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Should Atlanta Falcons part ways with Steven Jackson?

By Kevin Parvizi

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Atlanta Falcons veteran running back Steven Jackson hasn’t been much of a factor in the team’s offense ever since joining the organization in 2013, as he’s averaged just 3.5 and 3.7 yards per carry in each of the past two seasons while also struggling through soft-tissue issues that will continue to be commonplace for a 31-year-old running back who one ran for over 1,000 yards in eight straight seasons.

Jackson has taken plenty of punishment on the field over his career, and the production just hasn’t been there for the veteran RB. He’s in an awkward spot now with the Falcons, as there’s been a regime change with Kyle Shanahan taking over for Dirk Koetter on offense as one of those big changes. Shanahan is famous for employing a zone-blocking scheme that favors one-cut backs, so some believe that Jackson is no longer a fit in the Falcons offense.

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One of those people is ESPN NFL Nation’s respected Vaughn McClure, who adds that not only is Jackson no longer a fit in the offense, but he’s probably no longer a fit with the organization as a whole. Per McClure, the Falcons will “likely” release Jackson this offseason, as the team is looking for a “younger” and more explosive running back.

Heading into the final year of the contract he signed with the team back in 2013, S-Jax is set to make $3.75 million in 2015 with none of it being guaranteed. His contract wasn’t guaranteed last season either, so the Falcons can easily cut him and save a chunk of cash in order to pick up a better feature back.

For as old as Jackson is, I don’t think it’s fair to call him washed up. His stats look terrible, but he also played behind arguably the worst run-blocking offensive line, especially if you factor in the horrific performances from tight end Levine Toilolo. Jackson, per Pro Football Focus, forced 29 missed tackles as a rusher and averaged a whopping 2.69 yards after contact per carry, which was fifth in the league.

His bruising style hasn’t declined with age, and his trucking ability as one of the NFL’s premier bulldozing backs has clearly made up for his rapidly waning explosiveness and speed. Jackson was one of the better backs in the league last season at getting more than the blocking in front of him, and he didn’t really have a choice given the issues that the likes of rookie Jake Matthews had in the running game.

His putrid yards per carry averages don’t tell the whole story, because it’s hard to produce when there isn’t much there. Think about it: around 72% of Jackson’s yards on the ground came after he was already hit once.

Antone Smith is the Falcons explosive back and will be one of the more intriguing players at the position to watch in 2015, but even though the Falcons have an RB who can make big plays, you’d at least like to see their No. 1 guy bring some sort of a home-run element to the table. It’s no surprise that Jackson was one of the worst running backs at breaking off big runs, as he has just three rushes of at least 15 yards or more. Only Toby Gerhart, Bishop Sankey, Matt Asiata, and Fred Jackson had less such runs last season.

Jackson’s veteran savvy makes him a valuable pass protector, which allows him to salvage some value on passing downs even has his declining skill-set has caused his reception totals to plummet severely. In his heyday with the St. Louis Rams, Steven Jackson was not only one of the premier backs in the league, but he also had one season with 90 receptions, 806 yards, and three receiving touchdowns. He never had nearly has big of an impact as a receive since then, but he used to regularly post double the amount of receptions he did last season (20).

$3.75 million isn’t a lot of money for players at most positions, such as wide receiver, but it’s not that cheap at running back. Per Over The Cap, Jackson’s contract will have the 12th-largest value under the cap next season, and that $3.75 million could go to wholescale upgrades on defense, perhaps a reunion between Byron Maxwell and Dan Quinn, or it could help go to an even better back in free agency.

It’s easy to sit there and say that Jackson is an old back who serves no use to an NFL team anymore, but the numbers show that he’s still a quality back. He allowed just one pressure in pass protection last season to show that he’s still an elite blocking back, and he continued to move the pile as a rusher to try his best to overcome shoddy blocking.

Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Steven Jackson (39) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

The problem is that Jackson isn’t a feature back, since he isn’t durable enough or explosive enough to handle a full workload. I mean, he’s carried the ball just 156 and 190 times in his two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, so the proof is in the carry numbers. Pairing him up with Smith gives the Falcons plenty of balance with a steady, powerful back and an explosive, home-run threat.

The decision to release Jackson won’t be as easy as people think, and it comes down to whether or not the Falcons believe they can get a significantly better back.

If they cut ties with Jackson, then it will be to add a sure-fire feature back who fits Shanahan’s scheme and is good enough to produce in the midst of poor run blocking.

These backs aren’t easy to find, but the $3.75 million in savings can help them. Jackson is still a serviceable back and should be able to find work, but if the Falcons feel they need a true feature back and can get one, then they should go out and make the upgrade.

It’s important to note that the Falcons have more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball, but the extra cap space should give them enough ammo to make the addition of a new need worth it.

Mark Ingram will be a name tossed around, since he’ll cost as much- or, more likely, less- than Jackson in free agency, and he’ll be a more explosive addition to the Falcons backfield while also bringing hard-nosed rushing between the tackles.

Next: Should Falcons sign Jordan Cameron?

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