What makes Bijan Robinson so good?
Bijan Robinson is the most complete back in the league—there’s no debate. He’s got the vision, the power, the agility, and the hands to impact the game in every possible way. The guy just bounces off tackles like he's playing against air, and if you don’t wrap up, you’re going to be on the wrong end of a highlight reel. You’ve got to account for him on every single play because the second you let your guard down, he’s taking it 60 yards to the house.
And that’s exactly when Atlanta loves to hit you with some no-name tight end or a 5’9" receiver up the seam for a big gain. You spend all week game-planning for Bijan, stacking the box, making sure he doesn’t get loose, and then out of nowhere, some guy you’ve never heard of is streaking down the field wide open. That’s what makes defending Atlanta tricky—it all revolves around Bijan, but if you key in too hard on him, they’ll make you pay in the most frustrating ways possible. He’s the engine of that offense, and if you don’t slow him down, you’re in for a long day.
Over your career, what makes a team better at not turning the ball over as the season goes along? What kind of things you need to emphasize? How much of it is coaching? How much of it is a mental part? Physical part?
Turnovers are one of the biggest deciding factors in football, and the teams that improve in that area as the season goes on are usually the ones making deep playoff runs. It’s a combination of coaching, mental discipline, and physical execution. Early in the season, you see a lot of turnovers because guys are still adjusting—quarterbacks getting used to timing, running backs trying to do too much, offensive linemen not picking up protections cleanly. But as the season progresses, the best teams eliminate those mistakes by focusing on the little details.
Coaching plays a huge role. You have to drill ball security relentlessly—making it second nature for guys to protect the football in traffic, secure it through contact, and make smart decisions. It’s about repetition and accountability. Quarterbacks need to recognize when to take a sack instead of forcing a bad throw. Running backs need to understand when to go down instead of fighting for an extra inch that isn’t there.
The mental side is just as important. A lot of turnovers come from guys trying to do too much—pressing in key moments, forcing plays that aren’t there. As the season goes on, you emphasize situational awareness. Knowing when to take risks and when to live for the next down. Good teams get better at that because they trust their system and their teammates.
Physically, it’s about technique. Quarterbacks need better pocket presence, ball carriers need to keep it high and tight, and receivers need to attack the ball instead of waiting for it. It’s small things like keeping two hands on the ball in traffic, securing the catch before turning upfield, and making sure your fundamentals are sound. The teams that master that are the ones who stop beating themselves. You can’t always control every bounce, but you can control how disciplined you are with the football. The more disciplined you are, the harder you are to beat.
What were some of the contributing factors to the loss this week?
Well, let’s start with the obvious—turnovers. You’re not going to win many games when you’re handing out possessions like free samples at the grocery store. And then, of course, we just didn’t do enough to slow down their offense. They got rolling, and we let them dictate the game more than we should have. That’s on us.
But hey, credit where it’s due, right? We usually don’t get outcoached by this coach, but I guess today was his Super Bowl. Maybe he took a masterclass in game planning last night, or maybe he just finally rolled the dice and got lucky. Either way, I’m sure he’s patting himself on the back like he just discovered the secret to football. I mean, we all know how rare it is for him to put together a performance like that, so I hope he soaks it in—frame the game tape, throw a parade, maybe even give a TED Talk on how to be great one time a season. But don’t worry, we’ll be ready next time. We won’t let him have two career highlights against us.
