It’s Time To Have An Uncomfortable Conversation…

[Music] It is time to have an uncomfortable conversation, Falcons fans. Whether you want to or not, the facts of yesterday’s game remain the exact same. The coaching staff sent a message to every single Falcons fan yesterday. Welcome into the show, Falcons fans. My name is Moose and on this episode of Falcons Today, we’re going to briefly recap the 24-10 win against the Saints. But for the majority of the episode, we’re going to have an uncomfortable conversation about Michael Pennock Jr. and Kirk Cousins. And we are also 14 subs away from 46,000 on the channel. So, if you love daily updates, if you love this team, and you love what we do here, do me a favor right now. Hit that big red sub button. First of all, I want to start with this. Let’s start with the positives. After a victory Monday, we obviously have to talk about what went right. And the biggest and most glaring thing that I saw yesterday is, “Hey, we got a kicker. Zayn Gonzalez was exceptional yesterday.” I saw plenty of Falcons fans getting down to the comment section saying, “Hey, if that was Coup, if that was Parker Romo, we would have missed those wide right or wide left.” And Zayn Gonzalez, OCD, hair fixing and all, was just pinpoint accurate the entire time. So, I got to give my hats off to him. He was excellent yesterday. And it also snaps the five-game losing streak. Mark Rami said this. You’re going to see a lot from him in this episode today because he’s one of the most trusted Falcons beat reporters out there. So, the Falcons losing streak is officially over. We’ve got a kicker. The offense and the defense both did just enough yesterday to get the W. And I think that’s the motto. I thought the defense was excellent. By the way, I’m not just saying they did just enough. They they only allowed three points. The pick six was the only touchdown that the Saints scored yesterday. So only allowing three points to any NFL team is really really good stuff. But I think the motto of yesterday’s game was we did just enough to get the job done. And that’s exactly correct. And there’s nothing wrong with saying that. With a team that’s lost five in a row, I’m happy to say we did just enough to get the job done because look at the numbers. They’re not great. We had 302 yards of offense. You only had 13 first downs. You were three of 12 on on third down. That’s not good. You had nine of 82 penalties. So yesterday, I I don’t want to get it twisted. The Falcons weren’t good yesterday. They just weren’t awful. And that is a step in the right direction. So that’s enough to get me to smash that thumbs up icon. That’s enough for me to say, “Hey, the monkeys off the back. Maybe we could start to play some good football.” But I think we found a team that’s actually worse than the Atlanta Falcons, the New Orleans Saints. Dumpster fire. So, do me a favor. If you’re happy that we won, hit that thumbs up icon. But like I said, today’s episode is going to be primarily focused upon what was very apparent, at least to me, with yesterday’s game and with what Raheem Morris had to say, not only about Kirk Cousins, but Michael Penn Jr. as well. And I think what we have to at least admit here is that these coaches have no faith and no idea with what to do with Michael Penn Jr. And I’m going to tell you exactly what those comments were right after I tell you about our friends over at Prize Picks because I got to tell you something. If I’m Michael Penn Jr. right now, I do not feel good about what Raheem Morris had to say. It really really opens a lot of eyes and a lot of, you know, reading between the lines of what this coaching staff actually feels like when it comes to their quarterback situation because his comments yesterday prove that there is no trust in Michael Pennock Jr. at the helm. You saw it with the game plan and you see it with the comments. Now, like I said, I’ll tell you about those. First, got to tell you about our friends over at Prize Picks. The holidays are officially here. And this episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. Basketball matchups, playoff pushes, it is all happening all at once. And while you and I are here making decisions every single day, what gifts to buy, what to eat, which game to watch, there’s only one place where it feels good to be right, and that’s with Prize Pix. New feature alert for you guys. Price Pix now has early payouts. If your lineup gets off to a hot start, you may now have seen the option to cash out those winnings before the game even finishes. That’s really cool. But also, how you play is up to you. If you choose the flex play, you get ultimate flexibility where you can get paid even if one of your picks misses. And if you want the biggest payouts, go for the power play. No matter what your play is, prize picks is a great way to put your takes to the ultimate test. Very simple. Takes 30 seconds to make a lineup. Pick the player, more or less stat projections. Watch your money multiply. Up to 2,000 times your cash this football season on prize pick. So, do me a favor. Download the app today. Use code CLNS to get $50 instantly in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Prize picks. It is good to be right. I want to start with Raheem’s comments here with what he said about the Darnell Mooney moonshot touchdown. Beautiful play, beautiful setup. He said, “We’ve been setting that up all year when he was in talking about the reference to Mooney’s 49 yard touchdown pass.” And my first thought was, “No, you haven’t. I’ve watched every Falcons game. You’ve watched every Falcons game. You have not been trying to set that up all year. You very rarely do you take shots downfield. It’s only been recently that the ball’s kind of been getting stretched down the field with Michael Penn Jr. and then we finally saw it with Kurt Cousins. Oh, by the way, that was on play action. And then the very next comment I was like, okay, that’s what he’s talking about. This is why he said that. Morris said that