Devonta Freeman: ‘I am the best back in the NFL’

“I think I am the best back in the NFL,” Freeman continued. “I feel like I can do it all. You need me to block, make you miss, run past you, run you over, catch out of the backfield, run great routes like receivers can — I can do it all. It’s just a blessing to be utilized in this offense to showcase all of my talent.”

Freeman certainly faces some stiff competition for that (unofficial) designation, but after only three years in the league, he has the credentials to at least make a case. His two consecutive Pro Bowl selections are evidence of his reputation.

Yet the Falcons don’t need to rely on Freeman too heavily. Backup Tevin Coleman is a capable running back with his own unique skills, and he’s been more dependable in his second pro season.

Freeman and Coleman complement one another and supplement the offense.

“There are certain guys you favor one or the other on certain plays,” Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “But if I call a play expecting it to be for Tevin, and ‘Free’ is in there, it’s definitely not the end of the world. It’s a good thing to have.”

The Freeman/Coleman pairing worked particularly well for the Falcons over the final three weeks of the regular season. They had their longest sustained stretch of effective rushing, with 542 yards on 87 attempts (6.3 average) and five touchdowns. In that span the Falcons had seven rushes of 20-plus yards, including three of more than 40 yards (No 3. back Terron Ward had one of those, a 45-yard gain).

During that run of games, all Falcons victories, Freeman and Coleman each had big impacts.

Against the 49ers Freeman had 139 yards on 20 carries with three touchdowns, including one for 34 yards. The Falcons couldn’t run consistently the next week at Carolina, but Coleman broke free for a 55-yard TD. Freeman had 81 yards receiving and 96 yards rushing Sunday against the Saints, including a 75-yard TD, while Coleman caught a 7-yard TD pass.

Freeman is the more complete back: He’s better in the passing game and more elusive in the Falcons’ zone-read rushing scheme. Coleman became a factor in the passing game only this season, and while faster than Freeman, he’s not as shifty.

“But it’s not like ‘Free’ is slow, and it’s not like Tevin is not quick,” Shanahan said.

Freeman’s ability was obvious during his rookie season of 2015, but the Falcons sparsely used him behind veteran Steven Jackson. Freeman broke out last season with 1,63 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns.

This season Freeman ranked seventh in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,541), sixth in rushing touchdowns (11) and tied for ninth in yards per carry (4.8). His ability to make defenders miss in the hole is even better.

“(He has) real decisiveness as a runner,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “He knows we are in ‘one cut, stick your foot in the ground and go’ and he’s so good at breaking guys off as the next level. The times he’s gotten jammed up is when the read wasn’t clear, and he wasn’t sure which way to go.”

Pass protection was an area of weakness for Freeman last season, and Quinn said he worked diligently to improve. Coleman said he had even further to go in that aspect, but after lots of nights studying video before this season, is better at it now.

Coleman played 353 snaps during the regular season compared with 604 for Freeman. Freeman played 678 snaps last season, when Coleman missed three games because of injury and played only 226 snaps.

Shanahan said he believes the lighter workload for Freeman is why, unlike last season, he’s as quick now as he was to begin the season.

“Both are very good backs and would love to do it all,” Shanahan said. “But the more you wear down, the more this game gets to you. It’s hard to keep that explosiveness and quickness through the year. I think the more each can play the more it will help their careers. I think it shows up each Sunday, and I think it’s what’s got them playing their best ball in Week 16 rather than Week 4.”