yards (4.2 per carry) and two touchdowns. Davis, who signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract in free agency, has 66 carries for 214 yards and a touchdown.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who also calls the plays, believes the shift is coincidental.
“Some of it’s by personnel packages, some of it’s planned and some of it’s the flow of the game,” Smith said. “So, it’s going to change week to week, except we don’t put a fixed number on there.”
Of course, Smith doesn’t have the luxury of Derrick Henry, the star running back with Tennessee, who rushed for more than 2,000 yards last season with Smith calling the plays.
“There’s different ways to move the football and be smart about it,” Smith said. “So, like I said, we’d love to be ... if you’re in the 30-plus carries, you’re probably winning, so there’s obviously other ways to win. But that’s kind of what it came down to.”
The Falcons also have been working Wayne Gallman into the rotation. He’s had eight carries for 33 yards (4.1 per carry) over the past three games.
Davis rushed for a career-high 642 yards and averaged 3.9 per carry last season for the Panthers. He’s not pleased with his slow start.
“I’m not doing to my standard,” Davis said. “I’m not doing as good as I want to be. But it will come. It’s a long season.”
Davis believes the Falcons are close to unlocking their rushing attack.
“We’ve been very close,” Davis said. “We’ve been making strides every game. You can see it. The guys up front and the running backs, we feel it. We feel like it will happen. When it does, we just have to be ready for it. We can’t be surprised.”
Davis did not point any fingers.
“Mostly, it’s just me,” Davis said. “I just have to be better.”
Davis said he plans to work hard, practice harder and watch more film.
“Arthur is calling great plays,” Davis said. “Mixing it up with me and C.P. The ball is being spread out everywhere. It’s not just one person. It’s really nice to see.”
Davis wants to contribute.
“If I’ve got to block all game, I’ll block all game,” said Davis, who had some nice blitz pickups against the Dolphins.
Patterson, who was drafted as a wide receiver in 2013 with Minnesota, is closing in on a career high in carries. He had a career-high 64 last season. He moved past his career high in rushing yards by a yard against the Dolphins.
“I run the ball fast and hard every time I get the ball,” Patterson said. “When my number is called, I’m going out there and try to lay the hammer to somebody. That’s just something that I do in every game and every year.”
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan doesn’t make too much of Patterson getting more carries than Davis over the past two games.
“I think that’s kind of the theme,” Ryan said. “Whether it’s run game or pass game, everybody’s going to be involved in whatever we have to do to be efficient and to move the ball.”
Ryan knows a more productive running attack would help balance the offense. The blocking also can improve.
“I’ve always believed that it takes all 11 guys on the field, operating and kind of rowing in the same direction,” Ryan said. “If we can do that, use our backs. Mike had a huge run for us in that game, too, in a third-down situation. We got beat up front, but he made a guy miss and converted on the third down.”
Davis still has managed to contribute. He had a powerful 3-yard touchdown run against the Jets.
“I mean, the timeliness of some of the plays that he’s had this year have been huge for us,” Ryan said. “So, I think both those guys have done a good job. We need to continue to work at it and try and improve.”
Smith insisted that he’s not moving away from Davis.
“I feel very confident in both those guys and Wayne Gallman running the football for us, but that’s just kind of the way the game went,” Smith said.
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Panthers at Falcons, 1 p.m., Sunday, October 31
Falcons at Saints, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 7
Falcons at Cowboys, 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14
Patriots at Falcons, 8:20 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18
