Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons selected Indiana Hoosiers running back Tevin Coleman in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. It was a selection that may not have excited a ton of fans, but it is a very underrated pick and Coleman is going to be exactly what the Falcons have needed to get their running game back on track.
Coleman was one of the best running backs in the nation last year with the Hoosiers, and showed off a dynamic skillset.
During his junior season at Indiana, Coleman ran for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns on 270 carries. Those numbers average out to an impressive 7.5 yards per carry. There are some concerns surrounding whether or not he can pick up tough yardage or simply be a dynamic big play running back, but he has the body to be an every-down back.
At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Coleman is one of the more physical running backs in the draft class. He has the talent to be a feature back at some point, and he is a very open minded player who is willing to learn from his coaching staff.
Another reason that Coleman is a perfect fit for the Falcons is his ability to make plays as a receiver out of the backfield. He wasn’t utilized that much as a receiver during his collegiate years, but his quickness, speed and ability to make defenders miss in the open field, makes him a legitimate playmaking threat for quarterback Matt Ryan.
Steven Jackson was signed to be the Falcons’ every-down back, but he simply wasn’t able to stay healthy. Even when he was healthy, it didn’t appear that he could fit into the offensive system that the Falcons ran. Coleman will bring a lot of energy and athleticism to the field, and that is the change that Atlanta has been needing at the running back position.
Early indications have been that Coleman will be the Falcons’ No. 1 running back to open the season. Atlanta has a few other options that could beat him out with impressive work in training camp and preseason action, but more than likely it will be Coleman as the starter to begin the season.
Assuming that is the case, it will be very interesting to see what type of numbers Coleman puts up in his first few games. It is a big jump to make from the Hoosiers to the NFL, but he has the raw talent and athleticism to make it rather smoothly. Coleman simply has to learn the playbook and allow the coaches to work with him and tweak his game if need be.
This is exactly what the Falcons have been needing to stabilize their offense. As good as the passing game has been with Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White, they need to have a ground game to keep defenses honest. Having a player like Coleman who is capable of making plays out of the backfield will help open up the passing game for Ryan.
Expect to see Coleman come in and make a major impact immediately in his NFL career, and be the running back that the Falcons have needed for the past few seasons.
Evan Massey is the Green Bay Packers beat writer for www.RantSports.com, and also contributes across the NFL, MLB and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.
