Devonta Freeman

[Tuggle'2]

Wow. Nearly four complete pages about our running backs and nobody has typed "Antone Smith". That's new for us.

Aries isn't here! lol

[Knight of God]

Wow. Nearly four complete pages about our running backs and nobody has typed "Antone Smith". That's new for us.

Aries isn't here! lol

That's another point. He could easily take the reigns as the lead RB. Let's not forget Jerome Smith who may flourish in this offense. I am also looking forward to the DiMarco vs Mooney battle.

[Oldskooler]

FREEMAN will be the starting RB. He can run, catch and pass block and he is a great fit for our ZB scheme.

We have seen no evidence of "improved pass blocking" yet. He may have improved. I have heard people talk about improvement. I hope it is true. But I am not about to risk Matt Ryan's health and future on rumors and whispers and testimonials.

Until both us and the coaches have SEEN him in live (pre-season) game action, being reliable and effective in blitz pickup, I will not be comfortable with him on the field. The same is true of Coleman to a degree. The only difference is that I have not seen evidence that Coleman can, or can NOT pick up a blitz, whereas I saw Freeman almost get Matt killed.

Whoever is the best, most effective, most reliable blocker will the starter and get the most carries.

[Wjcorner]

Wait...there's people out there that didn't like Roddy???

[TheFalcoholic]

That's another point. He could easily take the reigns as the lead RB. Let's not forget Jerome Smith who may flourish in this offense. I am also looking forward to the DiMarco vs Mooney battle.

Do you like Antone? He's greased lightning, like you like. I also remember him running over a dude against the 49ers in '13. There's just something about him I love. I feel like he's a one trick pony, but like Quinn says... "What can he do well?" He can catch a screen and take it to la casa lol.

[AndySG]

Hopefully Antone's injury won't have had a negative effect on his speed.

[Knight of God]

Do you like Antone? He's greased lightning, like you like. I also remember him running over a dude against the 49ers in '13. There's just something about him I love. I feel like he's a one trick pony, but like Quinn says... "What can he do well?" He can catch a screen and take it to la casa lol.

Been a fan of his since '09. He's strangely powerful for his size and has blazing speed.

[gazoo]

I dig that you enjoy making bold statements gazoo, but c'monnnnnnn.....

Freeman is UNQUESTIONABLY the starter? Based on what exactly - his play last year?

Freeman may end up winning the job but there is ZERO opportunity now for you (or anyone else in TATF) to know who will be the starter -much less the unquestioned starter.

You are guessing...

While you are correct I don't have any inside information, I do know our starting RB this year is going to have to understand pass protections and thats where I know Freeman will have a big edge on the rook. Freeman will also be ahead in the passing game as far as being a receiver.

Many fans simply do not understand how important it is for a starting RB to be able to pass protect if you are going to be on the field any significant amount of time, but coaches do place a high importance level on this.

I know here at TATF if you say you think one guy is starting over another you must love one and hate the other, but I think these two guys are going to be great complements to each other. Freemans a little better with a quick lateral juke to explode through the hole, Coleman has a burst that is second to none straight line.

[Vandy]

I don't know of anyone who did that brometheus. Most I knew were sure Westbrook would eventually take over. Westbrook had something most RB's in his day didn't have...he ran with a lot of power for a smaller back as well as having mass amounts of vision. He also had long speed. His 40 wasn't anything to get excited over, but he had incredible long speed. That second gear.

I can see the similarity here, but I still don't see it. Their running styles are completely different. I still see Freeman as more like a Kevin Faulk or Derrick Blaylock.

Freeman as our Kevin Faulk would be a good thing, Coleman as our Jamal Charles would be a better thing.

