Falcons news: Which legendary RB did Bijan Robinson study to improve?

The Atlanta Falcons will be without projected starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers , which could mean a bigger dose of star running back Bijan Robinson in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' attack.

Robinson is hoping for a stellar season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski , who added an exciting new wrinkle to the Falcons' offense that Robinson believes plays to his strengths . Back-to-back 1,400-plus yard seasons have inspired confidence in Robinson, but the Falcons running back has bigger goals.

He spoke on Friday about the player he patterned his game after, name dropping one of the NFL's all-time greats on ESPN's This is Football show.

Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

"I take pride in, you know, knowing where the free hitter is on every single play, because I know that that's the one guy I have to miss to make a big play happen," Robinson said. "So…Just continue to get better at that, continue to watch guys like Adrian Peterson , and just a lot of like, old film, to dissect where their free hitter was before their play even started, has been pretty unique as a process."

Robinson has studied the film at the urging of the team's running backs coach, Michael Pitre. It has given him a sixth sense on knowing which tackle he needs to break upon entering the second level of the opposing team's defense.

The Adrian Peterson film room experience has emboldened and excited Robinson ahead of a crucial season for Stefanski's team.

"It was pretty special," Robinson said. "It's just those guys that elevate it to a different level, and watching that film and watching those guys, that's how you know that you're special and he won the MVP that year, and I think that was a big reason why."

Robinson has the talent to bring home his first MVP award this season, and now he has a better concept of how to make it happen. It starts Sunday against the Steelers in a game that will provide clues as to whether he is up to the challenge.