Who's The Falcons Starting RB: Freeman or Coleman?

One of the big reasons that the Atlanta Falcons will have a better in season in 2015 is that the team should run the ball with authority in new OC Kyle Shanahan’s system. Last year in Cleveland, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West ran all over the field during Shanahan’s one year with the Browns. When Kyle worked under his father Mike Shanahan in Washington, Alfred Morris had an outstanding rookie campaign in the Redskins backfield. In Houston, Kyle Shanahan helped set the foundation for Arian Foster to become a Pro Bowl running back. Now that Shanahan is working with Dan Quinn in Atlanta, between rookie Tevin Coleman, second-year player Devonta Freeman, and a greased lightning veteran Antone Smith, who will be the Atlanta Falcons starting running back in 2015?

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Freeman got off to a slow start in his rookie season after winning a national title at Florida State. The 2014 4th Round selection by the Atlanta Falcons has the shiftiness and the vision to break long runs into defenses’ secondary and beyond. Devonta had to prove himself in pass protection under former OC Dirk Koetter early on last year. Once Freeman got a better understanding of how to pass protect at the professional level, Devonta worked himself into the Falcons running back rotation and honestly outperformed Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers. Freeman has a ton of upside and looks like a serious contender for becoming Atlanta’s featured back in 2015.

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Tevin Coleman in the third round this spring out of Indiana. Tevin was an All-American tailback for a Hoosiers team that failed to reach a bowl game. His game at Missouri last fall was one of the better performances from a college running all season. Coleman runs with purpose and determination. It’s like he expects to move the chains and pick up a first down every time he touches the ball. He has both the speed and the physicality to run well in the National Football League. Tevin Coleman has his eyes set on beating out Freeman and Smith for Atlanta’s starting RB.

Antone Smith was so under-utilized in the Atlanta rushing attack these last few seasons. I know that Koetter harped on pass protection, something ‘Tone struggles with, for a Falcons team that had trouble keeping QB Matt Ryan upright. But Antone Smith’s playmaking ability deserves more carries. Smith is coming back from a leg injury and if healthy should compete for more touches and evening an occasional start in the Atlanta backfield.

I think the Atlanta Falcons are in a great position with their running game in 2015. Three guys that can make big plays out of the backfield are in a very competitive race to become the starter. Smith might be best served as a change-of-pace back for Shanahan as the lightly used former Florida State Seminole will turn 30 in September. It’s still so early to tell who will rise to the top of the depth chart between Freeman and Coleman. Obviously it will come down to who plays the best in training camp and in the preseason games. My guess is that Tevin Coleman will run angry enough times to impress Quinn and Shanahan to assume the starter’s role for the Falcons.

But just because Coleman is the starter doesn’t mean he will get over half of the Falcons rush attempts. I fully expect Freeman to receive many touches in 2015 and Smith will get a few opportunities to make big plays out of the Falcons backfield. One this is for sure: In a Shanahan offense (Mike or Kyle), running backs have outstanding seasons/careers. The Falcons could have their first 1,000 yard rusher since prime Michael ‘The Burner’ Turner during the Coach Smith Era. With an improved running game, the Atlanta Falcons will have one of the league’s best offensive attacks in 2015. They just have to keep Matt Ryan off his back and on the field.

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Who’s The Falcons Starting RB: Freeman or Coleman?

By John Buhler | May 22, 2015