Atlanta Falcons: Full Position Breakdown & Depth-Chart Analysis at Running Back
The biggest question on the Atlanta Falcons offense when it comes to who is starting is at running back. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman both look to be the primary competitors for the job, but Antone Smith could be the dark horse who winds up taking the role when all is said and done.
Jerome Smith and Terron Ward will compete for the likely final roster spot at running back if the Falcons carry the four running backs they should logically carry. At fullback, Falcons veteran Patrick DiMarco will battle with U.S. Army veteran Collin Mooney for the starting spot.
There are quite a few camp battles on the Falcons roster in the backfield. When looking into these battles, you have to check out how the players fit into the new schemes put forth by Kyle Shanahan and Dan Quinn. This breakdown should help out a good bit.
Tevin Coleman
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Role: Running-Downs Running Back
Coleman is the Falcons' best pure running back on the roster. Freeman is a good back, but he's more of that versatile, all-around tailback. Coleman can come right in and be a 1,000-yard runner should he see enough carries.
Coleman is a true grinder at times and has a nasty attitude when he's running. He'll run into contact too much sometimes instead of trying to avoid it and create a bigger play that way. Coleman is one of the fastest tailbacks from this past draft and has great big-play ability.
By putting Coleman as the primary running back, the Falcons would be able to set the tone with a grinding rusher who has already played in a scheme similar to what Shanahan runs. Atlanta could wind up with a Rookie of the Year candidate if Coleman performs to his potential.
Devonta Freeman
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Role: Passing-Downs Running Back
When it comes to the passing attack, Freeman is much more likely to see the majority of the snaps. He can run the ball effectively, but his true strength comes as both a pass-blocker and receiver out of the backfield. He understands how to take a screen for quite a bit of yardage.
Freeman also can line up and play slot receiver and wide receiver. This allows the Falcons to use some sets where Freeman and Tevin Coleman are in the backfield at the same time and then have Freeman motion out to the receiver spot and run a route from there.
They can also run some motion sets where Freeman is the one staying in the backfield, and Coleman gets the ball on a reverse. Because of Freeman's versatility, the Falcons have more options in their passing and running games. Atlanta using Freeman on primarily passing downs will make the offense that much better.
Antone Smith
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Role: Big-Play Running Back
The Falcons got nothing but big plays out of Smith in 2014. Every time he touched the ball, it felt like he was going off for a 30-plus-yard play and a touchdown. In 2015, he'll be asked to contribute in a similar way, but the schemes should allow him more opportunities to succeed.
Shanahan knows how to take a running back and put him in the open field for the most success. With Smith, expect to see a lot of screens and stretch plays run when he's on the field. It's his most effective way to create chunks of yardage and how he wins.
The Falcons will focus on having Smith be that extra change of pace for when Freeman and Coleman are tired or hurt, and it should allow the Falcons to have more of a three-headed rushing attack than the one primary back they were stuck with in the Mike Smith era.
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Jerome Smith
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Role: Competing for a Potential Reserve Role
The Falcons need a bruising running back to step up with the absence of Jason Snelling and Steven Jackson from the 2015 roster. Smith comes to mind as someone who can come right in and be that average, bruising-style tailback Snelling was during his Atlanta career.
Smith was the featured tailback in college and showed that he could carry the load at Syracuse. He carried for over 900 yards during his redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons. He's a back who does well finding the holes with his vision and cutting through them.
The questions around Smith's game come from his lack of pass-blocking ability. However, since he hasn't seen the field in live action for over a year, it wouldn't be shocking to see a vast improvement from where he was as a blocker. Professional-level coaching could help him improve there.
Terron Ward
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Role: Competing for a Potential Reserve Role
The Falcons do love to bring in running backs from Oregon State, and Ward is no exception. Much like Jacquizz Rodgers, the 5'7", 201-pound Ward is an undersized running back who can find the holes he needs to in the running game and attack them. Unlike Rodgers, he's not very quick.
Ward also has solid stats in the passing game, but he's not a great pass-blocker. If he wants to win the job, he'll have to show that he can be worth more in the passing game than Jerome Smith can. He'll also have to show burst that he hasn't shown in college.
The Falcons probably won't be requiring Ward's services during the 2015 season, and his potential shot at a roster spot doesn't likely expand past training camp. Atlanta needs running backs who can make a difference, and Ward likely isn't that.
Patrick DiMarco
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Role: Competing for the Fullback Job
When it comes to the fullback position, DiMarco should be the leader for the job early, as he was the starter at the position the past two seasons. DiMarco is a former South Carolina Gamecock who has been in the NFL for a couple of seasons and has proved to be a solid run-blocker.
The question with DiMarco comes from his lack of rushing and receiving ability. He's dropped multiple passes throughout his NFL career and shouldn't be relied on like an H-back within the offense like some fullbacks are. As a rusher, he's pretty much irrelevant.
Shanahan likes to see running backs and fullbacks who can run, catch and block regardless of previous showings. It's for that reason that DiMarco doesn't look like the ideal option at fullback despite his excellent blocking abilities for both running and passing plays.
Collin Mooney
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Role: Competing for the Fullback Job
Mooney is an Army veteran who most recently played for the Titans. He's got potential to earn the starting fullback role over DiMarco as he's just the better athlete. He runs similarly to how Justin Griffith used to from the fullback position.
Mooney could be kept on the roster as a potential running back instead of a pure fullback as well. He's a powerful runner, and the Falcons don't really have anyone who has that bruising style right now outside of him and maybe Jerome Smith.
Mooney is the Army's single-season rushing-yards record holder and could wind up being a potential value player for the Falcons as a fullback/tailback hybrid who can also play special teams. Atlanta needs as many guys like Mooney in camp as it can get. Versatile, hardworking players are tough to come by.
All stats used are from Pro Football Focus' Premium Stats, ESPN.com, CFBStats or NFL.com. All combine and pro-day info is courtesy of NFLDraftScout.com. All contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.
Scott Carasik is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He covers the Atlanta Falcons, college football, the NFL and the NFL draft. He's also the Featured Draft Analyst for Pro Football Spot
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