WATCH: Falcons should give RB Brian Hill more playing time
Halfway through the 2019 season, the Atlanta Falcons are essentially only playing for pride -- a shocking fact considering their preseason expectations.
But there's at least one other objective the team should have in the final eight weeks of the season following the bye -- figure out which young players are ready for bigger roles. The Falcons will face a severe cap crunch once again going into 2020, so it would be very beneficial if the team could identify areas where going younger and cheaper is the better alternative.
One of those potential positions is running back. The Falcons currently have five backs on their roster, including rookie Qadree Ollison, who has yet to be active for a game this season. However, Ito Smith is currently sidelined with a concussion and Kenjon Barner is used more as a returner than running back.
That leaves struggling starter Devonta Freeman and 23-year-old Brian Hill. Based on the report that the team elected not to shop Freeman at the trade deadline, the Falcons apparently still believe in him as their lead back.
But seeing what Hill can provide in at least a "Tevin Coleman" type role where he receives 5-10 carries per game isn't a bad idea. It could even help the Falcons win a game or two down the stretch.
While Freeman is averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per carry, Hill has rushed for 5.0 yards per rush. Hill has a much smaller sample, but the same is true of Smith, who's averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Take a look at Freeman stats compared to what Hill and Smith have combined to do together:
| Name | Rushing Yards | Attempts | Yards per Carry |
|---|---|---|---|
Freeman | 333 | 97 | 3.4 |
Smith/Hill | 146 | 30 | 4.9 |
The offensive line has experienced its share of problems, but those statistics seem to suggest that the line has been much better in run blocking with backs named something other than Freeman. It would be in Atlanta's best interest to find out if these strong averages for Hill and Smith will continue in a larger sample.
Of course, I have my doubts that will happen. Failing to more seriously dangle Freeman at the trade deadline suggests the Falcons are committed to him and aren't interested in other backs supplanting him as the team's starter.
At his postgame press conference Sunday, head coach Dan Quinn spoke highly of Hill but denied he would see more opportunities in the second half of the season.
"Brian (Hill) has certainly proven that he's capable of delivering," Quinn said.
"He's answered the challenge every time we have (had one for him). I'm not going to say more (opportunities), but we can certainly count on him."
