Atlanta Falcons working again Tyler Allgeier (25) runs towards the Arizona Cardinals throughout an NFL soccer soccer recreation Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Atlanta. Allgeier ran for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns throughout his rookie season in 2022. John Bazemore, Related Press
Texas working again Bijan Robinson, left, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth total choose throughout the first spherical of the NFL soccer draft, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. Jeff Roberson, Related Press
Tyler Allgeier made probably the most of his first season with the Atlanta Falcons, because the 2022 fifth-round draft choice ended his NFL rookie marketing campaign with 1,035 dashing yards and three dashing touchdowns.
That dashing complete broke the franchise file for rookie dashing yards, as Allgeier led a Falcons dashing recreation that ranked third within the NFL in dashing yards per recreation (159.8) and fourth in yards per carry (4.9).
On the floor, then, it appeared curious when the Falcons used the No. 8 total collection of the 2023 NFL draft on Thursday evening on the highest working again prospect Bijan Robinson of Texas.
Meaning Allgeier, the previous BYU working again, can be sharing the Falcons backfield, and carries, with a brand new, dynamic dashing menace as he heads into his second season, following a breakout rookie 12 months.
ESPN draft professional Todd McShay pegged the Falcons’ collection of Robinson because the greatest choose of the draft’s first spherical.
“I simply love the match, positional worth apart. He's my No. 2 prospect on this class and brings a complete new ingredient to the Falcons’ offense together with his energy, pass-game traits and call stability,” McShay wrote.
“He’s top-of-the-line working backs I’ve evaluated previously decade, and with Atlanta’s run-heavy scheme, he might actually dominate proper out of the gate. Basic supervisor Terry Fontenot is setting quarterback Desmond Ridder up effectively right here.”
Texas working again Bijan Robinson, left, poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth total choose throughout the first spherical of the NFL soccer draft, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Kansas Metropolis, Mo.
Jeff Roberson, Related Press
How will the choice impression Allgeier and the opposite Falcons ball carriers?
Together with Allgeier, Atlanta had three working backs end with greater than 350 yards dashing final season — Cordarrelle Patterson added 695 yards and eight dashing touchdowns, whereas Caleb Huntley had 366 yards and one dashing rating.
All three are on the Falcons’ roster once more this season, with the 21-year-old Robinson becoming a member of the comparatively younger group — Allgeier is 23 and Huntley is 24, whereas Patterson is the veteran of the place at age 32.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith instructed media members Thursday evening that whereas each Allgeier and Robinson are recognized for his or her talents to get yards after contact, how they do that's “utterly totally different” and that it is going to be essential for the crew to search out stability in using its weapons.
“Tyler is like … any individual that’s obtained a sledgehammer that’s bludgeoning by means of the road of scrimmage as the sport goes on and wears you down.” — Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith, on Tyler Allgeier
Due to that, he defined, the addition of Robinson will give the Falcons run-heavy offense extra methods to be artistic and permit for the crew’s ability gamers, together with Allgeier, to earn touches and, hopefully, create a extra explosive and unpredictable offense.
“Tyler is an important a part of this offense. They’re totally different gamers,” Smith mentioned throughout the crew’s post-first spherical press convention. “You'll be able to take a look at loads of superior metrics and on the floor, each of them are yards after contact gamers. However how they do this, they’re utterly totally different.
“Tyler is like … any individual that’s obtained a sledgehammer that’s bludgeoning by means of the road of scrimmage as the sport goes on and wears you down. The place Bijan, his contact stability, the best way he doesn’t go down and the best way he’s capable of get explosives off that, they’re simply totally different the best way that individuals should sort out them.”
Robinson, the 2022 Doak Walker Award winner, ran for 3,410 yards and 33 touchdowns in three seasons at Texas, together with a 2022 season the place he rushed for career-highs with 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns. Robinson averaged 6.3 yards per carry in his Texas profession.
He additionally proved to be a weapon within the move recreation, catching 60 passes for 805 yards and eight touchdowns at Texas.
“He’s an explosive weapon. He’s a house run hitter, nevertheless he will get the soccer in his arms,” Smith mentioned of Robinson.
Allgeier, who accounted for two,899 dashing yards and three,363 yards from scrimmage in 4 years at BYU, additionally performed a task within the Falcons’ passing recreation final season. He caught 16 passes, tied for fifth-most on the crew, for 139 yards and a landing.
Throughout his introductory press convention Friday, Robinson expressed pleasure in with the ability to work with Allgeier.
“That dude’s a beast. I actually loved watching him run the ball final 12 months. Hopefully I can simply be a fantastic teammate and be taught as a lot as I can from him,” Robinson mentioned.
Falcons crew author Tori McElhaney, in analyzing the Robinson choose, bolstered the pondering from Smith, that there’s room for Robinson and Allgeier to create a 1-2 punch within the Atlanta offense.
“Bijan Robinson may be the lightning to Tyler Allgeier’s thunder. The place Allgeier led the FBS in missed tackles within the 2021-22 season as a result of he ran by means of defenders, Robinson led the FBS in missed tackles this 12 months as a result of he made folks miss,” McElhaney wrote.
“Each strategies are invaluable in an offense that Arthur Smith has crafted to run the ball effectively, effectively and constantly. The Falcons had a top-three dashing offense final 12 months and bringing again virtually everything of the 2022 offensive line solely helps that run-game effectivity proceed in 2023.”
Allgeier and Robinson are simply two items of a gaggle of younger ability place gamers the Falcons have assembled on offense, together with quarterback Desmond Ridder, large receiver Drake London and tight finish Kyle Pitts.
“It’s a younger offense with a lot nice expertise,” Robinson instructed the crew web site. “We’re going to attempt to construct one thing particular. Hopefully we are able to keep collectively and play collectively for a very long time.”