Tag: bijan robinson

Bijan Robinson on new Falcons OC Zac Robinson: ‘He’s a mastermind’

“‘He listens to his players,” Bijan Robinson on what he likes about Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson

When former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was in Atlanta, he served as the de facto offensive coordinator for all three seasons. While Smith helped give the offense an identity behind a strong ground game, he was ultimately doomed by poor quarterback play.

The Falcons dismissed Smith after the season, hiring Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as a replacement. Morris made the quarterback position a priority from Day 1. Aside from bringing in Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., Morris named former Rams QB coach Zac Robinson the team’s new offensive coordinator.

Robinson comes from an impressive coaching tree under Morris and Rams head coach Sean McVay. His knowledge and approach to the game have endeared him to his players. 

“He’s a mastermind when it comes to football,” said Falcons running back Bijan Robinson during an interview with NFL reporter Kay Adams. Asked what makes his new offensive coordinator different, Robinson said it came down to communication.

“What makes him different is like if we have an input on something, he’s going to listen to it and he might implement it like the next day and try it,” explained Robinson. “And I think that’s how you become a really good offense.”

Robinson’s comments imply that Smith wasn’t open to player input during the running back’s rookie season. The No. 8 pick in the 2023 NFL draft rushed for 976 yards and four touchdowns, adding 58 receptions for 487 receiving yards and another four scores.

Smith, who was hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator, was often criticized for not giving his young running back the ball enough last season. Robinson emphasized he had no hard feelings against Smith, who will return to Atlanta in Week 1 when the Falcons face the Steelers.

“Art, that’s still my dog,” Robinson told Adams. “I wish him big success over there.”

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Six former Longhorns get their Madden running back ratings

What is Bijan’s rating for the upcoming Madden NFL 25 video game?

The NFL season will officially begin on Sept. 5 when former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy will make his debut against the Baltimore Ravens and former kicker Justin Tucker.

Each offseason leading up to the start of the NFL preseason, EA Sports releases its launch ratings for players. With Madden NFL 25 set to release on Aug. 16, we continue to look at former players and their ratings. We have already seen the numbers for wide receivers and safeties, next up are the running backs. A position that the Texas Longhorns football program knows how to develop.

The current crop of running backs is led by the 2022 Doak Walker Award winner, Bijan Robinson.

Former Texas Longhorn running back’s Madden rating:

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

  • Bijan Robinson: Overall 82
  • Jonathon Brooks: Overall 77
  • D’Onta Foreman: Overall 76
  • Roschon Johnson: Overall 72
  • Keilan Robinson: Overall 67
  • Keaontay Ingram: Overall 67

Bijan also has a speed rating of 91 and agility of 89 that will help you make defenders miss in the open field. Much as he was able to do when wearing the Burnt Orange.

Stay tuned as the rest of the player ratings are released throughout the week.

Falcons release ‘The Power of Example’ short film with Bijan Robinson

WATCH: Falcons release “The Power of Example” short film following running back Bijan Robinson

The 2023 NFL season didn’t go as planned for the Atlanta Falcons, but they did find a potential star in running Bijan Robinson. The former Texas standout lived up to some pretty high expectations, racking up 1,463 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns during his rookie year.

While Robinson is expected to play a key role on Atlanta’s offense this season, he’s equally concerned with making an impact off the field. The 22-year-old was the focus of a short film released on AtlantaFalcons.com on Monday afternoon.

“The Power of Example” follows Robinson as he reflects on his rise to the NFL and the coaches who helped mold him into the person he is today. Robinson credits Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice as a major influence in his life on and off the field.

Choice instilled a message in Robinson about how the power of example matters more than the example of power. Watch the entire 30-minute short film below, as shared by the Falcons’ YouTube Channel:

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2024 Schedule Swings: Running Backs

Which RB gets an easier schedule for 2024? Who experiences the worst drop in schedule strength?

The schedule strength for running backs is always the more accurate among fantasy positions, thanks to their volume of work and the tendency of teams to feature the run and rely more consistently on individual players. That makes this analysis the most reliable.

The average fantasy points allowed by defenses to running backs last year were applied to each offense’s schedule to determine their true schedule strength of last year, and applied the same values to their 2023 schedule. This includes considering both home and away venues separately for each defense.

See Also: Quarterbacks | Receivers

The resulting fantasy point advantages are compared between years and the difference is their “swing points.”  The higher the Swing Points, the better their schedule is compared to last year. This analysis is more telling than standard schedule strength. You know what happened last year with players – do they get an easier or tougher schedule for 2024?

