The Falcoholic
There was a time when an efficient, multidimensional passing game was the nucleus of the Falcons’ identity. It wasn’t actually merely a time. It ended up being nearly a decade, starting in 2011, when Matt Ryan began to blossom as a quarterback and heavy workloads started to wear down Michael Turner. No matter if the Falcons were competing to win the Super Bowl or struggling to stay respectable, they always could count on a passing game led by their franchise great quarterback and a plethora of exceptional pass catchers.
Times have drastically changed since Ryan was traded to Indianapolis in 2022. There have been four different opening day quarterbacks for Atlanta. A notable shift towards having a more run-centric game plan, given Arthur Smith’s coaching philosophy and the selection of arguably the best current running back in the league, makes it understandable. What isn’t acceptable is the amount of major offensive investments made over the last four years not coalescing into one of the most prolific attacks in the league.
A recent 30-0 loss to a lowly Carolina team will raise serious concerns about the team’s direction, particularly with the development of their young, promising quarterback. How can Michael Penix Jr. remain largely composed and play with impressive command against two incredibly aggressive defensive minds in Todd Bowles and Brian Flores, yet crumble against a Panthers defense where most people would struggle to name five players? Why can’t the offense push the ball downfield? Why is Drake London going through extended stretches of being anonymous?
These are all valid questions. It’s a huge dilemma at a position that has haunted the team for years. The organization can’t afford the quarterback position to be a significant reason for their downfall for a third consecutive season.
Execution was emphasized when Penix Jr. responded to questions about the offense’s issues. That’s normally the answer from a player who wants to be accountable for shortcomings and use them as teachable moments. The film session against Carolina should present several teachable moments to guide him forward. With all the reasonable criticism of Zac Robinson’s play calling, an aerial attack can’t function when the quarterback isn’t seeing the field and is stiff in the pocket. Penix Jr. was rushing through his progressions, repeatedly throwing unnecessary checkdowns, and refusing to navigate around the pocket. It all culminated in a humiliating defeat.
Even with excellent pass protection, the conviction wasn’t there in the pocket for a quarterback to succeed. Penix Jr. looked hesitant with his processing. When the pocket occasionally collapsed, he stood like a statue and threw the ball at difficult angles without resetting his feet. Everything he did felt static against a defense that only produced one hit on 38 of his dropbacks, per Pro Football Focus.
If he didn’t like what he saw, he wouldn’t attempt to create something out of structure. He would throw contested checkdowns that were immediately neutralized. One resulted in a painful interception, where Penix Jr. rushed...
