Melvin Gordon: Leading rookie rushing title contenders
By Luke Sims
Sep 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman (26) runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
3) Tevin Coleman, running back, Atlanta Falcons
My favorite non-first round running back to enter the 2015 NFL Draft, I believe that Tevin Coleman is in a position to really give Melvin Gordon a run of this money as the best rookie running back and an NFL rushing title contender.
Coleman’s stock continues to rise in the buildup to his debut. He has passed Devonta Freeman to be the starter for Week 1 of the regular season and the sky seems to be the limit for the young back.
After posting 2036 yards in his final year at Indiana, Coleman is poised to not just produce at the NFL level, but really decimate opponents. He is an extremely aggressive runner who “runs angry” and out-battles opponents during games. He really grinds down defenses and can be relied upon to punish players that try to stop him.
That’s the kind of running that can get you a rushing title in the NFL.
Coleman believes that the Atlanta Falcons rushing attack is going to be something special in 2015 and with him leading the charge, it’s quite possible that he’s right.
While I exude confidence about his running style, it’s clear that the blocking in Atlanta needs to improve after a mediocre showing in 2014. Hopefully Coleman will have a better line in front of him in 2015, but even if it doesn’t take a major step forward he has shown he’s more than willing to get physical to get yards.
Next: A short-stature running back poised to break out in Cleveland