Health a concern with Saints waiting

[falcon057]

Health a concern with Saints waiting

By MICHAEL A. LOUGH - mlough@macon.com

ATLANTA — Atlanta will carry some momentum into the showdown Sunday at New Orleans, but the Falcons will have some shaky health and now some depth issues, as well.

Tailback Jerious Norwood returned the game-opening kickoff 34 yards but was carted from the sidelines with a knee injury.

Atlanta Falcons running back Jerious Norwood walks on crutches on the sidelines after being injured in their NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

* Story: Falcons blast Cardinals in home opener

“I don’t know,” Atlanta head coach Mike Smith said. “It looked like something on the lower leg the way he came off the field.”

Smith said Norwood would be re-examined Sunday night.

Michael Turner was sidelined in the second quarter with a groin injury. After halftime, he resumed walking and jogging on the sideline.

That left only Jason Snelling and Antone Smith as tailbacks, but Smith was listed as inactive for the game. Ovie Mughelli is Atlanta’s only fullback on the roster.

“When the score went the way it did in the second quarter, we were not going to put Michael Turner back in the ballgame,” Smith said. “He was talking about going back into the ballgame. He was cleared to go back in, so I don’t think it’s going to be anything significant.”

Cornerback Christopher Owens suffered a first-half back injury and didn’t return.

Robinson vs. Fitzgerald

There was plenty of talk about the potential matchups with Atlanta corner Dunta Robinson and Arizona wideout Larry Fitzgerald.

But there wasn’t much action.

Atlanta didn’t put Robinson solely on Fitzgerald, and the two faced each other only when Fitzgerald lined up on Robinson’s side. Brent Grimes or Brian Williams took him when he was on the left offensive side.

“We didn’t do anything special,” said Robinson, who had three tackles and two passes defended. “We think with the other corner we have, Brent Grimes, we really don’t feel like we have to match me up. He can come in and get the job done.

“No egos involved. We just want to go out there and play good football and get better.”

Fitzgerald caught seven passes for 83 yards.

Robinson did make a nice deflection on a pass to Fitzgerald late in the third quarter.

Robinson admitted he thought Arizona might target him a little bit.

“I was expecting balls, this being my second week back and being a little rusty last week,” he said. “I was expecting them to come at me some.”

Roddy’s rockin’

Atlanta receiver Roddy White is off to a busy start this season.

He has 20 catches in two games, his best consecutive-games reception total. He has had 17 over two-game stretches three times.

“We got some chances to make some plays downfield, kept the chains moving,” White said. “We did a good job of being consistent. We just kept completing drives and scoring touchdowns.”

It took him five games to pass 20 receptions in 2009 and 2008.

He noted that Arizona’s defense pales in comparison to Pittsburgh’s, but was happy that the quarterback Matt Ryan and the Falcons took advantage of that and executed.

“We’re knowing what they’re doing on defense, what they’re going to be in,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for (Ryan). He could identify people and get the ball to them.”

Almost home

Former Dublin and Mississippi standout Ben Claxton made the Cardinals’ roster, but was inactive for the visit to his home state and where he played in 2005.

Claxton, drafted in the fifth round in 2003, was out of the NFL from 2006-07 and spent 2008 on Detroit’s practice squad.

He signed with Arizona in 2009 and played in one game.

Inside the numbers

0

The Cardinals failed to convert on eight third-down tries while the Falcons were 11-of-17.

1

Two young Falcons had firsts. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon recorded his first NFL sack and safety William Moore snagged his first pro interception.

3

Matt Ryan now has three games with three touchdown passes, tying his career high.

6

A half-dozen different Falcons caught passes from Ryan, and three caught touchdown passes.

9

Weatherspoon made the most of his home debut with a team-high nine tackles.

18:26

Atlanta’s running game certainly controlled the ball, giving the Falcons a time of possession advantage of more than a quarter, 39:13-20:47.

117.2

Ryan’s quarterback rating was almost three times that of Derek Anderson’s 42.5

Quotable

“One thing I know about is fights. Every now and then, it takes a good (butt) kickin’ to humble yourself and make you put more work in.”

- Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett.

[DUB]

Good to see Ryan spread the ball in this one.....I thank him for that. Sad to say Norwood is guaranteed to get injured if he gets hit. Sad to say Nance would come in handy now. Snelling runs like a man and I am proud of the guy for always standing tall and taking the challenges giving to him. He has shown us that regardless of where he is at on the depth chart he is preparing as if he is the starter.

[Faithful Falcon]

This article is so premature. How can you talk about the Saints waiting, when they play Monday Night. One, the Saints have to travel to the West Coast. Two, the 49ers defense is great. Three, On a short week, New Orleans have to play us at The Super Dome. On six days rest, and a West Coast trip. This will take something out of you. Who's to say that they won't get banged up tonight?

[falcon057]

This article is so premature. How can you talk about the Saints waiting, when they play Monday Night. One, the Saints have to travel to the West Coast. Two, the 49ers defense is great. Three, On a short week, New Orleans have to play us at The Super Dome. On six days rest, and a West Coast trip. This will take something out of you. Who's to say that they won't get banged up tonight?

its Monday

[Flip Wilson]

Jerious is slightly more durable than Elijah Price.

[Mr Pickle1]

Jerious is slightly more durable than Elijah Price.

Only in an absolute sense, not a relative one. Jerious' job is to play NFL football. Mr. Glass's job is to roll around in a wheelchair and read comic books. Price "plays through the pain," and gets HIS job done. Norwood can't even stay on the field. No disrespect, he can't help it, but lets not try and say Norwood is more durable than Price.

[DavyDmx]

We will be ready trust me .

[Hatch]

We wont win, the refs are already planning another win for the Saints. Happened twice last year.

[freebird310]

They the ones that will be beat all to sheet after tonite, not us ........ :blink:

[Dr. Billings]

Good to see Ryan spread the ball in this one.....I thank him for that. Sad to say Norwood is guaranteed to get injured if he gets hit. Sad to say Nance would come in handy now. Snelling runs like a man and I am proud of the guy for always standing tall and taking the challenges giving to him. He has shown us that regardless of where he is at on the depth chart he is preparing as if he is the starter.

Norwood didn't get hit. Watch the play.