Despite the popular belief that Falcons sixth-round pick Marcus Green is only going to be a primary kick and punt returner, Green could be a gadget weapon and serious coverage threat as well.
Green was one of the best returners in college football, totaling 1,761 yards and four touchdowns on 70 kick returns at Louisiana-Monroe. He added another 280 yards and a touchdown on four punt returns.
He also did a lot of damage from the slot, though. According to Pro Football Focus, Green lined up in the slot on 94 percent of his offensive snaps in 2018. He had 792 receiving yards, an average of 2.81 yards per route and eight touchdowns. That ranked him 14th, ninth and fourth, respectively, among draft-eligible receivers.
Green is a triple threat, though. In addition to running back kicks and working from the slot, he may also see some action in the backfield. At Louisiana-Monroe, he had 51 carries for 492 yards (9.6 yards per carry) and one touchdown.
Assuming offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter knows how to utilize a weapon like Green correctly, his usage beyond special teams could be special indeed.
It’s unusual for a sixth-round pick to get significant playing time as a rookie, but once Green gets his chance, his biggest limitation may be Atlanta’s imagination.
