Saquon Barkley wants you to understand that he loves himself. He knows he’s a great cutter with the football in his hands.
But Bijan Robinson? According to Barkley, the young Falcons star takes it to a whole new level.
“There’s nobody that’s able to cut like Bijan in the NFL. You can go argue with your momma about that,” the Eagles superstar said of Robinson on the NFL Top 100 countdown. “It’s finna get scary for a lot of people as he continues to figure it out.”
Bijan Robinson’s cutting ability makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. (Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Last year, Barkley became the ninth player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. Can Robinson be the 10th?
We can’t rule it out.
His ascension to elite status has been rapid, after all. In 2024, his second NFL season, Robinson finished second in the league in touches (365), third in rushing yards (1,456), fourth in scrimmage yards (1,887) and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns (14). Oh, and he’s just 23 years old.
With an unproven quarterback in Michael Penix Jr., who started just three games last season as a rookie, and four returning full-time starters on the offensive line, Atlanta’s offense is expected to revolve around Robinson and his dynamic skill set.
“Last year, I said 2,000 [scrimmage] yards. We have been like 100 or one thing yards brief,” Robinson stated of his 2024 objective. “I need to hit 2,000 yards once more. That’s all the time my objective. However it’s not for me. … I need all of us to have fun that. I need the O-line to have fun that. I need Tyler [Allgeier], everyone within the operating again room [to celebrate that].”
To get there, Robinson’s largest precedence getting into 12 months 3 is mastering the small particulars.
That features stepping up as a pacesetter and turning into extra vocal at follow. Robinson helps information Atlanta’s first-round picks, edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Within the run sport, he’s centered on his decisiveness and eye self-discipline. Within the move sport, he is labored on his releases, footwork and hand placement in move safety. He’s positioned an even bigger emphasis on his restoration routine, the significance of which he discovered from coaching with 49ers star Christian McCaffrey this offseason.
By June, Robinson had already watched movie of the Falcons’ first 10 opponents this season.
“As a result of he has the power that he has, and he’s such a terrific participant, we need to say, ‘OK, effectively, that’s the usual. How can we get higher from that?’” Falcons operating backs coach Michael Pitre stated after Atlanta’s joint practices with the Titans final week. “And that’s arduous. However once more, that’s not something I’m placing on him. That’s one thing that he needs. And that’s the half that makes it enjoyable teaching a man like him.
“Regarding the limitations on him, I feel there are none.”
Pitre stated Robinson needs “all the data that he can get.” And he is now processing it higher, too.
As a rookie, Robinson admitted that he was a deer in headlights. He was making an attempt to study a lot and grasp a lot whereas nonetheless taking part in at a excessive degree. Two years later, the combination is extra seamless. He understands each degree of the protection. He’s anticipating every little thing earlier than the ball is snapped.
Robinson sees himself making an exponential leap this season, much like the bounce he made between his sophomore and junior years at Texas.
“Once I’m on that discipline, me simply considering ‘Man, you bought to be unstoppable and simply be one of the best participant on the sector each time you step on the sector,’” Robinson stated earlier this month. “That’s the place I’m at, and I’m going to play prefer it, and I’m going to play for this crew prefer it. Clearly, the items that God has given me, will probably be in impact on that discipline. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Throughout his first two seasons, Robinson generally hit the open gap within the Falcons’ outdoors zone run performs solely to get tackled by the unblocked defender earlier than he might break a future. Now, he’s honed in on seeing the place that defender is forward of time.
Whatever the run scheme Atlanta deploys, Robinson needs to get to the purpose the place he’s hitting the gaps and shaking freed from hitters who enter his path.
“Me and coach [Pitre] joke on a regular basis that we’re finished with 30-yard runs and all that stuff. Now, it’s time to get these 60-yard runs, 50 yards,” Robinson stated. “So I’ve been doing much more explosive drills. I’ve been doing much more [sprinting]. … So we could be ready for when these moments are available in all of the video games.
“We’re all ready for that Saquon kind of season relating to explosives. I’ve been engaged on it so much this offseason. … It’s time to go present it and do the work the fitting manner.”
Then everybody will discover what Barkley already sees.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He coated the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You possibly can comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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