For fans of the Atlanta Falcons concerned over the potential loss of running back Steven Jackson, take heart because a ready replacement is already on the roster - at least according to head coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff.
"My first impression: I can feel the quickness," Quinn said of young ballcarrier Devonta Freeman while at the NFL scouting combine Thursday, per NFL.com. "In our outside zone scheme I thought this is tailor-made for a guy who can really explode off the edge. I love this guy's competitive spirit."
Dimitroff echoed a similar sentiment about Freeman's ability to be the team's "featured back," per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.
The fact that the team's two main decision-makers have come to the NFL scouting combine pushing the notion of Freeman as the franchise's future at the position probably doesn't bode well for Jackson's future with the team.
Nor does the fact that the Falcons new offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan, recently gushed about the prospect of working with both Freeman and Jacquizz Rodgers.
"Devonta (Freeman) was someone I loved coming out of college last year," said Shanahan, per a separate report from McClure. "And then the guy from Oregon State (Jacquizz Rodgers), I loved him coming out of college. So they're guys I remember from their college days, hard. I know Steven because he's played for a long time."
Shanahan went on to say that size - Jackson is a larger back while Freeman and Rodgers are both smaller, more compact runners - isn't much of a factor for him when it comes to deciding who to play; he just wants a guy who can break arm tackles and average over 4.0 yards a carry.
While size may not be an issue for Jackson in Atlanta, age - he's set to turn 32 in July - and cost - he's got one year left on his deal at $3.75 million - certainly will be.
There's also the notion of opportunity cost to consider - every touch that goes to a slower guy like Jackson means one less chance for the electric Freeman and Rodgers to take it to the house.
While Freeman only amassed 248 yards and one score on the ground last season, it seems he's done enough already to supplant Jackson as "the guy" in Atlanta and could lead the Falcons to part ways with the 11-year veteran.
