Atlanta Falcons have Christian McCaffrey role in mind for Bijan Robinson

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – When the Atlanta Falcons took the field for practice Monday at IBM Performance Field, one of the last to arrive on the scene may have been the most surprising.

Running back Bijan Robinson, wearing a black No. 7 jersey and standard helmet, walked out of the Atlanta locker room and onto the turf for the first time during OTAs, which began May 13.

About a half-hour before practice began, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said he expected Robinson, who was dealing with a mild sprain in his left ankle, to be ready for the mandatory minicamp from June 10 to 12. Obviously he was cleared much earlier.

“Physically, I’m fine,” Robinson said after practice. “I’m close to 100 (percent). I’m just trying to catch my breath. Obviously it was good to do everything today, but trying to get back into football shape is what I’m trying to do in this moment. “

Robinson, 22, was injured two weeks into Atlanta’s offseason program; the team had its first day on April 2. Robinson’s injury had been lingering since last season, but he practiced on it all spring before deciding to have it looked at, citing a strange sensation on the side of his ankle.

“I was going hard, and it was something I felt, but I didn’t really feel too bad,” Robinson said. “So when I came back to coaching, and the first couple weeks I was in workouts and everything, just rolling around. Then I was like, ‘Let me try to check this out.’

“That’s when we found out about it, and then I was like, ‘All right, let me try to get back to 100 percent,’ and that’s what I did. So, it was It’s good to be back.”

Robinson added that he and the Falcons wanted to make sure he wasn’t in any pain before returning, and after Monday’s practice he said he felt good and didn’t hold anything back.

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With injuries in the rearview mirror, Robinson returned to the task at hand – becoming more comfortable in new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offense.

The two Robinsons talk every day, discussing route concepts, how best to get open on specific plays and how to use the scheme to manipulate linebackers and defensive backs.

Although this is the second new program in as many professional seasons for Bijan, the process looks very different this time around.

“It’s good to have such communication,” Bijan said. “Last year I was trying to learn everything and understand everything about what the offense was already, but this year with the new offense and how to set it up and how I can ask questions now and how we “We can come to some agreements, it’s been really fun to be a part of.”

Atlanta’s rushing offense will remain heavily committed to the wide zone system, although Bijan noted there are a lot more concepts for rebounding on those runs than the Falcons had under Arthur Smith last season.

As for his role, Robinson said the plan is for him to be used in the same way the San Francisco 49ers deploy All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. In 2023, McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards on 272 carries and found the end zone 14 times while adding 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven additional touchdowns through the air.

Robinson’s usage followed a similar path during his rookie campaign, finishing the year with 214 carries for 976 yards and four touchdowns, along with 58 catches for 487 yards and four scores.

Make no mistake: Robinson is a running back. But he’s also striving to be a versatile playmaker for a new-look offense that’s eyeing a fast start.

“I’m going to be more of a runner who does everything else, not as much,” Robinson said. “I don’t know what the plan is, but it’s a runner first like I did in college, but I still have access to run at receiver, do some creative things outside of the backfield.”

Robinson’s teammate Tyler Allgeier said he expects a more balanced offensive approach in 2024; Atlanta’s ground game ranked No. 3 and No. 9 in yards per game overall in the league over the past two years, while its aerial attack finished No. 31 and No. 3, respectively. 22.

Much of that idea hinges on veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who received a four-year, $180 million contract in free agency to help solve the Falcons’ struggles under center.

Cousins ​​and Robinson are locker neighbors. Robinson said he felt Cousins’ presence during the first few weeks of the offseason program and joked that Cousins, 35, was old enough to be his father.

But the severity of the Atlanta quarterback’s woes was no laughing matter. Cousins ​​embraced the challenge and, even with a 13-year age gap between him and Robinson, prioritized finding common ground and building relationships.

Cousins ​​has often been described as detailed and intentional, but he was quick to note Monday that while he will tell his teammates to follow their routes a certain way, he will also ask about their families, their training habits, off-field stress and how they plan. spend the offseason.

Set to enter 13th professional season, Cousins ​​said he has experienced the ups and downs of life in the NFL and wants to help take some of the weight off his teammates’ shoulders. He added that he has made mistakes and learning experiences that he has had which he now tries to pass on to his teammates so that they can tap into his wealth of knowledge.

Robinson is a quality example. He’s young, on the rise and has already proven to be a difference-maker in Atlanta’s backfield, but he’s just as quick to sit back and listen.

And for Cousins, the opportunity to work with Robinson has been just as rewarding.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Cousins ​​said. “I’m excited to have him on the training pitch here today because by handing him the ball you can see the movement abilities, and I just appreciate his positive approach. He’ll be the same guy every days. He’s not going to ride the roller coaster.

“And who this guy is, he’ll be a positive person who’s always looking toward the next play and he’s an encouraging teammate.”

For more than a month, Robinson’s positivity was suppressed on the sidelines. Now he’s back – and with a burgeoning voice, a veteran quarterback and an encouraging offensive scheme, he’s ready to produce a breakthrough sophomore season.

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