The Atlanta Falcons signed Steven Jackson last season with the hopes that the veteran running back would be one of the final pieces to their offensive attack. Instead, injuries forced Jackson to play just 12 games and be a very small factor in the limited success Atlanta saw in 2013. Is Jackson finished in the NFL? Not according to Falcons head coach Mike Smith who has all the faith in the world that Jackson will have a return-to-form season in 2014.
Jackson earned the biggest free agent contract for the Falcons last season. He signed a three-year, $12 million deal after departing from the St. Louis Rams, but failed to live up to the money. Jackson broke his streak of eight-straight seasons of 1,000 yards rushing, putting up just 3.5 yards per carry while suffering from a hamstring injury. Jackson was the definition of unproductive and as he approaches 31, will it get better?
"We felt like you've got to be able to run the football and run the football when everybody knows you're going to do that," Smith said, via ESPN.com. "When you're in that situation, you've got to have a big back. And we felt like Steven was the type of running back that we were looking for. Unfortunately, Steven was injured last year and we didn't really get a chance to see what he was capable of doing until the last four or five games. But you've got to have a big back when you have to get the two or three yards. Especially late in the season, you've got to be able to run the football."
There was plenty of speculation that Jackson could be released after the down season. However, Jason Snelling retired, making it necessary that Jackson stay on. Smith insists that the Falcons are committed to Jackson continuing to be their lead running back while Jacquizz Rodgers serves as the backup. However, while Atlanta intends to keep Jackson on, the team is poised to draft a rookie to build up as his replacement.
Atlanta has made the running back position a priority in the upcoming draft. The team could easily take one in the third round at the earliest. Most running backs will not start to get taken off the board until late in the second round, so the Falcons have a chance to get someone very productive. Tre Mason, Jeremy Hill or Andre Williams could all be taken by Atlanta in May.
