Right now there is a clear disconnect between Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Last week when the Falcons played against the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin, Germany Penix Jr. targeted Mooney eight times but those targets only resulted in one reception for 17 yards, and the quarterback-receiver duo looked to be out of sync and not on the same page multiple times throughout the game.
Yesterday Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Raheem Morris was asked about Michael and Darnell’s poor connection and lack of chemistry by Dukes & Bell when Coach Morris stopped by their show for his weekly interview with Carl and Mike. Raheem revealed that Mooney broke his collarbone on the first day of training camp, an injury that was initially just classified as a ‘shoulder’ injury throughout training camp.
Then, Coach Morris basically said that Darnell missing all of training camp because of his broken collarbone followed by the hamstring injury Mooney suffered shortly after returning from the broken collarbone is the reason he and Penix Jr. are out of sync right now, and that it’s not fair to blame Darnell for his lack of production so far this season.
Earlier today The Morning Shift reacted to Raheem Morris’ comments about why there’s no connection between Michael and Darnell, and they explained why they think Darnell Mooney’s early season injuries are no excuse for his lack of chemistry with Michael Penix Jr.
“That’s a ridiculous statement to make with the way things have looked on that field. I mean that’s absurd, we’re halfway through the season. He missed a couple of games because of a hamstring and he missed training camp because of his collarbone, that doesn’t mean that if you’ve targeted eight times that he has one catch I’m sorry that’s absurd.” Mike Johnson said
Mike finished his thought by saying “Maybe there are certain players that have to work their way back in, but that is an offensive system or a Michael Penix problem if it’s just taken that freaking long to get the guy up to speed. He’s a wide receiver that had a shoulder injury. I mean that’s absurd to me.”
Beau Morgan added to Mike’s point by saying that what’s going on between Penix Jr. and Mooney right now “feels like a disconnection between teammates”.
Whatever is going on between Michael Penix Jr. and Darnell Mooney needs to get sorted out as soon as possible because we saw last season what Mooney can do for this passing game as a deep threat and clutch playmaker when he’s in sync with his quarterback.
The Falcons could certainly use the Darnell Mooney of last season on their offense right now, and if they get that guy starting Sunday against the Carolina Panthers Atlanta can maybe just maybe go on a run in the second half of the season, and string enough wins together to get themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 2017.