Bijan Robinson joined Sports Illustrated on behalf of C4 Energy drink from Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl 58. Bijan Robinson talks about his first year with the Altanta Falcons and the changes they are under going for next season.
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00:00 I would say for a first round pick of your stature, you went through some like interesting things.
00:06 I did. I did.
00:08 Um, you know, my pops played for the Falcons, so I keep my eyes on the Falcons.
00:13 What was going on, man? Talk to me, man.
00:17 Yeah, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:18 Share some light on that, dawg, 'cause I'm not in the locker room. I'm done. I'm washed.
00:21 But you doing it, you starting. Talk to me about what was going on with you.
00:25 Yeah, man, I mean, you know, for me, it was a big learning season for me.
00:30 You know, there was a lot of adversity. There was a lot of highs. There was lows.
00:35 And, you know, for me, I couldn't really get myself into either of them too much.
00:40 And I had to kind of just stay, just focus on just what God had for me.
00:45 Obviously, like, yeah, I had, you know, the 1,500 yards.
00:51 But for me, like, that's a-- I have such high expectations.
00:55 To me, it's like not a great season.
00:59 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:00 But to somebody else, that would be like, oh, this is a fantastic season.
01:04 And I get it, like, from the expectations people have for me.
01:10 You know, I could see them looking at that season like, you know, yeah, that might be great somewhere else.
01:16 But that shouldn't be the standard for me.
01:20 So I understand exactly where you're coming with it.
01:23 But I'm glad that what I went through happened.
01:26 So I know it's a comfort.
01:28 I was just about to say, I think you're going to be able to look back at it year six, year seven.
01:34 Yes, yes.
01:35 When you got the young dog, the new B'Zot.
01:37 That's right.
01:38 And you'll be able to look at him and say, hey, hey, Rook, I've dealt with that before.
01:42 Yep, yep.
01:43 I understand everything that you're feeling.
01:45 Absolutely.
01:46 But you have to keep going for it day by day because this is a business.
01:49 It is.
01:50 You are your own brand.
01:51 Yep, yep.
01:52 And you have to put your best foot forward all the time because you're always.
01:56 You don't really hear about it much right now because you're a rookie.
01:58 You just got there.
01:59 Yeah.
02:00 But you're always on display for all the other teams.
02:04 And being evaluated, like being evaluated always.
02:08 So, Texas Longhorn guy.
02:12 Best one in the country.
02:14 I know you can agree on it.
02:15 It's all good.
02:16 I can agree.
02:17 I went to USC, dog.
02:18 And I'm Reggie Bush.
02:21 Okay, I am too.
02:22 When I was at high school, I was Reggie Bush, Dwayne Jarrett, Steve Smith.
02:25 I am too.
02:26 So, I'm not really a big Vince Young guy because when I went to USC.
02:31 He ended that streak.
02:33 He ended the streak.
02:34 He did.
02:35 He ended the streak.
02:37 What do you say about Coach Stark?
02:39 Oh.
02:40 Coach Stark was my coach.
02:41 Yep.
02:42 He coached me at USC.
02:43 Does he still do the, you're not that good, bro.
02:45 Does he do that?
02:46 Yes.
02:47 He still does that.
02:48 He ain't changed.
02:49 Like.
02:50 Steve Stark.
02:51 Coach Stark, no, he don't change.
02:52 Okay, real quick.
02:53 For you guys that don't know.
02:55 B. John here can have 20 touches, 220 yards, two touchdowns.
03:01 That's right.
03:02 And he'll literally call out the stats.
03:04 And he'll look at them and pause and be like, you're not that good, bro.
03:08 Like, dude, like chill out, bro.
03:10 Like, we get it.
03:11 You know?
03:12 Like, that's just who Stark is.
03:13 That's who Stark is.
03:15 Okay.
03:16 You got a new coach.
03:19 Yeah.
03:20 Yep.
03:21 Are you excited?
03:22 I'm very much so.
03:23 Talk to me about what you're looking forward to.
03:26 I mean, so when he got the job, like 15 minutes later, he called me.
03:32 And, you know, we FaceTimed.
03:34 And, I mean, it was like such an assurance of like, this is who, you know, we need.