Best schedule swings

 Kenneth Walker/Zach Charbonnet (SEA) – After two seasons as the No. 20 fantasy running back, Walker gets a chance to take advantage of the most dramatic swing for the position. His schedule strength rockets up from No. 30 to No. 2 and that should be apparent so long as Charbonnet doesn’t take a hefty chunk away from him.

Aaron Jones (MIN) – The offensive line won’t be an advantage unlike back in Green Bay, but Jones’ first season with the Vikings with a boost from the No. 29 up to the No. 9 schedule. He wasn’t there last year, but he suffered through the worst schedule in 2023 while with the Packers. The schedule should help get him back on track.

Breece Hall (NYJ) – Hall already exploded last year when the Jets kicked off the training wheels and let Hall become the workhorse back. He’ll enjoy a lighter schedule this time around and maybe even a passing offense that can take the pressure of him.

Javonte Williams (DEN) – After a tough 2023 when he was still recovering from his torn ACL, Williams has a nice upgrade to his schedule but he seems to have lost a bit from his injury and the Broncos added Audric Estime. This isn’t as safe of an advantage as it might seem.

Rachaad White (TB) – With the Buccaneers getting a rougher passing schedule, White may already be in line for more receptions from the backfield. But he also gets a solid upgrade in rushing schedule that should keep him on the field and productive. Bucky Irving was drafted to help out, but an easier schedule should keep White looking better and keep Irving from making inroads for a bigger share.

About the same schedule strength

The only notable teams are the Bengals and Colts who repeat what were already tough schedules from 2023.

Worst schedule swings

Christian McCaffrey (SF) – Okay, so the best running back from 2023 has the worst swing in schedule strength. Is that enough to sway you from taking him with the 1.01 pick? Probably not. McCaffrey’s problem is more about staying healthy but he’s always a monster when he plays because he just switches to being a receiver if the rushing lanes are clogged. Still, will be interesting to track.

Bijan Robinson (ATL) – Not Bijan too! The Falcons’ stud running back is hoping to become “all that he can be” now that Arthur Smith is gone and new OC Zac Robinson wants to use him extensively in any way they can get the ball into his hands. But the dip from No. 7 down to the No. 29 is concerning for any back. On the plus, Robinson’s volume should be much higher for 2024, and he was already the No. 8 fantasy running back last year with partial use.

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) – While Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson should be better than their schedules, the same may not be true for the aging Elliott, who has slowed down and is now back in Dallas for the second time for a team with a lesser O-line and now the worst schedule for running backs. Elliott is no lock to remain the RB1 in Dallas all season and has fallen deep in drafts. This won’t make him any more appealing.

Travis Etienne (JAC) – The schedule strength has taken a downturn from 2023, but like McCaffrey and Robinson, Etienne is a dual-threat back and the center of their backfield that contains no real competition.

James Cook (BUF) – This is a bit concerning for a lesser talented back than the above players. Cook ended as the No. 11 fantasy back last year as a surprise, but he was facing the No. 2 best fantasy schedule for the position. He drops below average for 2024, and the Bills offense will be different with their best wideouts gone. That may help Cook see more receptions, but he’s probably not “better than his schedule.”

Fantasy Football Top-10 Repeatability: Running Backs

Take a step back and see how the Top-10 RBs change from year to year.

A Top-10 running back is a difference maker because not they score among the highest fantasy points of any position, and do so with great consistency.  The position has fallen in value over the last several years and the reliance on a workhorse back wanes each season. But – there is still an undeniable advantage to owning a Top-10 fantasy running back.

Also see: Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end

Below are all running backs that produced a Top-10 finish in any of the past five seasons, and what they did in the other years. This shows the volatility of the position and how rarely backs actually return to the Top-10 the following season, despite the fact we all draft like they are going to repeat.

Chance of repeating Top-10 = 20%

Running backs have been on the decline for many years while backfields become more fragmented and workloads spread over more “specialists.” That’s accelerated greatly for the last two seasons, and it is not just injuries shaking up depth charts.

Consider that in the last two years, 18 running backs made the Top-10. Only Joe Mixon and Derrick Henry logged back-to-back Top-10 seasons. And both have changed teams for 2024. The volatility of the top players is dramatic and unlike any other position. Six of the 2023 Top-10 were no better than No. 33 in 2022. Austin Ekeler and Josh Jacobs were in the Top-2 for 2022 and yet fell to No. 24 and No. 27 respectively. That’s a high draft pick last year that did no better than a fantasy RB3 for your team.

The disturbing part of this is not so much the tremendous turnover at the top, but that the new batch of elite fantasy scorers are almost all coming from deep in the rankings for the one year. The position has become the host for the annual Cinderella’s to show up and then stumble the next year.

