Falcons Must Move Beyond Steven Jackson as Team's Lead Back

There is a point in every great running back's career where their play drops off precipitously. It usually takes root around the runner's 30th birthday. At that point, the running back has two options. Either he can find a new role within the offense without expecting to be the team's workhorse or retire. 

After rushing for 10,966 hard-earned yards through 10-and-a-half seasons, Steven Jackson's role with the Falcons must change or the team will continue to struggle offensively. 

Jackson is a square peg not fit for a round hole. The Falcons prefer 11 personnel (one back, one tight end and three wide receivers). This style of offense doesn't require a physical downhill runner like Jackson.  

The Falcons running game once again became an afterthought Sunday. The Ravens built a 17-0 lead before halftime. As a result, the Falcons were attempting to make a comeback with quarterback Matt Ryan shouldering the load. 

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Atlanta called only 15 running plays during the entire contest. 

This season, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is calling pass plays 65 percent of the time. While Atlanta's most talented players on offense reside at quarterback and wide receiver, a better balance must be struck for the team to be more competitive and effective on offense. 

A change at running back can help bolster the lackluster running game.

Another issue that became readily apparent during Jackson's performance Sunday was his lack of explosiveness. The veteran was once one of the most difficult running backs in the NFL to tackle. Against Baltimore, Jackson simply looked slow to the hole and lacked burst when he attempted to turn runs upfield. 

During his last season with the St. Louis Rams, Jackson finished eighth overall in yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus. Jackson finished Top 10 in the category every year between 2008-12. A lot of those yards were compiled due to heavy usage, but it seems all those carries have taken their toll. 

A look at this season's production shows Jackson declined in recent weeks: 

Opponent	Carries	Rushing Yards	Yards per carry	Receptions	Receiving Yards
Saints	12	52	4.3	1	0
Bengals	11	46	4.2	1	7
Bucs	14	54	3.9	0	0
Vikings	13	49	3.8	2	13
Giants	13	37	2.8	5	37
Bears	6	25	4.2	0	0
Ravens	8	22	2.8	1	3

An argument can be made that the Falcons offensive line is in shambles, which reflects poorly on Jackson. After all, both offensive tackles and the team's center were either backups entering the season or playing a different position than originally projected to start. The problem was exacerbated when Peter Konz left the Ravens game in the first quarter due to a knee injury.

The Falcons announced Monday that Konz was placed on injured reserve: 

But the Falcons' patchwork offensive line is further reason why Jackson's role needs to be minimized this season. 

Player	Height	Weight
Steven Jackson	6'2"	240
Jacquizz Rodgers	5'6"	196
Devonta Freeman	5'8"	206
Antone Smith	5'9"	192

As a 6'2", 240-pound running back, Jackson isn't going to make defenders miss, particularly at this point in his career. He's the only running back on the roster of this ilk. The rest of the running back stable is smaller and shiftier. Jacquizz Rodgers, Devonta Freeman and Antone Smith are all under 6'0" and weigh less than 210 pounds. 

Despite the lack of size, each of those backup options doesn't necessarily project as a part-time player. 

When the Falcons drafted Freeman in the fourth round of this year's NFL draft, Falcons head coach Mike Smith didn't automatically typecast the running back due to his smallish stature. Mike Smith told AtlantaFalcons.com in May that Freeman could eventually become an every-down running back: 

"

I think if you look at his size, the first thing that comes to your mind is he may be a change of pace back, that is not the case. You said it, in terms of being able to run between the tackles. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s a very strong runner. He is shorter in stature, but he has great strength. If you really study him, he’s probably more effective running the ball between the tackles than he is outside, but when he gets outside he’s able to make people pay because he’s got some good speed.

"

The same is applicable to Rodgers and Antone Smith. 

Antone Smith, in particular, has proved to be the second most explosive offensive player on the Falcons roster behind wide receiver Julio Jones, as Falcons vice president of football operations Reggie Roberts noted: 

The fourth-string running back, who plays primarily on special teams, is averaging 12.7 yards each time he touches the ball on offense this season.  

Even Falcons owner Arthur Blank praised Smith last week in an interview with ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure:  

"

He’s an exciting player; he’s a team player. The most exciting thing about this last game [against the Bears] was not only his run -- another 41-yard scoring play -- but the next play, he was down there making the special-teams tackle. 

He really epitomizes everything you want in a team player. It’s not about self; it’s always about team. It’s always about doing whatever I can do to contribute. And he lives that way. He really, really does. I’m thrilled he’s a Falcon and I’m happy for the season he’s having.

"

Blank went as far as telling McClure that he'd like to see Antone Smith as a member of the Falcons for years to come. 

However, Smith hasn't seen an increased role despite his production. The 29-year old running back received 11 offensive snaps each of the past three weeks, according to Pro Football Focus. Freeman's snaps fluctuated between 10 to 16 appearances over the same time span. Rodgers saw less playing time against the Ravens than he has all season with only 15 snaps. 

Jackson, meanwhile, is currently averaging over 26 snaps per game.

This is the exact opposite of what the Falcons should be trying to achieve at this point in the season.

By abandoning the run early in games, the coaching staff is putting undue pressure on Ryan and the team's offensive line. If they try to establish the running game early, it will protect the areas which have been struggling the most while controlling the clock to a greater degree.

To do this, the Falcons should start to rely on the younger and more talented backs on the roster. Rodgers, Freeman and especially Antone Smith can create explosive plays, present matchup problems for opposing defenses and continue to contribute on third downs as they have all season. 

Jackson, who is 31 years old, is currently 34 yards shy of 11,000 career rushing yards. Once Jackson reaches the milestone, the once-great veteran should be phased out of the team's game plan for younger and more dynamic talent.

Brent Sobleski covers the NFC South for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter.