Why Did Falcons 'Bench' Bijan Robinson vs. Dolphins?
Atlanta Falcons fans were excited about the team returning to the field Friday night, eagerly awaiting the debut for No. 8 overall pick Bijan Robinson. However, Bijan never saw the field in the team's 19-3 win against the Miami Dolphins.
For many fans, the NFL preseason is a confusing time. After months of being deprived of high-quality football, we're chomping at the bit for what's essentially the NFL's veggie burger. Most people wouldn't buy a veggie burger if they're craving beefy barbecue, but when you're starving, you realize that beggars can't be choosers and settle for the product.
Bijan was supposed to be the bacon bringing some real sizzle to the product in a game filled with players reminiscent of the real thing. After all, the No. 8 overall pick is the highest-drafted running back since the New York Giants took Saquon Barkley five years ago. He's special.
From a fan's perspective, Robinson's position on the depth chart seems laughable ... maybe that is just because we are dying to see him. Yes, veteran Cordarelle Patterson is a six-time All-Pro (as a returner), and yes, second-year pro Tyler Allgeier ran for over 1,000 yards his rookie season ... but this is Bijan. A player so good that he forced the Falcons to invest a top-10 pick into a position deemed invaluable by the rest of the league.
No one expects Bijan to stay at the bottom of the depth chart, but the preseason is meant for third-stringers to prove themselves.
The Falcons depth chart clearly isn't right. They aren't treating Bijan like a third-stringer who needs to fly away from the nest. They're coddling him like a veteran.
Fans are still hungry for real football, and that first preseason game was hardly an appetizer. Hopefully, Atlanta plays its starters and "third-string running back" when they take the field for their second preseason game Friday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
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