Not running Devonta Freeman enough dooms Atlanta Falcons again
By John Follett
Why didn’t the Atlanta Falcons run Devonta Freeman more against the Chiefs on Sunday? Better yet, why aren’t the Falcons running Devonta Freeman more in every game?
Atlanta’s best play may have been Devonta Freeman’s 2nd touchdown run. Freeman took the ball, patiently read the zone blocking, side-stepped a defender, and exploded into the end zone. Those who watch the replay will wonder why Kyle Shanahan didn’t attempt to run on the Falcons’ final 2-point try. Freeman could have been stuffed, but it beats watching Eric Berry go the distance for the game-winning score.
Freeman is an upper echelon running back and should be fed the ball like one.
The Falcons ran the ball 30 times on Sunday but only 15 carries went to their feature back. Devonta Freeman accounted for 56 of Atlanta’s 128 rushing yards, a disappointing metric considering his abilities. Freeman is an upper echelon running back and should be fed the ball like one.
The better NFL backs get around 23-27 carries per game. Week 5 at Denver was the only game in which Devonta’s rush total topped 20. Looking back, the Falcons just about gave Freeman 2 carries per possession at Mile High. His 3-4 yards per carry allowed the offense to eat up clock and opened up the field for big passing plays.
The box score at Denver wasn’t overly sexy but the Falcons went toe-to-toe with a fierce, AFC West defense…and they won.
None of this is meant to take away from Tevin Coleman. Coleman would be the starter on plenty of teams but is needed to provide the change-of-pace in Atlanta. Despite this need, Kyle Shanahan continues to use Coleman as more of a duo-type asset.
Tevin Coleman literally runs the ball as if were fired from a cannon. His downhill style and breakaway speed make him a big play threat anytime he has the ball. Coleman has carved a niche for ripping off big plays, but he’s more the “boom or bust” type of player. Freeman being the more fluid runner and having better vision qualifies him as the workhorse.
At least half of Coleman’s 12 carries from Sunday should have gone to Devonta Freeman.
Kyle Shanahan began the season planning to go with the “hot hand” in Atlanta’s backfield. Both running backs appeared on the way to 1,500 yard seasons before Coleman was sidelined with an injury. Devonta Freeman emerged more as the top guy during Coleman’s absence. Coleman returned to action and Shanahan returned to forcing a 60/40 split in carries.