Cousins is more comfortable being under center than Penn is. Now, while that might be a true, very baseline statement, you got to read between the lines a little bit. You got to read between the lines. What is Raheem Morris actually saying? What he’s saying is Pennix can’t do it, or at least he’s not able to do it yet. Why does the offense look so different when Michael Pennix is under center and when Kirk Cousins is literally under center? Why does the offense look so different when Kirk Cousins is taking the snap and when Michael Pennix Jr. takes the snap? It looks like a completely different college gimmicky offense. Here’s another thing you need to know. This is a stat from yesterday’s game. The Falcons use 13man personnel, which is one running back and three tight ends. So, you got a three tight end set with one extra running back on 33 of 55 offensive plays yesterday. That’s 60%. That is the highest rate of any offense in a single game since 2016. Why were you not doing that with PennX? Because he can’t. Here’s the answer for you. I’m going to answer my own question. Penn’s injuries limit his uh under center ability. He’s not nearly as mobile as even Kirk Cousins. And that’s saying something. Kirk’s got stone feet. You saw it yesterday. His pocket mobility, Kirk’s pocket mobility is awful. He just can’t do it. And he’s more mobile than Michael Penn Jr. is, which also proves that Zack Robinson is not adjusting the offense for Michael Penn. And whether that’s a refusal to do so or an inability to do so, I think we see the full incompetency of Zack Robinson when Michael Penn Jr. is taking snaps, which you know, just two weeks ago I said the marriage between the two doesn’t work. And ultimately, when you’re under center, literally under center like Kirk was yesterday, it takes more time for the play to develop because it’s not a two-step drop. It’s not a shotgun snap. It literally takes a 527 step drop. Well, Michael Pennix Jr. with his injuries can’t do that, which is why you see him get so panicked when pressure comes. He goes into panic mode. He can’t let the play develop because he can’t roll out consistently. And if you can’t roll out consistently because of your injury history, you’re going to panic. Therefore, Zack Robinson’s going to say, “Well, we have to eliminate that alto together because you can’t do it.” So, Pennix is literally getting tailored to in this pistol offense. And I have been the one to say, I hate it. I hate the way it looks. Zack Robinson’s got to flip it up. And then yesterday, finally, finally, we had a real pro style looking offense. And I said, Penn can’t do it under pressure. Kirk was great under pressure last this last week. yesterday. Kirk versus the Blitz against the Saints. Eight of 10 for 91 yards, a touchdown, no picks. And Kirk’s not even that great. He did just enough. So I went back and I started looking. I said, “Okay, if Kirk did really well against the Blitz yesterday, let’s take a snapshot of what Michael Pennix Jr’s numbers under pressure look like.” So this is Michael Pennix Jr. under pressure when blitzed, when not blitzed, when the pocket is collapsing and the NFL defines a pressure. This is what Michael Pennock Jr’s numbers look like. 55% completion percentage, 6.4 yards per attempt, a 55 PFF grade, and a quarterback rating of 65.4. Translation: Penn only succeeds when he’s got a clean pocket. And news flash, that’s every quarterback outside of JJ McCarthy in the entire NFL. And I also will be the first one to say this is not a glazing Kirk or a bashing on PennX. I don’t think that Kirk Cousins is the long-term future with this team. He’s too old. He’s too old. He’s too mo immobile. But I think what you saw yesterday is that when Kirk is under center, the coaching staff offensively speaking, Zack Robinson, they relax. The offense looks different under center. It’s no longer something that you have to makeshift with PennX in the pistol. You can actually run play action. You can actually run an underenter run scheme. Going into the game, the Falcons were dead last in the NFL in under center rate 6%. And yesterday, Reed, you can attest to this. How many times do you think they ran under center? At least 33% of the time. So, I Yeah, we we we might do an under center counter in the next watch party. So, I think the writing is on the wall and the coach’s comments are telling you without telling you directly. Kirk’s ability as a quarterback right now to run a different style of offense is what we were planning or wanting the offense to look like. But when you drafted Penn, you had to tailor the offense to him. Oh, and by the way, in case you still don’t believe me, this was Raheem Morris’s comments right after Pedex got injured. You have to change the quarterback plan. The uncomfortable question now in everybody’s mind, and I’m sorry if this offends you, is is the marriage between Penn and Atlanta over? Look, Josh Rosen got drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. He started like 13 or 14 games for them and then they said it’s not working. We’re drafting Kyler Murray. Now look, I still think there’s talent. There’s juice left to be squeezed with Michael Penn Jr. and maybe when a new coaching staff comes in because I still think Zack and Raheem are not the right guys for the job. It might be the case that maybe you see what he looks like with a different offensive coordinator in a new scheme. But I also think the big question mark now is how long is Pennish’s Penn’s leash? And I think from yesterday’s comments and yesterday’s game plan, the leash got shorter. So what would you do with Michael Pennix Jr. If you had to be Terry Fontnau, if you had to be Raheem Morris, if you had to be Arthur Blank or Rich McCay, what would you do with Michael Penn Jr.? Let me know in the comments section down below. This is going to be the pinned comment of today’s video. That’s going to do it for us on today’s episode. A reminder to hit that subscribe button, like today’s video, rise up and be cool. [Music]

