Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix is having an incredible summer with the Falcons, and teammates and coaches are delighted with what they have seen thus far. Penix, the ninth overall draft pick in 2024, had the opportunity to sit behind Kirk Cousins for the first 14 games of his career. He started the final three games of the season while Cousins was benched for errors and uneven play. In an Atlanta Falcons.com piece by Will McFadden, QB coach TJ Yates discusses Penix’s growth in the system in year two, as well as the work he has done during the season.
“Little footwork things, little accuracy things are always going to be part of quarterbacks just progressing,” Yates told ESPN. “It’s not a lot of stuff, but he’ll always need to be able to understand additional scenarios and situational football – when to do what and when not to do it.
“He’s an aggressive player with an aggressive arm, but you have to be able to dial it back occasionally. He has excellent field vision. He uses his eyes to influence below defenders.
And while he may not need to do so all the time, it is one of his most valuable assets, so we don’t want to over-coach or out-coach some of those things out of him. It’s simply a matter of getting to know the quarterback and how to train him, as well as him getting to know the offense and moving forward.”
Cousins’ future is uncertain
Cousin’s future in Atlanta is questionable, as he has been featured in multiple trade speculations. Penix entered the league with a cannon for an arm, a strong football IQ, and natural leadership; he was swiftly named the team’s starting quarterback. His rookie season saw flashes of brilliance.
Cousin’s performance was not exclusively down to him; the offensive line suffered, the play-calling became predictable, and Kirk began pushing throws to compensate. What followed was a disastrous season marked by turnovers, a loss of confidence, and voices of uncertainty among fans.
Penix’s last three games.
Penix had a tremendous finish to the season, displaying outstanding poise and leadership in the final three games.
“There are a couple of things about those three games where he can just manipulate defenders with his eyes,” Falcons quarterback coach T.J. Yates said. “The way he saw the entire picture was pretty much fixed in stone for all of us. Like, ‘Alright, we got a person here.'”
According to TruMedia, he also had the eighth most explosive pass rate among qualified quarterbacks. Penix gives Atlanta fans a glimpse into the future because he is the whole deal. He has the ability to pass and run as a quarterback, which adds a new aspect to the Falcons offense. Atlanta will enter the season with high expectations with a strong draft class and Penix taking over as the full-time starting quarterback.
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