Falcons Vs. Saints: Mike Smith Preaches Ball Control

Don't be surprised to see Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey order up lots and lots of Michael Turner against the New Orleans Saints, just as he did the last time the Birds won in the Superdome.

I think the thing you have to do against New Orleans is that, one, you want to control the ball on the offensive side. They are so explosive that they can gain yardage in big chunks and they can do it through both running the football and passing it. You want to try to disrupt the timing of the passing game, but at the same time, not allow them to run the football. That puts you in a little bit of a quandary, in terms of how many guys you're going to commit to the run and how many guys you're going to commit to the pass. I thought that they physically set the tone, especially there in the first half watching the Titans play.