Falcons could lighten RB Michael Turner's workload to keep him fresh

The Falcons have a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, and, hopefully, an offense that better showcases Matt Ryan's skills. There have been rumors of a pass-happy scheme, which makes sense on a roster than features Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. Such a development would also mean a lightened workload for running back Michael Turner.

By Ryan Wilson

Jul 2, 2012 at 8:00 pm ET • 2 min read

Atlanta could go to a RB-by-committee approach in 2012. (US PRESSWIRE)

The Falcons have a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter and, hopefully, an offense that better showcases Matt Ryan's skills. There have been rumors of a pass-happy scheme, which makes sense on a roster than features Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. Such a development would also mean a lightened workload for running back Michael Turner, who averaged 4.5 yards per carry last season, but ranked 39th among all backs in FootballOutsiders.com's value-per-play metric.

Ultimately, it's good news for Turner, 30, who had 301 carries last season.

“Michael has been our workhorse for a few years,” Falcons running backs coach Gerald Brown told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's D. Orlando Ledbetter. “We discussed the possibility of making sure that we monitor his reps so that he can stay strong for us through the season and into December. We feel very good about Jason Snelling and Jacquizz [Rodgers], too."

The plan sounds a lot like the one endorsed by most NFL offenses: a backs-by-committee approach to the rushing attack.

“This year [Rodgers] is going through the offseason and that is going to help him," Brown continued. "Snell is a veteran. He’s been there. When Michael is not in there, we feel comfortable with those guys being able to carry the load in both the run and the pass game.”

PFT.com's Darin Gantt points out that in 2011, Turner slowed as the season progressed: He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in September and by December his average dropped to 3.4. Last weekend, in our post on the 10 players likely to take a step back in 2012, here's what we wrote about Turner (who came in at No. 9): Even though he managed 4.5 yards per carry last season, 433 of his 1,340 total rushing yards came in three games against the Panthers, Lions and Bucs, three of the worst run defenses in the league. Against that trio, Turner averaged 6.1 yards per carry. Against the other 13 teams, his YPC fell to 3.9.

But Turner is only an ancillary part of this offense. Any success the Falcons have will be because of Ryan, who will need to play better in the postseason to quiet his critics.

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