Atlanta Falcons: What can we expect from the running game in 2020?

The Atlanta Falcons running game was a weakness in 2019.

Despite a recent history that included two years of the empty husk of Steven Jackson as the focal point, last year’s Atlanta Falcons running game was one of the worst in recent memory.

The team was 29th in rushing attempts, 30th in rushing yards, 24th in rushing touchdowns, and 26th in yards per rush. They also finished 23rd in rushing DVOA. Devonta Freeman led the team with 656 rushing yards and the team managed just 3.8 rushing yards per attempt with a longest run of just 28 yards on the season.

It would be easy to ignore the deficiencies. The two best players on the offense are Matt Ryan and Julio Jones and we’re constantly told that it’s a passing league, so the team could stick to form and continue throwing the ball as much as pretty much any team in the league. But that’s a flawed strategy, even if passing can be far more effective. Sometimes, as we Falcons fans know better than most, you need to run the ball.

The 2020 version of the Atlanta Falcons rushing offense appears to be better than we have seen in quite some time and will definitely be better than previous years under Dan Quinn. A healthy Todd Gurley is the most complete running back that the franchise has ever had and the depth at running back should allow for the Falcons to pick up yards whenever they need it regardless of down, yards to go, and field position.

So what should we expect from the Falcons running game in 2020? Who is going to have the biggest influence on their success or failure?