Bijan Robinson looks poised to destroy NFL as a novice

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.– Psst. What’s your number?

Bijan Robinson, No. 7 in an Atlanta Falcons jersey, has actually been asked this concern about his objectives for the coming season in some type or style considering that his sophomore year in high school.

The novice running back, who produced almost 1,900 lawns from skirmish throughout his last season at Texas in 2022, didn’t budge from his stock address today. Surrounded by a pack of press reporters following a steamy training school practice, Robinson came so tidy.

” Expectations for me, I do not truly take a look at them in a huge method,” he stated. “I take whatever one day at a time. And I understand if I take whatever one day at a time you understand completion objectives will, God prepared, take place. However I believe for me, I do not truly look ahead.”

Naturally, that was a piece of the humbleness that becomes part of Robinson’s calling card. It was likewise a glance of the maturity that his brand-new head coach, Arthur Smith, proclaims about the 21-year-old, who will make his preseason launching versus the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Robinson hurried 4 times for 20 lawns versus the Bengals, consisting of a 12-yard scuttle on his very first touch, and captured one pass for 6 lawns.

The NFL universe and dream football eggheads may forecast that Robinson is poised to destroy the league as the focal point of the Falcons offense, however there are no clip-and-save or possible foot-in-mouth statements originating from the male himself.

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Perhaps he simply does not wish to state it openly that he can imagine having the kind of effect that Saquon Barkley had as a multiple-dimensional risk for the New york city Giants as a novice in 2018 with his league-high 2,028 lawns from skirmish. Maybe Robinson has some list of objectives, which may even consist of breaking Eric Dickerson’s 1983 NFL novice record of 2,212 lawns from skirmish, stashed for safe keeping with personal belongings.

” I have actually never ever been that person,” Robinson stated. “I have actually never ever been a man to compose end-goals since I understand that if I play my video game and simply let the God-given capability go, ideally things like that will take place. However I have actually been asked that concern prior to every year and I constantly state the exact same thing: I’m gon na head out there and offer my all and after that you men will see completion outcome.”

To put it simply, he’s clever enough to understand: Simply wait and see.

Somebody asked Robinson what his action would be if his coaches, perhaps Smith or offending planner Dave Ragone, likewise asked him about his objectives.

” Exact same response,” he flatly specified.

” Even my household will ask and I resemble, ‘Y’ all understand. Y’ all must understand at this moment.’ I’m not going to state it. It is what it is.”

Let’s simply state that Robinson is anything however a trump card. The Falcons certainly forecast some game-changing effect after choosing Robinson 8th in general, the greatest slot for a running back considering that Barkley was chosen 2nd total by the Giants in 2018. Throughout a practice today, the capacity was so apparent as Robinson took off through hurrying lanes one minute, then wheeled out of the backfield the next prior to squeezing the football with his soft hands.

Throughout one series, he fielded kicks, and the football cruised broad and deep. No sweat. Robinson drifted for a number of feet, then protruded his left arm to snag the ball over his shoulder with one hand. He made it look so simple.

After remaining the preseason opener at Miami last weekend, Robinson is anticipated to play simply a handful of plays versus Cincinnati, with the genuine launching looming versus Carolina in a couple of weeks.

” They all require to dip into some point,” Smith stated, “We’re not going to go bananas. We simply require reps. We’re not going to reveal whatever, however we require to carry out well. So, that’s what you’ll see: fundamental things to get him going. Feel the speed, a bit more speed than he’s felt out there in practice. Get him taken on, get him all set to choose September 10.”

Smith has actually been plenty innovative in developing his offense over the previous 2 seasons, when he has actually likewise revealed a tendency for depending on the run. With Robinson, the alternatives might go to the next level with the cast surrounding young quarterback Desmond Ridder consisting of the emerging first-round choices from the previous 2 drafts, tight end Kyle Pitts and pass receiver Drake London, along with a 1,000-yard rush in 2015 in Tyler Allgeier and the flexible Cordarrelle Patterson.

” There are a great deal of men who can get the ball,” Robinson stated. “A great deal of skilled men.”

Ask Robinson to forecast the number of touches he’ll get and, obviously, there are no forecasts.

” I’ll simply opt for whatever the group requires me to do,” he stated. “Coach Smith and Coach Rags, whatever they have for me … I’m going to sure that whenever I touch the ball or whenever, even if I do not touch the ball, if I’m obstructing downfield, offering my best shot. If I have the ball in my hand, you have actually got to make something unique with it as much as you can.”