03:40 This is who I've kind of been wanting.
03:42 Yeah.
03:43 And, you know, he called me.
03:45 It was like, yo, B, like, let's get this thing rolling.
03:48 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
03:49 And as soon as he said that, like, I was like, man, like, that's all I needed.
03:54 Right, right, right.
03:55 Confidence boost.
03:56 That confidence boost.
03:57 And with him, like, with Raheem being a young guy to, you know, have a young team and to
04:03 really, you know, bring energy into our building and to, you know, the staff and to everybody
04:09 around there.
04:10 You know, it's definitely such a blessing to have him around and, you know, to have
04:14 him, you know, take over this team that is, I feel pretty much ready to go and pretty
04:18 much ready to be at this stage right here.
04:21 But we just needed a couple pieces to really complete it and to get it all together.
04:26 So, Zach Robinson, new OC.
04:28 That's right.
04:29 How do you think he's going to utilize you in this offense?
04:31 I know y'all have had conversations already.
04:33 I have not had a conversation with him yet.
04:35 What?
04:36 Zach.
04:37 But, but, but.
04:38 Raheem was like, bro, we got to make you the one.
04:43 OK, so, OK, so we talk about 1,400 yards.
04:46 You already the one.
04:47 So what we talk about for next year, let the people know in Atlanta, flowery brands, downtown
04:53 Atlanta, hot Atlanta, underground Atlanta.
04:56 That's where I grew up.
04:57 Yes, I tell the people what you're going to do for them next year.
05:01 Well, for me, like this is all in God's hands, all in God's plan.
05:04 I love that.
05:05 I love that.
05:06 And, you know, for me, I think expectations are a big thing.
05:09 Obviously, I'm going to say like I want, you know, the 2,000 yards, you know, rushing.
05:16 Eric Dickerson, you know, watch out.
05:18 He caught me.
05:19 He caught you out.
05:20 Eric be taking offense to that.
05:21 I know.
05:22 I know those are big expectations.
05:23 But, you know, I think that, you know, what we can do as an offense with all the weapons,
05:26 with our O-line, with, you know, with Zach being at the helm, man, I think it will be
05:31 something special.
05:32 Even with Tyler Algier, the other running back, you know, I feel like he's going to
05:36 explode and have one of those seasons as well, like both of us.
05:39 But I think it's going to be one of those special seasons that Atlanta's been waiting
05:42 for and that all of us have been waiting for, you know, as players.
05:46 So let's get it.
05:50 OK.
05:53 I need you to keep it 100 with me.
05:55 I'm going to keep it 99.
05:58 Your old head coach.
05:59 Oh.
06:01 He's the new offensive coordinator now at Pittsburgh.
06:03 Yes.
06:04 Happy for him.
06:06 What can Pittsburgh expect their offense to look like next year?
06:10 A lot of outside zone.
06:12 A lot of, you know, the thing with Art is, you know, he's always trying to do new things,
06:20 to relate to his players and as much as he can.
06:24 And I think it was kind of tough for him to be an O.C. and a head coach.
06:29 But I think with him just being an O.C., I think he'll get it back on and just understand
06:35 his talent and find what he can do for that whole offense.
06:39 But, you know, it's definitely run first.
06:42 So, you know, Najee and, you know, those guys over there, like, they'll be ready to get
06:48 it going.
06:50 But that's what I expect from him over there.
06:52 Running back talk.
06:54 Super Bowl talk.
06:56 CMC, Pacheco.
06:59 Talk to me about both guys and what they have to do to will their team to a win.
07:06 Well, I think the 49ers need to lean on Christian McCaffrey all game long.
07:13 And don't stop.
07:14 Do not stop.
07:15 Like, even if it even if it looks, you know, kind of kind of muddy.
07:20 Don't stop bleeding on him.
07:21 Because I think he's the one that's going to overtake, you know, that whole team to
07:26 the Super Bowl.
07:27 And, you know, even even like for what I'm trying to do as a player, like, you know,
07:31 you have a guy that you can just lean on and and even if it's a little a little cloudy
07:35 at first, but then it's going to open up and you're going to be like, this is how it's
07:39 supposed to be.
