Falcons coach Mike Smith doesn’t plan to give running back Michael Turner the ball as much in 2010 as he did in 2008 and 2009.
Turner says he’s OK with that.
“That doesn’t bother me,” Turner told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I just want to be ready when my number is called. Like I said last year, nobody can predict how many times I’ll be able to touch it this year. We just have to take it game by game.”
In 2008, Turner’s first year with the Falcons, he had 376 carries. In 2009 he had 156 carries through the first eight games before ankle injuries limited him to a grand total of 22 carries over the second half of the season. Smith now thinks he overworked Turner in Turner’s first 24 games with the Falcons, and Turner seems to agree.
“I understand that the coaches want to take care of me, and that’s for the team not just for me so that I can be around a little longer,” Turner said.
Turner says his ankle is healing, and that he should be at full speed soon.