Greg Auman
NFC South Reporter
Two quotes from Falcons offseason practices have followers — each in Atlanta and throughout fantasy soccer — excited in regards to the potential for a fair larger function for working again Bijan Robinson in his second NFL season.
“I don't know what the plan is,” Robinson stated through the closing week of OTA practices. “However it's like working first like I did in faculty … however nonetheless getting access to inventive issues off the sector, extra like how they use Christian [McCaffrey] down there in San Francisco, one thing like that. In order that's the plan right here.”
If that didn't assist, take into account what new coach Raheem Morris needed to say when necessary minicamp ended final week when requested how he would fine-tune Robinson's function within the new offense this fall.
“Within the easiest type, what you are able to do is get the ball to Bijan as a lot as you possibly can in as many very best conditions as you possibly can,” Morris stated. “For him, he's so gifted, you don't wish to restrict the issues he can do. However you additionally don't wish to water it down a lot that he's not doing something he's nice at. Whenever you get the ball in your fingers, he's going to get further yards. He's quick.
That wasn't essentially the message the Falcons gave Robinson in his rookie 12 months. He rushed for 976 yards and 4 touchdowns, caught one other 58 passes for 487 yards and 4 extra scores, however wasn't the dominant drive many anticipated when Atlanta took him with the eighth total select of Texas.
Robinson ranked eighth within the league in yards per carry, however solely nineteenth in carries and tied for twenty fifth in touchdowns. Coach Arthur Smith tended to make use of him much less because the Falcons neared the objective line: Robinson ranked twelfth within the NFL in complete touches as a rookie, however simply thirty second in red-zone touches, behind teammate Tyler Allgeier.
That's to not say Robinson hasn't been closely concerned within the passing recreation. Solely 5 working backs — Alvin Kamara of the Saints, Breece Corridor of the Jets, McCaffrey, Rachaad White of the Bucs and Jaylen Warren of the Steelers — have caught extra passes. The one backs in the whole league with extra touches and extra yards per contact had been McCaffrey and Warren.
Robinson racked up these numbers whereas working in an offense that didn't threaten a lot by the air. Atlanta's passing recreation ought to enhance considerably with the arrival of Kirk Cousins, though the veteran quarterback has by no means had as prolific a move rusher as Robinson. In 12 NFL seasons, Cousins has solely had 50 catches as soon as — Dalvin Prepare dinner had 53 with the Vikings in 2019. If the Falcons flip to rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. in some unspecified time in the future, he's by no means had as many as a 30-catch season from the run again in six years of school soccer.
Likewise, new Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson hasn't been in an NFL working again offense in any respect. In his final 5 years as a Rams assistant, Los Angeles didn't have a quarterback with greater than 32 catches in a season. That's to not say the Falcons can't throw extra at a gifted tailback like Robinson, it's simply that they and their new OC haven't completed a lot earlier than.
It's not typically that working backs are drafted as excessive as Robinson was, so his total potential is of course thrilling. As a rookie, Robinson's ADP (common draft place) was eighth total in fantasy soccer drafts and is even increased this 12 months. He's third total in ESPN's preseason decide and his ADP in Yahoo leagues is sixth this 12 months, seventh in consensus.
Robinson's dual-threat debut got here regardless of being comparatively new to high-volume pass-catching. He had 58 catches as an NFL rookie after totaling 60 catches in three full seasons at Texas. In complete utilization, he had extra touches (277) in 12 video games in 2022 with the Longhorns than he did in primarily 16 video games as a rookie in Atlanta (272).
Falcons RB Bijan Robinson 'excited' about Raheem Morris regime
A second 12 months at working again for Robinson can be a lot in step with McCaffrey, who was used much less as a rookie. In his second season with the Panthers, McCaffrey jumped from 117 catches as a rookie to 219, from 80 catches to 107, from seven complete touchdowns to 13 in his second 12 months. So there's definitely nonetheless room for progress for Robinson, even after a powerful debut.
“He can accomplish that many issues, generally it could possibly shock you as a playcaller, whilst a designer,” Morris stated. “However for him, I feel he's having fun with the entire course of. I feel he's settled into that Christian McCaffrey function. And if we will get anyplace near the nice participant that Christian McCaffrey is, I feel we're all going to be fairly excited.”
Greg Auman is FOX Sports activities' NFC South reporter overlaying Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He’s in his tenth season full-time with the Bucs and the NFL, having hung out on the Tampa Bay Instances and The Athletic. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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