Atlanta Falcons 2020 Season Preview: Ito Smith

How does Ito Smith fit in the Falcons' offense in 2020?

Author:
Jeremy Johnson
Publish date:
Jul 17, 2020 8:03 AM EDT

Ito Smith is the forgotten man in the Atlanta Falcons’ offense. All offseason analysts and fans alike clamored that the Falcons had a dire need at the running back position.

Devonta Freeman was cut. It was obvious the Falcons needed a starter to replace him. Smith was and still could be a candidate to replace Freeman in the long run of the 2020 football season.

The Falcons signed Todd Gurley. Gurley is a three-time pro bowler and has rushed for 5,404 yards in only 73 career games.

Gurley’s pedigree isn’t in question.

That doesn’t mean Smith won’t be relevant and useful in the 2020 running back rotation. Smith was well on his way to a solid season in 2019.

Smith carried the football 22 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. Smith also caught 11 passes for 87 yards while splitting time with the similarly used Freeman.

In 2018 Smith caught 27 passes for 152 yards. He ran for another 315 yards and a touchdown while splitting time with Tevin Coleman while Freeman nursed an injury that kept him out of most of the 2018 season.

A neck injury sidelined Smith for nine games last season. Smith is still only 24-years-old and has plenty of football left in the tank. If he’s fully healthy Smith will likely factor in behind Gurley on the depth chart.

Giving the injury history of Gurley and his advancing age due to his heavy workload as a Ram, Smith is in prime position to be a spell back.

If he plays well the Falcons could be inclined to branch out how they use Smith. Smith’s skillset isn’t as mirrored by Gurley as it was with Freeman. Falcons’ offensive coordinatior Dirk Koetter has some flexibility with potentially playing Gurley and Smith on the field at the same time.

At 195 pounds, Smith isn’t an in-between the tackles bell cow. He has speed and pass-catching ability to make him a nice dump-down option for Matt Ryan.

The combination of Gurley and Smith could evolve along the lines of what the Falcons had in Freeman and Coleman in 2016 when the duo combined for 2,482 total yards of offense.