Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman doesn't currently boast much in the way of established NFL production - entering his second professional season Freeman has 65 rushing attempts for 248 yards and one touchdown to his name.
Despite that limited rushing output to date, Freeman comprises one-third of a Falcons running back depth chart that suddenly looks much more talented than it did last year, especially after the drafting of Tevin Coleman.
While Coleman and Freeman are likely to lock horns over what could wind up being a meaningless No. 1 back designation in offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan's scheme, it seems Freeman may have a leg up of sorts on Coleman beyond his extra year of NFL experience.
"I feel like I don't want to come off the field," Freeman said, via ESPN's Vaughn McClure."I want to do everything that they say running backs can't do. I want to be a complete back: the third-and-1s, the catching out the backfield. Whatever it takes to stay on the field, that's my mentality. I feel like running backs kind of get downgraded. But me, I want to bring it back to where we're able to do everything."
Pass-catching - something Shanahan has always featured with at least one of his backs wherever he's been - could be Freeman's route to some significant playing time. In addition to his 65 rushing attempts in 2014, Freeman amassed 30 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he did so while catching passes in a variety of places on the field and out of a variety of formations.
"It's such a huge factor for a running back who can catch coming out of the backfield," Falcons head coach Dan Quinn said. "For the guy who are suspect hands, well, that's not as big a threat when a guy like that goes into the game. So fortunately for us, with the guys we're going to feature, pass catching is going to be a big part, whether we bring him out of the backfield, aligning them empty, motion out to empty. All that is going to be a factor."
Falcons receiver Roddy White recently expressed excitement over what is likely to be a more balanced offensive attack under Shanahan.
"I just don't think we're going to go out there and throw it 30, 40 times a game like we did in the past," White said recently, via The Falcoholic. "I'm not saying we didn't like that, but it's going to be different, man. We'll get back to our old regime where we run the football and play action pass and convert on third downs -- just making it really simple."
That renewed commitment to the run could either benefit or hinder Freeman's contribution - on the one hand, he's likely for more touches as a runner, but that will require him proving he's capable of doing more with said touches than Coleman. On the other hand, if pass-catching is what can set him apart, less pass calls means fewer opportunities to garner receptions and eat up chunks of yardage through the air.
Still, what seems certain at this point is that Shanahan will find a way to utilize all of his new offensive weaponry in Atlanta.
Whether Coleman or Freeman gets the lion's share of the touches out of the backfield, the Falcons will be better off offensively if both the run and pass aspects of the offense can contribute in a meaningful manner in 2015 - something which was sorely lacking last year and contributed to a down season for quarterback Matt Ryan and the entire Atlanta offense.