The 2023 Top-10 running backs are very well represented in fantasy drafts with seven of them again drafted in this year’s Top-10 (Christian McCaffrey, Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Travis Etienne, Kyren Williams, and Derrick Henry). The only Top-10 backs who fell out of the Top-10 in drafts so far have been Rachaad White (No. 14), Joe Mixon (No. 17), and Raheem Mostert (No. 32).

Hard to argue against waiting on running backs. Very hard.

Let’s make this even worse. Consider how well the Top-10 of 2021 fared just two years later.

Joe Mixon was the only running back to be Top-10 in 2021, and then again two years later. Half of the 2021 backs failed to place better than No. 33 just two seasons later.

Where did Derrick Henry land in a ranking of NFL’s top 10 running backs for 2024?

Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry is the NFL’s 9th-ranked running back in an ESPN’s survey of league executives, coaches and scouts.

Derrick Henry switched teams during the NFL’s free agent period, giving the Ravens a workhorse that can take immense pressure off MVP quarterback Derrick Henry.

Henry gives Baltimore a legit, three-down running back who can turn any play into a potential explosive touchdown or colossal gain. With training camps set to open in the next two weeks, ESPN has again surveyed league executives, coaches, and scouts to help rank the top 10 players in 11 positions, from quarterback to cornerback.

The rankings started at the running back position, and Henry slipped a bit despite landing with the league’s top rushing team, falling outside the top five and down to No. 9.

“He’s a warrior,” a veteran NFL coach said. “Just keeps himself in such good physical conditioning with offseason workouts. I don’t see him slowing down over the next two years. He’s a volume back with great size, breaks tackles, has deceptive speed and no one’s really catching him if he gets going. I don’t think he’s lost a step.”

Henry, 30, hit the open market after spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Fresh off a season in which he rushed for 1,167 yards, Henry still has gas left in the tank despite an extensive career workload.

Saquon Barkley lands in the top 5 of a ranking of NFL’s top 10 running backs for 2024

Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley finishes 4th in ranking of NFL’s top 10 running backs for 2024 by execs, coaches and scouts

Saquon Barkley switched teams during the NFL’s free agent period, which attracted the attention of executives, scouts, and coaches from around the league.

Barkley gives Philadelphia a legit, three-down running back who can turn any play into a potential explosive touchdown or huge gain. With training camps set to open in the next two weeks, ESPN has again surveyed league executives, coaches, and scouts to help rank the top 10 players in 11 positions, from quarterback to cornerback.

The rankings started at the running back position, and the Eagles are sitting pretty, with Barkley landing at No. 4 on the list.

After years of toiling in the Giants’ grind-it-out offense, Barkley upgraded to Philly.

The possibilities have some around the league excited.

“He’s going to be a beast,” a veteran AFC scout who ranked him second said. “The weapons around him on the outside, dual-threat QB, shotgun runs, his versatility — it’s a perfect fit.”

Barkley’s production dipped to 962 yards on 247 carries (3.9 yards per carry) last season. Still, he’ll be running behind the NFL’s top offensive line, a significant reason why Howie Roseman had no pause about handing out a three-year, $37.75 million deal in free agency.

In the two seasons when Barkley has played 16 games, in 2018 and 2022, he totaled 3,678 yards and 25 touchdowns.

He’ll open things up for the Philadelphia offense while ensuring A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert see a ton of double coverage.

2024 record prediction: Atlanta Falcons

We take a loot at the Atlanta Falcons upcoming season and project where they will land at the end of the year.

One of the most buzzworthy teams all offseason, the Atlanta Falcons suddenly find themselves in a make or break season under new head coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Atlanta sent shockwaves through the league after signing Cousins in free agency to a monster contract, leaving many to presume this Falcons team was pushing all it’s chips on the table over the next few seasons to take advantage of a week division. While Atlanta did have some nice signings in free agency with the likes of Cousins, Rondale Moore (trade), Eddie Goldman, and Kevin King, it’s fair to say their draft left a bad taste in many analysts and fans mouths. A team ready to compete taking what essentially amounts to a backup quarterback at the top of the draft when they are in a win now mode may send the wrong signals to the team, and especially to their newly established starter. The team also failed to address a true pass rusher in the draft and leaves some holes on the defense.

It’s certainly not all bad in Atlanta. Cousins looks to take this offense to a next level with the departure of Arthur Smith, and the talented young playmakers surrounding him look to feast in a new look offense. Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson should all experience a bit of a rebirth under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and the team still boasts one of the most steady offensive lines in the league.

