Falcons lose running backs coach Bobby Turner to 49ers; promote Keith Carter

The Falcons’ coaching staff is changing in drastic ways, which raises all sorts of questions about how this team will look a year from now before we even touch on free agency. The latest is a change to running back coach.

Turner has had a long and distinguished career as a running backs coach, from his days with Denver and Terrell Davis to a successful stint in Washington to Atlanta, where he helped to nurture Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. He should do fine work in San Francisco with Carlos Hyde, and is a nice pickup for Kyle Shanahan, who is very familiar with his work. I have nothing but kind things to say about him and the work he has done here.

In response, the Falcons promoted an assistant offensive line coach to work with the running backs.

The good news is that Carter won’t need to do a whole hell of a lot with Freeman and Coleman, who are great teammates, have considerable talent, and are close to finished products at the NFL level. If the team brings about a rookie running back, as I’d anticipate, Carter will be needed there, but given the talent and maturity the Falcons already have at the position, I’m not overly worried about the change.

Overall, there have been an alarming number of changes in recent days, but Dan Quinn and company have shown an aptitude for getting good coaches in the building and putting them to work. I’ll wait to see how these all work out.