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Falcons rushing to give Norwood the ball | ajc.com

Flowery Branch -- The Falcons' offensive coaches have been burning the midnight oil trying to figure out how to unleash running back Jerious Norwood.

Norwood unplugged is the goal.

They've seen highlights from his rookie season.

They've seen him bust loose for long gainers.

They've seen those cut-on-a-dime moves against Washington last year.

"He's shown that he's able to make big plays for us," Falcons coach Bobby Petrino said. "We have to give him more opportunities and more touches. I think we're still waiting for him to have that breakout game."

Against Houston last week, Norwood was a step or two away from busting a few big plays. The Falcons believe he's close.

"I think it's just the number of touches," Petrino said. "He needs more touches."

Norwood has 29 carries for 124 yards, a respectable 4.3 yards per carry. His longest gain has been a 26-yard run against Carolina.

Last season the third-round pick from Mississippi State rushed for 633 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. He rushed for more than 100 yards twice and had a 78-yard touchdown run against Arizona.

Counting rushes, receptions and kickoff returns, Norwood had seven touches against Minnesota, 12 against Jacksonville and 14 against Carolina and Houston. The Falcons want him to get more.

"We are trying to find ways to get him the ball," running backs coach Ollie Wilson said. "He's been playing a lot more in the last two weeks. He's shared time with Warrick [Dunn]. We've got some specific plays designed for him because of his speed."

Norwood ran in a West Coast offensive system under coach Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State. He was comfortable with the calls in a similar attack last season. It's a transition this season with the Falcons' new power running attack.

"It's been good, but at first it was kind of tough trying to learn a new offense," Norwood said. "I learn by repetition. After a couple of weeks, I feel like I have the offense down pretty good."

Norwood has spent time with Dunn to get tutored on his pass-blocking assignments. If you don't pass block in the new attack, forget about seeing the ball.

"He's picking it up," Petrino said. "He understands that the first thing as a running back is that he has to pick up the protections. Make sure you don't get the quarterback hit, then your reps go up. Then you carries and your catches go way up."

Norwood feels he's close.

"I had a couple of chances to break plays," Norwood said. "I just didn't do everything that I was supposed to do. That goes back to me working on the detail things."

Most of Norwood's total yards have come on kickoff returns, where he's taken 10 back for 257 yards, including a 46-yarder against Carolina.

From scrimmage he's carried 29 times and caught eight passes for 87 yards. He's yet to score a touchdown.

"The thing that I want him to do more of is the things that he did last year, where he was making big plays, breaking tackles and those type of things," Wilson said. "I don't think he's done that yet.

"He played so much last year, and we're all ready to assume that he's a four- or five-year veteran."

The Falcons plan to be patient with Norwood.

"He's very explosive," Petrino said. "There is no question about that. He has great speed. When you get him in open space, he's a hard guy to tackle."

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