Flick's Falcons Mailbag: Projecting Bijan vs. Allgeier Workload, Kyle Pitts' Role
With free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, this ever-important offseason for the Atlanta Falcons has begun transitioning toward summer workout programs.
Soon, rookie minicamp will start, with OTAs following suit. A month-long break then leads to training camp and the preseason before the season officially starts Sept. 7.
Atlanta's roster and personnel is starting to take shape - but how will it all fit together? That's just one of several questions left to be answered in the coming months, but SI's Falcon Report will attempt to find a solution to that and many more in this week's mailbag.
Even though the Falcons SHOULD stagger carries between Allgeier and Robinson, do you think Smith tries to use Bijan as a bell cow like he did in Tennessee where he has to shoulder the entire offensive workload? - @OnyekaLegacy
The Falcons took Texas running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall with the intent of using him as more than just a runner. His film shows natural hands and impressive body control as a receiver, and he's been working out with proven wideout coaches this offseason.
As such, expect Robinson to see legitimate action out of the slot and with designed routes out of the backfield; Falcons coach Arthur Smith said he can be impactful on screens and intermediate concepts.
Still, Robinson is, at his roots, a running back. He averaged 21.5 carries per game for the Longhorns last season and is joining a Falcons offense that was one of the most run-heavy in the league.
Robinson will see plenty of carries - as in, probably around 15-20 per game. However, Smith still believes in Allgeier and has a plan in place for Cordarrelle Patterson, too.
This won't be a situation where Allgeier is out of the rotation; he's a tremendous blocker and wears defenses down. The 2022 fifth-round pick also showed he can make an impact with only 10-12 carries a game, and that's likely the role he'll see in 2023 as the Falcons look to run the ball around 30-35 times each contest.
Is there a receiver on the roster that can fill the No. 2 receiver spot? - @FatboiSlim_21
This is a role many anticipated the Falcons would address in the draft, but didn't even select a wideout, instead signing three undrafted free agents - Justin Marshall, Keilahn Harris and Xavier Malone - and choosing to move forward with the current group.
Of those currently on the roster, former Las Vegas Raiders receiver and free agent signee Mack Hollins is the most likely candidate to emerge as the No. 2, slotting in behind franchise record-breaking rookie Drake London.
In 2022, Hollins caught 57 passes for 690 yards and four scores, which would've been more than enough to be Atlanta's second-leading receiver last year. However, lost in the statistics is another important number - he's on a one-year, $2.5 million contract, not exactly the price tag of a typical starting option.
The reality of Atlanta's offensive personnel is that it'll be completely different from the way most teams build in the modern-day NFL. There will be bigger-bodied packages where Robinson, Allgeier, London and tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith are all on the field together, but Atlanta can mix and match this to be anything from 11 to 22 personnel.
That being said, whether it be Hollins or another free agent signing in Scotty Miller, a vertical threat likely to see time in the slot, whoever becomes the No. 2 receiver will likely be around option No. 4 or 5 among the Falcons' weapons.
Thus, it ultimately comes down to how Arthur Smith balances his personnel - but there really shouldn't be much concern about the group of pass catchers on Atlanta's roster.
What are the chances Falcons bring back Evans and/or MyCole Pruitt? After not addressing LB and TE in the draft TE 3/4 and iLB 3 still look unsettled, don’t they? - @BerndBackhaus / What's the deal with Rashaan Evans? - @Bronx_Lyric84
Both the Falcons and Evans have expressed interest in a potential reunion, but one gets the sense that the latter is seeking an opportunity to start, and Atlanta might not be able to provide that.
Evans, set to enter his sixth season as a professional, led the Falcons in tackles last season with 159, starting all 17 games. He had a tight bond with defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who retired this offseason.
With new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen in place and bringing linebacker Kaden Elliss with him to pair next to 2022 second-round pick Troy Andersen, there's likely not a starting role available in Atlanta.
Still, the Falcons' linebackers room isn't overly deep, as only Mykal Walker has seen extended defensive snaps in recent years. Thus, a role as a reserve linebacker and special teams ace exists for Evans ... but does he want that?
We'll see in the coming weeks, because his market has been relatively quiet, but it feels like a wait-and-see game. With rosters largely set, linebacker rooms have taken shape, and a decision should be in relatively soon.
As for Pruitt, his connection with Arthur Smith shouldn't be overlooked, but it's difficult to see the Falcons bringing him back particularly soon, as Pitts, Jonnu Smith and under-appreciated blocker Parker Hesse lead the tight ends room.
Pruitt spent much of last season on the practice squad before tying for the team lead in touchdowns with four; he's a valuable red zone presence and reliable blocker, but the Falcons first want to see what Feleipe Franks and John FitzPatrick can do.
Atlanta didn't agree to terms with Pruitt until August of last year, and a similar situation could unfold if Franks and FitzPatrick don't take positive steps this offseason. Otherwise, a reunion doesn't look overly likely at this time.
