Atlanta Falcons cannot continue to give Mike Davis chances

If there is one thing to be learned from the Atlanta Falcons‘ ugly loss to the Patriots on Thursday it is the fact that Mike Davis isn’t the answer at running back. All season the Falcons have continued to give Davis chances to help establish a non-existent run game.

Davis was thought to be the biggest free-agent addition of the Atlanta off-season and was expected to pair with Cordarrelle Patterson and establish the run. Something head coach Arthur Smith has had consistently throughout his career.

Instead, Davis has faltered the more Atlanta has needed him it seems the more the running back has struggled.  Any time Davis takes a handoff it feels to be a win when it isn’t a negative play he runs up to the line and patiently waits until a tackler greets him.

The Atlanta Falcons run blocking has been bad but Mike Davis has been noticeably worse

Davis has managed 3.2-yards-per-carry this season and has been outplayed by any running back Atlanta has lined up in the backfield. Even fullback Keith Smith has seemingly had more of a positive impact on the Atlanta offense than Davis.

Davis is in the first year of his contract but it would be surprising if he plays into the second with Atlanta. He isn’t the answer at the position for this team who needs a back with speed and the ability to get to the edge.

Atlanta’s offensive line is not able to create space up the middle and even the few times that they do Davis seems to be patiently waiting for another option. He isn’t a fit for this team and is cap space better used elsewhere.

Wayne Gallman and Cordarrelle Patterson should start at the position until Atlanta finds a better option in the off-season. This tandem will bring more to the rushing attack than Mike Davis has or will the rest of the season. It is unfortunate for a team that badly needed a running game and the new regime’s first obvious whiff in free agency or the draft.