Raheem Morris knows that he has a top-10 talent in his Atlanta Falcons backfield in Bijan Robinson. But the incoming head coach’s words on Tuesday indicate there won’t be a repeat of Robinson’s limited usage from 2023.
Falcons Plan To Give Bijan Robinson Bigger Role
Speaking with reporters following minicamp, Morris unveiled his desired plan for the No. 8 overall draft pick out of Texas from last year’s class.
“In the simplest form as you can possibly make it, it’s get the ball to Bijan as much as you can in as many ideal situations as you possibly can,” Morris outlined.
#Falcons HC Raheem Morris on his vision for Bijan Robinson:
“Get the ball to Bijan as much as you can, in as many ideal situations as you possibly can.”
Morris has a 50% reliability rating on usage/workload coachspeak (small sample size) pic.twitter.com/LTPnyhv8Gc
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 11, 2024
Morris doesn’t want to be in a position where Robinson looks ignored in the Falcons’ new offense that the former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator is helping bring over.
“For him, he’s so talented. You don’t want to limit the things that he can do. But you also don’t want to water it down so much that he’s not doing anything that he can do great,” Morris said.
Morris, who spent three seasons in L.A. right after serving as interim head coach of the Falcons, gave a scouting report of what he’s seen personally out of Robinson.
“When you get the ball in his hands, he makes people miss, he gets extra yards, he breaks tackles, he’s fast, he’s explosive and he’s strong. He can do some many things, you can get overwhelmed at times as a play-caller or designer,” Morris said.
MORE: Best NFL Running Backs Under Age-25: Where Does Bijan Robinson Rank?
Lastly, Morris shared how Robinson likens his role to one that’s held by the newly announced cover athlete for Madden NFL 25.
“I think he compared himself to that Christian McCaffrey role,” Morris said. “And if he can get anywhere near the great player that Christian McCaffrey is, I think we’ll all be pretty excited.”
Robinson Ready for Sophomore Leap in New-Look Offense
Robinson isn’t just aiming to bounce back from a rather quiet rookie season, but he’s also battling back from a left ankle sprain that plagued him toward the end of last season.
Robinson has managed to get some field work in with the new-look Falcons offense, which is not only scrapping Arthur Smith’s scheme but inserting four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
Robinson raved about how detail-oriented Cousins is when speaking with reporters on June 3.
“He’s already established everything that he’s done. He obviously brings that leadership. But I think the cool thing with him is having a quarterback that studies so much that, I saw his play sheet and call sheet then throwing to different spots… and he throws him into those exact spots in practice,” Robinson described.
“I’m like, ‘This is kind of crazy.’ So just having a guy who can obviously sling the ball but is particular at what he does with the little details, it’s been fun to have him.”
Robinson watched Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke share snaps behind center last season. Both passers finished below .500 as starters, and Atlanta ranked 17th in total offense but 22nd in passing.
Now, Robinson is set to play in an offense that turned Kyren Williams into a Pro Bowl talent at running back for the Rams. New Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson observed how Sean McVay and OC Mike LaFleur helped turn the 2023 fifth-round find into a 1,144-yard back who scored 15 total touchdowns.
Williams’ breakout campaign in this offense fuels the belief Robinson will take a similar leap in his own sophomore season.
Revisiting Robinson’s Rookie Season
Robinson entered the league with immense expectations as a top-10 draft pick. He even got inserted into a system that turned Derrick Henry into a 2,000-yard rusher with the Tennessee Titans.
However, Smith’s offense looked disorganized and lacked explosive moments from its playmakers. Along with Robinson, Smith was blessed with fellow top-10 draft picks Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Yet, Smith’s scheme never put them in positions to explode on defenses.
Robinson looked under-utilized for a back playing in a run-first scheme, settling for only 976 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He only had one game (against the Arizona Cardinals) that saw him surpass 20 carries. Robinson even had to settle for carrying the ball just 10 or 11 times in six contests during his rookie year.
KEEP READING: Bijan Robinson Apologizes to Fantasy Managers for Last Season
Robinson did show some flashes when used correctly, producing two 100-yard games in his first four NFL contests. But from there, he never surpassed 95 rushing yards, nor did he cross the end zone in his final four games.
Now, Morris has fired off the early signal that Robinson won’t be an afterthought in this Rams-like approach. The returning Falcons coach wants Robinson involved, positioning him for a potential 1,000-yard campaign in an offense that produced a Pro Bowler.