Atlanta Falcons rumors after beating the New Orleans Saints 24-10 are swirling in Falcons media today. Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! The main Falcons question being asked today is why the offense looks so different when Kirk Cousins is under center vs. when Michael Penix Jr is playing quarterback. Falcons fans are confused and angered that the Falcons coaching staff, Raheem Morris, and Zac Robinson, have failed to develop Michael Penix Jr. With Kirk Cousins under center the Falcons were able to run a competent looking offense that utilized play action and stretched the ball down the field. The Falcons used 13 personnel (1 RB, 3 TE) on 33 of 55 offensive plays (60.0%), the highest rate of any offense in a single game since 2016, and now fans are wondering if it’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Michael Penix Jr.

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Michael Penix Jr under pressure:
COMP%: 55.2
YPA: 6.4
PFF GRADE: 55.7
QB RTG: 65.4

Kirk Cousins when blitzed vs. the Saints:
Kirk vs. Blitz in week 12
8/10 completions
91 passing yards
1 Touchdown
0 Interceptions

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Uncomfortable conversation
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Why the Falcons offense looks so different with Kirk Cousins under center:
Penix’s injuries limit his under center ability
Zac Robinson can’t adjust the offense for Penix
Under center takes more time to develop

Falcons Today wants to hear from you in the comments!
– What would you do with Michael Penix Jr?
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Can’t get enough Atlanta Falcons YouTube videos? We have got you covered:
– HOLY CRAP THE FALCONS WON! Instant Reaction To Falcons 24-10 Win Over New Orleans Saints https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB_v0ObEwHU
– Michael Penix Jr. Replacements: Falcons QB Targets Ft. Kyler Murrary, Diego Pavia & More https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKz559VNzdg
– 🚨Atlanta Falcons Get Even More BAD News | Billy Bowman Jr. Suffers Achilles Injury During Practice 🚨 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNrJE9cf60k

Falcons 2024 passing leaders:
– Kirk Cousins: 66.9%, 3,508 yards, 18 TD, 16 INT
– Michael Penix Jr.: 58.1%, 775 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT

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28 comments

  3. As happy as i am for the win, i am worried that now we will keep certain staff members that should quite frankly be fired…a loss to the AINTS would have been terrible but if that loss was what would force arthur blank to get off his a** and fire the people who need to be fired i would almost have preferred a loss…for the bigger picture.

