Tevin Coleman: Expected to Play Versus Dolphins

Tevin Coleman came to the Atlanta Falcons with a ton of promise as a 3rd Round Pick in May as an All-American RB out of Indiana University.

Though expected to contend with second-year RB Devonta Freeman for a starting gig with the Atlanta Falcons as a rookie in 2015, Tevin Coleman suffered a significant hamstring injury that kept him out of the first two preseason games. However, it seems that the Falcons Training Staff at Flowery Branch will allow Tevin Coleman to play in his first NFL game Saturday when the Dirty Birds take on QB Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins down in Sun Life Stadium.

Thus far this preseason, it has been a major disappointment to not have any semblance of health in the running back corps. Along with Coleman, Freeman missed both preseason games due to a hamstring issue, too. Naturally 3rd string TB Antone Smith would also aggravate his hamstring in the Atlanta Falcons’ first preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

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So new OC Kyle Shanahan has not had his first, second, or third options at running back to make use of his signature zone blocking scheme. No knock on undrafted rookie RB Terron Ward and veteran RB Jerome Smith, but I cannot wait to see Tevin Coleman suit up in the red and black on Saturday night against the Miami Dolphins.

I see this as a crucial game for Tevin Coleman’s development as a promising tailback prospect. Coleman will likely have major first game jitters, so I’m glad that Tevin will make his Atlanta Falcons debut in the preseason as opposed to on Monday Night Football Week 1 when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town on September 14th.

Though Tevin Coleman could start at RB for the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night, I think the right call would be to let Terron Ward get the first few carries and slowly integrate Coleman in the rushing attack. Ward should at least make the practice squad and has two more preseason games of NFL experience than Coleman.

Keep in mind that even though it’s a preseason contest, Coleman would be making his NFL debut against a strong AFC contender in the Miami Dolphins. Should he run a dive or a cutback up the middle, guess who will do everything in his power to throw him to the ground? Arguably the best interior lineman in the NFL, DT Ndamukong Suh.

I want to see three things out of Tevin Coleman in his Atlanta Falcons/NFL debut. First, I hope to see Coleman factor in the passing game, whether that be in pass protection or in converting a checkdown into positive yards on a reception. Second, I want to see the jitters dissipate for Coleman. I don’t care if he fumbles or makes a bad cut and loses yardage. A welcome to the NFL moment would do him a world of good before he breaks a 10+ yard run. Lastly and most importantly, Tevin Coleman needs to come out of Saturday night’s game unscathed. If that means he only gets a handful of carries on Saturday, that’s fine by me so long as he’s healthy heading into Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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