FLOWERY BRANCH—With the Falcons' training camp opening on Thursday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will take a look at some key positions every day. Today: the running backs.
The players report for training camp Wednesday and take the field for the first practice at 10:40 a.m. the next day.
The key question
How will the Falcons split up the carries between running backs Michael Turner and Jacquizz Rodgers?
Running back Michael Turner has been one of the most productive players in the league and probably doesn't receive enough credit for his role in helping to remake the Falcons into perennial playoff contenders.
He's rushed for 5,281 yards and 50 touchdowns over the past four seasons. Only Minnesota's Adrian Peterson has rushed for more yards (5,411) and touchdowns (52). Tennessee's Chris Johnson (5,645 yards and 28 touchdowns) and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew (5,145, 40) are the only other players in the 5,000-yard club over the past four seasons.
So why is there a rush to give some of Turner's carries to second-year running back Jacquizz Rodgers?
Turner, who turned 30 this offseason, is set to enter the last year of his contract. Also, he's had 1,189 carries of the past four seasons and showed some signs of slippage in 2011.
Despite leading the NFC in rushing in 2011, there were nine games in which he was held under 76 yards rushing. In four key losses to Tampa Bay, Houston, New Orleans and the New York Giants, he was held to under 50 yards rushing.
Running backs coach Gerald Brown, a 27-year coaching veteran, may have his most challenging year with developing a Turner/Rodgers plan and finding a replacement for former Pro Bowl fullback Ovie Mughelli, who was released in a salary cap move.
Five goals for the running backs
1. Find a replacement at fullback.
2. Cut Michael Turner's carries.
3. Get second-year man Jacquizz Rodgers move involved.
4. Run with more power in short yardage situations.
5. Catch more passes out of the backfield, especially in the new screen attack.
Here's a look at the nine running backs in camp. The team will likely keep five or six:
Michael Turner: He has 50 career touchdowns with the Falcons and needs seven to move past Andre Rison (56) and eight to land in first-place in team history ahead of Terance Mathis (57).
Jacquizz Rodgers: He averaged a sub-par 3.6 yards rushing per carry, while picking up 205 yards on 57 carries as a rookie. He also had 21 catches for 188 yards and one touchdown.
Jason Snelling: He led the running backs group with 26 catches last season and could find a role in the team's new screen passing attack.
Antone Smith: He shined on special teams last season and could compete for the open kickoff return job.
Robbie Frey: He played three seasons in the Big East at Connecticut before transferring to Division II Kutztown.
Dimitri Nance: He's back for his second stint with the Falcons. He played 12 games with the Green Bay Packers in 2010 after they signed him off the Falcons' practice squad.
Lee Meisner: He was invited back after performing well during a rookie minicamp tryout.
Bradie Ewing: He registered 30 touchdown-resulting blocks and caught all 28 passes targeted to him last season. Of his catches, 19 went for first downs and 16 were of 10 yards or more. He was a team captain.
Mike Cox: He played in nine games and made five starts in 2011.
