The Atlanta Falcons have faced challenges with their quarterback position over the past four years, trying various strategies without success. In 2022, they signed Marcus Mariota in a cost-effective move and drafted Desmond Ridder as a potential long-term solution. They also brought in veteran Kirk Cousins, but he did not provide the expected results.
Now, the Falcons are optimistic about Michael Penix Jr., who showed promise during his three starts in 2024. “There’s a couple things about those three games where it’s just his ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes,” said Falcons quarterbacks coach T.J. Yates. Penix’s performance included 737 passing yards from Weeks 16-18, ranking eighth among all quarterbacks during that period.
Penix has shown big-play potential, leading qualified quarterbacks with 10.2 air yards per attempt and achieving an explosive pass rate of 15.5%. His second pass against the Carolina Panthers was noted for its precision despite tight coverage.
Falcons wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard emphasized the importance of practice time for growth: “Well, it’s going to be a lot of time on task that’s going to be necessary for growth.” The team aims to build chemistry between Penix and key players like Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
Despite concerns about his completion rate of 58.1%, the Falcons believe increased first-team reps will help Penix improve. Yates noted that learning situational football is part of Penix’s development process: “He’s an aggressive player with an aggressive arm.”
Having Kirk Cousins as a backup provides experience for Penix to draw upon. Robinson stated, “It’s very similar to last year when Mike took the reins and Kirk did a great job supporting him.”
Penix has also been in contact with former MVP Matt Ryan, which could aid his pocket play development. With strong offensive support around him, including a solid line and talented skill players, Penix is seen as pivotal for Atlanta’s offense moving forward.
“The amount of reps that they’ll get — offseason, OTAs, training camp — it’s just going to be huge for this offense taking the next step,” Yates added.
As expectations rise for Year 2, the Falcons are confident that Penix can bring stability back to their quarterback position. Robinson concluded by saying, “Obviously, we know the talent… Now it’s like ‘Man, this is your team.'”
