The Atlanta Falcons snapped their five game losing streak yesterday with a 24-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, and for the first time in a while the offense looked creative, innovative, and whole under Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson.
However, the Falcons had backup quarterback Kirk Cousins starting for the injured Michael Penix Jr., who went out last week with a partial ACL tear, and now that Cousins is going to be the starter for the rest of the season the offense looks way different, and maybe even better with Cousins now that he’s helped open up Zac Robinson’s playbook because of his ability to go under center, but it raises the question why won’t Penix take snaps under center if it helps the offense look and run that much better?
Well, earlier today The Morning Shift talked about that, and came to the conclusion that Michael Penix Jr. isn’t comfortable under center. Now, while both Mike Johnson and Beau Morgan both believe it’s a comfort issue for Michael, and that’s why he doesn’t go under center, Mike and Beau believe Penix is uncomfortable doing different things under center.
Mike believes Penix is uncomfortable “turning his back to the defense” and that’s why he doesn’t want to go under center. Beau believes Michael is uncomfortable looking at and reading defenses under center because he can’t see everything he wants to see from the defense while he’s under center. Beau also believes the “movement” Penix Jr. would have to do under center to either hand the ball off to the running back or do other things is where his discomfort lies.
Whatever the true reason behind Michael Penix Jr. not taking snaps under center is, it’s nice to finally feel like Zac Robinson and the Falcons offense have the full playbook at their disposal on one hand, but on the other hand it’s frustrating because it makes you wish Michael Penix Jr. was doing some of the things that Kirk Cousins was doing against the Saints yesterday all season long, and it also makes you wonder when will Michael Penix Jr. be able to do those things period.
In the meantime the Falcons are still very much alive in the NFC South, and if Kirk Cousins, Zac Robinson, and the Falcons offense can build upon their performance yesterday, and put a winning streak together, the Falcons could still make a legit run at the playoffs.