Key Takeaways:
– The Atlanta Falcons hope a combination of new quarterback Kirk Cousins and sophomore running back Bijan Robinson will revitalize their offense.
– Robinson led all rookie RBs with 58 receptions and is expected to do even better with Cousins under center.
– The Falcons’ recent emphasis on drafting offensive skill positions is expected to pay dividends in the coming year.
– Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report likens Robinson to Carolina Panther’s Christian McCaffery in terms of potential output.
A New Offensive Approach for the Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are reshaping their offense in 2024 with Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Their strategy focuses on investing heavily in offensive draft picks over the past few years and is expected to come to fruition with a Pro Bowl quarterback at the helm.
Among their high-profile draft picks, the one garnering a lot of attention is Bijan Robinson, their first-round pick from 2023. Robinson is poised for an impressive year and has been tipped “capable of becoming a Christian McCaffery-caliber weapon,” by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report.
Bijan Robinson: A Potent Offensive Weapon
Robinson made a mark in his rookie year with 58 receptions leading all running backs. Despite the struggles of the Falcon’s offense due to inconsistent quarterback performance, Robinson is anticipated to use his pass-catching abilities to the maximum. Sobleski opined that Robinson’s already impressive utilization “can be expanded to its fullest and executed more efficiently”
Despite being handcuffed by mediocre quarterback play, Robinson managed to rack up 487 receiving yards when sharing the backfield with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Robinson, part of Falcon’s No. 17 ranked total offense, finished an impressive tenth in total yards with 1,463 yards from scrimmage.
The Veteran Touch of Cousins
The arrival of Cousins, a veteran known for his ability to lead an offense, is expected to boost the Falcons’ productivity. Cousins has an impressive track record with running backs in the form of four Pro Bowl seasons with Dalvin Cook in Minnesota. The Falcons are betting on Cousins bringing out the best in Robinson – similar to what he achieved with Cook.
The Promise of McCaffery-like Success
Drawing parallels with Carolina Panthers’ Christian McCaffery, who also started his career as the No. 8 overall pick, Robinson demonstrates immense promise in the open field. McCaffery’s career saw a dramatic increase in the second year, amassing 1,965 yards from scrimmage and 107 passes. Under consistent quarterback leadership with the San Francisco 49ers, McCaffery scored 31 touchdowns in 27 games, leading to him being named to the First Team in All-Pro in 2023.
Expressing optimism about Robinson’s potential, Sobleski appraised that “even with all of the talent among the Falcons’ skill positions, Robinson could well be their offensive focal point and challenge to lead the league in yards from scrimmage this fall.”
As the new NFL season looms, the Falcons have invested much hope in Robinson showing strides of growth under Cousins. A McCaffery-type leap from Robinson could propel the Falcons’ offense to the next level; an outcome eagerly anticipated by the franchise and their fan-base.