Jonah Coleman’s Late Surge Had Sean Payton Buzzing, and His Run Game Is For Real

The Denver Broncos just rolled over the Atlanta Falcons with a 27-7 beatdown in Atlanta, but it wasn’t just the final score that caught Head Coach Sean Payton’s eye. The run game absolutely dominated the Falcons, outgaining them by over a hundred yards on the ground.

Payton Is Straight Up Pleased with the Ground Attack

Payton couldn’t hide his stoke after the game, saying he was “pleased with that.” He straight up said, “I thought the runners played well and I thought we blocked them pretty well.” Even with one fumble, the guys ran hard against what he called a “heavy front” that likes to play some base. That’s a huge endorsement from a coach who doesn’t dish out praise lightly, especially for a unit that was probably eager to prove itself after the offseason.

Rookie Jonah Coleman Showed Out

But listen, the real story here, the player that popped off the screen for me, was rookie Jonah Coleman. Yeah, his first two carries only coughed up four yards, a little slow out of the gate, no doubt. But then? BOOM. His last two carries exploded for 20 yards! The dude totally flipped the script and became the best runner for the Broncos after those initial touches.

Payton echoed the hype, saying it’s “just what we’ve been seeing” from Coleman in camp. He loved Coleman’s balance “coming out of some of the tackles,” and that’s not some new trick. This kid was known for avoiding first contact back in college, and we saw that exact magic on full display on Friday night. JK Dobbins is the clear starter, sure, but Coleman’s first showing? It was good. Landing a mid-round pick like this could be a total steal for them down the line.

So, while it was a preseason game, the run game, especially Coleman’s burst and ability to avoid that first contact, is a massive positive for the Broncos. Everyone’s watching to see if this mid-round talent can become a consistent force. It sure looks like he’s ready to make some noise.

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Originally reported by Mile High Report.