Michael Turner

[GA-FALCON-FAN]

I just had a question to all my fellow Falcons fans.

I can see the benefits of Michael Turner catching the ball.

But I also see the downfall.

He caught a catch in this preseason game and it left him wide open to a possible lower ankle injury from the tackle. He was a setting duck in my opinion.

I can understand a shuffle pass, or something quick for him to get the ball and run with it.

But I think whoever is making that call to try and make him a tight end or wide receiver needs to stop that right now because it's a distraction to his running game. That's why we got Gonzalez in my opinion.

Just my opinion, but Michael Turner needs to be used as a RUNNING BACK and not a WR.

I think they should at least have two backs in the offense if they are going to pass to a running back, and have them set up to where whoever is going to receive the ball has a so called "LOOKOUT" to protect the person catching the ball.

What are your thoughts on using Michael Turner more in the passing game?

Please dont "-" me for asking this question, I know I posted my opinion, and it might not be the right one, but that's why I asked. Also, it would be wrong for me to post a message asking a question without first posting my opinion to gather others thoughts. And yes, YOUR THOUGHTS DO MATTER TO ME, I appreciate them and thank you in advance. The TRUE FANS of these forums eyes and opinions on the game say a whole lot more than just mine.

Thanks in advance.

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!

Edited August 20, 2010 by GA-FALCON-FAN

[kibitzer]

He seems to be getting better at catching, so there's a plus. There's times when you need that play. If he's getting thru on the edges, and getting nothing in the middle, then yeah, I can see it being a good idea to toss him the ball.

But I happen to agree w/you on the opening him up to injury thing. Leave those plays for Snelling and Norwood. I honestly think they're looking at this to try and get some YAC type stuff, since even our TEs usually seem to be joined at the hip w/a defender when they get their catches. At least Turner can shake off a couple tackles sometimes.

[SaintsWrath]

From what i saw he looked as beast-mode as he's been every other season, he looked real decent practicing at WR..

what exactly is the problem? dude can be very dangerous as a WR.

[Robb4242]

There are advantages to Turner catching 1 or 2 passes a game. I like him getting the ball & being on the second level without having to to worry about getting through the line. I also think the threat of him catching the ball opens up the other receivers some more.

I don't think we will or should see him having 8 catches a game, just enough for him to force defenses to gameplan for it.

[GA-FALCON-FAN]

He seems to be getting better at catching, so there's a plus. There's times when you need that play. If he's getting thru on the edges, and getting nothing in the middle, then yeah, I can see it being a good idea to toss him the ball.

But I happen to agree w/you on the opening him up to injury thing. Leave those plays for Snelling and Norwood. I honestly think they're looking at this to try and get some YAC type stuff, since even our TEs usually seem to be joined at the hip w/a defender when they get their catches. At least Turner can shake off a couple tackles sometimes.

Thanks, I know it's preseason and realize they are trying new things. I just hated watching Turner getting spun around on that one tackle. It was obvious they were trying to hit him where they could hurt him the most, but he shook it off. I would rather see him handed the ball and run it forward than just having him being an open target in the open field.

[paulitik]

I want Turner involved in the passing game, just not on 3rd and long, making the catch before the line of scrimmage. Typical Mularkey playcall.

Remember the Snelling toss at the end of Ain'ts game last season? Vilma was all over it.

[The Falcon Jedi]

When this Offense actually gets into the End Zone, then I will comment. Until then....I dont have a comment.

[slewis1952]

From what i saw he looked as beast-mode as he's been every other season, he looked real decent practicing at WR..

what exactly is the problem? dude can be very dangerous as a WR.

Is there anyone else in our offense besides Michael Turner? We must have gone to him on 2/3 of our plays. Nothing has changed even though Coach Smith said he wouldn't be worked as hard.