[bigbabygrady]

Coleman and Smith both have that breakaway speed but I think Freeman is going to be very productive running behind Shanahan's blocking scheme. He may not get a lot of 15+ yard runs but he will get to the second level consistently and set us up for a lot of 2nd and short or 3rd and short downs. Then bring in Coleman to run a draw play for a big gain or play action

[Knight of God]

Coleman and Smith both have that breakaway speed but I think Freeman is going to be very productive running behind Shanahan's blocking scheme. He may not get a lot of 15+ yard runs but he will get to the second level consistently and set us up for a lot of 2nd and short or 3rd and short downs. Then bring in Coleman to run a draw play for a big gain or play action

lol

Tell me, why wouldn't I just use a playmaker more often? Wouldn't the sheer volume of touches become even more big plays?

[bigbabygrady]

lol

Tell me, why wouldn't I just use a playmaker more often? Wouldn't the sheer volume of touches become even more big plays?

if I'm the OC I would choose to go with the RB who is more consistent at getting a chunk of positive yards so that I'm not in a second and long situation. what I have read is that Coleman is always looking for the home run rather than taking what he can get. So if that means he is more likely to break off a huge run compared to Freeman, but is also more likely to get stuffed for little gain then I would prefer to hand off to the guy who is more likely to get me 5+ yards on 1st down.

lol some more or what?

[Theyhateme : )]

Whomever it is....just score TDs.

[Power I]

lol

Tell me, why wouldn't I just use a playmaker more often? Wouldn't the sheer volume of touches become even more big plays?

They already tried that with Antone. Increased touches didn't lead to increased big plays. Some people just have bigger impacts on fewer plays.

[TheFalcoholic]

"Here's the snap. Ryan hands off to Coleman. He takes it up the middle, breaks a tackle, bounces outside.... HE BREAKS FREE!!! Coleman 45, 40. 35,30! One man to beat! He's got it! Touchdownnnnnnn Falcons!!! Tevin Coleman takes it all the way! 58 yards!"

[iQue]

When the HC says a player is tailor made for the offense and the OC "loved" the player coming out of college, one could project that he would be the starter right? Not saying it's etched in stone but all we can go by is what was stated.

[Knight of God]

if I'm the OC I would choose to go with the RB who is more consistent at getting a chunk of positive yards so that I'm not in a second and long situation. what I have read is that Coleman is always looking for the home run rather than taking what he can get. So if that means he is more likely to break off a huge run compared to Freeman, but is also more likely to get stuffed for little gain then I would prefer to hand off to the guy who is more likely to get me 5+ yards on 1st down.

lol some more or what?

What? I have read that about Freeman. I read Coleman always falls forward.

They already tried that with Antone. Increased touches didn't lead to increased big plays. Some people just have bigger impacts on fewer plays.

Coleman is not the same as Smith

[Atlfanstckndenver]

Some people don't get it. There are just some players you just can't get behind. You don't mean anything, you just don't like them. I would never try and MAKE anyone like a guy just because I do...lol

Not sure I get it. Hypothetically if Freeman became a dominant player a la Adrian Peterson, you still couldn't get behind that? I'm not saying he will but players come out of college all the time and surprise. Does that also mean that even if Coleman winds up sucking while Freeman becomes a beast (again hypothetical) you'd still prefer Coleman? I get that you have player types that you would prefer, as does everybody, that said sometimes players transcend these pigeon holes. Edited July 21, 2015 by Atlfanstckndenver

[Knight of God]

Not sure I get it. Hypothetically if Freeman became a dominant player a la Adrian Peterson, you still couldn't get behind that? I'm not saying he will but players come out of college all the time and surprise. Does that also mean that even if Coleman winds up sucking while Freeman becomes a beast (again hypothetical) you'd still prefer Coleman? I get that you have player types that you would prefer, as does everybody, that said sometimes players transcend these pigeon holes.

I can't see it so I can't answer that. I already said that earlier. My mind doesn't work that way. I don't think he will, therefore I can't even give an honest answer.

[bigbabygrady]

What? I have read that about Freeman. I read Coleman always falls forward.

