FLOWERY BRANCH - After watching T.J. Duckett struggle in each of the last three games, Atlanta coach Jim Mora pulled the big running back aside and offered some advice.
"We all recognize in the last few weeks that he hasn't looked as decisive," Mora said Thursday. "He knows that. We've studied it, we've looked at film. Yesterday and today, he's looked decisive running the football."
Practice is a good place to begin for Duckett, who has spent most of his four NFL seasons playing behind starter Warrick Dunn.
Other than two brief stretches in which Dunn's production suffered under former coach Dan Reeves in 2002-03, Duckett has almost exclusively been used as a bruising, 255-pound backup to Dunn.
"We've been working on a few things in practice that we think will make a big difference," Duckett said. "Stuff like hitting the holes harder, keeping my feet moving, fundamental things that you sometimes get away from over the course of a long season."
The Falcons need Duckett to improve his performance against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Dunn, who was named Wednesday to the NFC Pro Bowl squad for the third time in his nine-year career, ran 17 times for 81 yards in last week's frozen loss at Chicago, but he strained a hamstring in the third quarter and didn't play after catching a 9-yard pass early in the fourth.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, Duckett finished with minus-2 yards on eight carries. The performance was the worst of his career and gave him just 15 yards during a three-game stretch that included 22 attempts.
"I haven't lost any faith in our system," Duckett said. "I'm just not getting the job done, or at least I haven't been recently. You know, all it takes is for me to break one tackle, and I can get in the clear. The key is to keep my feet moving and try to take angles that make it hard for the other team to wrap me up."
The Buccaneers won 30-27 in Atlanta last month despite a season-high 433 yards for the Falcons, who have led the NFL in rushing for the last two years. Quarterback Michael Vick, however, lost a fumble with 1:07 remaining that set up Tampa Bay's game-winning field goal.
Vick's backup, Matt Schaub, took one snap in relief of Vick midway through the first, but right tackle Kevin Shaffer allowed Simeon Rice to break free for a sack and a forced fumble in the end zone.
Anthony McFarland fell on the loose ball for a touchdown that put the Bucs ahead 10-0.
Mora knows that Atlanta, which has lost two straight and eight of 10 against Tampa Bay, must limit mistakes to beat the Bucs. The Falcons scored no touchdowns in their last two road games.
"We were feeling good about ourselves on the road," Mora said. "The defenses have something to do with it - playing the No. 1 and No. 3 defenses - but that's not a great excuse. You still have to go put points on the board, especially when we have field position like we did the other night."
Duckett has the size to push piles, but he's unlikely to have a positive effect against the Bucs' front seven without improving his technique. After beginning the season with 4.2 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns in 431 career carries, Duckett has had his season average drop in the last three weeks to a four-year low of 3.4.
He ran 33 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 13 loss to Tampa Bay.
"I feel like I can make a difference," Duckett said. "There's a lot I can do to help our team. A lot of times, I just need a chance."
Saturday Atlanta (8-6) at Tampa Bay (9-5) 1 p.m. (FOX)
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