2021 Atlanta Falcons Preseason Outlook – Running Backs

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA — The Atlanta Falcons are starting over. After five years with Dan Quinn at the helm, Arthur Smith steps in as head coach to usher in a new era. Smith spent the past 10 years with the Tennessee Titans, serving most recently as the offensive coordinator. This Friday, the Falcons will kick off their first game of the 2021 NFL Preseason against Tennessee, and something to look for as the regular season approaches is the development of the run game and the running backs on the roster.

The battle begins upfront, and Arthur Smith will deploy an offensive concept that calls for more zone runs and play action. The Falcons struggled mightily rushing the ball last year, finishing 27th across the league, and did not have a running back top more than 700 yards. Atlanta signed Mike Davis from the Carolina Panthers this offseason after successfully filling in for an injured Christian McCaffery last year and have the versatile Cordarelle Patterson listed second on the depth chart. Rounding out the RB depth chart this preseason are Keith Smith, Qadree Ollison, D’Onta Foreman, Caleb Huntley, and Javian Hawkins.

As for how many running backs they plan to keep still remains a question, and we may only see a glimpse of Davis during the preseason. Smith spoke on his methods of evaluating running backs and if things like running style, speed, and acceleration go into account.

“Certainly, you take that into account,” says Smith. “But I’m not a one size fits all guy. We played a lot of different running backs. They all have different skill sets. From Mike [Davis], CP [Cordarelle Patterson], Caleb Huntley, and going back to the other running backs that I’ve worked with. So, certainly that’s one factor, obviously if you can get from zero to 100 quick, that’s a plus to play running back or wideout, or any position where you’re carrying the football.”

On his preference in having just one RB carry the load like Derrick Henry in Tennessee or putting together a committee, Smith welcomes the competition.

“I think the simplest way to put that is that’s why I don’t get into comparisons. That’s a completely different situation. We’ve got a few guys that we think can carry the football and it’s going to play itself out. You’re going through now a 17-game regular season. So, we’ll see who emerges. Like I said, when we started camp, Mike [Davis] gets first shot, and it’s going to be competitive back there. We’ll keep mixing and matching, and those guys will fight it out through the entire preseason and camp.”

It will be interesting to get a glimpse of the offense and see how the position group unfolds after last year’s woes.

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