Bijan 'Continues to Get Better' While Making Falcons History in Fast Start
When the Atlanta Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall in April's draft, lofty expectations were immediately placed on his shoulders.
And now, two games into his regular season career, Robinson is delivering ... and running his way into the Falcons' history books.
In Week 1, Robinson took 10 carries for 56 yards while adding a team-high six receptions for 27 yards and a score. He became the first Falcons ballcarrier to have a touchdown reception in his first career game since Bubba Bean in 1976 and is only the eighth player in franchise history to catch a touchdown pass on debut.
The 21-year-old Robinson followed suit with a stellar showing in Sunday's 25-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers, rushing for 124 yards on 19 carries and catching four passes for 48 yards.
Robinson, the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018, has accumulated 255 total yards from scrimmage thus far, making him only the second rookie in franchise history to hit at least 200 yards in his first two games.
The other name on the list is William Andrews, who racked up 313 yards in 1979, which was also the last time a Falcons rookie runner posted a 100-yard rushing game within his first two contests.
Further, with his 10 total receptions, Robinson now owns the record for catches by a Falcons rookie running back, besting Sonny Campbell's six in 1970.
Robinson was one of the leading favorites for offensive rookie of the year over the summer; many expected great things ... but to this extent? Maybe not - except for those inside the locker room,
"It's no surprise," safety Jessie Bates III said. "That dead leg that he's got is crazy. I'm just happy that he's been able to showcase that. I'm able to see it every day in practice; I see him out there going to work. For him being a rookie and doing that in practice and it translating over to the field is really good for him.
"I'm very happy to have him on my team."
Bates III, a sixth-year pro who coach Arthur Smith dubbed a mid-tier veteran, added that Robinson is particularly impressive with his work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, when few want to power through - but Robinson embraces it.
This largely confirms Smith's frequent point that Robinson is mature beyond his years, be it his team-first personality or commitment to the process behind the scenes.
These traits are just part of the reason why Robinson is so special and off to such a fast start; sure, he's exceptionally elusive and explosive in space, but as Smith pointed out Monday, just noting his natural talent doesn't do justice to how hard he works.
Robinson has the mindset to flip the switch when needed; he has natural people skills and a budding sense of leadership, but he's more than willing to run through defenders. He has a rare blend - and Ridder is thrilled to have such a talent alongside him.
“He's a competitor," Ridder said. "But he's also humble. He's going to go out there and put his head down and go to work every single day, which he has, and then shows up on Sunday. He's a huge attribute to our offense, and he does nothing but good things for us.”
The Falcons have 667 total yards of offense this year. Robinson is responsible for 38.2 percent of those yards despite playing only 69 percent of the snaps.
But it's not just Robinson's sheer production, it's when he's doing it - just consider his game-saving seven-yard run on 4th and 1, when Smith put the ball in the rookie's hands and saw him rise to the occasion, making a defender miss and picking up the first down.
The decision to go for it was one thing, but entrusting a player in his second career game to make a play in that moment is another ... and Robinson delivered.
"Bijan is quickly becoming someone we can trust," Matthews said. "I think he's, without question, one of our key players on offense."
When discussing Robinson, Smith is quick to direction attention towards Atlanta's personnel staff for the work it put in during the pre-draft process, confirming the former Texas star was wired the right way off the field to match his on-field talent.
Smith noted that Robinson has a lot of flexibility within his game, be it playing in the backfield or lining up as a receiver, or even thriving in pass protection.
Around the league, Atlanta's third-year coach said that teams often draft players with Robinson's versatility but alluded to the fact that others can't handle as much responsibility within their roles, which only adds to the 5-11, 215-pound ballcarrier's outstanding profile.
"He's just a very instinctive and very smart football player," Smith said. "We put a lot on his plate. ... We knew he could do it, and he continues to get better. He's a really fun player to coach.”
This is what's most exciting about Robinson - he's off to a record-setting start but is only scratching the surface of what he can ultimately become.
Last season, Tyler Allgeier broke Andrews' single-season franchise rookie rushing record with 1,035 yards; Robinson's current pace has him at 1,530 yards, shattering the current mark.
And again ... he's just getting better, all the while delivering on his team's trust and proving the organization right with one dead leg, one fourth-down conversion and one gritty Wednesday practice at a time.