  4. Raheem and the entire staff lied to the fan base about Kirk and Penix's injuries and kept them playing anyway…all while gaslighting us as if the fans were the issue not having enough "faith" in the QB. Everyone on the staff who knew and lied about about Kirk and Penix's injuries has to go. absolutely disgraceful

  6. So we drafted "the answer" Penix blew them away at Pro day.. yet he can't/isn't good under center. It's such a Falcons thing to do. It's not even sad anymore, it's almost expected and that's sad..

  7. probably have to move on. was excited about his arm but from the first start he struggled to make chunk plays and finish off any drive with a score, going over 200 yds seemed to be asking too much. Tendency to plant his feet in the pocket and go to his first option or twisting to throw across his body like on a short dump-off pass to Bijan, not shuffle-stepping in the pocket or properly stepping through the throw like you normally see with a real pro QB. Not the quickest throw release. In a lot of ways reminds me a smaller thinner Byron Leftwich. Like him I don't see MPJ progressing and will probably get worse or more injuries. I'd rather have Jameis Winston among others. Heck give me Jake Browning at this point.

  10. Got a QB finally. I posted a comment but i wouldn't like or subscribe to this channel as much as you put down the falcons and Kirk Cousin. How did you get this job on this channel?

  14. That’s a loaded question! If he (Penix) can’t change then you have to get going with a new QB! I agree Cousins is not the answer long term but now we’re in draft hell for a year, so you just may have to keep Cousins around for another year or possibly make a block buster trade with Bjon or Drake as bait to get back up in the draft to get another QB! How did they miss that judgement with Penix? Did they ever see him under center or did they just feel they could teach it! It seems so basic to a QB I’m shocked it’s an issue at all!

  16. Have you actually seen Penix run this year? His injury is not physically hindering his mobility. I think it's a bit mental, but I think the coaching staff is slow rolling his development, similar to Ruke's and Dorlus' red shirt season, and their plan for Walker to master edge rushing before moving to other roles. This slow roll can be for multiple reasons. Maybe Penix is not comfortable under center so they decided to let him stay in Shotgun and learn to master reading defenses (which is tough when you o-line is rubbish and your receivers can't get open). But I think the biggest problem is Atlanta fans ALWAYS needing someone to blame for the Falcons' woes. They've been shuffling 3rd stringers and ppl off the street in at O-line, as well as CB at various times throughout the year, most notably, against Carolina, both times. You all are just like Prince's mom (think on this one) and that's the real reason we can't get any great coaches to come here. That's why they need to grab an up and coming coordinator and give him time to catch his groove. So give him time.

  20. I think they really don't know what they are doing. How is A ROOKIE OC, that never called plays before going to help teach a ROOKIE QB, Unless they already have worked together before?? Smh! A HOT MESS, THIS IS!😠.

  21. The first thing I would do with Michael Penix is PUT HIM UNDER CENTER DURING NFL GAMES instead of just talking about him not being able to do it. Let's actually SEE IT. They didn't even play him in preseason — where you can get some practice doing the things you need to develop.

    I smell horse crap.

  22. I really trust Penix, I also trust Fonteno to get the weapons and coaches needed to win and make push for the playoffs. What I mean is, cutting Kirk and his huge contract and getting a veteran for less money and trading pieces like Mooney, Ebiketie, Hughes, and Phillips for a first round pick this year and some future picks, tag and trade Pitts, sign a Corner, Veteran Defensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, and a veteran Tight End, draft a Wide Receiver and Tight End in the 1st and 2nd round, and draft a DT in the third.

  26. They should never have drafted Penix.. the whole man career on the line because of the Falcons not knowing how to utilize his talent also the falcons need to stop hiring these injury prone QBs/Players
    🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾

  28. I have a completely different take on the Michael Penix Jr. conversation. When I read he had FOUR season ending injuries in college, I knew there was little chance he's finishing a regular season against a team of bigger, faster defenders at the NFL level. My take is he was always going to be more fragile than RG3, who sadly had an injury shortened NFL career. No matter how much talent AND coaching, it's a wasted pick if he wont last to post season. That is where my uncomfortable conversation ends. 😉 I think he is a nice guy, and when he's hot, he plays great, but..

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