FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Bijan Robinson’s 2024 campaign qualifies as a breakout season in every conceivable way.
The second-year running back became just the fifth player in Falcons history to gain 1,800 scrimmage yards in a single season, and he finished fourth among all NFL players in 2024 with 1,887. He finished sixth in touchdowns with 15, third in rushing yards with 1,456 and second in missed tackles forced with 99.
And yet, despite all that he’s accomplished, the Falcons have a clear vision for how Robinson can make yet another leap in Year 3.
“We’re done with 30-yard runs and all that stuff,” Robinson said. “Now it’s time to get those 60 yards, 50 yards. So, I’ve been doing a lot more explosive drills. I’ve been doing a lot more running — 100 yards, like sprinting — so we can be prepared for, God willing, when those moments come in all the games.”
Perhaps the primary focus for Robinson and the Falcons’ staff is an uptick in the number of truly explosive plays on the ground. The exact number may vary between teams, but an explosive run can be defined as any carry that gains between 10-15 yards. According to TruMedia, Robinson had 28 carries of at least 12 yards last season, which ranked fourth among all NFL players.
But if those 12-yard gains are akin to a double in baseball, the Falcons hope for more triples and home runs in 2025.
“I work on it every single day,” Robinson said. “Obviously, the explosives, we always want them. We’ve added so many things to this offense so we can create more explosives. And, for me, sometimes it’s that one defender, but now that’s all. That’s what I’ve been working on all offseason, just seeing that free hitter and making moves off him.”
Given how electric Robinson was in 2024, it might seem odd he and the Falcons are placing such an emphasis on improving his long-distance playmaking. Well, here’s the rub.
The three players with more explosive runs than Robinson last season were Derrick Henry (37), Jahmyr Gibbs (34) and Saquon Barkley (30). Each of those three players also had a carry that gained at least 70 yards; Robinson’s longest run in 2024 went for 37 yards.
Put simply: Robinson offered as high a floor on his carries as any player in the league, but his ceiling, in terms of distance gained, proved to be lower than other elite runners.
“He is so talented,” Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said. “His vision, the way he can see and feel in tight quarters is unlike anything I have ever seen. We just hope for that uptick with the explosives.”
