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ATLANTA – Ito Smith has a goal that has nothing to do with continuing his series of three-game touchdowns.
The attacking half of Atlanta Falcons knows that the offensive has not yet reached its maximum potential, mainly because of the lack of consistency of the game running. Yes, there was lightning on the part of current starter Tevin Coleman, who owns the team's only rushed game, and Smith, who set a rookie record in the franchise with a hasty score at each of his last three games.
But Smith says that there is still a lot to do.
"I think we can be much better, man," said Smith. "I want us to get 200 yards on the ground, we have to start this game on the ground."
The last time the Falcons rushed for a combined total of 200 yards in a game was when they won 201 in a 15th week win against the Buccaneers last season. And if they want to double this feat soon, they will have to do it without the Pro Bowl halfback, Devonta Freeman.
The Falcons (2-4) placed Freeman on the list of injured on Tuesday while he is about to be operated on in the groin. He could return from the IR for the Falcons match on Dec. 23 at Carolina, but this might be pointless if the Falcons did not play in the playoffs.
Thus, it is Coleman and Smith's responsibility to carry the burden out of the backfield, with Brian Hill as the third forward. The Falcons, who have just broken their three-game losing streak with a win in Week 6 against Tampa Bay, rank 29th out of 32 teams rushing with an average of 86 yards per game.
Freeman's vision and ability to handle routes as a receiver will be missed at Falcon. However, Coleman may be a threat to the home run and showed last week how good he could be for the blitz, while Smith also showed some versatility, just six games of his career in the NFL.
"I do not feel any pressure because you just have to keep doing what you do," Smith said. "You have not even seen the surface come out of the race or the offensive, we have not played a good match yet."
Smith, a fourth-round pick in South Mississippi, has exceeded expectations in the eyes of many. Some experts have projected it as a late pick or even as a pickup of free unwritten agents. Instead, Smith leads all the halfbacks with a touchdown on every 10.67 runs. Against Cincinnati, he had a 7-yard stint where he jumped out and made the defender miss. At Pittsburgh, he scored a 2-yard touchdown of an area read with the offensive line giving a good boost. Then, last week against the Bucs, Smith scored on a 14 yard rush of a lost area when he made a pass in the back door and followed two blocks of his opponent Logan Paulsen to the area. goals.
"It's a blessing, man," Smith said. "It proves that hard work pays off, I've worked hard all my life and I'm reaping the benefits, I'm just blessed, man."
The coaches seem confident that Smith can do the job in the future, whether it's a threat in the red zone or spelling Coleman for a game or two.
"I knew he was a good runner in open ground," said Falcons coach Dan Quinn in Smith. "I knew he could really cut in. What I did not know was probably his balance – all the good half-pants have it, but some also have it laterally, and they can try to change of direction and to break someone, and he has that, as he walks to the floor, the room is not finished and I like it at home. "
It seems that the Falcons could see a lot more of Smith in the weeks to come.
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