The Atlanta Falcons got a relatively satisfying win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday 34-27. It wasn’t just that they got the win, it’s that they were able to get the stench out of their mouths left by the 30-0 drubbing at the hands of the Carolina Panthers the week before.
Following the Panthers loss, head coach Raheem Morris thought it would be a good idea to move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coach’s box down to the sideline.
How did that work out?
“Zac felt great being on the field,” Morris said Monday. “Being closer to Mike, being able to go around and be a part of everybody on the offense and really be in the action. He said he liked everything about it. He’s a little pissed that he didn’t start down there at the beginning of the season. I think if he had his druthers, he would’ve started down there at the beginning of the season.”
Penix was much better with Zac Robinson on the sidelines
Based on the scores of the last two games and the results, it’s fair to wonder if Robinson’s move had any impact. Based on the performances of Michael Penix, Jr., it just may have.
Against the Panthers, Penix was 18-36 for 172 yards, no touchdowns (obviously, they got blanked) and two interceptions. It’s going to be tough to win a lot of games in the NFL playing that way.
Penix was a completely different quarterback against the Commanders, however. On Sunday, the second-year player was 20-26 passing (76.9%) for 313 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. That’s good for a 126.0 passer rating.
Morris was very pleased with the improvement.
“They’re always big,” Morris said after the game. “But when you talk about coming off the nasty, disgusting taste we left out there for ourselves (against the Panthers), that was our apology to our fans today to be able to go out and get us a win so we can go out and enjoy our bye week and everybody can be happy.”
Morris would like to see Zac Robinson become a head coach some day
Other Falcons’ players – like left tackle Jake Matthews – also thought it was good having Robinson down on the sideline.
“It was good to have him down there,” Matthews said. “I think that helped. Everyone just executed and got stuff done as he called it.”
But, if Robinson’s success continues, it might lead to other opportunities, like maybe a head coaching gig at Oklahoma State?
“I want my guys to go be head coaches,” Morris said. “We want to have the ability to make people want our guys. I think that’s something that is awesome for him, awesome for his family. But we live in that world and we embrace distractions instead of trying to duck those things. I don’t know if he’s been contacted by anybody from Oklahoma State, but we heard the rumors and that’s great for him.”
At least now the Falcons can enter their bye week on a positive note. They don’t play again until they host the Buffalo Bills on October 13th on Monday Night Football.
“It’s definitely a chance to go back and look at everything that you’ve done from all three phases of the ball,” Morris said. “Find what you can do better, what you can add or what you can take out. It’s been a nice four-week sample of things you can do better.”
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