Antone Smith: Back to Full Strength in 2015?

Atlanta Falcons RB Antone Smith is one of the team’s most dynamic play makers on offense. It seems like once every five snaps, Tone breaks off a long run with his explosive speed for the Atlanta Falcons. After suffering a broken leg against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, can Antone Smith rebound and be the perfect change of pace back for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015?

Even though Antone Smith will play the 2015 NFL Season as a 30-year old, he has very little NFL wear and tear on him since coming to the Atlanta Falcons in 2010. Smith only has 29 career carries between five NFL seasons, with all but one coming in the last two years with the Dirty Birds. However, Tone has an outstanding 9.9 yards/average in his five-year career with the Falcons.

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Smith has seven career touchdowns, four rushing and three receiving out of the backfield. Fans were clamoring why former Offensive Coordinator would not use Antone Smith when the Atlanta Falcons struggled to run the football so much the last three seasons. Koetter eventually started to use Smith effectively in parts of the last two seasons.

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I understand that Smith’s skill set does not translate into being an every-down back, but he is lightning in a bottle that the Atlanta Falcons should at least use a couple of times each Sunday. While rookie Devonta Freeman came on in the final quarter of last season, Smith was the only running back on the Falcons I felt confident in making plays on the 2014 offense.

Head Coach Dan Quinn and his staff have not rushed Antone Smith back from his season-ending leg injury, as jeopardizing Smith’s return to full speed doesn’t serve the Atlanta Falcons. Smith has speed that a coach can’t teach, but we will have to see where he’s at when the Tennessee Titans come to town on Friday for the first preseason game of 2015.

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With both Devonta Freeman and rookie Tevin Coleman probably out with hamstrings for tomorrow’s game, expect Antone Smith, Jerome Smith, and rookie Terron Ward to get a ton of opportunities rushing the ball in new Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s much-anticipated zone blocking scheme.

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I see the ZBS bringing out the best in Tone as the system emphasizes speed over power which is Smith’s primary strength as a tailback. While I would be pleasantly surprised to see Antone Smith 100% back after last season’s injury, I still expect to see him fly right by linebackers and defensive backs on a few handoffs in preseason. Having Antone Smith back at 85% full speed is still faster than most players in the NFL. I’d equate it to Julio Jones’ 2014 Campaign not being back at full speed, still effective nonetheless.

Atlanta Falcons football is back. Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titans will take on the Dirty Birds in the Dome tomorrow night. We are a month away from when Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles make the trek to Atlanta to play our Falcons on Monday Night Football Week 1 on September 14th. Exciting times are upon us, Rise Up Nation.

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