Turner-Norwood like MJD-Taylor?: Falcons coach Mike Smith, the former defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, brought in Mike Mularkey, the former Buffalo head coach, to design game plans and call plays on offense. Mularkey and Smith plan to take advantage of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood as big-play threats at running back. "Mike and I have very similar philosophies in terms of offensive football," Smith said. "We want to be able to run the football. That's the cornerstone of what we want to do. We have the players that will allow us to run the football." Smith says the Turner-Norwood combination, running behind FB Ovie Mughelli, could compare with Jacksonville's tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. "When you have that kind of combination, I think it creates problems for the defense that's used to trying to tackle a certain style of runner," Smith said. "Then the next play, or the next series, you've got to go tackle a different kind of guy." (Updated 07/17/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/24/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Look for Turner to get more carries and touchdowns than Norwood. Consider Turner a No. 3 Fantasy RB coming into the season with the chance to start most weeks if he plays well. Hopefully he won't lose too many carries to Norwood. Plan on drafting Turner beginning in Round 4 of most leagues. (Updated 07/17/2008).
RB Michael Turner might be the biggest risk-reward free agent signed by any team this offseason. Atlanta paid $34.5 million to a four-year backup whose career numbers (228 carries, 1,275) total a good season for most NFL starters. Turner has never had more than 80 carries in a season or faced expectations since he began earning an NFL paycheck. Despite that, his 5.5 yards per carry and ability to produce whenever called upon, in addition to his professionalism the entire time he backed up LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego, are desirable qualities that favor Atlanta's investment. Turner was brought on board because new head coach Mike Smith wants a run-heavy offense. Turner (5-10, 237) is the physical prototype Smith felt could withstand the demands and deliver big plays when he gets the chance. 07/17/2008
No information available at this time.
Turner-Norwood like MJD-Taylor?: Falcons coach Mike Smith, the former defensive coordinator in Jacksonville, brought in Mike Mularkey, the former Buffalo head coach, to design game plans and call plays on offense. Mularkey and Smith plan to take advantage of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood as big-play threats at running back. "Mike and I have very similar philosophies in terms of offensive football," Smith said. "We want to be able to run the football. That's the cornerstone of what we want to do. We have the players that will allow us to run the football." Smith says the Turner-Norwood combination, running behind FB Ovie Mughelli, could compare with Jacksonville's tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. "When you have that kind of combination, I think it creates problems for the defense that's used to trying to tackle a certain style of runner," Smith said. "Then the next play, or the next series, you've got to go tackle a different kind of guy." (Updated 07/17/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 7/24/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Look for Turner to get more carries and touchdowns than Norwood. Consider Turner a No. 3 Fantasy RB coming into the season with the chance to start most weeks if he plays well. Hopefully he won't lose too many carries to Norwood. Plan on drafting Turner beginning in Round 4 of most leagues. (Updated 07/17/2008).
Head to Head
Compare Turner against his opponents in his next game. Match him with up to 3 players at once.
Opponents
Selections
Last Seven Games
Date
Opp.
Att
Yds
Lg
TD
12/09
TEN
2
1
2
0
12/16
DET
5
28
10
0
12/24
DEN
7
11
4
0
12/30
OAK
11
42
9
0
01/06
TEN
9
28
11
0
01/13
IND
17
71
19
0
01/20
NE
17
65
12
0
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Fantasy Points by Week
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Rushing
Year
Team
G
GS
Att
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD
20+
1st
2004
San Diego Chargers
14
1
20
104
5.2
30
0
2
4
2005
San Diego Chargers
16
0
57
335
5.9
83
3
1
11
2006
San Diego Chargers
13
0
80
502
6.3
73
2
7
24
2007
San Diego Chargers
16
0
71
316
4.5
74
1
2
10
TOTAL
59
1
228
1257
5.5
83
6
12
49
Receiving
Year
Team
G
GS
Rec
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD
20+
40+
1st
2004
San Diego Chargers
14
1
4
8
2.0
7
0
0
0
0
2005
San Diego Chargers
16
0
0
0
---
0
0
0
0
0
2006
San Diego Chargers
13
0
3
47
15.7
30
0
1
0
2
2007
San Diego Chargers
16
0
4
16
4.0
12
0
0
0
1
TOTAL
59
1
11
71
6.5
30
0
1
0
3
Kick Returns
Year
Team
G
No
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD
40+
2004
San Diego Chargers
14
1
18
18.0
18
0
0
2005
San Diego Chargers
16
1
0
0.0
0
0
0
2006
San Diego Chargers
13
36
954
26.5
58
0
6
2007
San Diego Chargers
16
6
139
23.2
28
0
0
TOTAL
59
44
1111
25.3
58
0
6
Defensive Stats
Year
Team
G
Total
Tkl
Ast
Sacks
Int
Yds
Avg
Lg
TD
Pass Def
2004
San Diego Chargers
14
2
2.0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2005
San Diego Chargers
16
4
4.0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2006
San Diego Chargers
13
3
3.0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
2007
San Diego Chargers
16
3
2.0
1
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
TOTAL
59
12
11.0
1
0
0
0
0.0
0
0
0
Fumbles
Year
Team
G
Fum
Lost
Fum Forced
Own Rec
Opp Rec
Yds
Tot Rec
TD
2004
San Diego Chargers
14
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2005
San Diego Chargers
16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2006
San Diego Chargers
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2007
San Diego Chargers
16
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
59
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
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