The Atlanta Falcons plan on making the run game a real feature of the 2015 offense, but fans have yet to get a taste of what that could look like as both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman remain out with injury. With Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers out in free agency, the Falcons are going with youth in the upcoming season. However, both Coleman and Freeman got hit with hamstring issues that held them out of practice. Coleman made his debut with the Falcons in the third preseason game and it was enough to instill excitement in the fan base.
The Falcons have yet to have a truly dominant run game since the departure of Michael Turner. However, Coleman has been viewed as the steal of the draft and the future of the Falcons' run game. He showed flashes of why he has been getting the hype after putting up a nice spin move on an offensive lineman that left teammates impressed. The numbers might not show it, but Coleman looked strong for still only being at about 80 percent health. It resulted in the rookie getting the game ball.
According to ESPN's Vaughn McClure, Dan Quinn envisions the running backs splitting the carries in 2015, but Coleman is getting more work at the moment with Freeman out which could earn him the Week 1 start. Freeman entered training camp as the expected starter for the team, but has yet to debut while still healing his hamstring. Coleman is looking to get the nod and is getting the experience to make it happen.
"It helped me get a feel for how it was going to be and how my warmup is going to be that I do every game," Coleman said, via ESPN.com, "and just to have a routine to have every game to perform my best."
Several Falcons players are pushing to make the starting lineup for the Falcons. There is a battle happening between Leonard Hankerson and Justin Hardy for the third receiver spot. Both Hankerson and Hardy have had strong moments in the preseason. The veteran will likely get the nod over the rookie, but look for Hardy to have a lot of time on the field as well. The same can be said with Jacob Tamme and Levine Toilolo at tight end. Tamme is expected to be the starter for Matt Ryan, but Toilolo will be a big red zone option this season.
