The Atlanta Falcons will finally get a look at one of their most highly-touted draft picks on Saturday when the team takes on the Miami Dolphins in the third preseason game of the year. With the run game becoming a major focus for Atlanta moving forward, the team drafted Tevin Coleman to help take over the position as many believed he would be an immediate starter for the Falcons. Now he finally makes his debut and the expectations are high.
According to head coach Dan Quinn via Vaughn McClure of ESPN, Coleman will play Saturday after missing significant time for a hamstring injury. The running back was injured the first week of training camp and has been sidelined ever since. The Falcons have been working hard to get him and Devonta Freeman back on the field so they can have their intended running back tandem together for the first time.
"At this point, it looks like Tevin is a little closer than Devonta, just from the week of practice," Quinn said, via ESPN.com. "I'm anxious for (Coleman) to get in. And I know he's anxious. I'm anticipating him being ready to rock."
The running back competition was supposed to be a main headline for the Falcons this year, but that took some time to start with both Coleman and Freeman out. Antone Smith is also dealing with a hamstring injury and he will not be active for this preseason game. Now with both running backs returning, the battle will pick back up. Originally, Quinn told the media they would split the carries going forward, but it is expected Freeman will get the Week 1 nod to start.
The wide receiver group is also competing for looks on the field. With Roddy White out until Week 1 following elbow surgery, there is a competition brewing to replace him while also filling to the No.3 spot on the depth chart. Justin Hardy, Devin Hester, Eric Weems and Leonard Hankerson are the top two options for Matt Ryan moving forward with Julio Jones. Through two preseason games, Hankerson has been the player to really excel while Hardy is showing a lot of promise as well. Ryan told the media that he has full confidence in the options on the depth chart.
Matt Ryan, he's a great quarterback. I'm excited about the opportunity to go and play with him," Hankerson said, via TheFalcoholic.com. "He's been in the league a long time as well. I mean, I'm pretty sure I could learn a whole lot from him and his other receivers, and I'm going there to do what I've got to do, work hard each and every day, and I'm pretty sure Matt Ryan is doing the same thing, and that's all I can do, but I'm definitely excited to play with him."