A Shanahan is at it again.
Devonta Freeman is set to add his name to the long list of obscure running backs that have become relevant producers in the NFL in the famed scheme of Mike and Kyle Shanahan. Freeman entered the season as a running back hoping to contribute alongside rookie Tevin Coleman. Coleman was selected by theb current regime and viewed as the more physically gifted player, so Freeman was always battling unfair odds.
Over the first two weeks of the year, the running back did little of note. He had 106 total yards on 29 total touches. When Coleman was lost to injury after Week 2, Freeman stepped in to assume the starter's share of the workload.
Freeman carried the ball 30 times against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Those 30 carries went for 141 yards and three touchdowns. He also added five receptions for 52 yards. Against the Houston Texans in Week 4, Freeman carried the ball 14 times for 68 yards and three touchdowns. He also added five receptions for 81 yards. Over a two-game stretch, he has 54 touches for 342 total yards and six touchdowns.
At 23 years of age during his second season in the league, these two games should be seen as Freeman's breakout games. Instead, they're largely being dismissed as unsustainable.
Whlie his production over the past two weeks is unsustainable, it doesn't mean that Freeman hasn't broken out. He may not be an exceptional physical talent, but Freeman is reliable and versatile in a similar way to Justin Forsett in Baltimore. Forsett has been productive by being put in an ideal situation for his skill set, the Falcons can do the same with Freeman.
Coleman's eventual return will impact Freeman's production significantly, but this two-game stretch should have bough the more experienced back a greater share of the workload for the short-term at least.
Freeman is a short back. He is officially listed at 5'8" and 206 lbs. Even though he's shorter, he is not necessarily small. Freeman hasn't shown off great power consistently throughout his career, but has run with more impact over the past two weeks. Against the Cowboys in Week 3, he emphasized this by bouncing a safety off of his body at speed after he had escaped downfield.
The big hit at the end of this run was impressive, but it's more noteworthy when combined with Freeman's early work.
Shanahan's play call was perfectly executed, making it easier for Freeman to go untouched onto the second level. However, Freeman also showed off quick feet and a short-area burst that was impressive. Having such quick feet with the power to finish the end of the run strongly is a rare combination of traits. It's also a very valuable combination of traits in Shanahan's offense.
Those traits have allowed Freeman to be an effective goal-line runner.
On this play, Freeman subtly sets up his fullback's block by pressing the hole past his inside shoulder. Just as the fullback engages the edge defender, Freeman makes a harder change of direction by planting his inside foot and directing himself behind the blocker's back. The precision and quickness of his feet made it impossible for the edge defender to react to his movement and get around/through the fullback.
On this play, Freeman shows off his quickness and balance to find the running lane before the defense can close around him. Freeman cut back across the field and was confronted by a defender who could have tackled him. The running back was exceptionally quick in turning away from that potential tackle to finish the run hard, falling into the end zone.
For his third touchdown against the Cowboys, Freeman goes untouched into the endzone because of his blocking. His blocking on the second level kept him clean, but he needed to be extremely quick initially to beat Demarcus Lawrence, number 90 on the defense, through the hole. Lawrence penetrated very quickly, but Freeman's size and quickness allowed him to sprint away from his angled pursuit.
This run against the Houston Texans appears to be a designed cutback, but again it's Freeman's quickness through his actions that stand out. He gets through the hole very quickly and is able to drag a defender forward with him because of his built-up speed and his bulk to brush off the strength of the linebacker.
Even when Coleman returns to the field, Freeman should hold onto the bulk of the goal-line opportunities. He is simply too dififcult a player to contain in tight areas, while his vision allows him to stretch the defense in different directions.
Fortunately for Coleman, everything he does close to the goal-line can be done at every part of the field. His physical traits are more impressive than they appeared to be when he was entering the league out of the draft, while his vision and decision-making has been consistent over the past two weeks. If he can sustain that, he should continue to be very produtive as the Falcons boast a relatively soft schedule.
On this play, Freeman works between the tackles, setting up his blocks and being decisive while making good decisions. He finishes the play hard against contact after sustaining his speed from the moment he took the ball from his quarterback.
When Branden Oliver enjoyed unexpected success for the San Diego Chargers last season, he was immediately compared to Darren Sproles. Oliver didn't actually show off a skill set similar to that of the Philadelphia Eagles back, but he wore the same number and played for a team that Sproles previously played for. Oliver had 306 yards and three touchdowns over two weeks early in the year before reverting back to an unproductive role.
Freeman shouldn't follow in Oliver's footsteps. Freeman deserves to be compared to Sproles because of his play. He is short, but powerful and extremely quick while showing off an understanding of how to get the most out of his blocking consistently. Freeman also offers value as a receiver, even if he's not as refined in that area as Sproles is at this early stage of his career.
Selling high is going to be a popular suggestion for Freeman after the past two weeks. While it may make sense in some scenarios, moving on from the running back at this point seems counter-intuitive considering how many big-name backs are underperforming this year.
Freeman has a potentially tough matchup against Washington next before the Falcons' schedule becomes very friendly. Unless the Falcons are dead set on forcing Coleman back into the lineup when he returns, there's little reason to think that Freeman won't be a productive player over the coming weeks. Furthermore, the skepticism surrounding Freeman is likely going to hamper his trade value if you are trying to sell him high.
Instead of selling high now, buying low after next week may be a more prudent approach.