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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 had 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. But it surely’s not for me. … I would like all of us to rejoice that. I would like the O-line to rejoice that. I would like Tyler [Allgeier], everyone within the operating again room [to celebrate that].”
To get there, Robinson’s greatest precedence coming into 12 months 3 is mastering the small particulars.
That features stepping up as a frontrunner and turning into extra vocal at observe. Robinson helps information Atlanta’s first-round picks, edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Within the run recreation, he’s centered on his decisiveness and eye self-discipline. Within the move recreation, 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 realized 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 important participant, we need to say, ‘OK, properly, 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 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 stated Robinson needs “all the knowledge 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 be taught a lot and grasp a lot whereas nonetheless enjoying at a excessive degree. Two years later, the combination 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, much like the leap 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 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 staff prefer it. Clearly, the presents that God has given me, will probably 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 accomplished 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 may be ready for when these moments are available in 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 lots this offseason. … It’s time to go present it and do the work the best approach.”
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 lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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