Devonta Freeman Doesn’t Want to Come Off the Field
By John Buhler
Devonta Freeman doesn’t want to leave the field while playing for the 2015 Atlanta Falcons. He wants to contribute any way he can for the Dirty Birds.
Atlanta Falcons Running Back Devonta Freeman has some very ambitious plans for the 2015 Season. After yesterday’s opening practice at Training Camp in Flowery Branch, Freeman said “My mentality is I don’t want to come off the field. I want to line up at receiver and have it still look natural. Catch the ball, run, block, do whatever it takes to win. I’ll play special teams. Whatever it takes.”
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It’s no secret that most NFL players make their biggest leaps as professionals between their rookie and sophomore seasons in the League. Devonta Freeman has seen first-hand what it takes to become a veteran in the NFL.
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Head Coach Dan Quinn has often spoke highly of Freeman’s work ethic and willingness to compete. Devonta Freeman’s drive to become a successful back for Atlanta Falcons seems clear heading into the 2015 season. He will have to battle with rookie tailback, former All-American Indiana Hoosier Tevin Coleman for snaps this fall in Kyle Shanahan’s balanced offensive attack.
Freeman won a National Title while at Florida State in 2013 and may have the intangible qualities of a leader that could come the surface in his sophomore campaign. Devonta Freeman, Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston, and Carolina’s Kelvin Benjamin led the Seminoles to a NCAA Championship over the Auburn Tigers in the final running of the infamous BCS.
Is Devonta Freeman going to have to come off the field for some offensive snaps in 2015? Of course he will. It’s not advantageous for Kyle Shanahan to rely so heavily on one featured back when he has another workhorse in Tevin Coleman and a home run hitter in the elusive Antone Smith.
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But could Freeman find ways to stay on the field with either Coleman or Smith in the Atlanta backfield? I could see Devonta Freeman being able to catch some important check-down passes for Matt Ryan in crucial situations. I’d love to see what Freeman can do on a couple of screen passes on 3rd and long. He has great vision to make plays in space.
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And if he’s up for it, he may want to become a threat in the blocking game. Roddy White and Julio Jones are great examples of star players who happily contribute in the little things like run blocking when the ball isn’t being thrown to them in their general direction.
It’s going to come down to the wire, but Devonta Freeman could certainly win the Atlanta Falcons starting running back over Tevin Coleman depending on how Training Camp and the Pre-Season Games go. Either way, one has to feel excited about a RB competition after seeing dismal performances from the collective backfield the last three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons. Though he won’t stay on the field for every snap, I’d love to see Devonta Freeman try his luck this fall.
Next: Julio Jones: A New Falcons' Deal in the Works?
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