Atlanta Falcons' Bijan Usage Criticized by New Orleans Saints' Tyrann Mathieu?

The Atlanta Falcons' inconsistent usage of their top playmakers like Bijan Robinson was a big criticism of the offense last season.

Nov 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs with the / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Despite making running back Bijan Robinson their third top-10 pick in three years last offseason, the Atlanta Falcons offense was a constant source of criticism under then-coach Arthur Smith. And it wasn’t just fans and fantasy football managers that realized the under usage of the Falcons’ top play-makers as even New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu has called it out.

In a recent interview on the Green Light with Chris Long Podcast, Mathieu, the 11-year veteran safety, not only praised the now-second-year running back on the Saints’ biggest rival, the Falcons, but even seemingly called out Smith in the process.

"He's going to be special," Mathieu said of Robinson. "Marshall Faulk, you know. Edgerrin James, you know what I mean? Like, LaDainian Tomlinson, you know? And I didn't think the Falcons really used him as good as they should have last year, but, man, he's going to be good."

Nov 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs with the / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Faulk, James, and Tomlinson are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, all of whom Mathieu mentioned when discussing Robinson. If Mathieu is correct and Robinson goes on to have a Hall of Fame career, his rookie season could stand out as a missed opportunity for the Falcons. 

After playing all 17 games, Robinson finished just short of the 1,000-yard rushing benchmark at 976 yards and four touchdowns on 214 carries. However, while Robinson didn’t surpass 1,000 yards rushing, he did compile a franchise rookie record of 1,463 yards from scrimmage.

Now, after the hiring of Raheem Morris and his offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, the Falcons are hoping to build an offense that is predicated on being versatile and getting their playmakers "touches."

"Certainly, I think Kyle as a tight end and Bijan as a back, those guys are going to get their touches how they get they touches, ..." Robinson said back in February. "I view those guys as versatile, but those guys can play just tight end. Those guys can play just back. We’ll have formation versatility to move them all over and try to get the most out of what they do. But those guys are very special players and just excited to get going with them.”