Falcons Training Camp 3 To Watch: Running Back

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith likes to run the soccer. When you’d be onerous pressed to seek out many play callers throughout the NFL who don’t, Smith takes the affinity to a special degree.

Whereas Atlanta’s second-year coach discovered having success on the bottom rather more tough with out Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry, don’t suppose Smith will probably be discouraged from handing the ball off in 2022.

The Falcons’ working backs room underwent a little bit of change in the course of the offseason, with the group releasing Mike Davis, signing Damien Williams and drafting Tyler Allgeier. Atlanta additionally transformed former defensive again and return specialist Avery Williams to working again following the draft. 

Maybe the most important growth of the open interval was the return of star “large again” Cordarrelle Patterson, who loved a uncommon breakout marketing campaign in his age 30 season.

Patterson is certain to start out coaching camp atop Atlanta’s depth chart, however with two new faces slotted in instantly behind him, isn’t assured to take care of the highest spot all through the season. 

With coaching camp beginning on July 26, listed below are three gamers to observe at working again.

Tyler Allgeier

Patterson’s largest competitor for the beginning job comes within the type of the 5-11, 221-pound Allgeier, a fifth-round select of Brigham Younger. Coming into his first camp, Allgeier has the expectations of an early-round decide from the group’s coaches, in keeping with NFL Community.

“They’ve such excessive expectations out of him as a result of, once more, after choosing him within the fifth spherical, they reduce final 12 months’s starter Mike Davis who’s now with the Ravens … Now they’ve a working again they really feel will be the bell cow to get that going and to present some reduction to Cordarrelle Patterson.”

Day 3 of the NFL Draft has a robust historical past of manufacturing beginning caliber working backs. During the last a number of years, gamers reminiscent of James Robinson (Jaguars), Aaron Jones (Packers) and Chris Carson (Seahawks) have gone both in rounds 4-7 or signed after the draft.

With camp on the horizon, Allgeier has an opportunity so as to add his title to that listing. Whereas he’ll possible enter primarily working with the second string, Allgeier ought to ultimately obtain a substantial workload down the stretch of his rookie marketing campaign. The battle for him now turns into how rapidly he can change into acquainted to NFL pace and energy, beginning subsequent week.

Avery Williams

Like Allgeier, Williams was a fifth-round decide from the Northwest, hailing from Boise State. Nevertheless, the parallels for the 2 ends there. Williams performed nickel nook for the Falcons as a rookie, whereas additionally dealing with the group’s punt and kick return duties.

After impressing with the ball in his arms as a returner and going by means of rising pains defensively, Atlanta’s workers opted to maneuver Williams to the offensive of the ball for OTAs. Early returns from the group’s coaches are constructive, with reward going from pace to work ethic and all the things in between.

“Imaginative and prescient, ball safety, elusiveness, all these issues will assist him on the offensive facet,” particular groups coordinator Marquice Williams stated. “He additionally has an edge to him from being a defender. He additionally is aware of how defenders wish to assault ball carriers and he can use that in opposition to the opposition.”

Williams hasn’t performed offense since highschool, however his expertise as a returner has ready him to learn gaps and leverage in a well timed method. Whereas he’ll possible see most of his work on particular groups, camp offers a possibility to see precisely how Williams will be utilized on offense, whether or not it is strictly as a scat again or in additional of a standard function.

Cordarrelle Patterson

The Falcons took a shot at nighttime on Cordarrelle Patterson final offseason and he rapidly became one of many league’s greatest worth offers. Taking part in on a one-year, $3 million contract, Patterson turned the primary participant in franchise historical past to report each 500 dashing and receiving yards, posting profession highs in dashing (618) and receiving (548) yards.

The 31-year-old Tennessee star’s playmaking capability was on full show, and he is carved out a transparent function within the Falcons’ offense. With Smith promising to maneuver Patterson round in 12 months two, it is attainable he receives fewer carries, however ought to stay one in all Atlanta’s high offensive weapons.

The query Patterson now should reply is whether or not or not he can replicate the success of his 2021 season. Regardless of the Patriots and Bears making an attempt to make use of him in an identical function at earlier stops, Patterson did not discover his groove till reaching Atlanta.

Additional, after a sizzling begin, Patterson posted fewer than 30 dashing yards and two receptions in every of his last 4 appearances. Patterson should now silence doubters surrounding the power to repeat and maintain his prior marketing campaign, a journey that begins on July 26.