This was tough, especially for Michael Turner, the pupil. They hadn't seen each other since their San Diego Chargers played in New England last season for the AFC championship. Turner was closing his fourth year back then in the NFL as LaDainian Tomlinson's backup.

Now, since Turner bolted to become a $34.5 million free agent for the Falcons, the pupil and his mentor embraced, just a kiss shy of resembling Magic and Isiah from a different era.

"It was weird, because we were standing there in different uniforms," said Turner, referring to Tomlinson, who ranks 14th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. "When I saw him and the rest of those guys, I started to think about the fun times we had in the locker room and stuff."

So much for nostalgia. Before the coin flip hit the ground, Turner suffered a dose of self-imposed amnesia. He helped the Falcons rise to 8-4 with more brilliance from his ever-churning legs. He finished with more than 100 yards rushing for the sixth time this season (compared to twice for Tomlinson). To be exact, Turner carried 31 times for 120 yards during the Falcons' 22-16 victory to keep the 4-8 Chargers in purgatory along with his mentor.

All Mike Smith knows is that Turner has followed the script. When Smith was hired earlier this year as Falcons coach, he said he wanted folks who could prosper in a physical, disciplined system that emphasized a strong running game. Exhibit A: Turner, a model of composure, even during an emotional situation.

Said Smith, "He is such a task master. I mean, he really is. I know he probably was excited about playing and seeing his old friends, but I didn't feel there was anything different this week in his preparation. When we were doing our due diligence, we felt that he would bring that stability to our running back realm and to our team."

The results? Turner is evolving into the Falcons' LT. Well, make that the old LT before hints of a decline this season. There was the third quarter, when the Chargers faced third-and-1 from their 29, and the new Tomlinson ran forever.

For zero yards. "He's still a good back, and he's going to be a Hall of Famer, but it was getting frustrating to him," said Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who smacked Tomlinson into a no-gainer on that play. Courtesy of Jackson and his teammates, Tomlinson rushed for 24 yards, the second-lowest total during his eight seasons in the league. At least for this game, Turner couldn't care less.

As for Tomlinson, describing his feelings while studying his pupil in an opponent's uniform: "It was strange at first, but when he started getting the ball and running up and down the field, it was apparent that he had moved on."

Still, Turner had that fumble in the fourth quarter that the Chargers later converted into a field goal. Worse, despite the Falcons enjoying first-and-goal from the Chargers' 2-yard line near the end of the first half, Turner carried three times, but he got the Falcons no closer than maybe a foot from the goal line.

He eventually was smacked and then heckled by his former teammates on fourth-and-1.

"[Cornerback] Quentin Jammer was in my face saying, 'Oh, you just got knocked out,' and stuff like that," said Turner, laughing, because he was laughing last.

tlmoore@ajc.com