FLOWERY BRANCH — Heading into his second 12 months, Atlanta's Bijan Robinson is seeking to construct on an excellent rookie season in a brand new position that may excite the Falcons and their followers.
Robinson and the Falcons coaches have talked about utilizing him within the offense very like the 49ers use Christian McCaffrey.
“It's going to be run first like I did in faculty after which nonetheless have entry to the receiver, nonetheless have entry to artistic issues out of the backfield,” Robinson mentioned of his use within the offense after OTAs final week. . “Extra like they use Christian (McCaffrey) in San Francisco. That's the plan right here.”
McCaffrey led the NFL in dashing yards and scored 21 touchdowns in 2023 en path to successful the NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr award. McCaffrey, who entered the league in 2017, led to a number of Professional Bowl seasons and is praised as probably the greatest gamers within the league.
Robinson has an analogous ability set, which led to the Falcons deciding on him eighth general within the 2023 draft. As a freshman, he confirmed off his much-touted dual-threat means, dashing for 976 yards and including 487 receiving yards.
First-year Atlanta offensive coordinator Zac Robinson can also be in a brand new position for Bijan.
However regardless of the thrill of the brand new assault, Robinson desires to maintain the emphasis on working the soccer and Bijan to play his pure place.
“I believe Bijan is such a proficient participant, he's going to play primarily working again after which any solution to discover artistic methods to get him the ball just like the 49ers do with Christian McCaffrey is totally proper,” Robinson mentioned final week. “So maintain adjusting and tweaking issues and discover artistic methods to get him the soccer not simply to the purpose or the offset gun, however to make use of his receiver expertise with out overwhelming him an excessive amount of.”
Head coach Raheem Morris simplified Robinson's position and strategy to utilizing him within the offense, saying, “Within the easiest kind as you’ll be able to, get the ball to Bijan as a lot as doable in as many excellent conditions as doable.
Whereas it's at all times a bonus to have proficient and versatile weapons on offense, discovering the fitting steadiness for these weapons is vital. Morris talked about discovering that steadiness earlier than necessary minicamp on Tuesday.
“For him, he's so proficient that you just don't need to restrict the issues he can do, however you additionally don't need to water it down a lot that he's not doing something he can do nice,” Morris mentioned.
The primary-year Atlanta head coach heard Robinson's feedback about being much like McCaffrey.
Like Robinson himself, the remainder of his employees and Falcons followers, Morris' pleasure was palpable.
“I believe he's in comparison with the position of Christian McCaffrey,” Morris mentioned. “If we will get anyplace close to an excellent participant like Christian McCaffrey, I believe we're all going to be fairly excited.”