Coleman is not the same as Smith

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015tcoleman.php - Coleman didn't get a lot of receiving and blocking opportunities at Indiana, so he will need some development there for NFL passing offenses. He also needs to improve his patience as he looks to go the distance with every carry. While Coleman has some strength, against bigger NFL defenders he probably won't be a big yards-after-the-carry runner who powers through tacklers. Coleman is more an explosive speed back for the next level.

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/11/scouting-report-tevin-coleman-rb.html - I question his vision and patient as well. He needs to learn to let plays develop rather than running as hard and as fast as he can into the teeth of the defense

in addition to this, his durability and stamina is also in question. He was the featured runner at Indiana but also shared a lot of the load, and he has the sickle cell trait which could impact his ability to take the lion's share of the workload at the pro level

[Knight of God]

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015tcoleman.php - Coleman didn't get a lot of receiving and blocking opportunities at Indiana, so he will need some development there for NFL passing offenses. He also needs to improve his patience as he looks to go the distance with every carry. While Coleman has some strength, against bigger NFL defenders he probably won't be a big yards-after-the-carry runner who powers through tacklers. Coleman is more an explosive speed back for the next level.

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/11/scouting-report-tevin-coleman-rb.html - I question his vision and patient as well. He needs to learn to let plays develop rather than running as hard and as fast as he can into the teeth of the defense

in addition to this, his durability and stamina is also in question. He was the featured runner at Indiana but also shared a lot of the load, and he has the sickle cell trait which could impact his ability to take the lion's share of the workload at the pro level

Tevin Coleman

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2001839/tevin-coleman

Devonta Freeman

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824135/devonta-freeman

[bigbabygrady]

"Here's the snap. Ryan hands off to Coleman. He takes it up the middle, breaks a tackle, bounces outside.... HE BREAKS FREE!!! Coleman 45, 40. 35,30! One man to beat! He's got it! Touchdownnnnnnn Falcons!!! Tevin Coleman takes it all the way! 58 yards!"

Coleman and Antone both provide this breakaway ability but it's not always what the game plan calls for. In the early years of Mike Smith we would control the clock with the running game and keep the opposing offense off the field. It's good to have the big play but I think time of possession can dictate the outcome of the game more so than one big scoring play. If the defense is the weakness of this team then controlling the ball will take the pressure off of them somewhat

[Knight of God]

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015tcoleman.php - Coleman didn't get a lot of receiving and blocking opportunities at Indiana, so he will need some development there for NFL passing offenses. He also needs to improve his patience as he looks to go the distance with every carry. While Coleman has some strength, against bigger NFL defenders he probably won't be a big yards-after-the-carry runner who powers through tacklers. Coleman is more an explosive speed back for the next level.

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/11/scouting-report-tevin-coleman-rb.html - I question his vision and patient as well. He needs to learn to let plays develop rather than running as hard and as fast as he can into the teeth of the defense

in addition to this, his durability and stamina is also in question. He was the featured runner at Indiana but also shared a lot of the load, and he has the sickle cell trait which could impact his ability to take the lion's share of the workload at the pro level

Based on this, looks like we may need to dip into RB again next year. Run game may just suck all over again except for flashes by Coleman and Smith if this is the case.

[JayOzOne]

Not sure I get it. Hypothetically if Freeman became a dominant player a la Adrian Peterson, you still couldn't get behind that? I'm not saying he will but players come out of college all the time and surprise. Does that also mean that even if Coleman winds up sucking while Freeman becomes a beast (again hypothetical) you'd still prefer Coleman? I get that you have player types that you would prefer, as does everybody, that said sometimes players transcend these pigeon holes.

What he's saying is that Freeman's physical attributes are not impressive to him. In decades of watching football, he prefers running backs who are either larger and stronger or smaller and quicker than Freeman because they tend to have more success. If Freeman manages to be a 1,000 yard and 4.5 ypc player, then he has attributes that KoG hasn't observed and doesn't believe he possesses. He didn't say he went support him or be extremely happy if succeeds. He simply doesn't expect that he will.

[madman88]

Ppl are over fixated on coleman speed.

Speed isnt everything and it doesn't define if your good or not..