FalconsIn2012 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Dan Quinn says Devonta Freeman has a ‘lot to prove’ in 2019 by James Parks 8 hours ago Devonta Freeman’s absence for much of last season was a major reason why the Atlanta Falcons were not able to rush the football as consistently as they had hoped. Freeman dealt with knee and groin issues, starting in the regular season opener, and was ultimately placed on the team’s injured reserve list, leaving the job to Tevin Coleman. Now that Coleman is gone after signing with San Francisco this offseason as a free agent, the Falcons need Freeman to come back and resume his starting role, fully healthy. Head coach Dan Quinn says so far things remain on course. “He’s doing well, I’m excited to get him back in the mix,” Quinn said this offseason. “He’s a factor in the run game for sure based on his slashing style but he’s also a really good receiver. He’s one of those guys who has a lot to prove and heading into the season that’s a good thing. [I told him] his lost year, make it matter.” Originally injured in the Falcons’ Week 5 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Freeman had an MRI examination on the affected area and was told by doctors that he would require surgery to repair the injury. The original report indicated that Freeman would require six weeks’ time to recover. After the Steelers game, there was some hope that Freeman would be able to returnto action by waiting until after the season to have the procedure and endure the pain for the time being with the aid of some injections, but in the end the player decided to go under the knife instead right away and begin the healing process. Freeman was placed on the injured reserve list prior to Atlanta’s Week 7 home game against the New York Giants because of what reports called a groin ailment. He would have been eligible to come off of the list this week for the Falcons’ final two regular season games, but the team elected to shield him from a potential aggravation of the injury and prepare for next year. The fifth year running back played in two games this season, rushing 14 times for 68 yards. Freeman has proved a physical, punishing back for Atlanta, but also one whose style of play has resulted in injuries, including a pair of concussions and two knee ailments. Without him in the rotation last season, the Falcons ranked 27th in rushing. In case of another injury to Freeman, the team will likely rely on second year back Ito Smith, who, despite a good rookie showing, also landed on injured reserve last year. To that end, the team addressed the position in the NFL Draft, selecting Qadree Ollison and Marcus Green with late round picks. But the success or failure of the Falcons rushing attack begins and ends with Freeman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconsIn2012 Posted May 8, 2019 Author Share Posted May 8, 2019 Wouldn’t surprise me to see Ollison split carries with Freeman this year and be our #1 back in 2020. We need a healthy and explosive Freeman to meet our goals this year PokerSteve, Emmitt, Knight of God and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atl Falcon Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 12 minutes ago, Falconsin2012 said: Wouldn’t surprise me to see Ollison split carries with Freeman this year and be our #1 back in 2020. We need a healthy and explosive Freeman to meet our goals this year You sure have a lot of confidence in the rookie Ollison....I remember the hype about B Hill last summer.....hope you’re right Emmitt, IamFRESCO1, Flying Falcon and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, Atl Falcon said: You sure have a lot of confidence in the rookie Ollison....I remember the hype about B Hill last summer.....hope you’re right Only one guy hyped Hill, Olly is what Hill wishes he could be. Pacific_Falcon, Knight of God, PapaJoe and 8 others 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu 7 Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 One thing that bothers me about the article was that it makes you think Freeman started the season healthy. He didn’t. I don’t recall exactly when he got hurt but it was definitely before the Steelers game. papachaz, Flying Falcon, Pacific_Falcon and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caponine Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Sun Tzu 7 said: One thing that bothers me about the article was that it makes you think Freeman started the season healthy. He didn’t. I don’t recall exactly when he got hurt but it was definitely before the Steelers game. the eagles game NashvilleFalcon01, Vandy and Flying Falcon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconBlood Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 I bet he’s fired up about it. Xero 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DriveHomeSafelyAtlantaWins Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 17 minutes ago, caponine said: the eagles game that game was cursed papachaz, shock, Vandy and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Yo_Lover said: Only one guy hyped Hill, Olly is what Hill wishes he could be. We hear this **** every year. I like Ollison but more than one person was saying the same thing about Hill when he was drafted. Let them play first. 