FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Last season the Falcons offensive line had an easy source for motivation.
Few gave them a chance at success.
Now the group, with starters intact from the previous season, looks to improve off a franchise-best 17 sacks allowed and the league's No. 2 rushing offense.
"You just have to build off the success," center Todd McCLure said. "You don't want to go back to where we were -- when nobody thought we were any good. You want to be a consistent group and be a group that everyone talks about year-in and year-out."
When the team opens Russell Falcons Training Camp on Aug. 1, most eyes will be on the football chemistry between quarterback Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez.
But the growing familiarity between members of the offensive line, the search for depth at various positions along the front five and the work of Pro Bowler Michael Turner from year one to year two will be of equal importance.
Turner spent the first four years of his career playing behind All-Pro LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. He had a breakout year in 2008 (1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns) but he's happy to enter his second season with the Birds out of the spotlight.
"It's great for me," he said. "Let everyone talk to everyone else and I'll just go in there and do my job."
Turner and the Falcons averaged 152.7 rushing yards per game last season. The six-year veteran carried the ball 376 times and -- paired with Jerious Norwood -- set the tone for much of the offensive success.
"Treat every week like it's Week 1," Turner said when asked about taking care of his body and getting ready for so many carries. "Don't take anything for granted. Make sure you're body is right and fresh every week. If you don't do it at the beginning of the season then you're going to feel the effects later on the year."
While the team made moves to bulk up the run and pass efficiency by acquiring Gonzalez, the major players in the team's run game remain.
That familiarity, according to McClure, makes for a quiet and productive offseason.
"It's something I hadn't been too used to in my career here," said McClure, who learned new offenses in 2004, 2007 and 2008. "It seems like every year I was playing with somebody different. To have that continuity and have the same guys come out with a year under their belt only makes you stronger. I can't say I've been more excited for a season in my whole career than I am for this one."
The team selected a tackle in the second day of the draft (Garrett Reynolds) and made moves in free agency including the signing of Will Svitek, Brett Romberg and Jeremy Newberry.
All provided instant depth during organized team activities.That leaves returning starters on the line and Turner, Norwood, Thomas Brown, Jason Snelling and Verron Haynes working on improving the run game.
Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey liked working with so many returning players during mini camp and OTAs. It allowed for tweaking and experimenting rather than offense instillation.
But having familiar faces up front should pay the most dividends in keeping the run game going and the offense working.
"They basically run this whole offensive scheme," Mularkey said of the line. "It starts up front. I know that's cliche, but this group is such a prideful group. They like being around each other on and off the field.
"They're not the norm... I know we wouldn't have had the success we had last year without those five guys. Without question they're the ones that make this thing go.
