It was a rough Sunday for the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3 of the NFL season. The Falcons suffered a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in a game that saw Michael Penix Jr. benched for veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
With the offense looking particularly inept, changes were inevitable. On Monday, September 22, head coach Raheem Morris told reporters that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson would move from the coaching box to the field, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Robinson’s adjustment could be the first of many if the Falcons put up more performances like the one against Carolina. Despite racking up 332 yards of offense — 108 more than the Panthers — and averaging five yards per play, Atlanta had nothing to show for it.
Instead, the Falcons turned the ball over three times, including one off a Penix interception, while failing to reach the red zone and finishing with zero points.
Given Penix’s struggles, Robinson’s move to the sideline seemed inevitable. The hope is that being closer to the action will allow him to provide the second-year quarterback with better coaching.
Michael Penix Jr. Had Career-Worst Game Against Panthers
Penix has only six NFL starts under his belt, but he’ll likely remember the blowout loss to the Panthers for a long time. He missed 18 throws, completing 50 percent of his passes for 172 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.
His first interception came early in the third quarter, when cornerback Chau Smith-Wade picked him off to push Carolina’s lead to 17-0. Later in the quarter, Mike Jackson intercepted Penix again, which prompted Morris to bench him for Cousins.
After the game, Penix acknowledged his poor performance.
“Definitely, some of it was definitely me,” Penix said. “Some of it, the defense, they had good looks, and they just gave a good look, and I wasn’t prepared for it, which I have to be. But, at the end of the day, I’ve got to make those plays. I’ve got to find my guys that’s open. We just got to execute better as a whole.
“I felt good. You just can’t miss. You can’t miss, man. It’s the best. We’re playing the best of the best. And I’ve got to make sure I give my guys opportunities to make plays. I did mess up on that at times during the game.”
Could Zac Robinson Be On the Hot Seat?
Robinson is in his second season with the Falcons after being one of Morris’ first hires. The two previously worked together with the Los Angeles Rams, where Morris was the defensive coordinator and Robinson served as pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Robinson was once considered an up-and-coming assistant under Rams coach Sean McVay, and his hire in Atlanta was widely praised. Morris needed someone to revive a struggling Falcons offense under former head coach Arthur Smith, and Robinson seemed like the right choice.
So far, though, it hasn’t come together. Despite outgaining opponents by 334 yards this season, Atlanta has scored just 42 points in three games, tied for 21st in the NFL. The Falcons rank 19th in passing, 28th in red-zone offense, and tied for 19th in third-down efficiency.
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