1989Fan, Pacific_Falcon and DriveHomeSafelyAtlantaWins 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, Dem Birds said: We hear this **** every year. I like Ollison but more than one person was saying the same thing about Hill when he was drafted. Let them play first. From my memory there was more that didn't like the pick than did like it. Or maybe that is just my hate for him clouding it. He looked bad in college unlike Olly. ltstorm2, PokerSteve, PapaJoe and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, Yo_Lover said: From my memory there was more that didn't like the pick than did like it. Or maybe that is just my hate for him clouding it. He looked bad in college unlike Olly. I only scratched my head about the pick because of need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, Dem Birds said: I only scratched my head about the pick because of need. RB was a need. Free and Ito ended on IR, Hill can't stop fumbling, and Barner is terrible. Pacific_Falcon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 4 minutes ago, Yo_Lover said: RB was a need. Free and Ito ended on IR, Hill can't stop fumbling, and Barner is terrible. I meant when we took Hill. I agree it was a need this year. Though not really enough to take two RBs lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Just now, Dem Birds said: I meant when we took Hill. I agree it was a need this year. Though not really enough to take two RBs lol Green is a WR/RB, he did most of his work at WR in college and Dimi said they listed him as a RB as to not scare away UDFA WR's. Cheap Talk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dem Birds Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 5 minutes ago, Yo_Lover said: Green is a WR/RB, he did most of his work at WR in college and Dimi said they listed him as a RB as to not scare away UDFA WR's. Yeah, another position we could have skipped on though in favor of defense lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovie_Lover Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 3 minutes ago, Dem Birds said: Yeah, another position we could have skipped on though in favor of defense lol. Who do you get on defense that late to make a difference? A KR/RB/WR can be a gadget player and help this team more than some late round defensive player in this last draft. Francis York Morgan, Mr.11, slick0ne and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citsalp Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 1 hour ago, Yo_Lover said: From my memory there was more that didn't like the pick than did like it. Or maybe that is just my hate for him clouding it. He looked bad in college unlike Olly. You remember it correctly. Vandy, HASHBROWN3 and Ovie_Lover 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vogelgryff Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Frankly, I think Freeman is a lost cause. I wish he retired from football, first of all for his own sake... And I wish too, that I'm dead wrong. rugger8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duff_Man Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 5 hours ago, Yo_Lover said: RB was a need. Free and Ito ended on IR, Hill can't stop fumbling, and Barner is terrible. Hill has one career fumble? Dr Long Shot, Pacific_Falcon, FalconFanSince1970 and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick0ne Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 6 hours ago, Yo_Lover said: Who do you get on defense that late to make a difference? A KR/RB/WR can be a gadget player and help this team more than some late round defensive player in this last draft. Preach! Ovie_Lover and Emmitt 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheUsualStuff Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 Free doesn't have a lot to prove. We all know his talent. He has one single thing to prove and that is that he can remain healthy. NeonDeion, NashvilleFalcon01, Xero and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD: Objective Elite Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 I really hope he gets it turned around, I have like $2K worth of Freeman rookie cards, including a full Panini Select RPA rainbow(worth about $1K) EDIT: I was gonna post a pic but it says the file is too big, WTF?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vafalconfan Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 10 hours ago, Sun Tzu 7 said: One thing that bothers me about the article was that it makes you think Freeman started the season healthy. He didn’t. I don’t recall exactly when he got hurt but it was definitely before the Steelers game. Yeah if you recall he and Julio did not take a single snap in preseason.. Cheap Talk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kschreck Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 The success or failure of the rushing attack will have more to do with the o-line than Freeman. That said, a healthy Free is certainly a step in the right direction. FalconsIn2012 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kschreck Posted May 8, 2019 Share Posted May 8, 2019 2 hours ago, TheUsualStuff said: Free doesn't have a lot to prove. We all know his talent. He has one single thing to prove and that is that he can remain healthy. I agree. Some guys start getting banged up and it derails their career. Others have a rough, injury-filled season and bounce back strong. Here's to the latter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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