Tyler Allgeier: Atlanta’s ace in the hole?
Running back Tyler Allgeier looks set to dominate in his sophomore year for the Falcons.
Former BYU Cougar Tyler Allgeier rushed for 1,035 yards in his debut season last year, becoming the first Falcon to rush for over a thousand yards in six years.
Prior to signing with Atlanta, Allgeier ran for 2,899 yards with 36 touchdowns in his four seasons at Brigham Young University, Utah. In his closing season there, in 2021, he rushed for 1,606 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He opted to forego his final two seasons of college eligibility to declare for the draft where, as a fifth-round pick, he was chosen 151st overall.
2022 recap
Allgeier’s career debut came in the second week of the season on the road against defending-Super Bowl Champions the Rams where he rushed for 30 yards. Interest in Allgeier would develop further a fortnight later against the Browns when he rushed for 84 yards from 10 carries, including a 42-yard run.
The former Independence Bowl MVP made his first game start in Week Five after fellow-RB Cordarrelle “Flash” Patterson was placed on injured reserve. In that game Allgeier notched 45 rushing yards against Tampa Bay. His first touchdown followed two weeks later in a losing effort in Cincinnati.
Seven days later, Allgeier recorded his first receiving touchdown as part of an overtime victory over the Panthers. It would be another six weeks before he recorded another touchdown, but the following week recorded 99 yards from 10 carries against the Chargers. Allgeier was beginning to surpass expectations and fascination in his potential began to grow.
In Week 15, Allgeier made his presence felt yet again, this time against the New Orleans Saints, with 139 yards from 17 carries and another touchdown. In the closing three games of the season, he would rush for a combined 292 yards, including a touchdown against the Cardinals and 135 yards versus the Bucs.
An emerging star
As the season progressed and Allgeier became a starting RB, it quickly became clear that Atlanta had signed a talent who could be part of the team’s backbone for years to come. By the time the season wrapped, Allgeier had set a franchise record for most rushing yards by a rookie in one season and also made the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team.
Among all rookies, he finished third in rushing yards last season – just 15 behind Kenneth Walker III of the Seahawks and eighth in the NFC overall. His yards per carry average, from 210 carries, was a respectable 4.9 – to contrast, the highest for any RB in 2022 was Khalil Herbert with 5.7, with the likes of Nick Chubb with 5.0 and Derrick Henry possessing 4.4.
Some commentators argue that had California-born Allgeier started more games, he may have usurped Garrett Wilson as last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. There is every possibility that he could lead the NFC in rushing yards next season, particularly as the wide-zone run game continues under head coach Arthur Smith.
Return of the Falcons?
Atlanta are looking towards the future as they aim for their first post-season run since 2017, when they secured a wildcard berth.
In spite of their recent 7-10 season, their fifth-straight losing season, 80% of Atlanta’s defeats last year were decided by a field goal or less. Expect them to continue tweaking over the coming months, particularly as they upgrade in defense. In recent weeks they have signed Bud Dupree, Calais Campbell and Joe Gaziano. The Falcons also have the eighth pick in this year’s draft, with eight picks in total and have some cap space to play with.
Attempting to reclaim their place within an evolving NFC South should be intriguing this year. Elsewhere in their division, the Panthers have the number one pick in the draft and will take a new QB; current divisional champions the Buccaneers will need to determine who they’ll be starting between Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield at QB; and the Saints will have a new look offense with recent signings Jamaal Williams and Derek Carr.
However their 2023 campaign plays out, Allgeier should very much be a centrepiece in this young Falcons outfit. Less than a dozen of the current Atlanta roster have over five years of experience and less than a dozen were playing out of Atlanta as of two seasons ago. Amid the restyled ranks are Drake London (WR), Kyle Pitts (TE) and burgeoning QB Desmond Ridder.
Allgeier will pose problems for defenses not just due to his physicality, but through his development as a pass blocker and someone who can catch forward passes too. His dynamism, coupled with Arthur Smith’s prioritisation of the running game should see him advance even further throughout the year.
If Allgeier was overlooked until the final stages of the regular season, then so too has the shift in Atlanta went unnoticed. The franchise’s room for growth and roster of young talent has long-term potential and fans have good reason to be confident for the future. That said, they may need to be a little bit patient for the team to mature into a force, of which Allgeier will be a key player.
