FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Bijan Robinson has an arsenal of elite tackle-breaking moves at his disposal, and it's allowed him to become the most elusive player in the NFL.
Robinson leads the league with 108 missed tackles forced in his second season, 10 more than the next closest player — Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry.
While it's clear to anyone who watches that the Falcons running back has unique athletic gifts aiding him on the field, Robinson has worked hard to learn how best to use his natural ability. In addition to training with Falcons running backs coach Michael Pitre to improve his in-game approach and mental awareness, Robinson has also drawn from NBA greats like Philadelphia 76ers Hall of Fame point guard Allen Iverson, and current superstars like Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry and Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving.
"People always ask me, 'Who do I aspire to watch on the football field?' And I always tell them, LaDanian Tomlinson and Barry Sanders, those guys like that" Robinson said. "But I tell them I watch more basketball tape and watch how they create space for themselves in tight, close quarters."
Robinson said he tries to emulate Iverson's ability to catch defenders off guard by making them think he's going one way when he already knows he's going the other. Specifically, the second-year back credits his dead-leg move to Iverson's crossover. Inside linebacker Kaden Elliss certainly sees the similarity. He compared Robinson's viral juke in his rookie season to Iverson's iconic 1997 crossover on Michael Jordan.
"You know the one that went viral last year when it had like the aerial view of him, and he kind of caught it behind his back," Elliss said. "Kind of looks like the crossover AI put on Michael Jordan. "You gotta put that side by side."
The running back also dissects film of Curry and Irving, who carried on Iverson's ball-handling mastery into the modern NBA. Curry is well-known for the Euro Step, while Irving is nicknamed the "Ankletaker" for being one of the best isolation players in the league. Robinson "loves" to watch Irving create space between defenders with his footwork and quick moves.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris wasn't surprised to learn Robinson studies athletes like Iverson. While Robinson watches old highlights of the Philadelphia star, Morris watches him in real time.
"Bijan is one of the greatest generational talents, movers, quick decisive thinkers, that does it with absolute passion and all-out grit every single time," Morris said. "I'm not shocked one bit."
Robinson's manipulation of speed and direction allows him to better protect his body and gain more yardage. Take the first snap of Week 17 against the Washington Commanders for example. A Washington defender made contact with Robinson behind the line of scrimmage, but he shed the first tackle, spun around another and then gained a couple more yards by changing direction. He turned a possible tackle for loss into a 7-yard gain. Just a typical play for one of the league's smoothest runners.
In his second year, Robinson feels he's gotten more confident in reading the play before it begins and being patient after the snap. Those skills were strengthened this offseason with run drills that included having objects thrown at him that he must avoid.
"I'm anticipating moves already built in my head that I have when I'm 1-on-1 with a defender, and it happens in a split second," Robinson said. "I tend to try to make defenders be the most uncomfortable they can. When it is those 1-on-1 situations, I try to look past them rather than looking at them because it already gives me my move and what I want to do to get vertical against those defenders."
