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admin | January 22, 2024 | Atlanta Falcons | No Comments

What Would Joe Brady’s Hiring by the Falcons Signify for Bijan Robinson?
Joe Brady’s head coaching interview with the Atlanta Falcons was concluded on January 20. What would his hiring accomplish for Bijan Robinson, a first-round running back?

After three straight 7–10 seasons of mediocrity, head coach Arthur Smith was let go by the Atlanta Falcons. Despite having three recent top-10 picks surrounding his quarterbacks, offensive-minded coach Smith was unable to extract enough performance from them.

Atlanta, meanwhile, is looking for a head coach who can maximize the talent on the team and (hopefully) get the Falcons into a win-now situation. The way the new starting quarterback uses running back Bijan Robinson, the eighth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, could determine the trajectory of their career and provide support for the quarterback in 2024.

Joe Brady, the temporary offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, and the Falcons concluded their head coaching interview on Saturday. For Robinson, what would his hiring entail?

The main effect of Brady hiring might be to maintain, if not improve, Robinson’s receiving prowess. Running backs have played a major role in the passing game at all three of Brady’s stops where he has had legitimate control: the Louisiana State Tigers, the Carolina Panthers, and the Buffalo Bills.

Naturally, that’s a given when Christian McCaffrey is in the backfield. However, Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s 453 yards and 55 receptions during his time at LSU convinced NFL teams of his third-down prowess. He would be selected in the first round.

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James Cook, the running back for the Bills, is yet another tool for spectacular plays. With Brady serving as the offensive coordinator for the last seven games, he hit 26 of his 54 targets. Cook, though, is more than just a check-down option; he can make plays downfield. Cook’s 2.5 yards was the highest average depth of target of any running back. Then, in terms of expected points added (as a receiver) and per-route, Cook was second among running backs.

In contrast, Robinson’s rookie season saw 58 receptions on 86 targets. He converted it into four touchdowns and 487 yards. He was a safety net for an offense that was unable to threaten defenses downfield, but he was also a threat in explosive plays. He will likely be utilized extensively as a receiver, albeit at a deeper target depth than his season-average of 0.6 yards.

Atlanta supporters can rest easy knowing that Robinson won’t have any workload concerns if Brady is hired. Given his talent level, running back Tyler Allgeier has absorbed a lot of the Falcons’ carries this season, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, because of Robinson’s draft capital, Allgeier caused controversy.

Allgeier will still be important if he makes the roster, but he probably won’t carry the ball as much against heavy coverage and in the red zone as he did last season. Brady has demonstrated a propensity to believe in his abilities, particularly when those abilities are as extraordinarily gifted as, say, Josh Allen of the Bills. Brady is content to let his quarterback make plays that others are unable to, leading Buffalo to victory. Allen unleashes his aggression instead of controlling it.

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Days after a 52-yard touchdown run propelled the Bills to the Divisional Round, Brady remarked, “I think when you try to hold Josh Allen back you’re probably doing a disservice.”

Brady has a history of using his running backs to set off explosive plays, but he also doesn’t hesitate to rely on them. After Brady’s promotion, Cook carried the rock more than 16 times five times, as opposed to just once previously.