[RunningThePiszOuttaTheBall]

I know how you feel, but you cannot play the game of football out of fear. Turner is only good because he flat out-powers people who are trying their best to crush him. He's not fearful with the ball ... he's the opposite. He's going all out with everything he's got and he expects to dominate his opponents. And nothing else would work. Likewise, our team can't be fearful for him. We can't be concocting special "protective schemes" where someone is there to keep him from getting hit. He's got to be tough, and we have to turn him loose and believe it will be alright.

Injuries suck, and an injury to him would definitely hurt our team. But we have no choice but to turn it all loose and be confident that everything will work out.

Him being able to catch the ball is going to be *huge* for us, because it gives Ryan one more way to turn a bad play into a gainer. You get enough options like that in your arsenal and your offense becomes very hard to stop, because even when the defense does everything right, you can pick up those few yards you need to convert a third down.

[King ED]

Versatility is never a bad thing, and your kinda "look-out" play sounds more like a weird screen type of play.

Being able to throw to Turner makes us less predictable. Matt Ryan can decide if he throws to him or not based on coverage.

As for complaining about going to Turner behind the LOS on 3rd or long or the throw to Snelling last year. That is ENTIRELY on the QB. The person the ball is thrown to on a play is not always the primary receiver on the play. Blaming Mularkey on those plays would be entirely incorrect.

[slewis1952]

Versatility is never a bad thing, and your kinda "look-out" play sounds more like a weird screen type of play.

Being able to throw to Turner makes us less predictable. Matt Ryan can decide if he throws to him or not based on coverage.

As for complaining about going to Turner behind the LOS on 3rd or long or the throw to Snelling last year. That is ENTIRELY on the QB. The person the ball is thrown to on a play is not always the primary receiver on the play. Blaming Mularkey on those plays would be entirely incorrect.

When you hand the ball to Turner then throw the ball to Turner how are you less predictable? Add in the short passes to Gonzales and you have a very predictable and average offsense. We never ever EVER go downfield.

[King ED]

When you hand the ball to Turner then throw the ball to Turner how are you less predictable? Add in the short passes to Gonzales and you have a very predictable and average offsense. We never ever EVER go downfield.

Yes, because clearly that means only throw to Turner and Gonzalez now.

I break it down for you. Used to, if it was Turner in the backfield, you never had to ever worry about him coming out of the backfield and catching a pass. So players wouldn't give Turner much consideration in coverage, and backed off of the flats if no TE/WR ran that way. The only time we would throw to a RB, it would going to be when Snelling and Norwood in the game.

If Turner can catch passes and be a threat in the receiving games, they have to actually focus more on him on any passing plays instead of just backing off and not worrying about him. In turn, this spread the defense out more and brings them closer to the LOS, which opens things up down field and opens up more holes in the middle of the defense. Basic football stuff.

[Red-and-Black]

Showing that Turner has the ability to catch passes is more important than actually using Turner to gain big yardage in the passing game. This wrinkle is mostly scheme related to make our offense, as a whole, less predictable and more productive.

As far as worrying about injuries and adjusting playcalling to lower the chance of injury; not going to happen. Injuries are mostly unpredicatable and happen to every team in the league, every year.

[GA-FALCON-FAN]

Maybe my original post didn't post my concerns.

There is NO NEED, and I mean "NO NEED" for the Falcons to throw the ball to turner as a WR.

Yeah, it's Tricky, and it's cool to watch and interesting to see, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

""""" AM I THE ONLY PERSON WHO NOTICED HOW HIS ANKLES GOT ROLLED AFTER CATCHING THE BALL ON A FEW TACKLES?????"""""

The Falcons have a PRO Bowl Tight End, and a Pro Bowl WR. They don't need to use Michael Turner as the new Tony G., That's a mistake in my opinion. He needs to be doing what he was brought to Atlanta to do, RUN THE FREAKING ball. You don't win games on a consistent basic by trickery, you win them by FORCE and SKILL. And Michael Turner is a force as a running back, and in my opinion I don't think they need to play games with his abilities! They need to let his abilities SHOW by using him as a running back. Just my opinion.

Edited August 21, 2010 by GA-FALCON-FAN