In a weak NFC South the Falcons are primed to make a strong push for the top of the division. Kirk Cousins and these young offensive weapons should be enough to carry this team to success and a playoff birth despite concerns on defense and in the teams overall structure.

Record prediction: 9-8

Why Falcons RB Bijan Robinson could be dark horse MVP candidate

Don’t be surprised if Falcons RB Bijan Robinson finds himself in the MVP discussion this season…

The NFL loves to celebrate quarterbacks, but occasionally players at other positions get the recognition they deserve. While we don’t anticipate an offensive lineman winning MVP anytime soon, sometimes running backs give those quarterbacks a run for their money during awards season.

Since 2000, only four NFL running backs — Adrian Peterson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander and Marshall Faulk — have won the league MVP award. Peterson was the last player to accomplish this feat back in 2012.

As unlikely as it may seem, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has the right mix of physical tools and surrounding talent to be the league’s next non-QB MVP.

Robinson is essentially the perfect modern NFL running back. He has elite speed, size, vision, elusiveness, route-running ability and hands (see below):

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cL8ZPs2fWu8

Robinson rushed for 976 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, adding 58 catches for 487 yards and four receiving touchdowns. I realize these aren’t quite MVP-level numbers, but the totals were deflated by the team’s abysmal quarterback play last season.

With Kirk Cousins stepping in, the Falcons finally have someone who can help their offense reach its full potential. And unlike former head coach Arthur Smith, Raheem Morris is ready to unleash Robinson this season.

“Get the ball to Bijan as much as you can in as many ideal situations as you possibly can,” said Morris on how he plans to feature Robinson.

While statistics play a major part in determining the league MVP, the story behind those stats is arguably just as important. The Falcons have missed the playoffs for six straight seasons. If Bijan leads them to an NFC South crown, it would carry more weight than some of the other candidates.

Cousins is sure to receive his share of praise if the team is successful, but he’s rarely been in the MVP discussion throughout his career. Robinson has an elite run-blocking offensive line and enough complementary weapons to prevent opposing defenses from stacking the box.

Assuming he’s the focal point of Atlanta’s offense, Robinson’s ability as a dual-threat could help him top 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2024.

What type of numbers would Robinson need to win MVP?

As mentioned earlier, only four running backs have won the award since the 2000 NFL season. Here’s a look at the stats for all four players the year they won MVP.

  • Adrian Peterson (2012): 2,097 rushing yards, 12 TDs, 40 catches, 217 rec. yards, 1 rec. TD
  • LaDainian Tomlinson (2006): 1,815 rushing yards, 28 TDs, 56 catches, 508 rec. yards, 3 rec. TDs
  • Shaun Alexander (2005): 1,880 rushing yards, 27 TDs, 15 catches, 78 rec. yards, 1 rec. TD
  • Marshall Faulk (2000): 1,359 rushing yards, 18 TDs, 81 catches, 830 rec. yards, 8 rec. TDs

Draft Kings lists Robinson’s odds to win the 2024 MVP award at +25000, but crazier things have happened in this league. Why not Bijan?

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Falcons offense to lean heavily on former Texas running back Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons new head coach Raheem Morris intends to get the ball to former Texas RB Bijan Robinson as much as possible

It is very rare to see a running back drafted in the first round in this day and age, let alone in the top 10. Over the past decade, only 11 RBs have been selected in the first round of the NFL draft. When the Atlanta Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 draft on former Texas Longhorns RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta fans were about to find out what Texas fans already knew about Bijan.

Granted, Robinson was considered a generational talent heading into the draft, but the RB position just doesn’t hold the same value it once did.

For example, in 2024, former Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks was the only RB selected within the first two rounds. Brooks wasn’t drafted until pick No. 46 overall by the Carolina Panthers.

Bijan was the centerpiece of the Atlanta offense as a rookie with 272 total touches, 1,463 rushing and receiving yards, and eight touchdowns and was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.

With a brand new coaching staff and four-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins coming to the city, it will be interesting to see what Robinson’s role looks like this season.

At times last season, fans of the Falcons were frustrated with Bijan’s use as RB Tyler Allgeier out carried him 214-186 despite averaging nearly a yard less per carry. However, that is not not going to be the case this year as new Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has a ton of high praise for the former top ten pick saying, “In the simplest form you can put it, get the ball to Bijan as much as possible in the most ideal situations as possible.”

Whether it is still on the ground, or finding new ways to get him involved in the passing game, the key to the Falcons offense will be getting No. 7 the ball in space and letting him be himself.

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