From today's AJC:
Falcons may offset blitz with Norwood
Steelers' defensive speed could spur more work for rookie RB
By D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 10/21/06
Backup running back Jerious Norwood, the rookie from Mississippi State, likely will see an increased workload against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Norwood has received just six touches in each of the past two games. His 4.31 speed in the 40-yard dash could help offset hard-charging safety Troy Polamalu and the Steelers' blitz-happy defense.
"He may come up a little bigger this week because he matches speed for speed," running backs coach Ollie Wilson said. "They are a fast defense, and I think J-Rock [Norwood] will have a chance to do that and match that up."
Norwood had four rushes for 9 yards, caught one pass for 2 yards and had a kickoff return for 22 yards against the New York Giants. In the previous game against Arizona, Norwood had six carries for 106 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown run.
"I feel like I've been doing pretty good," Norwood said. "I've got a long way to go. I've got to get a lot better."
The 78-yarder was a team record until Dunn broke it last week with his 90-yard touchdown run. The easy-going Norwood wasn't worried about losing his record so quickly.
"I had it for a hot second," Norwood said. "But Warrick made a good run. That's what records are made for, to be broken."
On the season he has rushed 30 times for 226 yards for a robust 7.5 yards per carry, has caught two passes for 14 yards and has three kickoff returns for 91 yards.
The Falcons entered the season with a plan to get Norwood a certain number of touches but have since scrapped that approach.
They are now letting the flow of the game dictate when Norwood gets the ball.
"We did that in a couple games at the beginning of the season," Wilson said. "The first couple of games, where we said we wanted to get him eight touches or 10 touches. I think it's all based on Warrick's situation and the change of pace that we can get."
Dunn, who rushed for a career-high 1,416 yards last season, is off to a great start. He is fourth in the league with 511 yards rushing and has three 100-yard games — 132 vs. Carolina, 134 vs. Tampa Bay and 146 vs. the New York Giants.
"Like I've told all of my guys, if they get hot, they stay [in the game]," Wilson said.
"If he gets hot in that situation, then he may play a little more than he's played in the past. That's how we look at it."
Norwood, as a rookie, is not about to rock the boat.
"I just have got to keep myself ready at all times," Norwood said. "Whenever my number is called, I have to be ready to go in and produce. Whatever the coaches want me to do, I'm going to do at 110 percent, and I'm going to keep a positive attitude about everything."
Falcons offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said the Steelers' attacking 3-4 defense presents special challenges.
"They blitz probably 50 percent of the time if not more," Knapp said. "That's their style. That's their M.O."
Norwood could slow down some of the exotic blitzes with some quick-hitting runs and catches out of the backfield.
"The key to playing Pittsburgh is that there might be some ugly downs in there, and you have to keep hammering it up there and take your shots and hope that you hit something," Falcons coach Jim Mora said.