Atlanta Falcons 20 most important players: #18 Tevin Coleman
As the regular season nears, we’re counting down the 20 most important players on the Atlanta Falcons roster. At No. 18 is running back Tevin Coleman.
How one injury can change everything. Tevin Coleman will regret suffering a ribs injury in the Falcons’ Week 2 win over the Giants last year, as it was his absence that opened the door for Devonta Freeman. The rest was history.
It’s easy to forget Coleman began his rookie season as the Falcons’ starting running back. On debut, he rushed 20 times for 80 yards and looked ready to help the offense achieve balance.
Coleman punched in his first NFL touchdown a week later, but his injury came at the worst time. Freeman started a week later in Coleman’s absence, and piled up 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Game, set and match.
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By the time Coleman returned to action, Freeman had added three more touchdowns on the ground. It was now the second-year man’s backfield, and the rookie Coleman was left to play a complementary role.
His three yards from two carries against Washington showed how the tables had turned in his absence.
For the Indiana product to have any chance of regaining some of the carries, he needed to make the most of his opportunities. The positive was that Coleman broke out some excellent runs, showcasing his speed, agility and big-play ability. Where he let himself down was with ball security, fumbling away his trust by giving the ball up three times on the season.
Fortunately, this is a problem he can fix. If Coleman can protect the football better in his second season, there’s plenty to be excited about. How much of the workload he receives is yet to be seen, but head coach Dan Quinn will want to be able to rotate his two backs to keep them both fresh.
When Freeman went down with a concussion late in the season, Coleman impressed. Against the Vikings, he rushed 18 times for 110 yards.
Next: Devonta Freeman: Fantasy first-rounder?
His role will continue to grow, and he will be key for the Falcons to achieve balance between the run and pass. For that reason, Coleman is one of the most important players on the roster.