Atlanta Falcons: 3 Bold predictions for Week 1 vs. Seahawks
2. Gurley and Hurst will take some time to get adjusted
This offseason, Atlanta parted ways with running back Devonta Freeman and tight end Austin Hooper, adding the likes of running back Todd Gurley and tight end Hayden Hurst to fill into those starting roles here in the 2020 season.
Without any preseason games, it’s hard to tell just how Gurley and Hurst will fit into the mix of things offensively in a stacked offensive unit, and it will take Matt Ryan and company some time to adjust to the new faces while getting them mixed into the fold of the schemes on that end of the field.
Gurley and Hurst could certainly be two key pieces for the Falcons moving forward and they will both have the opportunity to put together bounce-back seasons in 2020, but with this being the first game on the field together with their new team, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them struggle a bit early on.
Gurley, a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro running back who was also named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 and Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, comes to Atlanta as the new starting running back and will fit in nicely to what the Falcons try to do on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2019, Gurley wrapped up his fifth season in the NFL and with Rams after he was selected out of Georgia with the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. In 15 regular-season appearances last year, the young running back finished with 857 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 223 carries, also hauling in 207 receiving yards with 31 catches and two touchdowns.
His best season to date came in 2017 in Los Angeles when he finished with career-best marks of 1,305 rushing yards and 788 receiving yards.
Hurst, on the other hand, could be a solid pick up by Atlanta and one that could be a part of the team moving forward in future seasons. Hurst finished up his second season in the NFL and with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, putting together his best season to date while appearing in all 16 contests for Baltimore a year ago.
Hurst ended the 2019 campaign with 30 receptions on 39 overall targets, recording a career-high 349 yards receiving and two touchdowns within an offense led by Lamar Jackson and company.
There’s no question the two newest faces to the Falcons offense will play key roles on that end of the field throughout the regular season, but in Week 1 on Sunday, they will have a bit of an adjustment period while getting used to their new squad.