Should we expect the Falcons offense to be a top 10 offense this year? - @BlursedBlake
So much of the Falcons' offense depends on the growth of quarterback Desmond Ridder, who's been given the reigns after completing 63.5 percent of his passes and throwing for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions across four starts to close last season.
The Falcons finished tied for 15th in points per game with 21.5 and 24th in yards per game at 318.6 last year, all with inconsistent play under center. The star-studded rookie duo of Allgeier and London will have a year under their belts, while Pitts will be back healthy after suffering a knee injury in Week 10.
Now, with Robinson and Jonnu Smith in the fold and an offensive line that largely remained intact apart from replacing left guard Elijah Wilkinson with second-round pick Matthew Bergeron, there's a very realistic chance the Falcons become one of the most efficient offenses in the league - but really, we won't know until Ridder hits the field.
Since not much was drafted at WR, is there a chance Pitts could be moved to WR full time? - @Abednegacoolguy
In short, no - the Falcons really like the progress Pitts made as a blocker and have long turned away similar notions of moving him to wideout, at least "full time."
However, Smith has spoken at length about wanting "positionless" players, and Pitts very well could see more snaps split out than in-line.
Atlanta will mix in Robinson, Miller and Jonnu Smith in the slot, while Pitts has proven he can play inside and out. That being said, with Atlanta looking to be run-heavy and Pitts being a legitimate presence as a blocker, he'll keep the tight end tag and should see more than enough snaps attached at the line of scrimmage.
Player you would have drafted with the pick 110 that was traded to move up? - @DerekCollins79
It'll be interesting looking back to see how defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore, selected by the Indianapolis Colts at No. 110, pans out - if told pre-draft he'd have been the Falcons pick in the second round, few would've batted an eye.
Atlanta, of course, packaged No. 110 with No. 44 to move up six spots and select Bergeron, fulfilling a need on the offensive line.
Should the board have played out the way it did, the Falcons likely would've taken cornerback Clark Phillips III at 110 instead of 113, where one would imagine receiver and safety would be positions targeted.
At wideout, Cincinnati's Tyler Scott, drafted later in Round 4 by the Chicago Bears, jumps off the page as a logical fit, and there was mutual interest in making that pairing happen ... but Phillips proved too good to pass up.
As for safety, Florida State's Jammie Robinson, drafted in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers, spent a lot of time with the Falcons during the pre-draft process and would've been a strong option as a "big nickel" in Nielsen's defense.
How much scrimmage yards do you expect for Bijan? - @Paul_atl_
It's far from a stretch to say that Robinson breaks Allgeier's franchise rookie rushing record of 1,035 yards - hitting 1,200 doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility.
That being said, the Falcons are serious about giving Robinson looks as a receiver, and with the aforementioned lack of a clear No. 2 wideout, he could see plenty of snaps in the slot.
Robinson finished third among running backs in Texas history with 805 receiving yards; he's a talented pass catcher and was strong in that regard in 2022, logging 314 yards on just 19 catches.
So, across a 17-game season, it certainly feels like Robinson could hit 1,500 yards from scrimmage, but for an "expectation," let's side more at 1,400, giving room for the transition period most rookies experience.
Favorite UDFA signing aside from Justin Marshall? - @GAsportscontent
The nod has to go to Rice defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu, the lone Shrine Bowl player the Falcons picked up after a week of coaching in Las Vegas.
In 2022, Enechukwu logged nine and a half tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, 31 pressures and 21 hurries; he had a sack against USC and Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams to start his senior season.
Standing 6-4, 266 pounds, Enechukwu has the frame Atlanta prefers on the end of its defensive line and showed explosiveness, power and versatility at the Shrine Bowl, playing both inside and outside.
Enechukwu is ultimately more likely to end up on the practice squad than active roster, but he has the physical tools to develop into a solid piece up front, making him quite the intriguing undrafted free agent.
Favorite free agency signing? - @BeckettHits
The easy answer is safety Jessie Bates III, who brings range, leadership and a ball-hawking mentality to the secondary while helping maximize third-year pro Richie Grant's skill set in the box ... but let's go a different direction - defensive tackle David Onyemata.
Quiet but highly respected around the league, Onyemata, formerly with Nielsen on the New Orleans Saints, logged a 10.6-percent pressure rate across the last two years. For comparison, Atlanta's entire defensive tackles room sat at just over five percent in that period.
For years, everyone from the media and fans to the team itself has tried to give Grady Jarrett a running mate inside, and Onyemata's proven time and again that he's well-built for that role.
Another name that garnered heavy consideration here is defensive end Calais Campbell, who had 14 quarterback hits in his age-36 season ... but it goes well beyond his on-field impact.
Campbell, who's searching for a Super Bowl win to cap off an illustrious career, has made it clear how much he respects Smith, Ridder and Atlanta's coaching staff, and sees a clear vision for where the franchise is headed.
Considering Campbell's 15-year career and high-ranking status among players, his words carry weight - but his actions of signing with the Falcons were an even greater show of faith in the organization moving forward.
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