Freeman's carries will be reduced to keep him fresh, says Falcons RB coach

After an unremarkable rookie year, Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman's breakout season in 2015 was something that very few saw coming, especially as it was Tevin Coleman that was expected to lead the team's rushing attack.

But after Coleman suffered fractured ribs in Week 2, Freeman moved into the featured role and didn't look back, putting together a 1,000-yard season and earning a Pro Bowl berth.

Now with Coleman healthy, however, Falcons running-back coach Bobby Turner is looking to reduce Freeman's carries in order maintain his productivity throughout the entire season.

"It's about growth," Turner told D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Free had a good year, but I'm expecting even a better year. Well, you're saying, how can it be better? It can be even better with less carries or less catches because I'd obviously like to get Tevin more involved and that also keeps Free fresher."

Related: Breakout or Fakeout: Was Devonta Freeman's sophomore season a fluke?

While Freeman put together a spectacular first half of the season, his performances waned toward the end of the campaign.

After producing four 100-yard games from Weeks 3-7, Freeman failed to top the mark for the rest of the season. His yards-per-carry average also severely dipped from Week 13 onwards, highlighting the fact he may be best suited to a committee approach.

That appears to be the Falcons' intention for 2016, with Turner believing Coleman's superior straight-line speed could boost Atlanta's offense.

"We want them competing," Turner said. "They are very similar. They both are competitive. They both can catch the football. They both have run instincts. When it comes down to it, the one difference is the flat-out long speed of Tevin Coleman."