Falcons running back Antone Smith, working with the first team offense, ripped off a long run to get the crowd buzzing during the team’s Friday Night Lights event at Buford High School.
With Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman out nursing hamstring injuries, the Falcons split the time at running back between Smith and undrafted rookie Terron Ward, who’s been an early star of training camp.
“I still have to get to the film and see if I had any mistakes,” Smith said. “It was a great time to go our here in front of some great fans and play some football like it’s supposed to be played.”
Smith, who has a penchant of making big plays in a limited role, hit the hole and busted in to the secondary for a long-gainer.
Ward was stuffed on his first carry.
Smith, who is coming back from a broken leg, has been a standout on special teams for the Falcons since 2012.
“My leg feels pretty good,” Smith said. “My leg doesn’t bother me at all. I’m perfectly fine.”
Smith has quietly waited his turn while coming back from injury.
“You’ve got to make plays when you get opportunities,” Smith said. “I just wait for my opportunities and go from there.”
He said it was easy not to get frustrated as the Falcons have tried to revamped the running back position. They released Steven Jackson and didn’t re-sign Jacquizz Rodgers. They drafted Freeman is 2014 and Coleman in 2015.
“It’s all about patience,” Smith said. “Everything always work itself out in the end.”
“There were definitely some big plays by the offense that we’re real proud of and then defensively we had a couple of turnovers.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm after Smith’s performance.
“It was great to see Tone really coming to life,” Quinn said. “For him to have an injury, to come back and battle like he did in rehab, I feel thrilled for him tonight.”
Quinn couldn’t stop himself.
“I really felt that burst,” he said. “There was a draw. There was an outside run. Catching the ball…it was a triple-threat night by him. It was kind of way for him to say, ‘I’m back and I can play again.’ That’s a big moment when you’re coming back from an injury. So, I was pleased to see that from him tonight.”
Also, rookie wide receiver Justin Hardy came up with a big touchdown catch on a bomb from quarterback T.J. Yates.
Quinn was pleased with the overall showing.
“There was definitely some big plays by the offense that we’re real proud off,” Quinn said. “Then, defensively we had a couple of turnovers.”
