by D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER; Staff , The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Our mentality is we're going to run the Football," right tackle Tyson Clabo said. "They know we're going to run the Football, and we expect to have success in that area."

The Falcons were disappointed they didn't fare better in Sunday's loss to Denver, which was ranked 27th in run defense.

"We should be able to run the Football no matter what," Clabo said. "We just didn't get it done."

So how do the Falcons, who face Carolina on Sunday, counter the opposition's strategy?

"You've got to be able to block that eighth element," Falcons coach Mike Smith said of the extra player up front. "Sometimes [last week] we were able to get him, and sometimes we didn't. Anytime you load the box there is a chance for an explosive [play]."

Things get complicated for the Falcons' blocking schemes when the opposition puts eight players in the box. At the snap of the ball, they can stunt and go in unexpected directions.

Carolina and Denver have used heavy stunting tactics to slow the Falcons' run game. However, they can stunt themselves out of a play, like Denver did on Michael Turner's 28-yard touchdown run last week.

In the first game against Carolina on Sept. 28, the Panthers won while holding Turner to 56 yards on 18 carries. If Jerious Norwood hadn't burst loose for a 40-yard run, the Falcons would not have rushed for more than 100 yards.

With the running game faltering, quarterback Matt Ryan was forced to throw 41 times.

"People do not want us to be able to run the Football," Smith said. "They are going to do everything they can to stop the run and force us to be one-dimensional and throw the Football. When teams have really done that, we've been able to pass the ball well."

Fullback Ovie Mughelli remembers the first Carolina game well.

"They had some great stunts and twists," he said. "Their defensive line is big, but what I give them credit for is that they are fast. They move really well. Julius Peppers, as big as he is, he moves like a big linebacker.

"So they disrupted our flow and didn't allow us to get the push that we wanted."

There are other ways to counter the eight- and nine-man fronts.

"There are a lot of different ways to do it, but the more that people bring players into the box, you have to be solid with your protections," Ryan said. "You have to make some plays in the passing game to get them out of there and make them honor the fact that you're going to throw the ball."

Philadelphia also loaded the front, holding Turner to 58 yards on 17 carries. Ryan was forced to throw a season-high 44 times against the Eagles.

Carolina likely will stay with what worked so well the first time.

The Falcons are confident they can solve whatever Carolina throws their way.

"If it's 10 passes or 60 runs, that's the way it will go," Ryan said. "Even if it's 10 runs and 60 passes, either way this offense can do whatever it takes to get the job done."

Staff writer Carroll Rogers contributed to this article.

NEXT FOR Falcons

* Who: vs. Panthers

* When: 4:15 p.m. Sunday

* TV; radio: Fox; 92.9 FM

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