Atlanta Falcons Strangly Keep Six Running Backs on Roster

The Newcomers

Qadree Ollison was selected in the fifth round in this year’s 2019 NFL Draft. Despite that fact, there was no guarantee that he would make the Atlanta Falcons active roster.

Ollison responded with a solid, productive exhibition season. He ran the ball a total of 49 times, for 180 yards. Qadree also scored two touchdowns.

Ollison started off slow with a six carry game in which he gained zero yards. However showed the ability to gain big yardage, by breaking off runs of 15 and 16 yards in preseason games number two and three for the Atlanta Falcons.

The final two games were more grind it out style contests, but Qadree Ollison has his best game yardage wise in the finale, with 51 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 13 yards out of the Atlanta backfield.

For the exhibition season, Qadree Ollison’s 3.7 yards per carry average is nothing to write home about. However he showed great power with added burst.

He also showed his versatility by playing some fullback. It will be interesting to see if he can work his way into the Atlanta Falcons game plan.

Return Man

Kenjon Barner was signed as a free agent from the Carolina Panthers. He is famously known for taking a big hit from Atlanta Falcons punter Matt Bosher.

Barner does bring speed to the table. Now that he has won the return man job, he surprisingly becomes the fifth tailback on the Atlanta Falcons roster. Barner beat out Marcus Green for the job of returning kicks and punts for the Dirty Birds, by showing great hands and also some explosion.

He also showed his breakaway speed by lining up as the inside receiver in a bunch formation. He caught a wide receiver screen on the play and took it 37 yards to the house for a touchdown. The screen pass was the Atlanta Falcons longest pass play of the preseason.