07:40 Right.
07:41 Right.
07:42 You know, he's going to be that guy for them.
07:43 So, you know, I have confidence that they'll do that.
07:45 But then even with like Pacheco, you know, he's another.
07:49 Oh, no, I'm a running back.
07:51 Downhill, create space, eat it up.
07:53 But if they are the patch of my homes, like he he has a plan of what he wants to do.
07:58 But Pacheco is going to be that guy to overcome.
08:01 One more running back question for you.
08:03 Alrighty.
08:04 Now, I might be too, but one for right now.
08:06 OK.
08:07 When you were in college.
08:08 Yeah.
08:10 You took me on tape, look more like a downhill power back to Lauren, the boom on guys.
08:16 You can't tackle me.
08:17 Right.
08:18 And then you got to Atlanta.
08:20 So different.
08:21 And it was like, like, like, was it like it was always there?
08:27 Did somebody give you like the green light and say, be who you are?
08:31 Yes.
08:32 Or or was just like you just felt more comfortable.
08:35 I'm in the league now.
08:36 I think I'm at Mercedes Benz now.
08:38 Yeah.
08:39 So I got a Benz now.
08:41 Hey, I got you right.
08:43 You're right.
08:45 You're right.
08:46 But no, I mean, I think, you know, the God's gift really, really showed in a different level.
08:52 And, you know, for me, I think in college, like I didn't have to do all the make guys miss, you know, feel as, you know, as fast as possible because it was just more like run and find the open gaps, make somebody miss here and there.
09:06 But give him a stiff arm and then just kind of just, you know, I'll run them.
09:11 But in the league, like my coach was he was he was saying, like, oh, like you have a whole package that you have and you should use it because it could be beneficial for you and your running style and, you know, having a complete run style and you can lower the boots sometimes and you can, you know, shake somebody out their shoes or their stiff arm.
09:32 It hesitates them.
09:34 And I think this year I saw a lot of, you know, linebackers kind of hesitating instead of like just coming coming through because they don't know what was going to happen.
09:43 And I think it worked out for me pretty well.
09:45 But, yeah, I mean, I mean, hey, there's a there's a lot of there's a lot of things that come with it.
09:51 And you just got to expect, you know, from one of them to working and be alive.
09:55 Was there a running back that you looked up to when you were coming up?
09:58 Yeah, so I know I was still young, but I mean, I saw a lot of his like his tapes because my grandpa, he had those and obviously highlights.
10:07 But I look at Thomas and L.T. L.T. He you know, you know, he was, you know, definitely the guy that I was like, I can be like I become like him.
10:19 And I respect his game a lot.
10:20 And just what he did with with, you know, San Diego.
10:23 But he was definitely the dude that I was like, yes, it's the one right here.
10:27 That's a great one. That's a great one to model your game after.
10:30 Yes, sir. Beeson, talk to us about your partnership with C4.
10:33 Yes. Yeah, man. So, you know, what I got here is the best flavor, you know, that I that I think they have frozen bombs.
10:41 OK, frozen bombs. Cool. But, you know, I've been partnering with them for a long time now.
10:45 And, you know, this is an awesome partnership right here.
10:47 Like, you know, obviously, I think this is the best energy drink you can drink for all facets, for working out, for day to day life, you know, for a pick me up.
10:56 And, you know, you got to be careful with with energy drinks like working out.
11:00 But, you know, with this one, you know, it gets your blood cells, you get your heart going and you'll be ready to go.
11:06 And it tastes good. Like, you know, I think I think that's a big a big factor.
11:10 You know, whenever you can have something that tastes good, even the zero drinks.
11:13 OK, tastes good. OK, so this is this is also a partnership for me.
11:17 And I, you know, hope everybody can try one at least one day if they haven't or get a whole case of them,
11:24 because it's been it's been very beneficial, not just for me, but for for everybody.
11:28 Ladies and gentlemen, the Dirty Birds are going to be back.
11:32 I-85 South. He's going to be there.
11:35 We're going to be there. B.J. Robinson, appreciate your time, baby. Yes, sir. I appreciate you.
11:39 (whooshing)