Falcons' Arthur Smith: Bijan Robinson Ready to Handle 'Great Expectations'

Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith is confident that rookie running back Bijan Robinson is able to handle the "great expectations."

No matter who the Atlanta Falcons took with the No. 8 overall pick this past April's NFL Draft, the expectations were going to be high. For some players, the weight of that pressure and the expectations, while for others, it can drive them to succeed. So far, it seems Atlanta Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson is the latter.

“That’s what happens when you take someone high," Falcons coach Arthur Smith said about the anticipation ahead of Robinson's regular season debut against the Carolina Panthers. "There are great expectations. When you make those investments, you have to make sure it’s the right person. You’ve got the right plan. So far, so good. ..." 

Handling expectations is nothing new for Robinson, as he did at the college level after going to the University of Texas as a highly-touted five-star recruit out of Arizona. For players who come out of the high school ranks with a five-star rating, it is the college football equivalent of a first-round pick. 

It is those type of players that fans immediately expect to play and make a difference, and while some don't, Robinson did and potentially exceeded those expectations.

Now with the Falcons, he'll be looking to do it all over again, starting with his first NFL start on Sunday against the Panthers. 

"He’s exactly who I thought he was," Smith of Robinson. "In some ways, he’s even more mature than I realized in handling expectations and pressure. That’s not easy. It gets harder and harder, especially with everything at your fingertips now. If you live through your screen, it can be a toxic wasteland. There’s a lot of things to handle on the mental side. I have to give Bijan credit. He does a good job handling that stuff."

Preseason gave fans a glimpse of what the rookie will look like in the Falcons offense as his first carry picked up 12 yards as he showed his ability to make defenders miss in his first and only game versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Then later in the drive, he showed what he could out of the backfield as a pass-catcher, reeling in a one-handed reception for a six-yard gain. 

Combining Robinson's ability with the offense that he'll feature in under Smith and offensive coordinator Dave Ragone, it is easy to see why many are picking him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

However, any hopes of being able to win the award will start on Sunday when the Falcons host the Panthers inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.