Bijan Robinson's lofty goal will have every Atlanta Falcons fan pumped for his second season
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is already one of the NFL's best players with the ball in his hands. Atlanta's new coaching staff should've understood that fact before even arriving at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Robinson's rookie season in 2023 was bogged down with unfortunate quarterback play and inconsistent usage, but he still ended up with […]
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is already one of the NFL's best players with the ball in his hands. Atlanta's new coaching staff should've understood that fact before even arriving at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Robinson's rookie season in 2023 was bogged down with unfortunate quarterback play and inconsistent usage, but he still ended up with nearly 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight total touchdowns.
As far as 2024 goes, the former eighth-overall pick has history on the mind.
Robinson told Sports Illustrated prior to Super Bowl 58 that he wants to become the ninth-ever player to rush for 2,000 yards.
"I want 2,000 yards rushing," Robinson said. "I know those are big expectations, what we can do as an offense, with all the weapons, our O-line, with Zac being at the helm, it can be something special."
The last running back to cross the 2k mark was Derrick Henry in 2020, when he rushed for 2,027 yards on a whopping 378 carries. Henry became the first back to join the club since 2012 when Adrian Peterson ran for 2,097 yards less than a year after tearing his ACL and MCL.
It's notable that Robinson mentioned new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in his answer. Robinson will take over offensive play-calling duties under new head coach Raheem Morris after the two of them coached the Los Angeles Rams in recent years.
Robinson was the Rams pass game coordinator under head coach Sean McVay, but he's been a witness to how L.A. manufactures an efficient run game. The Rams were eighth in EPA per rush and sixth in rushing success rate in 2023 with rookie Kyren Williams leading the charge. Williams made the Pro Bowl with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
Those are numbers Robinson can easily match in 2024, and with a new OC at the helm, the ceiling is even higher for him to reach his lofty goal.
"I think it's going to be one of those special seasons that Atlanta's been waiting for us and all of us as players have been waiting for," Robinson said. "So, let's get it."
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Bring him home.
