Prior to his injury in 2023, Kirk Cousins threw 18 touchdown passes in eight games with the Minnesota Vikings. This season with Atlanta, through 14 games, Cousins was only able to match that touchdown total with 18, and he threw a career high 16 interceptions.
Coming back from an Achilles injury could have thwarted Cousins' ability to propel the Falcons offense. But, it wasn't the only speed bump. On The Morning Shift Monday, Mike Johnson explained why Atlanta's offensive coordinator could have had a lot to impact on Cousins' lack of success.
"Zac Robinson did play a big part in Kirk Cousins suddenly falling off," the former Falcons offensive lineman said. "I think between the two of them, the immobility and the lack of depth as an offensive play-caller, I don't think they had any answers. I think their answer was to go to Michael Penix."
Whether it was criticism for pre-snap looks, or the play-calling in 2024, Robinson was a target once the Falcons started losing games in the second half of the season.
"I don't think Zac Robinson did a great job of finding some other ways to use Kirk Cousins or utilize Kirk Cousins," Johnson said. "I know he had a very limited amount of ways you could have possibly done that, but I think with a more veteran play-caller/offensive coordinator you might have dreamed up some ways, especially if you didn't have Michael Penix in the bullpen."