Michael Turner closing in on 1,000-yard rushing mark

FLOWERY BRANCH -- After a season marred by an ankle injury, Falcons running back Michael Turner is closing in on the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second time in his career.

He was on his way to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons last year when Carolina's Chris Gamble swooped in really low and put a shot on his ankle in mid-November.

Turner suffered a high ankle sprain and never returned to full health.

"I just wanted to be here for all of the games," said Turner, who has rushed for 974 yards on 223 carries and seven touchdowns. "It was unfortunate that I got hurt last year. Now, I'm in the games and I'm being productive. That's what my team needs me to do."

Turner's bruising runs have had a cumulative effect on defenses.

Last week against Green Bay it was pretty steady. In the previous game against St. Louis on Nov. 21, he continued to chip away until he wore down the Rams. He broke loose on a 39-yard run late in the game, when the Rams didn't seem too interested in trying to tackle the hard-charging Turner.

"He's doing an excellent job," wide receiver Roddy White said. "He's so tough to tackle in the fourth quarter when everybody is kind of tired. He's just gearing up and is ready to go."

In 2008, Turner rushed for 1,699 yards on 376 carries and was named to his first Pro Bowl team. His power runs helped carry the Falcons to the playoffs. Counting the 18 runs from scrimmage in the postseason, Turner had 394 carries in 17 games.

The development of Ryan as a more mature passer has allowed the Falcons to reduce Turner's load to 20.3 carries per games. In 2008, he carried the ball 23.5 times per game and got over that notorious 370-carry mark, a stat that was “discovered” by Football Outsiders founder Aaron Schatz in 2004.

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

Turner has bounced back nicely from the cursed year.

The 1,000-yard mark, especially if he reaches the mark in only 12 games, still is quite an accomplishment.

"The numbers will take care of themselves if you are going out there and playing hard," Turner said. "Those numbers will keep rising and rising."

Turner and coach Mike Smith have credited the offensive line with his productivity. Turner also tips his hat to fullback Ovie Mughelli.

"He plays a big part," he said. "He understands that, and he's going out there and crushing guys with key blocks that are springing me loose."

In addition to closing in on 1,000 yards, Turner has a career-high 11 receptions for 73 yards. He entered season with just 22 catches over five seasons.

Most of his catches are on plays where most of the receivers are covered, and he's a release man. However, against Cincinnati on Oct. 24 he had a 19-yard gain.

"Everybody thinks of Michael as a ballcarrier, but Michael can catch the ball out of the backfield," Smith said. "When the progression tells our quarterback to throw it in his direction, we've got a lot of confidence that he'll catch it."

Turner is a major part of the offense because if he's running well, that opens up things in the passing attack. White enjoys blocking for Turner.

"Just having him and the things he can do, just carrying the rock and the way he punishes people and finishes runs, we need that guy," White said.

Ryan, who came back from a turf-toe injury, had to direct the offense down the stretch last season without Turner. So having him back full-time this season, has been extremely helpful to his growth.

"Mike has been an important part of what we've done," Ryan said. "Him closing in on 1,000 yards shows you statistically that he's had a great year. He's done a number of things in addition to running the ball."