The Falcoholic
What will a Michael Penix offense look like, and is the depth behind Ryan Neuzil set to be scary?
The Atlanta Falcons offense is once again the engine that will power this team’s playoff aspirations; they can’t afford to stall out the way they did in 2024. Training camp is here, and the offense has multiple storylines worth paying attention to throughout the process.
Here are three I will be keeping tabs on, and they’re ones you should watch closely, too.
The man known as ZRob had a solid debut as a first-time playcaller, but he no longer gets to wear that moniker, and that means expectations have risen. The young coordinator will need to rise up in year two if this offense wants to reach the heights of its potential.
That starts in training camp, where mistakes, miscues, and mishaps are welcome. In 2024, Robinson’s offense struggled to get off to a strong start in two key areas: third-down conversions and red-zone efficiency. The unit would ultimately finish average (17th) in conversion rate, but was still in the bottom 12 of the league in terms of red-zone efficiency.
The offense didn’t have trouble moving the ball or sustaining drives, but finishing them with points became a noted issue for the team. A lack of discipline in opponent territory is the common denominator. Kirk Cousins became a turnover machine, and the penalties the team amassed in these situations were a detriment to their success. Add in the kicking struggles the team dealt with last year, and it’s the perfect formula for empty drives.
Discipline starts at the top, and while ZRob can’t physically prevent his players from breaking the rules or giving away the football, disciplined play needs to be the central talking point of camp for the offense. The floor has risen, and Robinson will need to start where he finished. Stumbling out of the gate and recovering to average by season’s end won’t cut it in year two.
Drew Dalman and his Impractical Jokers-inspired snaps are gone. Ryan Neuzil is now the man in the middle, and behind him is *checks notes* uhh yeah.
The Falcons are putting all their eggs in the Neuzil basket; a bold decision following a season that showed why having good offensive line depth is key. Neuzil was a part of that depth and showed the team enough to earn the starting spot in 2025, but what happens if Neuzil goes down? That is the question that has kept my heart rate up.
There isn’t a pure center on the roster, just a smorgasbord of guards ready to prove they have what it takes to be the next Neuzil. Jovaughn Gwyn has been underwhelming in his limited action and is often bypassed when the team needs to plug in a player due to injury. UDFAs Joshua Gray and Michael Gonzalez appear to have as good a shot as any, but...
