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 quick,” Robinson mentioned of his 2024 purpose. “I need to hit 2,000 yards once more. That’s at all times my purpose. 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], all people within the working again room [to celebrate that].”
To get there, Robinson’s largest precedence getting into Yr 3 is mastering the small particulars.
That features stepping up as a frontrunner and changing into extra vocal at observe. Robinson helps information Atlanta’s first-round picks, edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Within the run sport, he’s targeted on his decisiveness and eye self-discipline. Within the go sport, he is labored on his releases, footwork and hand placement in go safety. He’s positioned a much 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 an amazing participant, we need to say, ‘OK, effectively, that’s the usual. How will we get higher from that?’” Falcons working backs coach Michael Pitre mentioned after Atlanta’s joint practices with the Titans final week. “And that’s onerous. 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 believe there are none.”
Pitre mentioned 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 mixing is extra seamless. He understands each degree of the protection. He’s anticipating every part earlier than the ball is snapped.
Robinson sees himself making an exponential leap this season, just like the soar he made between his sophomore and junior years at Texas.
“After I’m on that subject, me simply pondering ‘Man, you bought to be unstoppable and simply be the very best participant on the sector each time you step on the sector,’” Robinson mentioned 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 group prefer it. Clearly, the presents that God has given me, it is going to be in impact on that subject. 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 achieved with 30-yard runs and all that stuff. Now, it’s time to get these 60-yard runs, 50 yards,” Robinson mentioned. “So I’ve been doing much more explosive drills. I’ve been doing much more [sprinting]. … So we will be ready for when these moments are available all of the video games.
“We’re all ready for that Saquon kind of season in the case of explosives. I’ve been engaged on it rather a lot this offseason. … It’s time to go present it and do the work the suitable means.”
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 yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You’ll be able to observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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