Atlanta Falcons: What does the future hold for Tevin Coleman?

The Atlanta Falcons drafted running back Tevin Coleman in the third round of the 2015 NFL draft with the hopes of him becoming their staring running back. Many were not quite sold on second-year back Devonta Freeman after having a very minor role in 2014, but they were dead wrong.

Freeman rushed for more than 1,000 yards, ran in 11 touchdowns on the ground and caught another three to go with 578 rushing yards. Freeman shocked the entire NFL and has run away with the staring job which leaves Coleman searching for a role with the team.

Coleman rushed for 392 yards on 87 attempts and found the end zone once. Coleman showed great burst on several different occasions, but his poor ball handing is what the fan base and team will remember heading into year two. Coleman fumbled the ball three times but it felt like 20.

Coleman is a great change-of-pace back and to have a guy with his potential coming off of the bench is a great asset to have. It would be nice to see Coleman get anywhere from 5-10 carries a game in 2016 and rush for at least 500 yards and a few touchdowns. That is very doable for Coleman if he can learn how to hold onto the ball.

Who knows what the Falcons’ long-term plan for Coleman is, but for the time being, he is nothing more than a backup to Freeman. Things can quickly change in the NFL, though, so who knows what his future holds. Now one saw this past season for Freeman coming, so anything can happen.

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The Falcons are sitting pretty when it comes to their run game. As long as they can continue to build up the offensive line and give Matt Ryan some more weapons to throw the ball too, these two running backs will have an opportunity to dominate the NFL and become one of, if not the best tandem in the league.