The Falcoholic
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I showed up at Flowery Branch Friday. I’ve seen a lot of ugly losses from this team, but considering just how lifeless and befuddled they looked against the Panthers, Sunday’s was one of the worst. I was curious to see what morale is like and what the energy surrounding the team was after the week of preparing to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
I’m happy, and pleasantly surprised, to report that morale seems perfectly fine — for the most part. There was a notable exception.
That was Drake London. While we were finishing up with Raheem Morris right after practice, London went home before we had a chance to even get into the open locker room, and he made it clear he left because he didn’t want to speak to the media. I suspect he is upset about the Hilliard firing, which is understandable, but I can’t confirm that since he wouldn’t speak with us. It is a violation of league rules for players to avoid being available to the media during open locker room.
We did get to speak with both Casey Washington, who cleared concussion protocol yesterday, and Darnell Mooney, about how the team has responded to last week’s loss.
Mooney said it’s been a good week of preparation, with a slightly different vibe this week.
“It’s been very competitive, and the energy’s been a little different as far as just focusing on the details and being more precise with things,” Mooney said.
Washington isn’t concerned about Michael Penix’s ability to bounce back this week against the Commanders. As a matter of fact, he had some bold comparisons for his signal caller.
“I think about the greats in all sports that have done it at the highest level possible. I think about Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson — the greatest, LeBron James — Steph Curry. You know, as much as we can sit here and talk about the greatness that we’ve seen them achieve throughout their career, it’s also been some pretty low moments,” Washington said. “So, you know, it’s just part of the game. And all of us, as players and coaches, have had games like that throughout our careers, where we wish we could have them back. And unfortunately, you can’t. But I think it also builds character, and it builds a chip on your shoulder. So with the competitors that we have on the team, I’m fired up.”
Mooney also addressed the lack of the deep ball from Penix so far this season, and where the explosive plays are.
“He loves to throw the deep ball and shit, I love to run the deep ball,” Mooney said. “So if that works for us, you know, if we can make that work for us, then that’s our identity of our offense, then we’ll do that. But if it’s not [working], then we’ll have to find...
