FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Starting tailback Michael Turner earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three games Wednesday morning but that wasn't the proof the Falcons needed to show the success of the ground game.
It also didn't come in Week 1 with a franchise-record 318 rushing yards or on Sunday with three rushing touchdowns and a bomb from Matt Ryan to Roddy White that can best be attributed to "keeping the safeties honest with the run."
This team came together early in the off-season with a common goal. Now that the Birds lead the league with 203 rushing yards per game (the only team averaging more than 200 yards per contest) the nation is starting to take notice.
Of course, that's where a new test begins.
"I think we've established an identity but it's something that's going to get harder and harder every week," starting center Todd McClure said. "I think we've established an identity that we're going to run the ball but we still have to go out and execute."
Fullback Ovie Mughelli welcomes teams putting eight or nine defenders near the line of scrimmage in an effort to stop the run.
"It gets the juices flowing because it lets us know they respect us," he said Wednesday. "Any team would be foolish not to play eight guys in the box looking at what we've done in the running game. I look at it as a challenge."
Extra attention from Tampa Bay slowed Turner and Jerious Norwood but the team still managed a 100-yard rushing game. Turner, the key free-agent acquisition, said it took a few weeks to get used to carrying the load as a starter. He now seems well on his way to being one of the league's top rushers. The team has also benefited from the increased play of Norwood -- a speedy, change-of-pace back that has torched defenses in the second half. He and Turner each average more than six yards a carry.
The Falcons have another tough, division defense this weekend in Carolina but Norwood is confident the team found the answer to the problems in Tampa and can ride the success of Week 1 and 3 victories.
"We just have to come out with good excitement," he said. "We just want to be out there on the field and want to make plays regardless if we have some down drives. We have to keep our composure and continue to fight."
INJURY REPORT: Tackle Sam Baker is suffering from an illness and did not practice on Wednesday.
The rookie starter suffered a concussion in Week 2 but recovered to start last week against the Chiefs. He left in the middle of the game with flu-like symptoms. Head Coach Mike Smith said the team ran tests on Baker earlier in the week.
"What I can tell you is Sam is feeling better today than he did on Monday and than he did on Tuesday," Smith said. "It's really going to be day-to-day in terms of where he is."
The coach could not say if the illness was related to the concussion. Veteran tackle Todd Weiner replaced Baker the last two games.
"Sam is a guy that's very important to our football team," Smith said. "We're going to be very cautious to make sure he's ready to come back."
Wide receiver Laurent Robinson also missed Wednesday's practice with a sprained knee.
CAROLINA ON HIS MIND: Defensive end John Abraham, a South Carolina native, has had some of his best games against the Carolina Panthers.
In all, "The Predator" has 26 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed against the Panthers. Two of his last three games against Carolina produced multi-sack performances. Just another blip on the radar for Abraham, who leads the league with six sacks.
Wednesday he noted the importance of defensive line play in this weekend's matchup.
"It always starts up front," he said. "We have to get good pressure and also stop the run. If we don't stop the run it's going to be pointless."
RIVALRY REVISTED: It doesn't take much to get the Falcons talking about the importance of this weekend's game against an NFC South rival.
For starters the teams -- both 2-1 -- will battle for first place.
"It's always been a great rivalry game," McClure said. "Both teams have always risen to the occasion when we play each other and stepped it up a notch. We expect that this week. We know we're going to get their best effort and we're going to give them ours and see who comes out on top."
Said veteran linebacker Keith Brooking: "We know what they're trying to do to us and they know what we're trying to do with them so it's going to be a lot of fun."
Added Norwood: "We have to come out and play real good ball in order to beat this team."
Even the rookies grasp the early weight of this game.
"Everybody's motto is there aren't many opportunities you get in the NFL to play for first place," Ryan said. "We have that opportunity this week so hopefully we can take advantage of it."
NEW MOVES: White wowed the Georgia Dome crowd Sunday with a back flip after his 70-yard touchdown. He won't reveal details about this week but...
"Hopefully I can get in there more than once this week," he said. "I have something new to do."
RELATED LINKS:
NOTEBOOK: Running game clears path for success
NEWS: Three Falcons up for weekly awards
RELEASE: Turner named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: Birdseed | Turner Honored | Team Cautious with Baker
VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith
INJURY REPORT: More on this week's injuries in the Saint Joseph's Health and Wellness Center
VIDEO: From the Training Room | From the Strength Training Room
LOCKER ROOM: Turner | Abraham | Milloy | Norwood | Weiner | Ryan | Brooking
COMMUNITY: Falcons First Down for Fitness | Read with a Falcon
OFF THE CUFF: Matt Moore remembers Larry Munson as Birds broadcaster
FALCON AL: Cheerleader of the Game | Fan of the Game
