When Raheem Morris stepped in as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he didn't beat around the bush about the team's glaring weakness: the quarterback position. Despite having a trio of dynamic playmakers, the offense struggled under second-year QB Desmond Ridder. Backup Taylor Heinicke didn't fare much better, leading to head coach Arthur Smith’s dismissal after a third consecutive 7-10 season.
“If we had better QB play last year in Atlanta, I might not be standing here,” Morris candidly told reporters at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. Determined not to repeat the same mistakes, the Falcons aggressively pursued Kirk Cousins in free agency and then stunned everyone by picking Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 draft pick.
Love it or hate it, Atlanta's quarterback room was in dire need of an upgrade, and the front office made bold moves to address it. This strategy paid off, as the Falcons' passing game is now listed among the NFL's most improved position groups according to Doug Farrar from Touchdown Wire.
Farrar pointed out the addition of offensive coordinator Zach Robinson, hailing from the renowned Sean McVay coaching tree. Robinson is expected to bring a new dynamic to the offense:
- Improved Schemes: Robinson's heavy play-action and motion tactics with three-receiver sets could be a game-changer.
- Natural Fit: Cousins should thrive in Robinson's system, and Penix, with his experience in Ryan Grubb’s NFL-like offense, could adapt quickly.
Farrar humorously noted, "The Falcons’ passing game could be one of those great marriages that just started off with a really weird first date."
Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot’s plan to secure both the present and the future at the quarterback position is evident. Cousins signed a four-year deal, but having Penix as a backup ensures they have a solid plan B if Cousins isn’t fully recovered from his Achilles injury.
Excitingly, the Falcons will face both of Cousins' former teams this season. They are set to play the Minnesota Vikings on the road in Week 14, followed by a showdown against Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders in Week 17. This season promises some thrilling matchups and potential redemption for Atlanta's revamped passing game.
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