Atlanta Falcons: 5 Players to Watch Versus the Jets

May 26, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) on the field during OTA at Falcons Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Though he missed the first preseason game of the season, there is a chance that rookie RB Tevin Coleman gets at least a few snaps in tomorrow night’s game versus the Jets.  Tevin Coleman comes to Atlanta as a 3rd Round pick out of Indiana University where he was an All-American tailback for the Hoosiers last season.

I’ve been waiting for Tevin Coleman to show Rise Up Nation what he can do against live action for some time now.  His game against the Missouri Tigers on the road in Faurot Field was one of the greatest individual performances I have ever seen from a college running back.  After that game, I wanted Tevin Coleman on the Atlanta Falcons.  I jumped higher than Spud Webb when GM Thomas Dimitroff decided to make him an Atlanta Falcon on May 1st with our 3rd round selection.

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Atlanta desperately needs to establish a strong running game in OC Kyle Shanahan’s zone blocking system.  A workhorse while at IU, Coleman expects to become one of two featured backs for the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie, along with second-year RB Devonta Freeman.

Though the training staff may recommend to hold out Tevin Coleman for at least one more week because of a hamstring injury he suffered a few weeks back, I would hope to see Tevin get a few carries tomorrow night just so he can say he played in his first NFL game.  Getting the jitters out of the way is important for a rookie, especially a first-year player like Tevin Coleman who will need to contribute right away in the Atlanta Falcons backfield.

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