LATEST NEWS : Saints’ Tyrann Mathieu saying what all Falcons fans are thinking

Going into the 2023 season, Arthur Smith and the Falcons had low expectations, especially with Desmond Ridder, a third-round pick, as quarterback.

Smith somehow failed to reach that low standard, and as a result, he was fired. The club’s three top-10 draft picks had little impact, which influenced Arthur Blank’s decision.

Poor quarterback play may have contributed to Kyle Pitts and Drake London’s underwhelming performances, but Falcons fans never saw Bijan Robinson as the offensive weapon he was expected to be.

Atlanta’s eighth overall pick in 2023 was expected to be the featured running back in Arthur Smith’s scheme. He was also expected to be a constant receiving threat. Neither came to fruition, and Falcons fans were particularly disappointed by Robinson’s lack of touches in critical periods of the game — red zone, third downs, two-minute drills, and so on.

It’s safe to assume Falcons supporters were unhappy, but a divisional rival’s words should brighten things up in the midst of the offseason. Tyrann Mathieu is expressing what many Atlanta fans are thinking.

“He’s going to be special,” Mathieu remarked during the Green Light with Chris Long podcast. “Marshall Faulk, you know. Edgerrin James, do you understand what I mean? Like, LaDainian Tomlinson, you know? And I don’t think the Falcons employed him as well as they might have last year, but he’s going to be great.”
Mathieu, a highly recognized player, compares Robinson to three Hall of Fame running backs. That’s strong praise for a player who finished his debut season with 1,463 scrimmage yards. It just goes to demonstrate how much potential the Texas product has to earn this kind of praise.

The hope is that Zac Robinson and Kirk Cousins can maximize this offense’s potential. Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson are all primed for a huge 2024.